Strength assessment of safety lines and support trees

Vertic’Alps Expertise prepares structural calculation reports to assess the strength of safety lines and support trees, with reference to the applicable requirements of NF EN 15567-1+A1.

This service is separate from the technical inspection of installations. The necessary measurements can be taken during the inspection.

For support trees, the mechanical assessment complements the tree-health assessment.

The service includes the measurements required for modelling and calculations:

• Geometry of the course elements and guy cables: lengths, orientations and anchor heights.

• Tree circumference at the base and at anchor positions.

• The gradient of ziplines and guy cables.

• The installation tension of safety lines.

• Free-fall height, particularly in the middle of course elements.

The calculations take account of the installation's configuration, cable and termination properties, and the protective equipment used.

Results are presented course element by course element, setting out the assumptions and strength assessment of the components studied.

We provide a structural calculation report in PDF format, including assumptions, input data and results.

When ordered together with the ropes-course inspection, it can be appended to the inspection report.

The certificate of conformity remains subject to favourable results from the safety-line and support assessment, a favourable tree-health assessment and the resolution of priority findings identified during inspection.

• The manufacturer's documentation: drawings and assembly, operating and maintenance instructions.

• The tree-health assessment of support trees.

• Cable certificates, including minimum breaking load and mass per unit length.

• References and properties of the protective equipment used.

• Previous structural calculation reports and design documents, where available.

Work must be complete and equipment accessible. A person must be present on site to accompany the inspector.