Netting is a vital part of many amusement park and playground attractions. Recognizing this, Subcommittee F24.24 on Design and Manufacture has developed a new standard, ASTM F2375, Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation and Testing of Climbing Nets and Netting/Mesh Used in Amusement Rides, Devices, Play Areas and Attractions.
Subcommittee F24.24 is part of ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices.
John Rexroad, president of Pucuda Inc. and Leading Edge Safety Systems Div., as well as an ASTM member, says that ASTM F2375 includes standardized prototype tests which benefit the designers, manufacturers and operators by having a consistent measure for designing the device netting into areas and ordering replacement components.
“In the past, the measures provided to the industry were not consistent and did not reflect the strength of the netting as it relates to use,” says Rexroad. “ASTM F2375 provides a baseline minimum netting strength that an engineer can utilize in calculating in the netting component much like other standardized material, such as steel.”
According to Rexroad, ASTM F2375 will be a core standard that can be included by reference in future standards to ensure that netted areas are considered as part of the subject matter for those standards.
Rexroad notes that the task group responsible for developing the new standard plans on continuing its work, addressing areas not currently covered in ASTM F2375 and ensuring that future versions of the standard are kept current with emerging issues regarding netting.
“Due to the complexity of the standard and areas in which the standard could be applied, the group felt that it was important to develop and have the core standard in place so future work could be reviewed with less confusion,” says Rexroad. “The task group looks forward to continuing work to assure that the new netting standard keeps pace with the industry and addresses new and existing applications.” Interested parties are invited to participate in the further development of ASTM F2375.
ASTM International standards are available from Customer Service (phone: 610-832-9585; service@astm.org) or at www.astm.org. For technical information, contact John Rexroad, Pucuda Inc. and Leading Edge Safety Systems Div., Deep River, Conn. (phone: 860-526-8004; jr@netting.com). ASTM Committee F24 meets Oct. 15-17 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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