Safety Net General Information
Application Areas and Net Types
A fall safety net is a horizontally spanned safety net with a border rope pulled through the border meshes. Fall safety nets are deployed to catch persons when it is impossible to directly prevent a fall. The nets are, for example, used to catch persons working under hall roofs and in bridge construction. In contrast to catch-rope safety devices, with a net complete freedom of movement is preserved. It functions as a collective protection for all work and transportation processes in the secured area. Due to the net’s highly elastic deformation, falling persons are caught more softly than with roping safety equipment.
The precise designation for this type of safety net is: Safety Net, European Standard 1263-1 System S. Irrespective of the minimum breaking force, this category is subdivided again into 4 classes of net, which must fulfil the following requirements:
- Minimum breaking force of border rope: 30 kN
- Maximum mesh size: 60 or 100 mm
- Minimum energy absorption of the 3 x 3 m test net (see table)
Net Classes
When in a new condition, a safety net must have a reserve capacity that covers at least one year’s ageing.
| Net Class | Maximum Mesh Size |
Min. Fracture Energy |
x Safety Factor | x Aging Factor For 1 Year |
= Min. Energy Absorption When New |
| A1 | 60 mm | 2.3 kJ | x 1.5 | x 1.2 | = 4.14 kJ |
| A2 | 100 mm | 2.3 kJ | x 1.5 | x 1.2 | = 4.14 kJ |
| B1 | 60 mm | 4.4 kJ | x 1.5 | x 1.2 | = 7.92 kJ |
| B2 | 100 mm | 4.4 kJ | x 1.5 | x 1.2 | = 7.92 kJ |
Relevant Standards, Rules and Laws
During work involving the risk of falling, the installation of fall protection is legally mandatory. The German Occupational Safety and Healthy Act (ArbSchG) constitutes the legal framework for health and safety at work. This act is, in turn, shaped by accident prevention regulations. The use of safety nets is specified DGUV safety net information sheet no. 101-011. The product standard for safety nets is the European Standard EN 1263-1.
Only safety nets that conform to this standard are approved products as stipulated by DGUV rule 101-011, and thus also approved fall protection equipment as stipulated by the German Occupational Safety and Healthy Act (ArbSchG) and the accident prevention regulations.