Personal Protective Equipment – Safety System Selection
The most important element of an adventure park are the lifelines and therefore the safety equipment used. Once the correct lifeline model is determined, it is necessary to select the most appropriate safety equipment for this lifeline model, course plan, target audience, and budget.
Steel wire rope and rail systems are the most frequently used lifeline models in rope courses. The rail system is used in most of the steel construction parks, and lifelines are built with steel wire ropes in parks established between trees or wooden poles.
- Rail LifeLine
The main components of this system are the uninterrupted rail on the head height of the users, the junction points in the game distribution areas, and a pucks/mechanism that moves continuously in the rail. In games, users switch using an intermediate link to connect to the in-rail reel or mechanism, except for the harness and helmet. It is the most important example of the “Continuous Belay” model. According to the EN 15667-2 standard, it is within the scope of Category E. (Details of the categories are given below.)
Advantages:
– It is easy to operate.
– Maintenance costs are low.
Disadvantages:
– It can be loud.
– It is difficult for users to beat each other.
– Rail and in-rail mechanism production tests and periodic inspection are difficult.
- Wire Rope LifeLine
Depending on the safety system to be used, it is created by means of steel wire ropes stretched at different heights from the belly to the head and suitable connection devices. It is divided into 2 groups as “Non-Continuous Belay” and “Continuous Belay”. It is covered by Category A-B-C-D according to the EN 15667-2 standard. (Details of the categories are given below.)
- a) “Non-Continuous Belays
They are double-lanyard systems where the safety system is changed by the user during the game passes.
Advantages:
– The pleasure of usage is high.
– It increases the self-confidence of the users.
– It allows users to pass on each other.
– The rescue operation is easy.
Disadvantages:
– If the correct product is not selected, the risk of users staying unsafe at height increases.
– Periodic maintenance requires regular follow-up.
- b) “Continuous Belay”
They are single lanyard devices that users can exit from the steel rope lifeline to which they are belayed at the beginning of the course.
Advantages:
– It is easy to operate.
Disadvantages:
– Multi-level adventure parks require a large number of personnel.
– It is difficult for users to cross each other.
– There are limitations to in-game distribution and course planning.
In the EN 15567-2 Standard, adventure park safety systems are classified as follows.
1- INDIVIDUAL SAFETY SYSTEM
A device that does not lock automatically but closes by itself
Example: self-closing carabiners or locking carabiners
Category B
Auto-locking device
Example: Automatic carbine
Category C
Double safety device designed to reduce the possibility of accidental disconnection from the safety system (Old Model Smart Belay etc.)
Category D
Double safety device (New Smart Belay X, SSB, Clic-it, etc.) designed to eliminate the possibility of accidental separation from the safety system.
Category E
A device that is permanently placed or can be removed with just one tool (Rail, Zaza, Saferoller, Roperoller, etc.)
2- COLLECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS
– Net, water, ball pool, etc.
3- ASSISTED BELAY / TEAM BELAYING
– Top Rope
