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A guide to waterslide landing type requirements

Jan 01, 2022

GUIDANCE

The following comparative summary table shows the differences between slide types across three versions of EN 1069-1.

EN 1069-1:2000 Water slides of 2 m height and more		EN 1069-1:2010 Water slides. Safety requirements and test methods		EN 1069-1:2017. Water slides. Safety requirements and test methods.
Type 1	Straight individual slide Average inclination <=70% <=3 metres above water level and <=2.7 metres above the ground	Type 1.1	Straight slide (single or wide) for children. Average inclination <=70%. <1 metre from start section to water level	Straight slide (single or wide) for children. Average inclination <=70%. <1 metre from start section to water level.
Type 1		Type 1.2	Straight slide (single track) for children Average inclination <=70%. 1 metre <h<=3 metres start section to water level.	Straight slide (single track) for children. Average inclination <=70%. 1 metre <h<=3 metres start section to water level.
Type 2	Individual slide Average inclination 11-18%, excluding final part. <=3 metres above water level and <=2.7 metres above the ground.	Type 2.1	Curved (single track) for children. Average inclination <=70%. <=3 metres from start section to water level.	Curved (single track) for children Average inclination <=70% <=3 metres from start section to water level.
Type 2		Type 2.2	Helical (single track) for children. Average inclination <=70%. <=3 metres from start section to water level. The radius of the slide is constant.	Helical (single track) for children. Average inclination <=70%. <=3 metres from start section to water level. The radius of the slide is constant.
Type 3	Individual slide Average inclination <=13%, excluding final part. Average speed <=5 m/s Maximum speed <=7 m/s	Type 3	Single track slide Average inclination <=13%, excluding final part. Average speed <=5 m/s Maximum speed <=8 m/s	Single track slide Average inclination <=13%, excluding final part. Average speed <=5 m/s Maximum speed <=8 m/s
Type 4	Individual slide The average inclination is 13-20%, excluding the final part. Average speed <=10 m/s. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.	Type 4	Single track slide. The average inclination is 13-20%, excluding the final part. Average speed <=10 m/s. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.	Single track slide. The average inclination is 13-20%, excluding the final part. Average speed <=10 m/s. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.
Type 5	Individual slide Average inclination >=20%, excluding final part. Maximum speed >14 m/s.	Type 5	Single track Average inclination >=20%, excluding final part. Maximum speed >14 m/s.	Single track Average inclination >=20%, excluding final part. Maximum speed >14 m/s.
Type 6.1	Multi-track slide of Type 3 (straight or curved tracks). Average speed <=5 m/s. Maximum speed <=7 m/s.	Type 6.1	Multi-track slide (straight or curved tracks). Average inclination <=13%, excluding final part. Average speed <=5 m/s Maximum speed <=8 m/s.	Multi-track slide (straight or curved tracks). Average inclination <=13%, excluding final part. Average speed <=5 m/s. Maximum speed <=8 m/s.
Type 6.2	Multi-track slide of Type 4 (straight or curved tracks). The average inclination is 13-20%, excluding the final part. Average speed <=10 m/s. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.	Type 6.2	Multi-track slide (straight or curved tracks). Average inclination is 13-20%, excluding the final part. Average speed <=10 m/s. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.	Multi-track slide (straight or curved tracks). Average inclination is 13-25%, excluding the final part. Average speed <=10 m/s. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.
Type 7	Wide straight-track slide. Maximum inclination 25%. <=8 metres above water level and <=7.7 metres above the ground. Maximum speed <=7 m/s.	Type 7	Wide straight-track slide. Maximum inclination 35%. <=8 metres above water level and <=7.7 metres above the ground. Maximum speed <=8 m/s.	Wide straight-track slide. Maximum inclination 35%. <=8 metres above water level and <=7.7 metres above the ground. Maximum speed <=8 m/s.
	n/a	Type 8	Single track, longitudinal descending and ascending gradients, where users glide upwards, assisted by a jet of water or another device	Single track, longitudinal descending and ascending gradients, where users glide upwards, assisted by a jet of water or another device
	n/a	Type 9	A wide straight single track provides a free transversal oscillating sliding path. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.	A wide straight single track provides a free transversal oscillating sliding path. Maximum speed <=14 m/s.
	n/a	Type 10	Combination slide where user exits into a circular bowl or spiral path before falling through a hole in the bottom into a splashdown pool or onto another slide.	Combination slide where user exits into a circular bowl or spiral path before falling through a hole in the bottom into a splashdown pool or onto another slide.

UNE EN 1069-1:2000. Water slides of 2 m height and more		UNE EN 1069-1:2010. Water slides. Safety requirements and test methods.	UNE EN 1069-1:2017. Water slides. Safety requirements and test methods.
Splashdown area/pool	My second choice to a catch or sofa unit. It may be used for every type of waterslide, provided the user is slowed to the average speed of 10 m/s (Type 4).	My second choice to a catch or sofa unit. It may be used for every slide type, provided the maximum speed at landing is <=10m/s.	My second choice to a catch or sofa unit. It may be used for every slide type provided the maximum speed at landing is <=10m/s.
Catch unit	Preferred to a splashdown area/pool. Preferred for Types 2-4 Shall be used for slides with maximum speed >14m/s	Preferred (along with sofa units) to all other landing types, especially for fast and/or long slides. May be used on every type of slide (except Type 10). Shall be used where landing speed is >10m/s.	Preferred (along with sofa units) to all other landing types, especially for fast and/or long slides. May be used on every type of slide (except Type 10). Shall be used where landing speed is >10m/s.
Sofa unit	n/a	Preferred (along with catch units) to all other landing types, especially for fast and/or long slides. May be used on every type of slide (except Type 10).	Preferred (along with catch units) to all other landing types, especially for fast and/or long slides. May be used on every type of slide (except Type 10).
Surf landing area	n/a	Use of a landing area is allowed only for water slides where the use of a ride enhancement device is foreseen.	Use of a landing area is allowed only for water slides where the use of a ride enhancement device is foreseen.

Citation: Jacklin, D. 2022. Waterslide type requirements. Water Incident Research Hub, 1 January.