This is intended for people who know what they are doing and is written as a reference guide to assure adequate safety in construction and operation of the above referenced structures.
A1.001.001.A
Location of Structures
All structures should be located where activities can be conducted safely.
Comments: Bogs, sink holes, flood plains, coal burning plants, and nuclear waste dumps are a few examples areas that may not be appropriate for challenge course or adventure activities
B1.001.001.A
Support Structures
Support structures such as trees and poles must be strong enough to easily support the loads that will be applied to the structure.
B1.002.002.B
TREES
Trees should be living and healthy.
Trees should not be located in high erosion areas.
Tress should not have dead limbs above the areas where activities are located.
Trees should not be damaged during installation or use of elements.
Trees should be strong enough to support elements.
Comments: Palm trees are not a good choice. An arborist should be consulted in most situations. 8” is the bare minimum size that any limb or trunk should be that is supporting elements. 12” is better. 20”+ is best. The type of tree is very important to know the loads it can carry. Trees die, so choose carefully. Water and fertilize your trees to create strong trees, a happy trees, and good karma.
B1.003.003.C
POLES
Poles should be strong enough to support the intended loads; really they should be much stronger.
Poles should be treated against rot and decay.
Poles should be planted to the proper depth. 10% of the pole length + 2’ is the usual depth standard set by power companies. This depth is usually adequate but may not be in some conditions, like wetlands, beaches, and flood plains.
Poles should be minimum class two. Class 3 poles may be appropriate for towers or other multiple pole, interlocked structures. Class 3 or 4 poles may be appropriate for cat walks, balance beams, incline logs, and driveway borders.
Fasteners, attachments, and cables should not be located within 12” of the top of the pole.
Comments: Proper pole selection and treatment is key to safety. Old, retired poles that smell like gasoline and are oozing black goo should not be used. Some treatments are better than others. Some are downright dangerous for long term human health. Water borne treatments are preferred over oil borne treatments. Most oil borne treatments contain carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals). A sleeve type liner is sometimes used to cover the portion of the post that will be in contact with the ground (with and without preservatives) to provide an extra layer of protection. It also contains the preservatives within the wood and prevents leaching into the soil. Some sleeves are added in the field while others are only applied by the manufacturer. Stainless steel ‘Pole Socks’ should be used in areas with active underground termites; etc. Hawaii, Central America, and the garden shed.
C1.001.001.A
Guy Wire Support Systems
Almost all poles and many trees will require guy wire support systems to facilitate proper strength and loading. Guy wire systems should be strong enough to handle 2 – 5 times the maximum expected load. Guy anchors must be properly installed. Guy wire support systems for zip lines, giant swings should be installed with a back-up system for component failure (add an extra clamp or ferrule). Guy wire support system attachment should be within 12” of the belay cables.
Comments: the flatter the angle, the stronger the support. 45o is typically the minimum angle that should be used for guy wire systems. Angles less than 45o will probably require additional anchors and cables.
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Guy wire support system anchors may be affected by excessive rain, earthquakes, automobile impacts, erosion and changing soil conditions. Guy wire anchor systems should be inspected prior to every use.
Guy wire anchor systems should be load tested at the time of installation to assure proper holding power. Use a lift, bobcat, backhoe, or other heavy equipment to pull test your anchors. If they pull out easily, then get longer, fatter anchors or pour >1 cy reinforced concrete.
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NOT AN APPROPRIATE ANCHOR |
D1.001.001.A
Cables
Cables used for life support should be at least 5 times stronger than the maximum expected load.
Cables should be attached using OSHA approved hardware. Cables should be properly tensioned (loose enough) to prevent overloading from vector angle forces. (Don’t you love that term?)
Comments: 3/8” 7×19 galvanized aircraft cable is the most common cable used for belay safety cables, ½” or larger cables may be needed for long zip lines or cables where vector angle forces will exceed the safe working load of 3/8” cable (1/5 of the tensile/breaking strength). Stainless steel cable is usually needed is high corrosive environments like beaches, swamps, or near smelters, coal burning plants, and other pollution producing areas.
Vector Angle Forces (tension/anchor loads) are determined by the formula:
Formula: Example:
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Tension = load x span 4 x sag
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1,000# = 200 x 200 4 x 10’ |
| Tension is the total weight that the anchors must
Support; load to anchors. Load is the total of the weight of the guest, belayer and cable. Span is the length of the cable. 4 is the number 4 (four). Sag is the distance of cable deflection while under Load. |
200’ zip line cable
200 lb rider weight 5% sag 1000# of tension to the anchors! |
| Notes:
10% SAG is the usual minimum of dynamic belayed elements. 5% SAG is the usual minimum for static elements. SAG may be reduced if stronger/ fatter cables are used. |
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NEVER EXCEED THE SAFE WORKING LOAD OF LIFE SUPPORT CABLES
SAFE WORKING LOAD (SWL = 1/5 TENSILE/BREAKING STRENGTH)
| 7×19 1×7 1×19 7×7 COATED COATED | |
| GOOD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD |
E1.001.001.A
Cable attachments and terminations
Cables should be terminated and attached in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Life support cables should have an additional clamp or ferrule to provide peace of mind and justify additional charges to clients. Zip line should have at least four (4) clamps or three (3) ferrules for the same reasons.
Comments:
E1.001.001.B
BOLTS
Bolts should be at least 5 times stronger than the maximum expected loads. Bolts holding life support cables should be backed up in case of failure.
Comments: Most bolts used on adventure-challenge-ropes-zip-line courses are manufactured in China and contain defects that can only be detected with elaborate testing, x-rays, or paranormal powers. Even American bolts may have such defects. The most common way to back up bolts is with a separate piece of cable wrapped around the anchor. But then one must ask ‘why am I using bolts if I have to wrap the pole anyway?’ Galvanized 5/8” and ¾” diameter bolts are usually adequate for you bolters out there.
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Cable wrap back-up for two eye bolts |
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E1.001.001.C
Clamps and Ferrules
Only drop forged clamps should be used! Stainless steel clamps may be used on stainless steel cables.
Ferrules should be copper or zinc plated copper. Aluminum may be appropriate for European standards or American non life support applications. Clamps and Ferrules should be installed to manufacturer specifications. An additional clamp or ferrule should be installed on life support and other critical cables.
Comments: OSHA does not approve of U-type clamps used for life support applications. Only fist grip clamps and ferrules should be used for life support cables. Critical cables are defined as a cable whose failure could cause injury and death, ie catwalk, giant ladder…
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| MALIABLE CLAMPS ON 1X7 CABLE | PROPERLY INSTALLED U CLAMPS | FIST GRIP CLAMP | STAINLESS STEEL |
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Thimbles should be used on terminations that will experience repeated loading and movement.
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THIMBLES |
FERRULES |
F1.001.001.A
Gear
All gear; harnesses, helmets, pulleys, carabiners, tethers and such should be used in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. All components should have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs (23 kN). Full body harnesses should be used in all applications where the participant may receive falls greater than 2’ or may become inverted to an up-side-down position. Carabiners should have a locking mechanism. All gear and components that will have any contact with steel cable or bolts should be made out of steel, ie.. pulleys, carabiners, and links. All gear showing wear, deformation, or exceeding manufacturers life expectancy should be retired.
Comments: Aluminum wheeled pulley and trolleys should not be used on steel cable. Aluminum carabiners should not be used on steel cables. All gear should be inspected before each use. Records should be kept of purchase, use, damage, and retirement.
F1.001.001.B
Rope
Only appropriate rope should be used for adventure applications. Dynamic rope should be used where a fall greater than 2’ may occur. Static rope may be appropriate for top roping applications. Rope should be inspected and retired according to manufacturer recommendations.
Comments: Don’t use damaged or old rope. Inspect your ropes. Keep your rope clean. Learn your knots. Don’t step on a rope. Do not use tow ropes and damaged ropes for life support applications. Don’t use life support ropes for automotive and industrial applications.
G1.001.001.A
Inspection
Make sure everything is inspected regularly. A thorough inspection should be done annually by a professional person (meaning they carry the right insurance). Inspect everything including pole sections that are underground for rot and decay.
Comments: Damaged components should be retired, replaced, or sold on ebay. If you are unsure about the integrity of a component, then retire it or find a professional person to inspect it. Professional persons carry the right insurance for such activities. Rusty components usually should be retired. Damaged components should also be retired. Old components should be retired. Used equipment purchased on ebay should not be used.
H1.001.001.A
Training and staff competencies
All staff should be trained and be able to demonstrate the skills necessary to operate the course. Training should be documented. Training should be conducted by a professional person. Staff should be familiar with all procedures associated with the course including rescue, emergency, and first aid procedures. Staff should be familiar with proper protocols for working with special population..ie not using the term ‘biners’ when working with Hispanic populations.
I1.001.001.A
Ethical standards
Do onto other as you would have done onto you.
Take the high road.
Do the right thing.
Be kind.
Be supportive.
Be safe.
Appendices
A1
Pole Treatments
Proper pole selection and treatment is key to safety. Old, retired poles that smell like gasoline and are oozing black goo should not be used. Some treatments are better than others. Some are downright dangerous for long term human health. Water borne treatments are preferred over oil borne treatments. Most oil borne treatments contain carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals).
A sleeve type liner is sometimes used to cover the portion of the post that will be in contact with the ground (with and without preservatives) to provide an extra layer of protection. It also contains the preservatives within the wood and prevents leaching into the soil. Some sleeves are added in the field while others are only applied by the manufacturer. Stainless steel ‘Pole Socks’ should be used in areas with active underground termites; etc. Hawaii, Central America, and my garden shed.
Water borne treatments:
CCA – Cromated Copper Arsenate-Usually the preferred treatment for support poles. The EPA says “Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a chemical wood preservative containing chromium, copper and arsenic. CCA is used in pressure treated wood to protect wood from rotting due to insects and microbial agents. EPA has classified CCA as a restricted use product, for use only by certified pesticide applicators. CCA has been used to pressure treat lumber since the 1940s. Since the 1970s, the majority of the wood used in outdoor residential settings has been CCA-treated wood. Pressure treated wood containing CCA is no longer being produced for use in most residential settings, including decks and playsets.”
ACQ - Amine Copper Quat – Is slowly replacing CCA and may be required in some states. ACQ can cause excessive and premature rusting to galvanized components like bolts and cable. The EPA says “ACQ is a water-based wood preservative that prevents decay from fungi and insects (i.e., it is a fungicide and insecticide). There are currently four AWPA standardized ACQ formulations, ACQ Types A, B, C, and D. The different formulations allow flexibility in achieving compatibility with different wood species and end use applications. All ACQ types contain 2 active ingredients which may vary within the following limits: copper oxide (62%-71%), which is the primary fungicide and insecticide, and a quaternary ammonium compound (29%-38%), which provides additional fungicide and insect resistance properties.
- ACQ-A: Standardized by the American Wood-Preservers’ Association (AWPA)1 in 1992 and deleted in 2000 due to a lack of use.
- ACQ-B: Standardized by the AWPA in 1992 and is primarily used for the treatment of western wood species such as Douglas fir because its ammonia carrier solution allows the ACQ to penetrate into these difficult-to-treat species. This formulation contains 66.7% copper oxide and 33.3% quat as didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC). ACQ-B treated wood has a dark greenish-brown color that fades to a lighter brown and may have a slight ammonia odor until dry.
- ACQ-C: Standardized by the AWPA in 2002, it contains 66.7% copper oxide and 33.3% quat as alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ADBAC). Ammonia and/or ethanolamine can be used as the carrying solution in this formulation. Wood treated with ACQ-C varies in color that ranges between that of type B and type D.
- ACQ-D: Most wood-treating plants in the US generally use the ACQ-D formulation except for much of the west coast. Standardized by the AWPA in 1995, ACQ-D contains 66.7% copper oxide and 33.3% quat as DDAC. Type D differs from type B in that it uses an ethanolamine carrier solution rather than ammonia. Wood treated with ACQ-D has a lighter greenish-brown color with little odor.
Copper Azole is a water-based wood preservative that prevents fungal decay and insect attack; it is a fungicide and insecticide. There are two types of Copper Azole: A (CBA-A), and B (CA-B). Copper azole wood preservative is used for treating a variety of softwood species including southern pine, red pine, ponderosa pine, hem-fir and Douglas fir.
- CBA-A: Copper Boron Azole type A was standardized by the American Wood-Preservers’ Association (AWPA)1 in 1995 and contains the following ingredients: copper (49%), boron as boric acid (49%), and azole as tebuconazole (2%). Wood treated with CBA-A has a greenish-brown color and little or no odor. The use of CBA-A has been generally supplanted by the newer CA-B product.
- CA-B: Copper Azole type B was standardized by the AWPA in 2002 and is composed of copper (96.1%) and azole as tebuconazole (3.9%). Wood treated with CA-B has a greenish-brown color and little or no odor. CA-B is in widespread use throughout the United States and Canada.
Applications of Copper Azole-Water-based preservatives like copper azole leave wood with a clean, paintable surface after they dry. Copper Azole is registered for treatment of millwork, shingles & shakes, siding, plywood, structural lumber, fence posts, building and utility poles, land and freshwater piling, composites, and other wood products that are used in above-ground, ground contact and fresh water as well as in salt water splash (marine) decking applications. (Never call anyone an azole. See ethics!)
ACZA - Ammoniacal Copper Zinc Arsenate – a CCA alternative that is patented and only used by JH Baxter, a pole treatment company. ACZA is the only treatment that shows significant reduction in woodpecker activity over other treatments.
ACA – Ammoniacal Copper Arsenate – another alternative to CCA.
EPA statement about ACZA and ACA “This wood has been preserved by pressure-treatment with an EPA-registered pesticide containing inorganic arsenic to protect it from insect attack and decay. Wood treated with inorganic arsenic should be used only where such protection is important.
Inorganic arsenic penetrates deeply into and remains in the pressure-treated wood for a long time. However, some chemical may migrate from treated wood into surrounding soil over time and may also be dislodged from the wood surface upon contact with skin. Exposure to inorganic arsenic may present certain hazards. Therefore, the following precautions should be taken both when handling the treated wood and in determining where to use or dispose of the treated wood.
Use-Site Precautions:
- All sawdust and construction debris should be cleaned up and disposed of after construction.
- Do not use treated wood under circumstances where the preservative may become a component of food or animal feed. Examples of such sites would be use of mulch from recycled arsenic-treated wood, cutting boards, counter tops, animal bedding, and structures or containers for storing animal feed or human food.
- Only treated wood that is visibly clean and free of surface residue should be used for patios, decks and walkways.
- Do not use treated wood for construction of those portions of beehives which may come into contact with honey.
- Treated wood should not be used where it may come into direct or indirect contact with drinking water, except for uses involving incidental contact such as docks and bridges.
Handling Precautions:
- Treated wood should not be burned in open fires or in stoves, fireplaces, or residential boilers because toxic chemicals may be produced as part of the smoke and ashes. Treated wood from commercial or industrial use (e.g., construction sites) may be burned only in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with state and Federal regulations. CCA-treated wood can be disposed of with regular municipal trash (i.e., municipal solid waste, not yard waste) in many areas. However, state or local laws may be stricter than federal requirements. For more information, please contact the waste management agency for your state.
- Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from treated wood. When sawing, sanding, and machining treated wood, wear a dust mask. Whenever possible, these operations should be performed outdoors to avoid indoor accumulations or airborne sawdust from treated wood.
- When power-sawing and machining, wear goggles to protect eyes from flying particles.
- Wear gloves when working with the wood. After working with the wood, and before eating, drinking, toileting, and use of tobacco products, wash exposed areas thoroughly.
- Because preservatives or sawdust may accumulate on clothes, they should be laundered before reuse. Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing.
Oil Borne treatments – Should not be used where participant or staff will have contact with the treated poles. It may be appropriate for application where the pole is not in contact with participants or staff like zip line receiving poles or tower structure poles.
Creosote – is a distillate derived from coal tar, derived by the high temperature carbonization of bituminous coal. Creosote consists primarily of liquid and solid polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) and contains some tar acids and tar bases. Over 100 known chemicals are components of creosote. A large body of experimental evidence exists which shows a positive relationship between exposure to creosote and development of tumors in experimental animals. In humans, evidence for carcinogenicity of creosote varies. Several studies have associated occupational exposure to creosote with development of skin cancer.
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was one of the most widely used biocides in the U.S. prior to regulatory actions to cancel and restrict certain non-wood preservative uses of pentachlorophenol in 1987. It now has no registered residential uses. Its commercial uses include: utility poles, fences, shingles, walkways, building components, piers, docks and porches, and flooring and laminated beams. Additionally, there are agricultural uses (which are sometimes referred to as “outdoor residential”), i.e., wood protection treatment to buildings/products, and fencerows/hedgerows. Prior to 1987, pentachlorophenol was registered for use as a herbicide, defoliant, mossicide, and as a disinfectant, but now all these uses are cancelled.
The Agency has received and granted requests from the registrants of pesticide products containing pentachlorophenol to terminate certain uses of their products. All non-pressure and non-thermal treatment uses (i.e., spray uses) will be deleted from the registrants’ labels. Spray uses for these products were also deleted, effective December 31, 2004. This action leaves only pressure and thermal treatments of pentachlorophenol. The non-pressure/non-thermal treatments in general lead to higher applicator exposures than other uses. In other words, you are not allowed to spray pentachlorophenol, and only pressure and thermal (heat) treatment uses are allowed. While EPA has identified some potential risks of concern, the risk estimates provided in this assessment are of a preliminary nature and subject to refinement.
