Ensuring Safety: Your Guide on Aerial Rigging Hardware Strength Testing and Certification.
Your gear, tested.
Aerial arts is exhilarating, challenging, yet truly MESMERIZING. It is your self expression unleashed in the most refreshing and genuine way, inspiring all who look up.
For peace of mind and personalized performance, you need reliable, safe gear. At Orbsoul, we ensure this by rigorously strength testing every batch of our gear and obtaining CE certification from Apave Group in France, a top organization specializing in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) testing. As the notifying body 0082 for CE certification, Apave Group certifies our gear to the highest mountaineering standards, guaranteeing safety and quality
Let's dive in and learn all about strength testing and how important it is to keep you safe in the air!
What is Batch Break Testing?
Batch break testing involves testing samples from each batch produced to determine their minimum breaking strength (MBS). This testing is important for ensuring the safety and reliability of the rigging equipment used in aerial arts and performances.
During batch break testing, a sample of the rigging components from the batch is subjected to controlled tension until it first deforms (breaks). The breaking strength of each component is recorded, and the results are used to determine if the batch meets the required safety standards.
Batch break testing helps identify any weaknesses or defects in the rigging components that could lead to failure during use. By regularly testing batches, we uphold our initial certification standards and continuously monitor our manufacturing process, ensuring the ongoing safety of our rigging equipment for aerialists.
How is Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS) determined?
Mechanical Tensile Strength Testing is a crucial process used to determine the maximum load a material or structure can withstand before deforming or breaking. It involves subjecting a sample of a component to gradually increasing tension until it reaches deformation (breaking point). This testing method provides valuable data regarding the material's durability, resilience, and documents the MBS (minimum breaking strength).
Why do we require this?
- Safety Assurance: Aerial silks and rigging hardware are subjected to considerable tension and stress during performances or training sessions. Ensuring that these materials and components can withstand the expected loads without failure is paramount to guarantee the safety of aerialists and performers.
- Performance Optimization: By knowing the mechanical tensile strength of aerial silks and rigging hardware, we can design products that meet or exceed the required safety standards while also optimizing performance. Understanding the limits of materials allows for the development of equipment that can withstand rigorous use and demanding maneuvers without compromising safety.
- Quality Control: Mechanical tensile strength testing serves as a quality control measure for both aerial silks and rigging hardware. At Orbsoul, by testing samples from each production batch, we ensure continued consistency, strength and reliability in our products. Identifying any weaknesses or variations in materials early on helps prevent potential accidents or failures in real-world usage.
- Regulatory Compliance: In many jurisdictions, there are specific regulations and standards governing the design and manufacturing of equipment used in aerial arts and performances. Mechanical tensile strength testing provides empirical data that can be used to demonstrate compliance with these standards, thereby ensuring legal and regulatory obligations are met.
- Risk Mitigation: A thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of rigging hardware allows for informed risk assessment and mitigation strategies. By identifying potential failure points or weak spots, measures can be taken to reinforce or redesign equipment to minimize the risk of accidents or injuries during aerial performances.
Understanding the test and results
A tensile testing graph illustrates the relationship between the applied force (stress) and the resulting deformation (strain) of a material. Typically, it begins with a linear region where stress and strain increase proportionally, known as the elastic region. Beyond this, the graph exhibits plastic deformation, where the material undergoes permanent changes but can still return to some extent to its original shape. Finally, it reaches a point of ultimate tensile strength, representing the maximum force the material can withstand before breaking. The point at which the test subject enters the plastic deformation stage is known as the yield point or yield strength. This value (measured in kN) is what your gear is rated to and is marked on each piece of hardware.
Step inside the lab.
Here's how your gear performed during its recent batch test.
Infinity Swivel Tensile Strength Test
The infinity swivel is CE certified to the special provision PPE-R/11.135 which has components of EN12275:2013 static strength testing and EN354:2010 corrosion testing requirements. These standards ensure compliance with Mountaineering PPE requirements of performance and safety.
The infinity swivel exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of 36kN. However, we establish the swivel's strength rating at 30kN, as this aligns with its yield strength. The swivel has also passed the corrosion test meaning long lasting performance in even the most harsh environments.
Screw-lock Carabiner Strength Test
Our screw-lock carabiners are CE certified to the special provision EN362:2004 which has components of static strength testing and corrosion testing requirements. These standards ensure compliance with Carabiner PPE requirements of performance and safety.
The Screw-lock Carabiner exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of 32kN. However, we establish the strength rating at 25kN, as this aligns with its yield strength. The carabiners also pass the corrosion test ensuring long lasting performance in even the most harsh evironments.
Balance 8 Descender Tensile Strength Test
The balance eight descender design is traditionally used in mountaineering for belaying or rappelling with a rope. Because of this, Traditional PPE standards for figure eights do not apply to the aerial arts. However, we do certify to the standard EN365 regarding marking and technical use as well as perform strength testing.
The Figure Eight Descender exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of 50kN.
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