ADIPS is the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme: the UK industry arrangement for inspecting fairground and amusement rides, run by the Amusement Device Safety Council and recognised by the HSE. A device that passes its annual in-service inspection by an ADIPS-registered inspection body receives a DOC, a Declaration of Operational Compliance, which works like the ride's MOT certificate. The scheme's home is adips.co.uk.
Why play venues meet it
You don't need a rollercoaster to need ADIPS. A coin-operated kiddie ride by the entrance, a mini carousel, a little electric train: all amusement devices, all needing a current DOC to operate defensibly. An expired DOC is the first document an insurer looks for after a ride incident, and “we kept taking pound coins after it lapsed” is not a position anyone wants to defend.
Pure soft play venues with no powered rides don't need the scheme at all. The boundary cases (powered devices that move a little, vibrating ride-shaped toys) are worth putting to an ADIPS inspection body rather than guessing.
Related terms and reading
Fixed play structures follow EN 1176, inflatables follow PIPA, and trampoline parks follow PAS 5000. Our ADIPS guide covers DOCs, hire arrangements and the paperwork traps in full. SafePlay's Equipment Register holds each device's DOC with its expiry date and chases the renewal automatically.