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Guidance

The Testing of Safety Nets for UV Degradation

Safety nets are typically manufactured from polypropylene or nylon which are materials that are adversely affected by ultra violet (UV) light. As such, safety nets must be tested to ascertain whether the safety net meets or exceeds the manufacturers withdrawal from service level (minimum strength).

All safety nets that are in service must have been tested within the previous 12 months to ensure they meet or exceed this level.

The common standard for the testing of Safety Nets for UV degradation is:

  1. Prior to use, all Safety Nets must have been tested within the previous 12 months (unless they are new i.e. less than 12 months old).
  2. All Testers must be competent and undergone familiarisation training on the testing device / apparatus.
  3. The withdrawal from service level shall be in accordance with the manufacturers criteria as identified on the manufactures label /
    certificate of conformity.
  4. If a sample fails by less than 5% below the manufacturer’s withdrawal from service level then the net may be retested once more.
  5. For both Knotted & Knotless Nets, the test shall be carried out on the square across one cell only for A2 and B2 specification. (100mm mesh) – see figure 1.
  6. Speed of test/break shall be set at 300mm per minute.
  7. Test results shall be by computer print out or in electronic format listing Date, Serial Number, Test Result and Manufacturer.
  8. Test machine is to be calibrated to BS EN ISO 7500-1:2004 and shall be re-calibrated not later than the end of the month that calibration expires. Manually operated test machines shall not be used.
  9. Full records of the test shall be kept. Traceability of the test will be maintained.
  10. A suitable tag shall be attached to each net following a successful test showing: – see figure 2
  • Testing Companies Name
  • Date of Test
  • Date of Next Test
  • That it Passed the Test
  • Additional information may be added

NB: When all test meshes have been used, additional test meshes may be created by cutting out a patch from within the same net to create new test meshes. The patch shall then be repaired in accordance with FASET guidance.

 

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