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TIPS FROM THE CANOPY
One question people people ask... “How long will this rope last?”
The problematic yet truthful part about this question is that there isn’t a definitive answer. It is a loaded question with a lot of “what-ifs” and variables.
Every product we encounter contains specific cycles to failure. A simple way to look at cycles to failure is the number of stress uses an item can withstand before
it breaks. How many times it can be loaded, bent, rotated, etc. before it fails. We put our gear through its paces, and many times our gear is subjected to heavy loads, repeated actions, poor environments, and harsh elements. Our rope never forgets the
shock load that occurred when we did not let the piece run correctly, or the time it was left on a job site overnight in the rain. Or how about the time your coworker used
your rigging line and hooked it up to heavy machinery to pull trees over. Our gear remembers everything.
Every product has a limited lifespan, and while some products last longer than others, we have a direct impact on how long the product lasts. Every piece of gear has a finite service life,
and the way we use and maintain it directly correlates with the longevity of the gear.
If we use our rigging line within the Working Load Limit, store it properly, inspect it regularly, use it as intended, and do not abuse it; we should expect to get extended life out of the rigging line.
However, if the same rope is shock loaded repeatedly, used outside the WLL, and poorly cared for, we should expect a much shorter life of the rigging line. It only takes one extreme shock load or event to offset and significantly reduce the cycles to failure of rope or any piece of gear. We can extend the life
of our rope by working within the WLL and applications for which it was designed.
Following the rope manufacturer guidelines on inspection is a crucial element in taking care of our rope and getting the most extended life possible. Visual and tactile inspections before each use are necessary to
identify any potential issues or hazards. Any bumps, deformations, cut strands, or glazing of fibers should be inspected more thoroughly and checked against the user manual to determine if the rope should be retired. Doing so could potentially save you from a catastrophic event. Using the rope for its intended purpose is also
necessary to not only extending the service life of the rope but allowing the rope to perform at its best like it was designed to do.
We cannot perform our work without our equipment, and we have the responsibility of taking care of and maintain- ing our equipment. Our gear is responsible for keeping us safe in the tree and rigging pieces safely to the ground. It is
worth reciprocating that responsibility by using it within its limits and maintaining it properly.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY @JAMIE_CHAMBRELLI