Classification and Inspection Scope of Water Park Rides

According to regulations, canyon rafting series, water slide series, and bumper boat series used for business purposes with a speed ≥2m/s or height ≥2m fall under the regulatory scope of special equipment and must undergo mandatory inspection. (Table 1)

Water slides are the most common equipment in water parks (Figure 1), while canyon rafting and bumper boats are relatively less common. Those not under the regulatory scope, such as swimming pools (such as lazy rivers, wave pools), and interactive water play facilities, are not subject to mandatory inspection, but still need to be designed, produced, and constructed according to standard specifications.

The inspection of water park rides includes the facility itself, ancillary equipment inseparable from its safe operation, and decorations fixed on its body, but does not include the power distribution part, foundation, and building (structure) parts.

The facility itself refers to manned conveying devices, water slides, vehicles, rafts, boats, supporting steel structures, pools, rivers, etc., specifically used for the facility.

Ancillary facilities include steel structure platforms, stairs, unmanned raft conveying devices, hydraulic systems, and electrical control systems configured to realize the facility's functions. The electrical control system includes the electrical control cabinet and power lines; the electrical control cabinet includes the power cabinet (PCC) and control cabinet (RCC). Figure 2 Water slide body and ancillary facilities.

Decorations refer to themed packaging, large billboards, lighting effects, and other devices fixed on the above-mentioned main body devices.

Inspection Process of Water Park Rides Inspection Process

The inspection of water park rides includes design document identification, type testing, supervision inspection, and periodic inspection. Among them, periodic inspection is carried out during the operation period, with a cycle of one year, which is not discussed here. Design document identification, type testing, and supervision inspection must be completed during the construction period and are key tasks in the construction of water parks.

Type testing also includes random inspections of non-destructive testing of main load-bearing components. For steel structures, this can be done during on-site type testing. If it includes mechanical structures that need to be assembled and are inconvenient to disassemble and restore on-site, random inspections need to be carried out in the factory before assembly.

For the first domestic equipment or equipment exceeding the coverage of existing design document identification reports and type test reports, the manufacturer needs to apply to the China Special Equipment Inspection Institute (CSEI) to fully implement all the above-mentioned inspection procedures. Water park rides are generally installed at the site of use, and type testing and supervision inspection are combined.

If existing design document identification reports and type test reports can cover the main parameters of the equipment, the installation unit can apply for direct supervision inspection, generally to the local provincial special equipment inspection institute.

Conclusion