Debris Netting

Scafnet is not intended for use as a human fall protection netting.

However Scafnet (with wire rope, ties, and anchor discs) can be used to build a temporary guardrail in the manner described below.

Netting & Wire Railing

A netting & wire railing is cheaper than a fixed railing system.

The net is installed vertically to form a guardrail.

However, for the test (see pictures & report below) the net was installed horizontally, so that a weighted drum could be lowered onto the net.

TEST REPORT:

Objective:

To determine whether "Original Scafnet" is capable of retaining a 150 lb. load, per OSHA regulation 1926.502(b)(5) which states that:

"Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 150 pounds (666 N) applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the midrail or other member".

If "Original Scafnet" is found to be able to resist the load, then it could be used to build an engineered temporary guardrail system.

The regulation can be viewed at www.osha.gov and is found in:

• Part Number: 1926
• Part Title: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
• Subpart: M
• Subpart Title: Fall Protection
• Standard Number: 1926 Subpart M

Method:

The test was designed by Ben Anson (VP) and conducted Tuesday Dec 13, 2005, at 9 am by Steve Cameron (Production)

Net model used: CND made 2M50 Scafnet.

1. A 10' x 5' scaffold was capped on 3 sides with a steel test frame.
2. To simulate a floor deck, two 10 ft long 2" x 4" wood studs were banded to the steel beam on the 10' side of the test frame.
3. To simulate a toprail a 5/16" toprail wire was installed o n the opposite side.
4. Reusable zip ties (9" long x 0.5" wide, 250 lb minimum strength) were used at 24" intervals along the wire to secure the reinforced black buttonholes of the net.
5. The net was then tied to the 5' sides of the frame.
6. Finally the net was screwed to the wood planks using 3 ribbed metal discs at 5 ft intervals.
7. The underside of each 3.5" diameter disc features eyehooks which help secure the net.
8. A retaining drum weighing 160 lbs was then lowered onto the center of the net.  The base of the drum measures 12" in diameter.

Conclusion:

The netting retained the load.  There are no signs of failure.

Notes & Recommendations:

• Zip clips, as offered by other vertical net manufacturers, are unsafe as they easily roll off the wire and net.
• Warning!   When installed on site, the wire rope should be snug, not taught, and must not span more than 20', as horizontal lines can generate extremely high end forces.  These high end forces could cause the anchorages or wire rope to fail.  To reduce the problem of high end forces, consider securing the wire to anchor points that are slightly higher than 42" above the working surface (for example: 48"), so as to allow a very slight sag in the wire rope (at its lowest point the sagging wire must be higher than the min. requirement of 39").  The wire rope installation must be reviewed by a structural engineer.