5J-18.0051. Inspection Standards

(1) Each owner, manager or designee, as specified in subsections 5J-18.014(2) and (3), F.A.C., must indicate that each amusement ride meets the requirements of Section 616.242(12), F.S., and is ready for operation prior to inspection by the department.

(2) For temporary amusement rides, the owner or designee trained on the maintenance, installation and operation of the ride must be present during installation and inspection by the department.

(3) For a newly installed permanent ride, the owner or designee trained on the maintenance, installation and

operation of the ride must be present during installation and inspection by the department.

(4) For previously permitted permanent rides, the owner or designee trained on the maintenance and operation of the ride must be present during inspection by the department.

(5) Where a manufacturer has not determined nor specified the capacity of a kiddie ride the department will determine the capacity as follows:

(a) A department Inspector will count the number of carrier units or tubs per ride. The number of carrier units or tubs per ride is based on the manufacturer’s intended configuration of the ride in order to make it fully operational. Upon inspection of a ride if evidence exists that indicates the ride has been altered from the original manufacturer’s configuration by removing carrier units or tubs, then the ride must be inspected by a professional engineer in accordance with Section 616.242(13), F.S. Arbitrary reduction of carrier units by operators is not permitted.

(b) Having determined the number of carrier units or tubs per ride, the department inspector will count the number of passenger positions per carrier unit, or individual tub, i.e., the number of seat belts, pre-formed seating spots or other identifiable seating arrangements. With no identifiable passenger positions, the inspectors will determine the number of positions based on the number of 12-year-old passengers that can be positioned safely in the carrier unit, i.e., each passenger must have a separate position and meet the required height and/or weight requirements for that ride. Sitting on laps to qualify as one position will not be permitted.

(6) In addition to the manufacturer’s required or recommended instructions, the department has adopted the following:

(a) All rides shall have a two-step process for the control box to ensure a ride cannot be inadvertently started.

(b) All funhouse style rides above 10ft. shall have a sprinkler system installed.

(c) Rides will not be permitted to use plywood for blocking purposes, unless specifically permitted by the manufacturer. 

(d) All trailer mounted Wisdom or Reverchon Himalaya style rides will not be permitted to operate in reverse motion.

(e) The department will conduct preassembly inspections on rides identified at the time of application including:

1. ARM, Ali Baba or 1001 Nights

2. Larson or Hi Roller, Ring of Fire

3. Wisdom, Gravitron or Starship

4. Wisdom, Sizzler

Rulemaking Authority 616.165, 616.242(4)(d), (12) FS. Law Implemented 616.242 FS. History–New 9-21-93, Amended 2-23-94, 2-14-99, 5-30-05, Formerly 5F-8.0051, Amended 10-29-19, 11-18-20, 5-22-24.