Amusement Ride Level Rate Guide: A vs B vs C Rides, Safety Standards & Licensing

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Update time : 2026-04-18 12:42:52

When planning or building an amusement park, carnival, theme park, or indoor Family Entertainment Center (FEC), one critical concept is often overlooked at the early stage: amusement ride>/a> level rate.

Understanding how amusement ride>/a>s are classified by risk level, technical parameters, and regulatory requirements is essential for:

Amusement Equipment Selection
Budget planning
Safety compliance
Long-term operational efficiency

This guide provides a clear, practical explanation of amusement ride levels, with a focus on A-level, B-level, and C-level amusement ride>/a>s, based on current Chinese regulations and widely referenced international practices.

1. What is the amusement ride>/a> Level Rate?

Amusement park ride level rate refers to the official classification of amusement ride>/a>s according to:

Operational risk
Technical parameters (speed, height, capacity)
Applicable safety regulations
Approval and supervision authority

In China, amusement ride>/a>s are regulated as special equipment, and their level classification is primarily defined by:

Special Equipment Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China

Special Equipment Safety Supervision Regulation

Safety Supervision Regulations on Large amusement ride>/a>s

TSG 71-2023: Large amusement ride>/a> Safety Technical Code

These regulations determine whether a ride is considered a “large amusement ride>/a>” and which level it belongs to.

2. Legal Definition of Large amusement ride>/a>s (Key Thresholds)

According to TSG 71-2023, a ride is legally defined as a large amusement ride>/a> if it is operated for commercial purposes and meets either of the following conditions:

Maximum operating linear speed ≥ 2 m/s
Operating height ≥ 2 m above ground level

⚠️ This means a theme park ride’s classification depends on measurable parameters, not appearance or size alone.

3. How amusement ride>/a> Levels Are Classified

Do All Rides Have A/B/C Levels?

No.
Under current regulations:

Sliding rides and rotating amusement park rides are classified into A-level and B-level
Water rides, amusement vehicles, and non-powered amusement park rides are not graded, but are managed as B-level equipment

4. A-Level amusement ride>/a>s (Highest Risk Category)

Amusement Ride Level Rate Guide: A vs B vs C Rides, Safety Standards & Licensing(图1)

Amusement Ride Level Rate Guide: A vs B vs C Rides, Safety Standards & Licensing(图2)

Supervising Authority:
State Administration for Market Regulation (National Level)

Technical Characteristics

A-level amusement ride>/a>s typically feature:

High speed
Significant operating height
Large passenger capacity
Complex structures and control systems

Typical Parameter Standards

Examples include:

roller coasters
- Speed ≥ 50 km/h
- or Track height ≥ 10 m
Observation Rides (ferris wheels)
- Height ≥ 50 m
- or Single cabin capacity ≥ 38 passengers

Typical Applications

Large theme parks
National-level tourist attractions
Destination amusement resorts

These amusement park rides require strict approval, national-level supervision, frequent inspections, and higher operational standards.

5. B-Level amusement ride>/a>s (Medium Risk Category)

Amusement Ride Level Rate Guide: A vs B vs C Rides, Safety Standards & Licensing(图3)

Amusement Ride Level Rate Guide: A vs B vs C Rides, Safety Standards & Licensing(图4)

Supervising Authority:
Provincial Market Supervision Administrations

Technical Characteristics

B-level amusement park rides offer a balance between excitement and accessibility, making them the most common category in commercial projects.

Typical Parameter Standards

Sliding amusement ride>/a>s

Rotating amusement ride>/a>s (Carousel, Self-Control Plane, etc.)

Typical Applications

Regional amusement parks
Urban entertainment complexes
Shopping mall FECs
Mixed-use commercial projects

B-level theme park rides are often preferred due to lower approval complexity, flexible layouts, and strong ROI performance.

6. Rides Managed as B-Level (Not Separately Graded)

The following ride categories are not divided into A or B levels, but are regulated under B-level licensing requirements:

Water rides

Water slides
Wave pools
Lazy rivers

Amusement vehicles

bumper cars

Theme park trains
Non-powered or semi-powered amusement ride>/a>s

Supervising Authority: Provincial level

7. C-Level amusement ride>/a>s (Low-Risk Category)

Amusement Ride Level Rate Guide: A vs B vs C Rides, Safety Standards & Licensing(图5)

Amusement Ride Level Rate Guide: A vs B vs C Rides, Safety Standards & Licensing(图6)

Although not always formally labeled as “C-level” in licensing terms, C-level amusement ride>/a>s generally refer to equipment with:

Lower speed
Lower height
Smaller passenger capacity
Reduced operational risk

Typical Examples

Children’s slides
Small swings
Soft play equipment
Inflatable playgrounds

Typical Applications

Community parks
Indoor children’s playgrounds
Shopping mall play zones

These amusement ride>/a>s usually require registration or filing only, rather than full special equipment manufacturing licenses.

8. Equipment Typically Exempt from Special Equipment Licensing

Not all amusement attractions fall under special equipment regulations.

Common exemptions include:

Non-commercial amusement facilities
Rides with:
- Speed < 2 m/s
- Height < 2 m
Specific attraction types:
- Inflatable castles
- Rainbow slides
- Glass walkways
- Alpine coasters
- Aerial zip-wire experiences
Non-rider structures:
- Decorative installations
- Artificial landscapes
- Thematic sculptures

These exemptions are often used strategically to control investment and approval timelines.

9. Key Parameters Used in amusement ride>/a> Level Evaluation

Understanding these parameters helps investors and operators avoid compliance issues:

Operating speed (maximum linear speed)
Operating height (distance from rider support surface to ground)
Track height
Passenger capacity
Rotation diameter
Swing angle
Structural complexity

Final classification is based on type testing results and approved design documentation, and amusement park ride manufacturers must not exceed approved parameters during production.

(See more: Top 10 Amusement Park Rides Manufacturers in China (2026) )