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Print Catalog - Samson Rope Technologies
Arborist SamsonRope.com CLIMBING LINES: Velocity | PAGE 4 Vortex | PAGE 4 ArborMaster® | PAGE 5 True-Blue / True-White | PAGE 6 Arbor-Plex | PAGE 6 RIGGING LINES: Stable Braid | PAGE 8 Tenex-TEC | PAGE 8 Nystron | PAGE 9 Arbor-Plex | PAGE 10 Pro-Master | PAGE 10 Tree-Master | PAGE 11 ACCESSORIES & ROPE TOOLS: Zing-It! | PAGE 11 Whoopie Sling | PAGE 12 TreeRig Sling | PAGE 12 CHIPPER WINCH LINES: AmSteel®-Blue | PAGE 13 PRUSIKS & TAILS: Prusik Cord | PAGE 14 Ice Tail | PAGE 14 Tenex | PAGE 14 Ultra-Tech | PAGE 15 Bail Out | PAGE 15 TECHNICAL RESOURCES: Climbing Systems | PAGE 16 Hitches & Terminations | PAGE 17 Rigging Information | PAGE 18 Rope Selection | PAGE 22 Handling & Usage | PAGE 23 Retirement | PAGE 25 2 SamsonRope.com Samson ropes for the professional arborist— designed to excel in one of the most challenging environments for rope. Abrasion, dynamic loading, working through hardware—these are the paces the professional arborist puts his ropes through every day. For climbers, they are his lifeline; for rigging, they do the grunt work and keep the workplace safe and productive. Samson ropes for the professional arborist are built to excel in these challenging situations. Samson’s climbing and rigging lines are the result of a legacy of innovation we can trace back over 130 years. Samson meets the needs of the professional arborist with the latest innovations and technologies in fiber, coating, construction, and manufacturing techniques. Among many industry firsts, Samson developed the first synthetic braided climbing line specifically designed for arborists back in the 1970s and our commitment to leading the industry with technical expertise continues today. Our research and development organization is staffed with experts in chemical, mechanical, and textile engineering, as well as materials and polymer sciences. These professionals are the authority in the latest technology in fiber, coating, construction and manufacturing technique. They are the most knowledgeable fabrication technicians in the industry. Match this talent with state-of-the art test labs, equipment and unparalleled quality and process controls, and the result is the most advanced research and development organization in the cordage industry. Samson has experience providing custom solutions for industries as diverse as you can imagine. We have a proven history of success working with commercial marine, offshore, recreational marine, utility operations, mining, and heavy lifting and lowering. Each solution contributes to a knowledge-base we bring to bear on the ropes you count on every day. Security, productivity and reliability—there’s a lot riding on your ropes. It pays to choose them wisely. Samson offers a number of choices when selecting climbing, rigging, and accessory lines. Your safety is the primary goal of each Samson arborist line, followed closely by providing lines that help you work faster and more efficiently every time you climb a tree. You can trust that every Samson line is held to performance and quality standards that will exceed your expectations. SAMSON CLIMBING LINES No worries. That’s our promise. Safe, reliable, hard-working Samson climbing lines for the professional arborist. Halfway up the climbing line into the canopy, you shouldn’t be worried about the quality of your rope. Regardless of the technique you use—secured footlock, single rope or traditional—Samson makes a climbing line that excels. In the 1970s Samson, working with arborist industry organizations, universities and working professionals, took on the challenge of developing a new climbing rope. After 14 months and 7 design evaluations, Arbor-Plex emerged as the first synthetic braided rope specifically designed as a climbing line for the professional arborist. It was built to resist abrasion and stand up to the rigors of the workplace, while still being lightweight and easy to handle. Arbor-Plex continues to be an integral part of the Samson product line. Today, lightweight lines such as Velocity (the lightest 11mm climbing line available in the industry) and the all-new, slightly larger Vortex, make technical climbing easier and safer because of their “brokenin feel” right out of the bag. ArborMaster,® developed with the help of ArborMaster® Training, is known for its firmness and flexibility. After many years of service and popularity, True-Blue and True-White continue to be staples in every arborist’s arsenal of tools. Regardless of your preferences—polyester-nylon blends or all polyester lines; 24-strand, 16-strand, 12-strand or even 3-strand for the real traditionalist—there’s a Samson climbing line to suit your style and ease your worries. “BAG TO BRANCH” FEATURE Climbing Line Comparative Data Size, strength, working load and weight vary with all Samson climbing lines. Use the charts below to choose the appropriate line for your application. Elongation data and put-ups are available on the product information pages. DIAMETER Average Strength SPLICED Working Load* UNSPLICED SPLICED UNSPLICED 7/16" 5.6 lb 6,000 lb 7,400 lb 600 lb 740 lb 1/2" 7.6 lb 8,800 lb N/A lb 880 lb N/A lb ArborMaster 1/2" 7.7 lb 6,500 lb 8,100 lb 650 lb 810 lb True-Blue / True-White NON-SPLICABLE 1/2" 8.8 lb N/A lb 7,300 lb N/A lb 730 lb Arbor-Plex NON-SPLICABLE 1/2" 6.8 lb N/A lb 6,000 lb N/A lb 600 lb Velocity Vortex ® DIAMETER Samson climbing lines are flaked into the polybag packaging, rather than coiled, allowing you to transfer directly into your gear bags for immediate use. No need to uncoil the rope to avoid inducing twist, they’re ready to go right out of the bag. Weight Per 100' Weight Per 100 m Average Strength SPLICED Working Load* UNSPLICED SPLICED UNSPLICED 11 mm 8.3 kg 2,700 kg 3,400 kg 270 kg 340 kg 12.7 mm 11.3 kg 4,000 kg N/A kg 400 kg N/A kg ArborMaster 12 mm 11.5 kg 2,900 kg 3,700 kg 290 kg 370 kg True-Blue / True-White NON-SPLICABLE 12 mm 13.1 kg N/A kg 3,300 kg N/A kg 330 kg Arbor-Plex NON-SPLICABLE 12 mm 10.1 kg N/A kg 2,700 kg N/A kg 270 kg Velocity Vortex ® *Working loads shown here are calculated based on a safety factor of 10 and are for reference only. These working loads apply to all climbing lines throughout the catalog. The end user is responsible for choosing the correct working load for their application. SamsonRope.com 3 SAMSON PREMIUM CLIMBING LINES DB Class I Velocity Product Code: 349 Product Code: 351 (CE) Unspliced only Velocity is the climbing line of champions! The lightest climbing line in the 7/16" (11 mm) size, Velocity has excellent knot-holding ability, works well with hardware, and is great for footlocking. FEATURES & BENEFITS >Lightweight > Excellent knot-holding capability > Works well with hardware > Exceptional access line > Great for footlocking DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100 ft INCHES POUNDS 7/16" CONSTRUCTION Double Braid COVER Polyester CORE Nylon SPLICING Class I Double Braid DIAMETER MM 11 mm Velocity COOL SPLICED/UNSPLICED SPLICED/UNSPLICED SPLICED/UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED 5.6 lb WEIGHT PER 100 m KILOGRAMS AVERAGE STRENGTH UNSPLICED SPLICED 7,400 lb 6,000 lb WORKING LOAD UNSPLICED SPLICED 740 lb 600 lb AVERAGE STRENGTH UNSPLICED SPLICED WORKING LOAD UNSPLICED 8.3 kg 3,400 kg 2,700 kg SPLICED 340 kg 270 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS 120' Polybag 150' Polybag 200' Polybag 600' Reel 1,200' Reel DOUBLE BRAID CONSTRUCTION 10% 3.00% 6.7 lb 8.4 lb 11.2 lb 33.6 lb 67.2 lb 20% 5.00% 30% 6.00% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. CE approval applies to unspliced rope only Velocity HOT “I love [Velocity]. It makes me quite quick and only gets better as it gets older.” JOSEPHINE HEDGER– Sway Hampshire, England World Champion for Women’s Footlock 32nd International Tree Climbing Championship Velocity splice DB Class I Vortex Product Code: 352 FEATURES & BENEFITS > Full 12.7 mm for easy handling > Lightweight and flexible > Excellent knot-holding capability > Works well with hardware > Great for footlocking Shooting sample CONSTRUCTION Double Braid COVER Polyester CORE Nylon SPLICING Class I Double Braid Vortex HOT Samson’s Vortex climbing line is your safe and secure stronghold at the center of activity when you are ascending a tree. This 24-strand cover line is a true 1/2" (12.7 mm) and is the lightest premium climbing line of its size available. Like its counterpart Velocity, but a little larger for easy handling, Vortex has excellent knot-holding ability, works well with hardware, and is great for footlocking. Compared to ropes of similar size, Vortex has 25–30% lower elongation when used at the same load. See graph on page 5. DIAMETER STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS 120' Polybag 150' Polybag 200' Polybag 600' Reel 1,200' Reel SPLICED/UNSPLICED SPLICED/UNSPLICED SPLICED/UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED 9.1 lb 11.4 lb 15.2 lb 45.6 lb 91.2 lb DOUBLE BRAID CONSTRUCTION INCHES 1/2" WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH WORKING LOAD 8,800 lb 880 lb AVERAGE STRENGTH WORKING LOAD 4,000 kg 400 kg SPLICED 7.6 lb DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100 m MM KILOGRAMS 12.7 mm 11.3 kg SPLICED SPLICED SPLICED Vortex COOL ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 3.00% 20% 5.00% 30% 6.00% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. Compared to ropes of similar size, Vortex has 25–30% lower elongation when used at the same load. See graph on page 5. Vortex splice 4 SamsonRope.com SAMSON PREMIUM CLIMBING LINES Class I 16 STRAND Product Code: 348 Product Code: 347 (CE) Unspliced only CONSTRUCTION This durable 16-strand line is the result of collaboration between Samson engineers and professionals at ArborMaster® Training. ArborMaster® offers the maximum firmness for all climbing techniques. Its 1/2" diameter provides an easy grip, and it has low stretch and excellent knot-heat resistance. ArborMaster® is spliceable at both ends without milking. DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100 ft INCHES POUNDS 1/2" DIAMETER MM 12 mm AVERAGE STRENGTH 7.7 lb WEIGHT PER 100 m KILOGRAMS UNSPLICED SPLICED 8,100 lb 6,500 lb AVERAGE STRENGTH UNSPLICED SPLICED 11.5 kg 3,700 kg 2,900 kg WORKING LOAD UNSPLICED SPLICED 810 lb 650 lb WORKING LOAD UNSPLICED 370 kg SPLICED 290 kg 20% 5.00% FEATURES & BENEFITS >Firm > High visibility > Low stretch > Sized for easy grip > Excellent knot-holding capability > Heat resistant >Flexible > Spliceable at both ends CONSTRUCTION 16-strand COVER Polyester CORE Nylon SPLICE Class I 16-strand 120' Polybag 150' Polybag 200' Polybag 600' Reel 30% 6.00% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. SPLICED/UNSPLICED SPLICED/UNSPLICED SPLICED/UNSPLICED UNSPLICED Red/Black/White 9.2 lb 11.6 lb 15.4 lb 46.2 lb Gold Streak CE approval applies to unspliced rope only ArborMaster ® splice Premium Climbing Line Elastic Elongation Comparison Vortex, Velocity, and ArborMaster® have the same elongation at 10%, 20%, and 30% of their break strength. However, when comparing one line to the other, consideration should be given to the strength of each. For example, because Vortex has a considerably higher strength, when the same load is applied, it will have 25–30% lower elongation than ArborMaster® and Velocity. Blue Streak Samson industry alliances at work for you When you use Samson’s line of arborist products, you benefit from the combined experience of arborist industry training professionals and Samson application engineers. These are people who know what it takes to build ropes that are safe and efficient in trees. Our long-standing partnerships with ArborMaster® Training, Arboriculture Canada, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Tree Care Industry Association give us insight and access to the industry that we would not have on our own. We listen to the needs and recommendations of the professional arborists that work for these organizations. They have participated in product development and field trials with us, and our product line is a result of their input coupled with our technology. You can trust that the Samson professional arborist ropes you depend on every day are the result of a relentless commitment to development, quality, performance, and safety. 6% Elastic Elongation ® STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 3.00% ArborMaster 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 0% 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Load (pounds) Vortex ArborMaster Velocity ANSI Z133.1 1-2006 8.1.8 states “…Maximum working elongation shall not exceed 7 percent at a load of 540 pounds (2.402 kN)…” Samson’s Vortex, Velocity, and ArborMaster,® fall well below the maximum allowable elongation at a load of 540 pounds. SamsonRope.com 5 SAMSON CLIMBING LINES 12 Class I True-Blue/True-White TRUE-BLUE Product Code: 342 TRUE-WHITE Product Code: 344 FEATURES & BENEFITS > Low stretch > High strength >Firm > Stays round with use > Maintains flexibility >Durable CONSTRUCTION 12-strand FIBER Polyester SPLICE Non-spliceable True-Blue UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED CONSTRUCTION This 12-strand premium, all-polyester climbing line has low stretch and high strength. It stays firm, round, and flexible with use and requires no milking. True-Blue/ White is excellent for light-duty rigging applications. DIAMETER INCHES 1/2" WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS 8.8 lb DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100 m MM 12 mm STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS 120' Polybag 150' Polybag 600' Reel 2,400' Reel STRAND KILOGRAMS 13.1 kg AVERAGE STRENGTH WORKING LOAD 7,300 lb 730 lb AVERAGE STRENGTH WORKING LOAD 3,300 kg 330 kg UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED ELASTIC ELONGATION 10.6 lb 13.2 lb 52.8 lb 211.2 lb 10% 2.60% 20% 3.00% 30% 4.00% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. True-White 12 Class I Arbor-Plex Product Code: 346 FEATURES & BENEFITS >Durable > Snag resistant > Works well in wet conditions >Economical > Has a no-twist stripe CONSTRUCTION 12-strand FIBER Polypropylene-polyester blend SPLICE Non-spliceable STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS White 120' Polybag 150' Polybag 600' Reel 2,400' Reel UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED 8.2 lb 10.2 lb 40.8 lb 163.2 lb DIAMETER INCHES 1/2" WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS 6.8 lb DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100 m MM 12 mm KILOGRAMS 10.1 kg AVERAGE STRENGTH WORKING LOAD 6,000 lb 600 lb AVERAGE STRENGTH WORKING LOAD 2,700 kg 270 kg UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED UNSPLICED ELASTIC ELONGATION 20% 3.30% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. SamsonRope.com CONSTRUCTION The first synthetic rope designed specifically for the arborist industry, Arbor-Plex is a lightweight, high strength 12-strand climbing line that continues to be one of the most widely used rigging lines in the arborist industry. It resists snags and has excellent knot-holding ability. Arbor-Plex works well when wet and is very durable. 10% 3.00% 6 STRAND 30% 4.20% SAMSON RIGGING LINES Rigging puts higher demand on your rope than anything else on your job site. Rigging is perhaps the most advanced and demanding aspect of tree work. The tools and techniques to safely lower tree sections or limbs when free-falling vary with the worksite and situation. Samson makes rigging ropes optimized for strength and control— ropes with controlled elongation to ease the strain of shock loading. Keep your rope tool bag a little lighter by replacing fixed-size slings with Samson’s fully adjustable Whoopie Slings. Round out your rope tools with Samson’s TreeRig slings in either Stable Braid or Tenex-TEC and don’t forget Zing-It!, the professional arborist’s choice for best throw line. See pages 18 and 19 for additional technical rigging information. Rigging Line Comparative Data A quick reference on working loads, strengths and weights of popular sizes of Samson’s ropes typically used for rigging operations. See product pages for elongation data and put-ups available. WEIGHT PER 100 ft/100 m RIGGING LINE 3/8" 1/2" 9/16" Tenex-TEC 4.3 lb 10.0 lb — lb Stable Braid — lb 8.2 lb 11.0 lb Nystron — lb 7.7 lb 10.0 lb Arbor-Plex — lb 6.8 lb — lb Pro-Master 3.7 lb 6.5 lb — lb Tree-Master — lb 8.0 lb — lb AVERAGE STRENGTH RIGGING LINE 3/8" 1/2" 9/16" Tenex-TEC 6,100 lb 13,100 lb — lb Stable Braid — lb 10,400 lb 13,300 lb Nystron — lb 10,500 lb 13,200 lb Arbor-Plex — lb 6,000 lb — lb Pro-Master 3,200 lb 5,700 lb — lb Tree-Master — lb 7,000 lb — lb WORKING LOAD* RIGGING LINE 3/8" 1/2" 9/16" Tenex-TEC 1,200 lb 2,600 lb — lb Stable Braid — lb 2,100 lb 2,700 lb Nystron — lb 2,100 lb 2,600 lb Arbor-Plex — lb 1,200 lb — lb Pro-Master 640 lb 1,100 lb — lb Tree-Master — lb 1,400 lb — lb 5/8" 14.8 lb 14.0 lb 12.6 lb 12.0 lb 9.6 lb 13.0 lb 3/4 19.2 lb 18.0 lb 17.3 lb 16.2 lb 13.9 lb 18.5 lb 5/8" 18,800 lb 16,300 lb 16,300 lb 9,000 lb 7,700 lb 12,900 lb 3/4 24,800 lb 20,400 lb 23,000 lb 12,000 lb 10,000 lb 15,200 lb 5/8" 3,800 lb 3,300 lb 3,300 lb 1,800 lb 1,500 lb 2,600 lb 3/4 5,000 lb 4,100 lb 4,600 lb 2,400 lb 2,000 lb 3,000 lb 7/8" 26.7 lb 27.1 lb 19.0 lb — lb 18.0 lb — lb 9 mm 6.4 kg — kg — kg — kg 5.5 kg — kg 12 mm 14.9 kg 12.2 kg 11.5 kg 10.1 kg 9.7 kg 11.9 kg 14 mm — kg 16.4 kg 14.9 kg — kg — kg — kg 16 mm 22.0 kg 20.8 kg 18.7 kg 17.9 kg 14.3 kg 19.3 kg 7/8" 1" 9 mm 34,200 lb 44,500 lb 2,800 kg 29,900 lb — lb — kg 27,000 lb — lb — kg — lb — lb — kg 14,500 lb 17,500 lb 1,500 kg — lb — lb — kg 12 mm 5,900 kg 4,700 kg 4,800 kg 2,700 kg 2,600 kg 3,200 kg 14 mm — kg 6,000 kg 6,000 kg — kg — kg — kg 16 mm 18 mm 22 mm 24 mm 8,500 kg 11,200 kg 15,500 kg 20,200 kg 7,400 kg 9,300 kg 13,600 kg — kg 7,400 kg 10,400 kg 12,200 kg — kg 4,100 kg 5,400 kg — kg — kg 3,500 kg 4,500 kg 6,600 kg 7,900 kg 5,900 kg 6,900 kg — kg — kg 9 mm 12 mm 560 kg 1,200 kg — kg 940 kg — kg 960 kg — kg 540 kg 300 kg 520 kg — kg 640 kg 14 mm — kg 1,200 kg 1,200 kg — kg — kg — kg 16 mm 1,700 kg 1,500 kg 1,500 kg 820 kg 700 kg 1,200 kg 7/8" 6,800 lb 6,000 lb 5,400 lb — lb 2,900 lb — lb 1" 34.7 lb — lb — lb — lb 22.0 lb — lb 1" 8,900 lb — lb — lb — lb 3,500 lb — lb 18 mm 28.5 kg 26.8 kg 25.7 kg 24.1 kg 20.7 kg 27.5 kg 18 mm 2,200 kg 1,900 kg 2,100 kg 1,100 kg 900 kg 1,400 kg 22 mm 39.7 kg 40.3 kg 28.3 kg — kg 26.8 kg — kg 22 mm 3,100 kg 2,700 kg 2,400 kg — kg 1,300 kg — kg 24 mm 51.6 kg — kg — kg — kg 32.7 kg — kg 24 mm 4,000 kg — kg — kg — kg 1,600 kg — kg * Working loads shown here are calculated based on a safety factor of 5 and are for reference only. These working loads apply to all rigging lines throughout the catalog. The end user is responsible for choosing the correct working load for their application. SamsonRope.com 7 SAMSON RIGGING LINES DB Class I Stable Braid Product Code: 806 FEATURES & BENEFITS > Low stretch > Excellent abrasion resistance > High strength-to-weight ratio > High abrasion resistance >Flexible > UV resistant > Torque free > Easy to handle >Spliceable Yellow Blue CONSTRUCTION Double Braid COVER Polyester CORE Polyester SPLICE Class I Double Braid STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS 150' Polybags and 600' Reels Red (BOTH UNSPLICED) 150' POLYBAG DIAMETERS / WEIGHTS 1/2" Diameter 12.3 lb 9/16" Diameter 16.5 lb 5/8" Diameter 21.1 lb 3/4" Diameter 27.0 lb 7/8" Diameter 40.7 lb Orange Green DOUBLE BRAID CONSTRUCTION This double braid is a low stretch, high strength-toweight ratio, and torque-free construction. It is durable with excellent snag, abrasion, and UV resistance. Samthane coating enhances these characteristics and improves visibility. DIAMETER INCHES 1/2" 9/16" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" WEIGHT PER 100 ft AVERAGE STRENGTH POUNDS SPLICED 8.2 lb 11.0 lb 14.0 lb 18.0 lb 27.1 lb 10,400 lb 13,300 lb 16,300 lb 20,400 lb 29,900 lb DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100m AVERAGE STRENGTH MM KILOGRAMS SPLICED 12 mm 14 mm 16 mm 18 mm 22 mm 12.2 kg 16.4 kg 20.8 kg 26.8 kg 40.3 kg 4,700 kg 6,000 kg 7,400 kg 9,300 kg 13,600 kg WORKING LOAD SPLICED 2,100 lb 2,700 lb 3,300 lb 4,100 lb 6,000 lb WORKING LOAD SPLICED 940 kg 1,200 kg 1,500 kg 1,900 kg 2,700 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 1.10% 20% 1.70% 30% 2.70% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. 12 Class I Tenex-TEC Product Code: 825 (sling construction; 2 ends/carrier) FEATURES & BENEFITS > Snag resistant > Abrasion resistant > High strength > Good grip > Easy to inspect > Easy to splice CONSTRUCTION 12-strand FIBER Polyester SPLICE Class I 12-strand Red Blue Green Orange Yellow Black STANDARD LENGTH 600' Reel UNSPLICED 8 SamsonRope.com CONSTRUCTION Tenex-TEC is a high-strength, low-stretch rope specifically designed to allow more rope-to-surface conformance than standard single braid constructions. The two ends per carrier design also allows for more efficient splicing for standard slings and Whoopie slings. It is Samthane coated to enhance wear life. DIAMETER INCHES 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 1" WEIGHT PER 100 ft AVERAGE STRENGTH POUNDS SPLICED 4.3 lb 10.0 lb 14.8 lb 19.2 lb 26.7 lb 34.7 lb 6,100 lb 13,100 lb 18,800 lb 24,800 lb 34,200 lb 44,500 lb DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100m AVERAGE STRENGTH MM KILOGRAMS SPLICED 9 mm 12 mm 16 mm 18 mm 22 mm 24 mm 6.4 kg 14.9 kg 22.0 kg 28.5 kg 39.7 kg 51.6 kg 2,800 kg 5,900 kg 8,500 kg 11,200 kg 15,500 kg 20,200 kg WORKING LOAD SPLICED 1,200 lb 2,600 lb 3,800 lb 5,000 lb 6,800 lb 8,900 lb WORKING LOAD SPLICED 560 kg 1,200 kg 1,700 kg 2,200 kg 3,100 kg 4,000 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 1.40% Clear STRAND 20% 2.30% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. 30% 3.00% SAMSON RIGGING LINES Class I DB DOUBLE BRAID Product Code: 891 (Samthane coated) CONSTRUCTION This double braid provides the advantages of high strength retention and excellent abrasion resistance with superior energy absorption and shock mitigation for controlled and safe lowering of loads. It is fully spliceable. DIAMETER INCHES 1/2" 9/16" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" DIAMETER MM 12 mm 14 mm 16 mm 18 mm 22 mm WEIGHT PER 100 ft AVERAGE STRENGTH POUNDS SPLICED 7.7 lb 10.0 lb 12.6 lb 17.3 lb 19.0 lb 10,500 lb 13,200 lb 16,300 lb 23,000 lb 27,000 lb WEIGHT PER 100m AVERAGE STRENGTH KILOGRAMS SPLICED 11.5 kg 14.9 kg 18.7 kg 25.7 kg 28.3 kg 4,800 kg 6,000 kg 7,400 kg 10,400 kg 12,200 kg WORKING LOAD SPLICED 2,100 lb 2,600 lb 3,300 lb 4,600 lb 5,400 lb WORKING LOAD SPLICED 960 kg 1,200 kg 1,500 kg 2,100 kg 2,400 kg FEATURES & BENEFITS > Stronger than an all-polyester rope > Excellent shock-load mitigation > Excellent abrasion resistance >Spliceable CONSTRUCTION Double Braid COVER Polyester CORE Nylon SPLICE Class I Double Braid STANDARD LENGTH 600' Reel Orange UNSPLICED Please see page 19 for technical information on energy absorption for arborist rigging applications. Yellow Blue ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 2.40% 20% 4.50% Nystron Green 30% 5.90% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. Tenex-TEC Rope Tools While these fabricated tools are not offered by Samson, professional arborists have found Tenex-TEC to be the perfect product for producing these rope tools. ENDLESS LOOP SLING Sometimes called a fixed loop. Constructed using an end-forend splice. Commonly used for a re-direct, a foothold or other useful applications. TENEX EYE-AND-EYE TAIL The eye-and-eye tail is a spliced section of cordage that is used to form the climbing hitch in a split tail climbing system. It has small eyes on both ends and is used primarily for climbing hitches such as the Valdótain, Distel, and Schwabisch. LOOPIE An adjustable loop sling. Generally used in rigging applications and constructed using an end-for-end splice. It is important to note that when the sling is “choked” the attachment point for the sling is through the center of the buried part. SPIDER LEG BALANCER A variation of the TreeRig sling with an extra long eye spliced into one end. This would be used either singly or with multiple spider balancers, in conjunction with a rigging line, to balance pieces being lowered to the ground. It is recommended that the spider balancer be sized 1/8" smaller than the rigging line. SamsonRope.com 9 SAMSON RIGGING LINES 12 Class I Arbor-Plex Product Code: 346 FEATURES & BENEFITS >Durable > Snag resistant > Works well in wet conditions >Economical > Has a no-twist stripe CONSTRUCTION 12-strand FIBER Polypropylene-polyester blend SPLICE Non-spliceable STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS White 120' Polybags, 150' Polybags, and 600' Reels (ALL UNSPLICED) 120' POLYBAG DIAMETERS / WEIGHTS 1/2" Diameter 8.2 lb 150' POLYBAG DIAMETERS / WEIGHTS 1/2" Diameter 10.2 lb 5/8" Diameter 18.0 lb 3/4" Diameter 24.3 lb STRAND CONSTRUCTION The first synthetic rope designed specifically for the arborist industry, Arbor-Plex is a lightweight, high strength 12-strand climbing line, and the most widely used rigging line in the arborist industry. It resists snags and has excellent knot-holding ability. Arbor-Plex works well when wet and is very durable. DIAMETER INCHES 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" WEIGHT PER 100 ft AVERAGE STRENGTH POUNDS UNSPLICED 6.8 lb 12.0 lb 16.2 lb 6,000 lb 9,000 lb 12,000 lb DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100m AVERAGE STRENGTH MM KILOGRAMS UNSPLICED 12 mm 16 mm 18 mm 10.1 kg 17.9 kg 24.1 kg 2,700 kg 4,100 kg 5,400 kg WORKING LOAD UNSPLICED 1,200 lb 1,800 lb 2,400 lb WORKING LOAD UNSPLICED 540 kg 820 kg 1,100 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 3.00% 20% 3.30% 30% 4.20% Pro-Master Class I After 50 cycles at % of break strength. Product Code: 168 FEATURES & BENEFITS > Excellent abrasion resistance > High strength-to-weight ratio >Flexible > UV resistant > Easy to handle > Easy to splice CONSTRUCTION 3-strand FIBER Ultra Blue polyolefin-polyester blend SPLICE Class I 3-strand STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS White 150' Polybags and 600' Reels (BOTH UNSPLICED) 150' POLYBAG DIAMETERS / WEIGHTS 1/2" Diameter 9.8 lb 5/8" Diameter 14.4 lb 3/4" Diameter 20.9 lb 7/8" Diameter 27.0 lb 3 STRAND CONSTRUCTION Pro-Master is a tough, durable, 3-strand rigging rope. It remains firm, round, and flexible with use. It has a soft hand with excellent lock-grip and knot-holding capabilities. DIAMETER INCHES 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 1" DIAMETER MM 9 mm 12 mm 16 mm 18 mm 22 mm 24 mm WEIGHT PER 100 ft AVERAGE STRENGTH POUNDS SPLICED 3.7 lb 6.5 lb 9.6 lb 13.9 lb 18.0 lb 22.0 lb 3,200 lb 5,700 lb 7,700 lb 10,000 lb 14,500 lb 17,500 lb WEIGHT PER 100m AVERAGE STRENGTH KILOGRAMS SPLICED 5.5 kg 9.7 kg 14.3 kg 20.7 kg 26.8 kg 32.7 kg 1,500 kg 2,600 kg 3,500 kg 4,500 kg 6,600 kg 7,900 kg WORKING LOAD SPLICED 640 lb 1,100 lb 1,500 lb 2,000 lb 2,900 lb 3,500 lb WORKING LOAD SPLICED 300 kg 520 kg 700 kg 900 kg 1,300 kg 1,600 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 2.00% 20% 3.20% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. 10 SamsonRope.com 30% 3.90% Class I SAMSON RIGGING LINES 3 STRAND CONSTRUCTION Product Code: 166 Tree-Master is a premium 3-strand climbing and rigging line coated with Pro-Gard to extend life and provide smooth operation when working with Prusik knots. It is made using a 4-stage rope construction that stays firm under load and has excellent abrasion resistance, to maximize wear life. DIAMETER INCHES 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" WEIGHT PER 100 ft AVERAGE STRENGTH POUNDS SPLICED 8.0 lb 13.0 lb 18.5 lb 1,400 lb 2,600 lb 3,000 lb 7,000 lb 12,900 lb 15,200 lb DIAMETER WEIGHT PER 100m AVERAGE STRENGTH MM KILOGRAMS SPLICED 12 mm 16 mm 18 mm 11.9 kg 19.3 kg 27.5 kg WORKING LOAD SPLICED WORKING LOAD SPLICED 640 kg 1,200 kg 1,400 kg 3,200 kg 5,900 kg 6,900 kg Tree-Master FEATURES & BENEFITS >Durable > Excellent abrasion resistance > Remains firm under load >Economical CONSTRUCTION 3-strand FIBER Polyester SPLICE Product specific STANDARD LENGTHS / WEIGHTS 120' Polybags, 150' Polybags, and 600' Reels (ALL UNSPLICED) 120' POLYBAG DIAMETERS / WEIGHTS 1/2" Diameter 9.6 lb 150' POLYBAG DIAMETERS / WEIGHTS 1/2" Diameter 12.0 lb 5/8" Diameter 19.5 lb 3/4" Diameter 27.8 lb White ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 2.90% 20% 5.60% 30% 8.20% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. ARBORIST ACCESSORIES Zing-It! Product Code: 811 Zing-It! offers extremely high strength while Samthane urethane coating provides excellent abrasion resistance and an easy gliding surface. The exceptional low stretch allows for control, and Zing-It! is conveniently packaged to achieve higher throws with lighter weight. DIAMETER INCHES 1/16" 3/32" DIAMETER INCHES 1.75 mm 2.20 mm WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 0.12 lb 0.16 lb WEIGHT PER 100 m POUNDS 500 lb 650 lb FEATURES & BENEFITS > High strength > Low stretch > Abrasion resistant CONSTRUCTION 8-strand FIBER Dyneema® SPLICING Non-spliceable STANDARD PACKAGED LENGTHS 1.75mm/2.2mm................. 180' tube 2.2mm.............................1,000' tube AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 0.18 kg 0.24 kg 230 kg 290 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 0.40% 20% 0.81% 30% 1.20% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. SamsonRope.com 11 SAMSON ROPE TOOLS Whoopie Sling Product Code: 689 Adjustable lifting slings allow snug lifting control and minimize the number of fixed length slings required. FEATURES & BENEFITS > A permanent eye splice at one end and an adjustable eye at the other > Adapts to varying loads > Snug lifting control > Minimizes the number of fixed length slings required > Three sizes to choose from > Permanently tagged with capacity Adjustable, load-rated two-eye lifting slings. The sling has a permanent eye splice at one end, and an adjustable eye at the other end that allows it to adapt to loads of various sizes. The adjustment allows snug lifting control and minimizes the number of fixed length slings required. Each sling is permanently tagged with its capacity, polybagged and shipped in a carton. Size Diameter INCHES 1/2 in 5/8 in 3/4 in Size Diameter MILLIMETERS 12 mm 16 mm 18 mm Color Unit Weight Adjustment Length 1.2 lb 1.7 lb 2.8 lb 2.5 – 4 ft 3– 5 ft 3.5 – 6 ft Unit Weight Adjustment Length 0.5 kg 0.8 kg 1.3 kg 0.8 – 1.2 m 0.9 – 1.5 m 1.1–1.8 m POUNDS Blue Red Orange Color KILOGRAMS Blue Red Orange FEET METERS Permanent Eye Size INCHES 5 in 6 in 7 in R AT E D C A PA C I T I E S * Single Leg Choker POUNDS POUNDS 2,200 lb 3,200 lb 4,200 lb 1,760 lb 2,560 lb 3,380 lb 4,400 lb 6,400 lb 8,400 lb R AT E D C A PA C I T I E S * Permanent Eye Size Single Leg KILOGRAMS KILOGRAMS KILOGRAMS 125 mm 150 mm 180 mm 1,000 kg 1,500 kg 1,900 kg 800 kg 1,200 kg 1,500 kg 2,000 kg 2,900 kg 3,800 kg MILLIMETERS 5/8" (16 mm) diameter 3–5 ft. length, 6" permanent eye Basket POUNDS Choker 1/2" (12 mm) diameter 2.5–4 ft. length, 5" permanent eye Basket 3/4" (18 mm) diameter 3.5–6 ft. length, 7" permanent eye *Rated capacities are for slings in vertical lift use and spliced in accordance with Samson factory procedure. TABLE 1. SLING ANGLE AND LOAD ANGLE FACTOR. Sling Angle (measured from vertical) Load Angle Factor TreeRig Sling 0° 15° 30° 45° 60° 75° 1.00 .966 .866 .707 .500 .259 For angles other than vertical, multiply the rated capacity by the “Load Angle Factor” in the table shown to obtain the reduced rating based on the calculated sling lift angle. Product Code: 690 (Tenex-TEC) Product Code: 691 (Stable Braid) TENEX-TEC TREERIG 8" EYE-SPLICE Product Code: 690 Also known as “dead eye” slings, Samson’s TreeRig Sling is fabricated from Samthane-coated Stable Braid and Tenex-TEC. TreeRig Slings come prespliced, and are designed to work effectively with Samson climbing lines. Size DIAMETER 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 1" COLOR Blue Red Orange Green Yellow Length FEET 10', 12', 15' 6', 8', 10', 12', 16', 20' 8', 12', 15', 18', 20' 10', 14', 20' 12', 16', 20' STABLE BRAID TREERIG 6" EYE-SPLICE Product Code: 691 Size DIAMETER 9/16" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 12 SamsonRope.com COLOR Yellow Red Orange Green Length FEET 6', 8', 10', 14', 20' 6', 8', 10', 14', 20' 6', 8', 10', 14', 20' 6', 8', 10', 14', 20' CHIPPER WINCH LINES AmSteel -Blue ® Product Code: 872 AmSteel®-Blue is a torque-free 12-strand single braid that yields the maximum in strength-to-weight ratio and, size for size, is the same strength as steel—yet it floats. AmSteel®-Blue has extremely low stretch and superior flex fatigue and wear resistance. Made with Dyneema® fiber, AmSteel®-Blue is Samthane coated, which enhances the fiber’s already high abrasion and cut resistant characteristics. DIAMETER INCHES 5/16" 3/8" DIAMETER MM 8 mm 9 mm WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 2.7 lb 3.6 lb 13,700 lb 19,600 lb WEIGHT PER 100m KILOGRAMS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 4.0 kg 5.4 kg 6,200 kg 8,900 kg FEATURES & BENEFITS >Lightweight > High strength > Abrasion resistant > Low stretch > Torque free > Superior wear > Superior flex fatigue > Easy to splice CONSTRUCTION 12-strand FIBER Dyneema® SPLICING Class II 12-strand Blue STANDARD LENGTHS 600' Reel UNSPLICED ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 0.46% 20% 0.70% 30% 0.96% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. TECHNICAL TIPS Winding Rope on the Winch Drum Winding on a Winch The first layer (wrap) around the winch drum should be put on closely and tightly. The initial winding tension (load) should be approximately 50 pounds. This will prevent subsequent wraps from slipping down between turns when tension is applied. Samson winch lines tend to self-level. Important: Samson recommends at least four wraps* always be left on winch drum. *IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to their low coefficient of friction and high strength AmSteel®-Blue lines must be worked with at least eight wraps on the drum at all times. Rope Capacity of a Winch Drum The formula for determining the length of rope that will fit on a winch drum is Length to be = stored (feet) A(B2 – C2) 15.3 (rope dia.)2 (Where A, B, C, and rope diameter are expressed in inches and length (L) is expressed in feet.) LEVEL WINDING: Using the appropriate amount of tension, wind the rope evenly, without spaces across the drum of the winch. The next level should wind over the previous layer of rope and follow the valley between turns on the previous level. This pattern is followed for all layers of rope, with each layer of turns slightly offset from the layer below. LEVEL WINDING CROSS WINDING: When the rope is placed under load it can dive, or push into, the previously wrapped level below it. To avoid diving, cross winding is recommended. When cross winding, start with two layers of level wound rope using the appropriate back tension. At the end of the second layer, pull the rope quickly across the drum, allow it to wind one full turn at the side of the drum, then quickly pull it back to the opposite side of the drum. This will force the rope to cross in the middle and form a barrier that will prevent the rope from diving into the lower layers of the drum when placed under load. Follow the cross wound layer with two layers of level wound turns, then form another cross. Repeat this pattern until the length of rope is fully spooled onto the winch. CROSS WINDING First Cross CROSS WINDING Second Cross CROSS WINDING Level Layer SamsonRope.com 13 PRUSIKS & TAILS DB Class I Prusik Cord Product Code: 340 FEATURES & BENEFITS >Flexible > Retains its shape with use >Durable > Good grip >Economical > Soft hand Blue and White CONSTRUCTION Double Braid COVER Polyester CORE Polyester SPLICE Class I Double Braid STANDARD LENGTH / WEIGHT 300' Reel 12.3 lb Prusik Cord was designed to complement our existing line of climbing products. It is a high quality polyester cord that is soft and flexible with great gripping ability. It’s an economical choice when heat resistance isn’t a factor. DIAMETER INCHES WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 3/8" 4.1 lb 5,000 lb DIAMETER MM WEIGHT PER 100 ft KILOGRAMS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 9 mm 6.1 kg 2,300 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 1.10% 20% 2.20% 30% 3.50% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. 12 Class II Ice Tail UNSPLICED DOUBLE BRAID CONSTRUCTION Product Code: 889 FEATURES & BENEFITS > Excellent heat resistance > Soft hand >Durable > Easy to splice CONSTRUCTION 12-strand ® FIBER Technora -polyester blend SPLICE Class II 12-strand Clear STANDARD LENGTH / WEIGHT 300' Reel Blue UNSPLICED 9.3 lb STRAND CONSTRUCTION Ice Tail is a single braid tail with a soft feel. It’s easy to splice and will not melt or be seared by heat. Ice Tail is great for heat resistant eye-and-eye tails. DIAMETER INCHES WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 5/16" 3.1 lb 8,500 lb DIAMETER MM WEIGHT PER 100 ft KILOGRAMS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 8 mm 4.6 kg 3,900 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 1.08% 20% 1.61% 30% 1.64% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. 12 Class I Tenex Product Code: 826 FEATURES & BENEFITS > Snag resistant > Abrasion resistant > High strength-to-weight ratio > Easy to splice > Samthane coated Yellow CONSTRUCTION 12-strand FIBER Polyester SPLICE Class I 12-strand Orange Blue STANDARD LENGTH 600' Reel UNSPLICED Green Red Black Clear 14 SamsonRope.com ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 1.40% 20% 2.30% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. 30% 3.00% STRAND CONSTRUCTION Great for rope tools, Tenex is a 12-strand single braid that offers high strength with low stretch and Samthane coating provides abrasion resistance, enhances wear life, resists snagging, and increases ease of splicing. DIAMETER INCHES WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 3/8" 7/16" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 4.2 lb 6.3 lb 8.5 lb 13.1 lb 17.2 lb 25.8 lb 5,800 lb 9,000 lb 11,800 lb 17,100 lb 22,400 lb 32,600 lb DIAMETER MM WEIGHT PER 100m KILOGRAMS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 6.2 kg 9.4 kg 12.6 kg 19.5 kg 25.6 kg 38.4 kg 2,600 kg 4,100 kg 5,400 kg 7,800 kg 10,200 kg 14,800 kg 9 mm 11 mm 12 mm 16 mm 18 mm 22 mm PRUSIKS & TAILS Class II DB DOUBLE BRAID CONSTRUCTION Product Code: 443 Well-suited for climbing and rigging applications, this core-dependent double braid is a firm, flexible rope with a cover made of polyester and a core made with Technora®. Known for its high strength and low stretch, the Technora® core is heat resistant and will not fail if the cover is burned. DIAMETER INCHES WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 5/16" 3/8" 4.0 lb 4.6 lb 7,800 lb 10,000 lb DIAMETER MM WEIGHT PER 100 ft KILOGRAMS AVERAGE STRENGTH SPLICED 8 mm 9 mm 6. 0 kg 6. 8 kg Ultra-Tech FEATURES & BENEFITS > High strength > Heat resistant > Low stretch CONSTRUCTION Double Braid COVER Polyester CORE Technora® SPLICE Class II Double Braid STANDARD LENGTH 500' Reel UNSPLICED Blue Tracers 3,500 kg 4,500 kg Black Tracers ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 0.63% 20% 0.97% 30% 1.24% Red Tracers After 50 cycles at % of break strength. Green Tracers Class II DB DOUBLE BRAID CONSTRUCTION Product Code: 486 Bail Out is a double braid prusik cord that has a firm feel. It offers the ultimate in heat resistance. It will not melt or flatten out. It is incredibly durable and long lasting. DIAMETER INCHES WEIGHT PER 100 ft POUNDS AVERAGE STRENGTH UNSPLICED 5/16" 3.0 lb 4,200 lb DIAMETER MM WEIGHT PER 100 ft KILOGRAMS AVERAGE STRENGTH UNSPLICED 8 mm 4.5 kg 1,900 kg ELASTIC ELONGATION 10% 1.00% 20% 1.20% After 50 cycles at % of break strength. 30% 1.60% Bail Out FEATURES & BENEFITS > Incredibly tough > Firm hand > Will not melt > Will not flatten out > Excellent knot-holding capability CONSTRUCTION Double Braid COVER Technora® CORE Technora® SPLICE Non-spliceable Beige STANDARD LENGTH 300' Reel UNSPLICED Bail Out was specifically engineered to meet the demands of arborist applications. SamsonRope.com 15 SAMSON CLIMBING SYSTEMS Traditional & Modern Split-Tail Climbing Systems Two commonly used climbing systems are the traditional and the modern split-tail system. TRADITIONAL SYSTEM The traditional climbing system utilizes a climbing line dead-ended to the saddle with a bowline leaving a long tail. The tail is then attached to the other part of the climbing line by tying a climbing hitch. This system is limited to a one-eye tail and the tail is the same rope as the climbing line. MODERN SPLIT-TAIL SYSTEM Advances in technology have led to new techniques that offer additional benefits to the traditional system. Benefits of split tail: > Ability to replace tail without reducing length of climbing line > Two attachment points on saddle for added comfort and work positioning > Easier to change tie-in point > Allows you to use climbing line as a second lanyard > Helps make climbing line more versatile > Contrasting colors for easy identification of lines 16 SamsonRope.com SAMSON CLIMBING SYSTEMS Climbing Hitches & Termination Knots The advent of the modern split-tail system introduced the use of one- and two-eye climbing tails. Shown below are various popular hitches that are used for one- and two-eye tails. ONE-EYE HITCHES Tautline Hitch Prusik Hitch English Prusik Hitch Blakes Hitch TWO-EYE HITCHES Two-eye tails or eye-and-eye tails can be made from single-end Tenex, Ice Tail, Bail Out, or Prusik Cord. Distel Hitch Schwabisch Hitch Valdótain Hitch This system offers the climber the benefits of having both ends attached to the saddle in addition to a balanced hitch that cannot roll out. TERMINATIONS KNOTS: Here are three popular termination knots that can be an effective replacement for a splice. Anchor Buntline Triple Fisherman SPLICES: Velocity Splice ArborMaster® Girth Hitch SamsonRope.com 17 RIGGING INFORMATION Technical Aspects of Rigging Running Bowline Half Hitch Rigging for tree removal is more complicated than climbing and demands experience and an understanding of the effects on the rope with the various knots and hitches used. It is widely known that knots can significantly reduce rope strength and corresponds to a reduction in the work load limit recommended by a manufacturer. The rigging techniques and knots presented here are meant to give a general overview of the basic principles of rigging. Prior to beginning any tree work, it is important to thoroughly examine the tree for structural imperfection, faults or weaknesses that could compromise safety. This text is not a substitute for proper training. One of the most potentially dangerous aspects of rigging is “chunking out” large trunk sections of wood that are rigged vertically upon themselves. Loopie Sling Rigging Block Lowering Line Safety, as always, is the primary concern. It is important when rigging to minimize shock-loads and manage friction efficiently. This is easiest to achieve when using arborist grade rigging blocks in conjunction with appropriate friction/lowering devices both of which have been tested and rated. Excessive shock loading must always be considered when rigging. The rigging system should be constructed to withstand the maximum shock-load potential. Generally, maximum shock loads are experienced in a rigging system when the rigged piece is “snubbed off” and not gradually decelerated. Avoid "snubbing off" whenever possible. Testing and research show the block and sling can experience more than double the shock-load force in this situation. RUNNING BOWLINE WITH HALF HITCH Friction Lowering Device Whoopie Sling These knots are used in conjunction with one another to attach rigging lines to tree sections that are being rigged for removal. The running bowline is easily untied. It securely chokes the piece when steady pressure is applied. The half hitch increases safety and provides stability and holding power. ADJUSTABLE SLINGS Loopies or Whoopie Slings are an excellent alternative to the traditional timber hitch as they cannot come untied. The timber hitch can be used to attach a rigging block or a friction device to a tree to use as a lowering device to lower or hoist limbs. Tendency for the hitch to come untied can be minimized by tucking for a minimum of five wraps, spreading out the tucks over as much of the circumference of the trunk as possible, and ensuring that the hitch is loaded “against the bight” whenever possible. 18 SamsonRope.com TECHNICAL INFORMATION Energy Absorption in Arborist Rigging When rigging trees for limb or top removal, care must be taken to avoid failure in any part of the system, including the limbs and hardware that support you in the tree. Perhaps the most important tools are the ropes that provide your way in and out of the tree, keep you safe while in the tree, and assist with the work you do to the tree. EQUAL LOAD Falling 40 Feet BOWLINE The strength of rope is based on the maximum load or force it can withstand without failure. However, when selecting rope for a given job you must take into consideration that the actual load placed on the rope can be more than the weight of the object being suspended. RIGGING BLOCK For example, when a tree-rigging operation is setup for the purpose of limb removal and the rigging point is below the load, the portion of the tree being cut will fall a significant distance. The rope will reach its peak load and be shock loaded when it catches the limb and brings it to a stop. The type of rope, or fiber content of the rope involved, will determine whether or not the rope fails under the forces at work in this situation. A rope made of 100% polyester, such as Stable Braid, has lower elongation than a rope made with a blend of polyester and nylon, such as Nystron. A rope made of 100% nylon has extremely high elongation and is not recommended for this application. RIGGING LINE FALLING FORCE To absorb the amount of energy it takes to stop a falling limb using a rope with higher elongation will result in lower peak forces than using a rope with lower elongation. Ropes with high elongation, such as Nystron, have a number of advantages when compared to a less elastic rope, such as Stable Braid: > Reduced peak loading Reduced risk of system failure due to: Less stress on the rope Less stress on rigging hardware Less stress on the tree More energy absorption by the rope 1/2" Stable Braid 100% POLYESTER Provides the greatest control FALL DISTANCE > As a result of the reduced risk of failure in the rigging system the margin of safety increases. > The disadvantages of using a rope with higher elongation include: Reduced control of the position of the object We recommend that the arborist use the right tool for the job: > For top roping and dropping loads in tight spaces: Stable Braid provides the greatest control for rigging of objects. Provides improved shock absorption capabilities NOT RECOMMENDED Distances and measurements are for illustration purposes only. LOAD VS. ELONGATION OF RIGGING LINES Rigging objects above the anchor point and dropping in open spaces: Nystron provides improved shock absorption capabilities and reduces the chance of failure with a dropped load. The load vs. elongation curves of two ropes with similar breaking strengths. The shaded area beneath each of the curves represents the energy absorbed as the rope stretches. The two areas shown are equal representations of the same energy absorption or the catching of the same falling load. As shown, Nystron absorbs the energy while reaching the lowest load, but stretching the farthest. POLYESTER/NYLON BLEND 100% Nylon 9,000 8,000 1/2" Stable Braid 7,000 Rope Tension (lb-f) > 1/2" Nystron 1/2" Nystron 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 0% 5% 10% Elongation % 15% 20% SamsonRope.com 19 TECHNICAL DATA Comparison of Fiber Characteristics GENERIC FIBER TYPE Tenacity NYLON POLYESTER POLYPROPYLENE (g/den)1 7.5 – 10.5 7 – 10 6.5 HMPE LCP 32 (SK-60) 23 – 26 40 (SK-75) ARAMID PBO 28 42 Elongation2 15 – 28% 12 – 18% 18 – 22% 3.6% 3.3% 4.6% 2.5% Coefficient of Friction3 .12 – .15 .12 – .15 .15 – .22 .05 – .07 .12 – .15 .12 – .15 .18 Melting Point 425°– 490° F 480°– 500° F 330° F 300° F 625° F 930° F* 1200° F* Critical Temperature4 325° F 350° F 250° F 150° F 300° F 520° F 750° F 1.14 1.38 .91 .98 1.40 1.39 1.56 Specific Gravity5 Creep6 Negligible Negligible Application Dependent Application Negligible Dependent Negligible Negligible HMPE STRENGTH RETENTION AFTER A 6-MONTH CHEMICAL IMMERSION AGENT Sea Water Hydraulic Fluid Kerosene Gasoline Glacial Acetic Acid 1 M Hydrochloric Acid 5 M Sodium Hydroxide Ammonium Hydroxide (29%) Hypophosphite Solution (5%) Perchloroethylene 10% Detergent Solution Bleach HMPE 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 91% * Char temperature — does not melt 1 TENACITY is the measurement of the resistance of fiber to breaking. 2 3 ELONGATION refers to percent of fiber elongation at break. COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION is based on the rope’s resistance to slipping. 4 CRITICAL TEMPERATURE is defined as the point at which degradation is caused by temperature alone. 5 SPECIFIC GRAVITY is the ratio between the mass of a material and the mass of an equal volume of water. Specific gravities below 1 indicate the material will float in water; greater than 1 and the material will sink. 6 CREEP is defined as a material’s slow deformation that occurs while under load over a long period of time. Creep is mostly nonreversible. For some synthetic ropes, permanent elongation and creep are mistaken for the same property and used interchangeably when in fact creep is only one of the mechanisms that can cause permanent elongation. Rope Construction All sizes stated are nominal diameters and do not reflect exact dimensions. Weights depicted are average net rope weights relaxed and standard tolerances are ± 5% unless agreed to in writing. All Samson ropes are categorized for testing purposes as Class I or Class II ropes. Class I ropes are manufactured from polyolefin, nylon and/or polyester fiber. Class II ropes are manufactured from high-modulus fiber (i.e., Dyneema®, Zylon®, Technora®, Vectran®). 3-STRAND 12-STRAND DOUBLE BRAID PARALLEL CORE & SPECIALTY BRAID 20 SamsonRope.com TECHNICAL DATA Elongation (Stretch) CONSTRUCTIONAL ELONGATION The elongation of a loaded rope that results from compaction as the fibers and strands align and adjust. SPLICE SETTING The elongation of a spliced rope caused by the adjustment and settling of the strands in the splice. PERMANENT ELONGATION 2 ft. Immediately recoverable 5 ft. HYSTERESIS Recoverable over time 3 ft. Total Stretch 10 ft. Non-recoverable PERMANENT EXTENSION (PE) AFTER RELAXATION Permanent extension after relaxation refers to the portion of extension that prevents the rope from returning to its original length due to construction deformation, such as compacting of braid and helical changes, and some plastic deformation of the yarn fibers. CREEP A material’s slow deformation that occurs while under load over a long period of time. Creep is mostly nonreversible. For some synthetic ropes, permanent elongation and creep are mistaken for the same property and used interchangeably when in fact creep is only one of the mechanisms that can cause permanent elongation. After Several Hours 2 FT. ELASTIC HYSTERESIS Elastic hysteresis refers to a recoverable portion of stretch or extension over a period of time after a load is released. In measuring elastic recovery, it is the portion that occurs immediately when a load is removed. However, a remaining small percentage of elastic recovery occurs gradually over a period of hours or days. Elastic hysteresis is measured in a length/time scale. PE WHILE WORKING Permanent extension while working is the amount of extension that exists when stress is removed but no time is given for hysteretic recovery. It includes the nonrecoverable and hysteretic extension as one value and represents any increase in the length of a rope in a constant working situation, such as during repeated surges in towing or other similar cyclical operations. The percentage of PE over the working load range is generally in order of 4– 6% for braided ropes and two to three times as much for plaited. However, it varies slightly with different fibers and rope constructions. In some applications, such as subsurface mooring or devices that demand precise depth location and measurement, allowances must be made for this factor. Load Released After elongation 32 ft. Load Applied New length of rope New Rope Unloaded ELASTIC ELONGATION ELASTIC ELONGATION (EE) Elastic elongation refers to the portion of stretch or extension of a rope that is immediately recoverable after the load on the rope is released. The rope’s tendency to recover is a result of the fiber(s) rather than the rope construction. Each type of synthetic fiber inherently displays a unique degree of elasticity. Relatively speaking, high-performance fiber has extremely low elasticity as compared to nylon fiber. COMPONENTS OF STRETCH ON A LOADED ROPE Loaded Length 40 ft. In order to establish definitions involving stretch in ropes, it is necessary to review the terms used to define its basic components. Initial Length 30 ft. Defining Elastic Elongation Several hours later... LOAD RELEASED Load Released Published Elastic Elongation Data: All reported percentages are averages based on tests of new rope stabilized by being cycled 50 times at each stated percentage of its average break strength. TABLE 2. ELASTIC ELONGATION FOR ALL PRODUCTS. Percent of elastic elongation at percent of break strength. 10% 20% 30% AmSteel®-Blue 0.46% 0.70% 0.96% ArborMaster® 3.00% 5.00% 6.00% Arbor-Plex 3.00% 3.30% 4.20% Bail Out 1.00% 1.20% 1.60% Ice Tail 1.08% 1.61% 1.64% Nystron 2.40% 4.50% 5.90% Pro-Master 2.00% 3.20% 3.90% Prusik Cord 1.10% 2.20% 3.50% Stable Braid 1.10% 1.70% 2.70% Tenex 1.40% 2.30% 3.00% Tenex-TEC 1.40% 2.30% 3.00% Tree-Master 2.90% 5.60% 8.20% True-Blue 2.60% 3.00% 4.00% True-White 2.60% 3.00% 4.00% Ultra-Tech 0.63% 0.97% 1.24% Velocity 3.00% 5.00% 6.00% Vortex 3.00% 5.00% 6.00% SamsonRope.com 21 TECHNICAL DATA Rope Selection SELECT THE RIGHT ROPE FOR THE JOB Selecting a rope involves evaluating a combination of factors. Some of these factors are straightforward like comparing rope specifications. Others are not easily quantified, like color preference or how a rope feels in your hand. Cutting corners, reducing sizes, or strengths on an initial purchase creates unnecessary replacements, potentially dangerous conditions, and increases long-term costs. Fiber and construction being equal, a larger rope outlasts a smaller rope because of the greater surface wear distribution. Similarly, a stronger rope outlasts a weaker one because it will be used at a lower percentage of its break strength with less chance of being overstressed. The following areas should be considered in your rope selection: STRENGTH When given a choice between ropes, select the strongest of any given size. A load of 200 pounds represents 2% of the strength of a rope with a breaking strength of 10,000 pounds. The same load represents 4% of the strength of a rope that has a breaking strength of 5,000 pounds. The weaker rope is having to work harder and as a result will have to be retired sooner. Braided ropes are stronger than twisted ropes of the same size and fiber type. Note carefully the quoted breaking strengths of the various Samson products. These are average breaking strengths. Published breaking strengths are determined by standard cordage testing and do not cover conditions such as sustained loads or shock loading. These strengths are attained under laboratory conditions. Remember also, that this is a breaking strength—not a recommended working load. ELONGATION It is well accepted that ropes with lower elongation under load will give you better load control—a big help on complicated job sites. However, ropes with lower elongation that are shock loaded, such as a lowering line, can fail without warning even though it appears to be in good shape. Low elongating ropes should be selected with the highest possible strength. Both twisted ropes and braided ropes are suitable for rigging. Twisted rope has lower strength and more stretch. Braided rope has higher strength and lower stretch. FIRMNESS Select ropes that are firm and round and hold their shape during use. Soft or mushy ropes will snag easily and abrade quickly causing accelerated strength loss. Because the fibers are in a straighter line, which improves strength but compromises durability, loose or mushy rope will almost always have higher break strengths than a similar rope that is firm and holds its shape. CONSTRUCTION AND ABRASION It is important to choose the right rope construction for your application, because it affects resistance to normal wear and abrasion. Braided ropes have a round, smooth construction that tends to flatten out somewhat on a bearing surface. This distributes the wear over a much greater area; as opposed to the crowns of a 3-strand or, to a lesser degree, an 8-strand rope. ASSIGNED WORKING LOAD FACTORS Assigned working load factors vary in accordance with the different safety practices and policies of utilities and industrial users. However, our recommendation, and one that is fairly well accepted in the industry, is a minimum 10:1 working load factor for climbing lines and 5:1 working load factor for rigging lines. As an example, your maximum rigging line work load should be approximately 1/5th, or 20%, of the quoted breaking strength. This factor provides greater safety and extends the service life of the line. Assume that you have seven identical ropes, each with a 30,000-lb breaking strength and you work these ropes daily with each rope lifting a different load, as shown in Table 3. Table 3 shows that the higher the working load factor, the greater the service life and the lower the replacement factor. Therefore, the working load factor directly reflects the economy of the purchase. TABLE 3. WORKING LOADS FOR SEVEN ROPES WITH BREAKING STRENGTHS OF 30,000 LB. Breaking Strength SHOCK LOADING Working loads as described herein are not applicable when rope has been subjected to shock loading. Whenever a load is picked up, stopped, moved, or swung there is an increased force caused by the dynamic nature of the movement. The force increases as these actions occur more rapidly or suddenly, which is known as “shock loading.” Examples of applications where shock loading occurs include ropes used as a tow line, picking up a load on a slack line, or using rope to stop a falling object. In extreme cases, the force put on the rope may be two, three, or more times the normal load involved. Shock-loading effects are greater on a low elongation rope such as polyester than on a high-elongation rope such as nylon, and greater on a short rope than on a long one. For example, the shock load on a winch line that occurs when a 5,000-lb object is lifted vertically with a sudden jerk may “weigh" 30,000 lb under the dynamic force. If the winch line is rated in the 30,000-lb breakstrength range, it is very likely to break. Where shock loads, sustained loads, or where life, limb, or valuable property is involved, it is recommended that an increased working load factor be used. It is recommended that a lower working load factor be selected with only expert knowledge of conditions and professional estimates of risk; if the rope has been inspected and found to be in good condition; and if the rope has not been subject to shock loads, excessive use, elevated temperatures, or extended periods under load. 22 SamsonRope.com For dynamic loading applications that involve severe exposure conditions, or for recommendations on special applications, consult the manufacturer. Working Load* Working Load Factor Number of Lifts 1 30,000 lb 5,000 lb 6:1 1,000 2 30,000 lb 6,000 lb 5:1 750 3 30,000 lb 7,500 lb 4:1 500 4 30,000 lb 10,000 lb 3:1 300 5 30,000 lb 15,500 lb 2:1 100 6 30,000 lb 20,000 lb 1.5:1 25 7 30,000 lb 28,000 lb 1.1:1 5 *Relative values only. The higher the working load factor the greater the service life, and, of course, the lower the replacement factor. Thus, a working load factor also directly reflects an economy factor. If you are always lifting the same weight, then the stronger the rope, the higher the working load factor, and the longer the rope will last. IMPORTANT NOTE: It is important to note that many industries are subject to state and federal regulation on working load limits that supersede the manufacturer’s recommendation. It is the responsibility of the rope user to be aware of and adhere to those laws and regulations. TECHNICAL DATA Rope Handling and Usage DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES Based on rope industry practices, dielectric property testing is conducted on clean, new rope samples and holds true only under such ideal conditions. Dirt, grease, foreign matter, and moisture (including humidity) will alter the nonconductivity/conductivity of any synthetic rope or material. No rope manufacturer can attest to a rope’s dielectric properties under actual operating conditions. BENDING RADIUS Any sharp bend in a rope under load decreases its strength substantially and may cause premature damage or failure. In sizing the radius of bitts, fairleads and chocks for best performance, the following guidelines are offered: REMOVING ROPE FROM A REEL OR COIL Synthetic-fiber ropes are normally shipped on reels for maximum protection while in transit. The rope should be removed from the reel by pulling it off the top while the reel is free to rotate. This can be accomplished by passing a pipe through the center of the reel and jacking it up until the reel is free from the deck. Rope should never be taken from a reel lying on its side. If the rope is supplied on a coil, it should always be uncoiled from the inside so that the first turn comes off the bottom in a counter-clockwise direction. Where a rope bends more than 10 degrees around bitts or chocks, or is bending across any surface, the diameter of that surface should not be less than 3 times the diameter of the rope. Stated another way, the diameter of the surface should be at least 3 times the rope diameter. A 4-to-1 ratio (or larger) would be better yet because the durability of the rope increases substantially as the diameter of the surface over which it is worked increases. On a cleat when the rope does not bend radially around, the barrel of the cleat can be one half the rope circumference (minimum). ROPE STORAGE: COILING, FLAKING, AND BAGGING Great care must be taken in the stowage and proper coiling of 3-strand ropes to prevent the natural built-in twist of the line from developing kinks and hockles. Braided ropes on the other hand have no built-in twist and are far more resistant to kinking. Even if kinks do develop, they cannot develop further into hockles. The ratio of the length of an eye splice to the diameter of the object over which the eye is to be placed (for example, bollard, bitt, cleat, etc.) should be a minimum 3-to-1 relationship and preferably 5-to-1. In other words, if you have a bollard 2 feet in diameter the eye splice should be 6 or 10 feet in length. By using this ratio the angle of the 2 legs of the eye splice at its throat will not be so severe as to cause a parting or tearing action at this point (thimbles are normally designed with a 3-to-1 ratio). BOOM-SHEAVE RECOMMENDATIONS Hockled Rope Groove Diameter 8-inch Diameter Sheave 1-inch Diameter Rope 8:1 Ratio Three-strand and braided ropes should be coiled in a clockwise direction (or in the direction of the lay of the rope) and uncoiled in a counter-clockwise direction to avoid kinks. An alternate and perhaps better method is to flake out the line in a figure eight. This avoids putting twist in the line in either direction and lessens the risk of kinking. Bagging is the most common method of storing braided or twisted climbing lines. The rope is allowed to fall into its natural position without deliberate direction. Rope Diameter No less than 10% greater than rope diameter To assure maximum efficiency and safety, the boom-sheave diameter should be no less than 8 times the rope’s diameter. The sheave’s groove diameter should be no less than 10% greater than the rope diameter, and the groove should be round in shape, not “V” shaped. DANGER TO PERSONNEL Persons should be warned against the serious danger of standing in line with a rope under tension. Should the rope separate, it may recoil with considerable force. In all cases where any such risks are present, or where there is any question about the load involved or the condition of use, the working Do not stand in line with load should be substantially a rope under tension. reduced and the rope properly inspected before every use. Figure 8 Coiling — Twisted Ropes Bagging SamsonRope.com 23 TECHNICAL DATA Rope Handling and Usage (cont.) EYE SPLICES The standard eye splice cannot be pulled out under tension, however, it can be pulled out by hand when the winch line is in a relaxed state. To prevent such tampering, it is recommended that lock stitching or tight seizing be applied to the base or throat of the splice. Lock stitching may also prove advantageous on some splices to prevent no-load opening due to mishandling. The material required is one fid length of nylon whipping twine approximately the same size diameter as the strands in the rope you are lock stitching. The strands cut from the rope you are lock stitching may also be used, but whipping twine is preferable. You may download lock-stitch instructions from our website SamsonRope.com or call customer service to receive them by mail. Eye splices at the end of winch lines (if not put in at the factory) should be done in strict accordance with the steps and procedures outlined in Samson splicing instructions. These splicing methods can be easily learned and executed by line crews and shop personnel. Splicing instruction assistance is available through the Samson Technical Representative in your area. Splicing Training Kits, manuals, and tools can be ordered through your local Samson Distributor or direct from the factory. Instructions are also available online at SamsonRope.com. KNOTS AND WINCH LINES While it is true that a knot reduces rope strength, it is also true that a knot is a convenient way to accomplish rope attachment. The strength loss is a result of the tight bends that occur in the knot. With some knots, ropes can lose significant strength, however, this number can change based on rope construction and fibers used. It is vital that the reduction in strength by the use of knots be taken into account when determining the size and strength of a rope to be used in an application. To avoid knot strength reduction, it is recommended that a rope be spliced according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Splice terminations are used in all our ropes to determine new and unused tensile strengths. Therefore, whenever possible, spliced terminations should be used to maximize the rope strength for new and used ropes. USE OF SLINGS WITH WINCH LINES The winch line itself should not be used as a choker to pick up a pole or other objects. The hook attached on the end of the winch line can cut deeply into the rope itself. We recommend a separate line, sling or strap be used as the choker and not the winch line itself. TEMPERATURE Friction can be your best friend or worst enemy if it is not managed properly. Friction takes place anytime two surfaces come in contact. Mild friction, sometimes referred to as grip is a good characteristic, especially in winching applications. However friction creates heat, the greater the friction, the greater the heat buildup. Heat is an enemy to synthetic fiber and elevated temperatures can drastically reduce the strength and/or cause rope melt-through. High temperatures can be achieved when checking ropes on a cable or running over stuck or non-rolling sheaves or rollers. Each rope’s construction and fiber type will yield a different coefficient of friction (resistance to slipping) in a new or used state. It is important to understand the operational demands, and take into account the size of the rope, construction, and fiber type to minimize heat buildup. Never let ropes under tension rub together or move relative to one another. Enough heat to melt the fibers can buildup and cause the rope to fail quickly: as if it had been cut with a knife. Be aware of areas of heat buildup and take steps to minimize them. Under no circumstances let any rope come in contact with an exhaust muffler or any other hot object. The strength of a used rope can be determined by testing, but often the rope is destroyed in the process so the ability to determine the retirement point before it fails in service is essential. 24 SamsonRope.com That ability is based on a combination of education in rope use and construction along with good judgment and experience. Remember, you almost always get what you pay for in the form of performance and reliability. TABLE 4. THE CRITICAL AND MELTING TEMPERATURES FOR SYNTHETIC FIBERS. FIBER TYPE HMPE Polypropylene Nylon Polyester Aramid CRITICAL TEMP. MELTING TEMP. 150° F 250° F 325° F 350° F 450° F 300° F 330° F 425 – 490° F 480° F 900° F* *While the term “melting” does not apply to this fiber, it does undergo extreme degradation in these temperatures, and they char. STRENGTH DEGRADATION FROM ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT Prolonged exposure of synthetic ropes to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight causes varying degrees of strength degradation. Polyester fibers are the least affected by UV exposure, and the resulting strength degradation of exposed fibers is negligible. Nylon is more susceptible to strength loss due to ultraviolet rays, but with both polyester and nylon, the degree of susceptibility to UV damage is dependent on the type of fiber and the various UV inhibitors with which the fiber manufacturer treats them (i.e., Samthane coating). Polyolefin and PBO fibers are severely affected by ultraviolet exposure, especially in their natural, undyed, and/or uncovered states. HARMFUL CHEMICALS Certain chemicals can break down synthetic fibers. Sulfuric acids, alkalis, and chlorinate hydrocarbons over 160° F should be avoided, while strong cleaning agents or bleaches may be harmful. If you are unsure about the effect of a specific chemical, contact our customer service department for more information. AVOID SHOCK LOADING Shock loading of any line—synthetic, manila, or wire—produces a drastically different set of physical properties and results as compared with normal loading. Shock loading is a jerking or snatching of a line, or a very sudden change in tension such as from a relaxed state or low load to one of high load. A sudden drop off of a platform from as short a distance as four inches actually doubles the rope’s load. Similarly, an overwrap “falling off” the winch drum can result in a shock load. This results in accelerated wear of the rope. For more information about working load factors and shock loading, see page 22. FATIGUE Synthetic fibers have memory: they remember and retain the effects of being overloaded and shock loaded. This why winch line procedures are so important to reducing the danger of shock loading, which prolongs the life of the rope and reduces premature down grading. If there is reason to believe that a line has been shock loaded above its recommended working load, it should be logged. If a number of these instances occur, the line should be inspected and rotated. END-FOR-ENDING It is recommended that every winch line be rotated end-for-end on a periodic basis. This will vary high stress and wear points and extend useful life. The recommended end-for-ending period is six months, at which time visual inspection and washing can also be done. ROPE INSPECTION Retire the Rope When It’s Time One question frequently asked is “When should I retire my rope?” The most obvious answer is before it breaks. But, without a thorough understanding of how to inspect it and knowing the load history, you are left making an educated guess. Unfortunately, there are no definitive rules nor are there industry guidelines to establish when a rope should be retired because there are so many variables that affect rope strength. Factors like load history, bending radius, abrasion, chemical exposure or some combination of those factors, make retirement decisions difficult. Inspecting your rope should be a continuous process of observation before, during, and after each use. In synthetic fiber ropes, the amount of strength loss due to abrasion and/or flexing is directly related to the amount of broken fiber in the rope’s cross section. After each use, look and feel along every inch of the rope length inspecting for abrasion, glossy or glazed areas, inconsistent diameter, discoloration, and inconsistencies in texture and stiffness. New rope. Used rope. VISUAL INSPECTION The load-bearing capacity of double braid ropes, such as Stable Braid, is divided equally between the inner core and the outer cover. If upon inspection, there are cut strands or significant abrasion damage the rope must be retired because the strength of the entire rope is decreased. Core-dependent double braids such as Ultra-Tech have 100% of their load-bearing capacity handled by the core alone. For these ropes, the jacket can sustain damage without compromising the strength of the load-bearing core. Inspection of core-dependent double braids can be misleading because it is difficult to see the core. In the case of 12-strand single braids such as AmSteel® and AmSteel®-Blue, each of the 12-strands carries approximately 8.33%, or 1/12th, of the load. If upon inspection, there are cut strands or significant abrasion damage to the rope, the rope must be retired or the areas of damage removed and the rope repaired with the appropriate splice. Severely abraded rope. ABRASION When a 12-strand single-braid rope, such as AmSteel®-Blue, is first put into service, the outer filaments of the rope will quickly fuzz up. This is the result of these filaments breaking, which actually forms a protective cushion and shield for the fibers underneath. This condition should stabilize, not progress. If the surface roughness increases, excessive abrasion is taking place and strength is being lost. When inspecting the rope, look closely at both the inner and outer fibers. When either is worn, the rope is obviously weakened. Inspect for pulled strands. Open the strands and look for powdered fiber, which is one sign of internal wear. Estimate the internal wear to estimate total fiber abrasion. If total fiber loss is 20%, then it is safe to assume that the rope has lost 20% of its strength as a result of abrasion. As a general rule for braided ropes, when there is 25% or more wear from abrasion, or the fiber is broken or worn away, the rope should be retired from service. For double braid ropes, 50% wear on the cover is the retirement point, and with 3-strand ropes, 10% or more wear is accepted as the retirement point. GLOSSY OR GLAZED AREAS Glossy or glazed areas are signs of heat damage with more strength loss than the amount of melted fiber indicates. Fibers adjacent to the melted areas are probably damaged from excessive heat even though they appear normal. It is reasonable to assume that the melted fiber has damaged an equal amount of adjacent unmelted fiber. DISCOLORATION With use, all ropes get dirty. Be on the lookout for areas of discoloration that could be caused by chemical contamination. Determine the cause of the discoloration and replace the rope if it is brittle or stiff. INCONSISTENT DIAMETER Inspect for flat areas, bumps, or lumps. This can indicate core or internal damage from overloading or shock loads and is usually sufficient reason to replace the rope. INCONSISTENT TEXTURE Inconsistent texture or stiff areas can indicate excessive dirt or grit embedded in the rope or shock load damage and is usually reason to replace the rope. RESIDUAL STRENGTH Samson offers customers residual strength testing of our ropes. Periodic testing of samples taken from ropes currently in service ensures that retirement criteria are updated to reflect the actual conditions of service. Inspect for internal abrasion. Compare surface yarns with internal yarns. Compressed areas. SamsonRope.com 25 SINGLE BRAID CHECKLIST INSPECTION AND RETIREMENT CHECKLIST Single Braids Inspection and Retirement Checklist* REDUCED VOLUME Repair or retire Any rope that has been in use for any period of time will show normal wear and tear. Some characteristics of a used rope will not reduce strength while others will. Below we have defined normal conditions that should be inspected on a regular basis. WHAT > Sharp edges and surfaces If upon inspection you find any of these conditions, you must consider the following before deciding to repair or retire it: >the length of the rope, >the time it has been in service, >the type of work it does, >where the damage is, and >the extent of the damage. > Cyclic tension wear In general, it is recommended that you: >Repair the rope if the observed damage is in localized areas. >Retire the rope if the damage is over extended areas. *REFERENCES Cordage Institute International, International Guideline CI2001-04, Fiber-Rope Inspection and Retirement Criteria: Guidelines to Enhance Durability and the Safer Use of Rope, 2004. COMPRESSION Not a permanent characteristic WHAT >Visible sheen >Stiffness reduced by flexing the rope >Not to be confused with melting >Often seen on winch drums CAUSE >Fiber molding itself to the contact surface under a radial load > 25% reduction CAUSE > Abrasion MELTED OR GLAZED FIBER Repair or retire WHAT > Fused fibers > > > Visibly charred or melted fibers, yarns, and/or strands Extreme stiffness Unchanged by flexing CAUSE > Exposure to excessive heat, shock load, or a sustained high load DISCOLORATION/DEGRADATION Repair or retire WHAT > Fused fibers > Brittle fibers > Stiffness CAUSE > Chemical contamination CORRECTIVE ACTION Flex the rope to remove compression PULLED STRAND Not a permanent characteristic INCONSISTENT DIAMETER Repair or retire WHAT > Strand pulled away from the rest of the rope WHAT > Flat areas > Is not cut or otherwise damaged > Lumps and bumps CAUSE > Shock loading CAUSE > Snagging on equipment or surfaces > Broken internal strands CORRECTIVE ACTION Work back in to rope INSPECTING FOR ABRASION DAMAGE To determine the extent of outer fiber damage from abrasion, a single yarn in all abraded areas should be examined. The diameter of the abraded yarn should then be compared to a portion of the same yarn or an adjacent yarn of the same type that has been protected by the strand crossover area and is free from abrasion damage. (LEFT) Internal abrasion can be determined by pulling one strand away from the others and looking for powdered or broken fiber filaments. (ABOVE) 26 SamsonRope.com DOUBLE BRAID CHECKLIST INSPECTION AND RETIREMENT CHECKLIST Double Braids Inspection and Retirement Checklist* Any rope that has been in use for any period of time will show normal wear and tear. Some characteristics of a used rope will not reduce strength while others will. Below we have defined normal conditions that should be inspected on a regular basis. If upon inspection you find any of these conditions, you must consider the following before deciding to repair or retire it: >the length of the rope, >the time it has been in service, >the type of work it does, >where the damage is, and >the extent of the damage. In general, it is recommended to: >Repair the rope if the observed damage is in localized areas. CUT STRANDS DOUBLE BRAID: Repair or retire CORE-DEPENDENT: May not affect strength WHAT > Three or more adjacent cut strands CAUSE > Abrasion > Sharp edges and surfaces > Cyclic tension wear REDUCED VOLUME DOUBLE BRAID: Repair or retire CORE-DEPENDENT: May not affect strength WHAT > 50% volume reduction CAUSE > Abrasion >Retire the rope if the damage is over extended areas. > Sharp edges and surfaces *REFERENCES Cordage Institute International, International Guideline CI2001-04, Fiber-Rope Inspection and Retirement Criteria: Guidelines to Enhance Durability and the Safer Use of Rope, 2004. > Cyclic tension wear DOUBLE BRAID vs. CORE-DEPENDENT Double braid ropes consist of a cover or jacket braided over a separately braided core. Samson produces two types of double braided ropes: standard double braids and core-dependent double braids. The strength of standard double braid ropes is shared between the cover and the core. Damage to the cover also usually affects the core and ultimately the strength of the rope. In core-dependent double braids, the core is the strength member and carries the entire load. Damage to the cover of a coredependent double braid may not compromise strength of the rope. Inspection of both standard double braids and core-dependent double braids is essential to determining whether the rope can be repaired or if it needs to be retired. MELTED OR GLAZED FIBER Repair or retire WHAT > Fused fibers > > > Visibly charred and melted fibers, yarns, and/or strands Extreme stiffness Unchanged by flexing CAUSE > Exposure to excessive heat, shock load, or a sustained high load DISCOLORATION/DEGRADATION Repair or retire WHAT > Fused fibers > Brittle fibers > Stiffness CAUSE > Chemical contamination INCONSISTENT DIAMETER Repair or retire WHAT > Flat areas > Lumps and bumps CAUSE > Shock loading > Broken internal strands SamsonRope.com 27 REGISTERED TRADEMARK NOTICES: 2090 Thornton Street Ferndale, WA 98248 Phone: +1 800.227.7673 or +1 360.384.4669 Fax: +1 360.384.0572 SamsonRope.com AmSteel® is a registered trademark of Samson Rope Technologies. ArborMaster® is a registered trademark of ArborMaster Training, Inc. Technora® is a registered trademark of Teijin, Ltd. Vectran® is a registered trademark of Kuraray Co., Ltd. Zylon® PBO is a registered trademark of Toyobo Co., Ltd. Dyneema® is a registered trademark of Royal DSM N.V. Dyneema® is DSM’s high-performance polyethylene product. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to Ken Palmer and the ArborMaster® team, James Luce with Arboriculture Canada, and Steven Conrad and Rich Keeton with Urban Forester Tree Service for technical assistance. © 2011 Samson Rope Technologies All rights reserved. 10/11 7.5K Printed in the U.S.A. S/WD #107941
