The condition and operational safety of amusement rides must be inspected before they are placed into operation and periodically thereafter. However, modifications to the rides or equipment may become necessary in response to changes in applicable laws or standards. At IAAPA Expo Europe, the experts from TÜV SÜD will be on hand with information about their “Retrofit EN 13814/17842” concept, which supports ride managers in achieving compliance with the relevant standards in their retrofitting and modernisation activities. The concept covers testing and inspection of rides to verify their conformity with current standards; the first step involves identification of any essential changes, followed by acceptance testing of the consequently performed modifications. “This procedure ensures that existing rides are kept up to date with the state of the art and can continue to be operated in complete safety”, says Christian Falk, Head of the Amusement Ride Industry Department at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. Failure to comply will result in withdrawal of their approval to operate in Germany; Many other countries, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, prohibit the operation of amusement park installations built to older standards and not yet updated.

“Maintenance and Operations” certification for amusement park rides

Performing over 2,000 tests and inspections annually, TÜV SÜD is the global leader for safety, quality and sustainability services for amusement parks and rides. The company’s independent, impartial experts support manufacturers and managers of these leisure amenities throughout their products’ life cycle, starting with development and taking in inspection of technical documentation and quality assurance up to initial handover and periodical inspections. TÜV SÜD’s “Maintenance and Operations” certification for amusement park rides has introduced a new service specifically targeted at the managers and operators of these facilities. When successful, the certification documents that the organisational structure underlying the operation of the ride is clearly defined and that all operatives and responsible persons are familiar with the specific features and characteristics of the facility and have the requisite technical and process knowledge.

TÜV SÜD’s expertise in the field of amusement parks and rides is in demand all over the world. As well as Germany, the company provides services in numerous countries including France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, South Korea, the Middle and Near East, Singapore, Hong Kong and the USA. For more information on TÜV SÜD’s services in this industry, visit https://www.tuvsud.com/….