Project Guidance and Context

Advice for Rope Bridge projects such as Resorts, Adventure Parks, Schools or Trusts [National Trust, WWT, RSPB etc.]:

A Rope Bridge is a leisure activity within a safe/supported environment; it does not require participant active safety systems, belay or any specific training to use the facility. Other than possibly stepping onto and off an entrance platform there is minimal element of assault, obstacle, initiative or physical challenge.

It may be a sensible to consider this facility within the generic and overall context of EN 15567 in consideration of the obligations of Treehouse Life Ltd. [as Constructors] and you as our Client [as Operators], also as a framework for Inspections, Maintenance and Operation.

Compliance with the EN is NOT a legal requirement, nor is this EN relevant or specific to Rope Bridges - it is a European Ropes Course Standard relevant to High Ropes Courses and as such would normally rely upon a belay system, which DOES NOT apply to a Rope Bridge. However, it may be referred to as a guide by Health and Safety enforcing agencies when considering how a Constructor or Operator has discharged their health and safety duties.

Inaugural Inspection

Although NOT mandatory for a Rope Bridge, before it is used an inaugural inspection should take place. This should only be done by a completely independent and professional inspector [classified as a Type A inspector, as defined by EN ISO/IET 17020].

By definition, such an inspector will have no commercial interest in the construction or maintenance of the project, nor any fiduciary interest in the facility to be inspected. They must also have their own public liability insurance for such work.

Routine visual check - every day

This should be carried out before opening of the Rope Bridge each day of use by the Operators.

This involves a visual check of critical components, an assessment of the general appearance of the walkway and the surrounding environment . An appropriately trained person will normally do this.

Examples of visual checks and operational inspection are cleanliness, condition of ground and walkway surfaces, sharp edges, missing components and excessive wear [of any elements and/or moving parts].

Operational Inspection - every 1-3 months

This should be carried by the Operator every 1-3 months.

Examples of visual checks and operational inspection are cleanliness, condition of ground and walkway surface, sharp edges, missing components, excessive wear [of any elements and/or moving parts] and the structural integrity of the whole system specifically including whole steel cable elements.

Specifically steel cables, wire grips and ferrules, shackles, thimbles, rigging screws, steel wire wear or animal damage of ropes or netting, any change in the nature/appearance of timbers, any vandalism or tampering, damaged branches, low hanging branches, any unexpected or inappropriate activity, rubbish, trip-hazard branches or undergrowth. An appropriately trained person will normally do this.

Maintenance

Inspections and maintenance are intrinsically linked. Minor maintenance is often best carried out by the Operator during the routine visual and operational inspection.

For more significant maintenance, it is advised that Treehouse Life Ltd. must carry out the replacement and tensioning of cables/netting/ropes and replacement of poles/platforms/timbers.

Working at Height Regulations [WAHR] and Inspections

Although Working at Height may not be relevant to your project given its height above ground and/or water, but an awareness and understanding of such regulations is helpful to working practices, Method Statements and practical skill-sets.

During routine visual checks inspection you should use the Rope Bridge as participants and that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been carried out with any necessary control measures in place.

During all other forms of inspections, maintenance and construction then practices consistent with the WAHR may be required. This may include the use of climbing harnesses and other PPE and may involve the use of dual rope techniques. It is beyond the scope of this document to provide the details of WAHR and maintenance techniques but inspectors should be conversant with these regulations before carrying out their work.