Technical inspection of long-distance ziplines

Vertic’Alps Expertise carries out acceptance inspections and annual principal inspections of long-distance ziplines, with reference to NF EN 15567-1+A1, concerning construction and safety requirements.

Our assignment is to identify differences between the assessment framework's requirements, the manufacturer's documentation and the actual condition of the installations inspected.

The service concerns technical inspection of installations, including examination of the documents required for this assignment.

We carry out a visual inspection, a documentary examination and functional tests at height, in accordance with applicable requirements and the manufacturer's manual. Inspection points vary according to the manufacturer, technology and installed system.

• The cable and its terminations: wear, corrosion, deformation, broken wires and fatigue-sensitive areas.

• Supports and anchors: condition of structures, connections, fixings and tensioning systems.

• Departure and arrival areas: access, platforms, protective measures and collision risks.

• Connecting and braking devices: visible condition against the inspection points in the manufacturer's manual.

Verifying the assumptions in structural calculation reports: comparison with the installation's actual configuration, particularly by measuring cable tensions and comparing them with the values in the manufacturer's documentation.

We also examine the manufacturer's documentation and applicable monitoring records.

A debriefing at the end of the assignment explains the observations and priority corrective actions.

We also share our analysis of the activity's risks on the inspected site, based on field experience and lessons from varied installations and settings.

This discussion focuses in particular on situations and risks not explicitly covered by standards, so that we can discuss areas requiring attention and improvement measures suited to the site.

Following the inspection, we provide an inspection certificate and a summary of priority findings. A detailed inspection report is then provided in PDF format.

A favourable safety opinion is subject to resolving findings that compromise safety and providing the necessary substantiation: structural calculation reports for artificial supports and a favourable tree-health assessment where trees serve as supports.

The certificate of conformity also requires strength substantiation for the activity supports.

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

• Structural calculation reports and strength substantiation for the cable, anchors and supports.

• Technical documents for equipment and braking systems, with maintenance and servicing records.

• Previous inspection reports and follow-up of corrective actions.

• Records of inspections, upkeep and maintenance operations.

• Accident reports and safety-relevant events recorded in daily operating reports.

• The PPE register and associated inspection reports where PPE is used.

• An up-to-date tree-health assessment where trees are used as supports.

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