Gibbons Fans • Blower Selection Guide

How to Choose the Right Blower for Your Inflatable

Choosing the correct blower is about much more than horsepower. The right blower must provide the appropriate combination of airflow and pressure for the inflatable and its operating conditions.

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Don't choose a blower by horsepower alone

Horsepower and kilowatts describe the rated power of the motor. They do not, by themselves, tell you how much useful air pressure or airflow the finished blower will produce when connected to an inflatable.

01

Motor power

HP and kW describe the motor's rated output. They are useful specifications, but they are not a direct measurement of inflatable performance.

02

Blower engineering

Impeller design, motor speed, aerodynamic efficiency, housing design and other engineering characteristics determine how that motor power is converted into airflow and pressure.

03

Inflatable resistance

Once connected to an inflatable, the blower is working against resistance. Fabric, seams, valves, tubes and the internal pressure of the inflatable all affect performance.

The same horsepower does not mean the same blower performance

Two blowers can both use a 1.5 HP / 1.1 kW motor yet produce different pressure and airflow characteristics. The important comparison is the performance of the complete blower — especially when operating against the resistance of an inflatable.

What is blower pressure?

Pressure describes the blower's ability to push air against resistance. Airflow describes how much air the blower can move. Both characteristics matter.

A blower can have a very high free-air airflow figure but that figure alone does not tell you how much air it will deliver once the inflatable begins building internal pressure.

This is why meaningful blower comparisons should consider airflow at a stated pressure rather than relying only on free-air airflow or motor horsepower.

Think about pressure and airflow together

Pressure enables the blower to continue pushing air into a system as resistance increases.

Low Operating point High

What is back pressure?

Back pressure is the resistance the blower encounters as it pushes air into the inflatable. As the inflatable fills, internal pressure rises and the blower must continue to generate sufficient pressure to deliver useful airflow.

Blower Generates airflow and pressure
→
Inflatable Fabric, seams, valves and internal pressure create resistance

Low resistance

When resistance is low, the blower can move a large quantity of air relatively easily.

Increasing pressure

As the inflatable fills, internal pressure increases and the blower must work harder against the system.

Performance under load

The useful question is how much airflow the blower can provide at the pressure required by the inflatable.

Why HP and kW aren't enough

Consider the following when comparing blowers.

Specification
What it tells you
What it doesn't tell you
Horsepower
Motor power rating.
Actual blower pressure and airflow.
kW
Motor power expressed in kilowatts.
How effectively that power is converted into useful blower performance.
Free-air airflow
Air moved when resistance is relatively low.
Airflow delivered at the inflatable's operating pressure.
Airflow @ pressure
Airflow measured at a stated pressure.
Whether that pressure is appropriate for every inflatable.
Maximum pressure
Indicates pressure capability.
The correct operating pressure for a particular inflatable.

See the difference in the Gibbons X-Series

Gibbons publishes airflow performance at a stated pressure for the X-Series. This makes the range a useful example of why horsepower alone is not enough when comparing blower performance.

GX-900

Up to 5 × 5m inflatables
Motor 1.0 HP / 0.75 kW
Air volume @ 1.0 kPa 900 m³/hr
Max running current 6.0 A
IP rating IP24

GX-1250

6 × 6m to 8 × 8m inflatables
Motor 1.5 HP / 1.10 kW
Air volume @ 1.0 kPa 1250 m³/hr
Max running current 10.5 A
IP rating IP24

GX-1650

Larger than 8 × 8m inflatables
Motor 2.0 HP / 1.50 kW
Air volume @ 1.0 kPa 1650 m³/hr
Max running current 10.5 A
IP rating IP24

What pressure should an inflatable run at?

There is no single universal operating pressure that should be applied to every inflatable. The correct operating pressure is determined by the design and manufacturer's specification.

Too little pressure

An inflatable may fail to achieve its intended shape, rigidity or structural performance.

Correct pressure

The inflatable operates within the manufacturer's specified operating range.

Excessive pressure

Increasing blower pressure beyond the manufacturer's requirements is not automatically safer and may place unnecessary loads on the inflatable.

Important:

Never use a generic pressure figure as a substitute for the inflatable manufacturer's specification. HSE guidance states that relevant operating instructions should be followed and that internal pressure should be maintained within the manufacturer's specified operating range where applicable.

Safety starts with the inflatable manufacturer's specification

The blower is one part of the overall inflatable operating system. Correct blower selection should be combined with the manufacturer's operating instructions, inspection requirements and appropriate safety procedures.

1
Identify the inflatable

Establish the type, size, number of chambers and inflation points.

2
Find the manufacturer's specification

Check the specified blower, airflow requirements and operating pressure where provided.

3
Check blower performance

Compare airflow and pressure performance rather than relying solely on HP or kW.

4
Check electrical requirements

Confirm voltage, frequency, current, starting current and available electrical supply.

5
Check environmental requirements

Consider outdoor exposure, IP rating, temperature, weather, noise and physical durability.

6
Don't automatically choose bigger

A higher-powered blower is not automatically the correct blower for the inflatable.

A simple way to choose your blower

Start with the inflatable, not the motor. Work through these four questions before selecting a blower.

1. What size is it? Establish the inflatable's dimensions and configuration.
2. What pressure does it need? Check the manufacturer's specified operating pressure or blower requirements.
3. What airflow is required? Consider the quantity of air required to inflate and maintain the inflatable under operating conditions.
4. Which blower delivers it? Compare actual blower performance at a stated pressure, together with electrical and environmental requirements.

Gibbons Classic range

The Gibbons Classic range provides established blower options for different inflatable sizes and applications.

FP5005

1.50 HP / 1.1 kW metal-cased blower designed for inflatables from approximately 6 × 6m to 8 × 8m.

FP5006

1.50 HP / 1.1 kW plastic-cased blower designed for inflatables between approximately 6 × 6m and 8 × 8m.

FP5007 / FP5061

2.0 HP Classic blowers designed for larger inflatables over approximately 8 × 8m.

Explore Gibbons inflatable blowers

Compare the Gibbons range and find the blower suited to your inflatable application.

FP5005 (8M x 8M inflatables)

FP5005 (8M x 8M inflatables)

The foundation of Gibbons’ Classic range and Industry standard metal cased 1.50hp bouncy castle blower designed for use with inflatables from 6m x 6m to 8m x 8m in size. With a...

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FP5061 (larger than 8M x 8M Inflatables)

FP5061 (larger than 8M x 8M Inflatables)

Gibbons ‘Classic Range’ metal cased 2.0hp bouncy castle blower is the only metal cased blower of its kind. The FP5061 has been designed to offer excellent pressure and air volume on large...

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FP5006 (8M x 8M inflatables)

FP5006 (8M x 8M inflatables)

Gibbon’s classic plastic cased, 1.50hp bouncy castle blower designed for use with inflatables between 6 x 6m - 8 x 8m in size. With its high  quality motor and proven performance the...

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FP5007 (larger than 8M x 8M inflatables)

FP5007 (larger than 8M x 8M inflatables)

The Gibbons ‘Classic Range’ plastic cased 2.0hp bouncy castle blower designed to offer high pressure and air volumes on large inflatables greater than 8 x 8m in size. The big brother to...

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Blower selection FAQs

Is a 2 HP blower always better than a 1.5 HP blower?
No. Motor power alone does not determine whether a blower is suitable. The correct blower is the one that provides the required airflow and pressure for the inflatable within its manufacturer's operating requirements.
Does higher airflow mean higher pressure?
Not necessarily. Airflow and pressure are related but different characteristics. A blower should be evaluated using its performance under a stated pressure rather than simply its free-air airflow figure.
What is back pressure?
Back pressure is the resistance encountered by the blower while pushing air into the inflatable. The inflatable's construction and internal pressure contribute to that resistance.
What pressure should my inflatable run at?
The pressure should be taken from the inflatable manufacturer's operating instructions. There is no single universal pressure that applies to every inflatable.
Can I use a more powerful blower if my inflatable is soft?
Do not automatically substitute a more powerful blower. First establish why the inflatable is not achieving its specified operating condition and check the manufacturer's requirements.
Why can two blowers with the same HP perform differently?
Because motor power is only one part of the blower. Impeller design, motor speed, aerodynamic design, housing geometry and other engineering characteristics affect the final pressure and airflow performance.
Why does Gibbons quote airflow at 1.0 kPa for the X-Series?
Stating airflow at a defined pressure provides a more meaningful comparison than quoting only free-air airflow. It demonstrates the amount of air the blower can deliver at a specified system resistance.

UK safety guidance and standards

  • Health and Safety Executive (HSE) — Bouncy castles and other play inflatables: safety advice.
  • BS EN 14960 — Inflatable play equipment: safety requirements and test methods.
  • HSE guidance states that operating instructions should be supplied with inflatable equipment and followed during operation.
  • For relevant sealed inflatables, HSE documentation includes the means of measuring internal pressure and maintaining safe operation in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.

This page provides general technical information and should not be treated as a substitute for the inflatable manufacturer's operating manual, risk assessment, inspection requirements, applicable legislation or relevant standards.

Not sure which blower you need?

Tell Gibbons what inflatable you are using and our team can help identify the appropriate blower for your application.

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