Installing fall netting can be tricky. This article will go over some of the most important things to consider when installing fall netting. These include: Size, Inspection, Placement, and Installation. We’ll also discuss the best wire specification to use for your application. Let’s get started. This article will cover size and placement options for different fall-protection applications. Make sure to read through the entire article before buying fall-protection netting.
Installation
For a project that requires fall netting installation, WTL is a good choice. Our team has experience with fall netting installation in construction sites and can help you decide if this type of safety net is right for your project. WTL recently worked on the Crossgates station in Leeds, which included rock fall netting installation and vegetation management. Below are the steps required to install fall netting. This type of safety netting is an essential safety tool for construction sites.
First, you must plan the installation of the safety net. Include all those who are involved in the process. Ensure that everyone is trained in rescue procedures. During the installation process, give verbal instructions to all workers on what to do in case of a fall. For example, when installing the net, you must also discuss the conditions of the ground and whether any debris is falling on the workers below. It is also critical to know the proper procedure for rescuing workers if a fall occurs.
When installing safety nets, make sure to install them as close as possible to the work platform. You should also install them such that they do not come into contact with objects below the net. The safety net should be inspected once or twice a week, and after any occurrence that may affect its integrity. If a worker does fall into the net, they should remove the scrap and materials before they can fall onto the floor. Besides proper installation, safety nets should be checked regularly.
Size
When selecting fall safety nets, it is important to consider the size of the netting’s mesh. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations state that fall protection nets must be six inches wide and six inches tall. Additionally, they must be lined with rope that is rated to hold 5,000 pounds of force. You can find more information about fall protection nets on OSHA’s web site. The following table details the various sizes and classifications of fall netting.
The fall height of fall safety netting should be 6.0 metres, although BS 8411 2007 recommends that there should be a minimum of 0.5 m of clearance below it. Since fall safety nettings deform slightly as an object falls on them, the initial sag should be between five and ten percent of the net’s shortest side. Ideally, this initial sag should not exceed three metres, but should be no more than five per cent of the net’s total length.
Inspection
There are two aspects to the inspection of fall netting that make it so important. The first is the inspection of fall arrest safety nets, which must meet European Standard EN 1263-1. Moreover, construction safety nets must have an identification label. The identification label is essential in the annual inspection process. The nets also have three test meshes, each with a unique serial number, which users must return with a photo of the identification label each year.
BS EN 1263-2 specifies the maximum fall height for safety nets. The maximum fall height should not be more than 6.0 metres from the work platform or 7 m from the centre of gravity. The maximum height for the safety net should be no more than 6.0 metres from the top of the work platform. The distance between the bottom of the safety net and the edge of the building should not be greater than 3.0 metres.
The safety net should be inspected regularly to ensure that it remains safe and effective. The first inspection must take place within one year after its production date. Those nets with three test meshes may be used for up to 4 years before needing to be replaced. A periodic inspection must also be conducted after each new inspection. It should include tests for UV deterioration and energy absorption. The test tag must bear an identity number, which identifies the authorised testing centre.
Placement
The correct placement of fall netting is essential to prevent a worker from falling. A safety net should be installed as close as possible to the work platform, and not more than 2.0 metres away. It should also be installed with sufficient clearance for net deflection. The net’s width and height should be measured using BS EN 1263-2. The height and width of the net should be calculated using the table below, with an extra 0.5 metre of clearance below the net.
If there is a possibility that falling debris will accumulate on a scaffold, it is recommended that safety netting be combined with lifelines and anchor points. This way, a person cannot fall without a lifeline. Moreover, the netting can also serve as a barrier for bystanders, which helps keep them safe. A fall prevention system is recommended if there are no other fall prevention measures available in the workplace.
When planning the installation of fall safety nets, you must consider the working height of the workers. The height must not exceed six metres. For a reduced fall, the distance should not exceed three metres. The distance between the extreme place of work and the lowest point of the safety net must not exceed three metres. It is also important to ensure that there is enough clear space below the fall netting to walk underneath and to clear the debris. The net must also be easily accessible for rescue or cleaning, and it should not be used as a work platform or storage. Ideally, the net should be attached to the structure using tie ropes, karabiners, or specially designed anchor points.
Cost
There are several reasons why you should invest in fall netting. For one, they can protect your employees and property in an unexpected accident. And, they can be an excellent way to increase productivity and minimize downtime for workers. These netting systems also meet the requirements of OSHA and can be used in situations where other fall prevention measures are not feasible. And, because they’re cheap, you can easily store them for future use.
The cost of fall netting depends on several factors. The cheapest and easiest to install is drape netting, which costs about $3,000 per acre and is installed by tractor-mounted tools. However, it was not very effective in reducing the amount of radiation reaching fruit. It also reduced wind speeds by up to 40 percent, which meant less rubbing on fruit. Still, these netting systems may not be the best option for every situation.
While fall protection netting systems are great for many situations, they cannot replace the use of fall protection equipment. Lifelines are flexible lines attached to anchor points, and they help to stop a worker’s vertical descent in the event of a fall. Horizontal lifelines are cable or rope attached at two anchor points and serve similar functions. The mesh in horizontal lifelines provides more protection than a mesh safety net. The height required for fall prevention varies depending on the local ordinances.
Requirements
The height of the fall that must be prevented by fall netting is governed by the standards. The net must be installed as close to the working level as is practicable, but should not be installed lower than 30 feet. It must be hung with sufficient clearance so that the net does not come into contact with the structures below. Moreover, the net must be suspended without intervening members. These are the essential rules that must be followed to meet the standards of fall netting.
BS EN 1263: The safety nets must be installed at least two metres below the working platform. The safety nets should not be installed higher than 2.0 metres, as this will increase the probability of hitting a hard surface. Other safety requirements include clearance from traffic routes and other features in the work area. However, in cases where safety netting is large enough, a clearance of three to five metres from the building edge can be accommodated.
DGUV rule 101-011: A safety net that conforms to this standard is approved. The net must be installed and tested by an authorized contractor. The net must also be anchored at load-bearing points. To measure the stability of the suspension points, a characteristic load of four kN must be adopted at an angle of 45deg. If the height of the fall point is more than four meters, the safety net must have a minimum strength of four kN.