Destruction testing is a vital part of our pledge to create a safe working environment for those working at heights. Our cargo nets and netting are an essential product for our business, and we take destruction testing for these products seriously.

The Evolution of Net Destruction Testing

We use to test nets with a mobile crane or forklift and bags of calibrated ballast - rock, sand, gravel etc. We would lay the nets on the ground, and place the weights in the centre of the net and lift from the outer net. A very costly exercise as it involved an expensive crance and a location suitable.

How we test our nets today

To lower the costs we found engineering standards that relate to the testing of cargo nets, and by applying those principles, I developed a test plate. A test plate was an easy option as it used an actual load with a known surface area to our nets, placed in the centre of the net and anchored at one end of the testbed we were able to load test very accurately.

Now I can leave the test plate at the lab and re-use it for proof load testing.

If you would like to learn more about destruction testing, check our other articles on the topic.