In the new safety net information, rules are also laid down in the supplement for the installation of horizontal high pallet rack safety nets.

Area of application

High pallet rack safety nets protect persons, whose fall cannot be prevented, from injuries as a result of a high fall when working at workplaces and traffic routes of pallet rack storage.

Components

Pallet rack storage safety nets comprise:

A net complying with net category A1, a reinforced top of the net, however with a mesh width of no bigger than 45 mm, a steel rope with a minimum diameter of 6 mm, fastener between reinforced top of the net and steel rope such as snap hook or shackle with sufficient tensile strength and a cable tensioner with a tensile force suitable for the rope diameter.

Dimensions

The smallest area of the pallet rack safety net must be at least 2 m2.

For rectangular safety nets, the length of the shortest side must be at least 1.0m.

Height of fall

Preferably pallet rack safety nets are to be attached at the same height as the workplaces and traffic routes being protected. The difference in height must not exceed 0.10 m.

Attachment

The gap between the suspension points to attach the steel rope e.g. with ring eyelets, must not be larger than 1.0 m. 

Pallet rack safety nets can be attached to suspension points using snap hooks or shackles, for example.

For measuring the suspension points a characteristic load P of 6 kN as a result of a fall with an angle of 45° must be adopted.

For measuring the building components three characteristic loads of 4 kN, 6 kN, and 4 kN are taken into account at unfavorable points.

Connections

When pallet rack safety nets are connected, then joining rope are used in such a way that the space between the join is not more than 45 mm and the nets cannot be moved by more than 45 mm from one another.

Aging tests

The manufacturer has incorporated test meshes into pallet rack safety nets, in order to be able to detect reduced stability in the net yarn as a result of aging. To this end proof must be provided in which at least 5 test meshes from a net area of 1000 m can be taken from various points that are exposed to UV. During the annual testing, it must be confirmed by a testing body or the manufacturer that the minimum energy absorption/minimum mesh stability does not fall below the value specified by the manufacturer.