Rules and Procedures – UK Jigsaw Puzzle Association

Competitors must arrive at the venue fifteen minutes before the division’s scheduled start time.
Puzzle bags / boxes are not to be touched or opened by competitors until instructed.
Participants may use the following implements; any other belongings are to be stored under their competition table:
- Up to two trays of maximum size A3 for divisions using a 500-piece puzzle.
- A tripod or mounting clip for recording their progress attached to a phone or camera. This must not impede Judges or photographers in carrying out their duties.
- Headphones.
Only participants, judges and other authorised UKJPA volunteers / personnel are permitted to enter the competition area.
For the UK Nationals, all are welcome to compete, but only UK residents will be awarded places. The achievements of others will be acknowledged.
If table numbers are used, competitors must sit at the designated table.

Any pieces dropped on the ground will be left in position as they fall. Judges will place a coloured post-it note underneath for visibility.
Plastic wrappings and bags that are thrown on the floor will be collected by Judges soon after start of the competition. Any pieces left in bags will be placed on the floor with a post-it underneath.
A ten second penalty will be applied per missing piece when the competitors declares they are complete.
- If two or more adjacent pieces are missing, this is treated as a manufacturing defect and no penalties will be applied.
When the time limit for the division is reached, puzzling stops for all remaining competitors.
- Judges will count and record the remaining pieces at this time.
- Any pieces not connected in groups of three or more pieces will be counted as incomplete.
No time will be recorded for any competitor who receives outside assistance in completing their puzzle.