As some of you may have heard, there is information being circulated concerning an "Application Advisory" from MacLean Power Systems (formerly Reliable Power Products), manufacturer of the Strandvise® cable connector, regarding the use of their Strandvise® cable terminations on challenge courses. This Application Advisory has raised concerns that the manufacturer is not supporting the use of these connectors in the challenge course industry. As a result, vendors have received calls from clients asking if their courses are still safe using these devices. Overall, Strandvises® have served our industry well for a very long time and the number of them that have slipped (the most common failure) has been very low compared to the number of units installed. We hope that the following information will help to clarify the use of these connectors in our field.
Until recently, information provided by MacLean Power Systems concerning the use of the Strandvise® on challenge courses stated that for the 7 x 19 wire rope we commonly use, the 5200 series Strandvise® was more suitable. This was based on static pull tests they conducted at the request of some vendors. Consequently, ACCT Installation Standards were written to reflect this information from the manufacturer (Standard B3.2 STRANDVISES®). ACCT standards require that any Strandvise® connection that is considered critical must be backed up. Under these standards, Strandvises® can and have been used successfully for many years.
The Application Advisory dated November 27, 2000 states useful information on the history of Strandvises® and their application in the power line industry as well as concerns MacLean has regarding their use in the challenge course industry. The concerns relate to proper installation and loading of the Strandvise®, which can have a direct effect on their reliability in holding a load. At the end they express the need to discontinue the use of Strandvise® connectors that are "used without backup devices" on challenge courses.
Since the current Application Advisory's release date, Standards Committee members have been in contact with senior management at MacLean. In preliminary conversations, they expressed a willingness to work with representatives from ACCT to better define how Strandvises® can be used properly and deal with the large quantity of these devices currently in use. If modifications in our standards are required, we will make those changes as appropriate. Notice of any changes or standards additions will be sent to ACCT Professional Vendor Members (PVMs). Notice of new standards will be posted in Parallel Lines and on the ACCT web site (acctinfo.org).
On another note, there are rumors circulating that ACCT has or is advocating the use of equipment that is not designed for challenge course use. It is important to understand that ACCT only recommends or names a specific brand of building material or equipment when it relates to specific safety issues, limitations in usage based on known manufacturer's data, field observations, or from actual testing. ACCT has provided information, when available, on the specific application of materials commonly used on challenge courses. Most of the materials that are used to construct challenge courses were originally designed to be used in other applications. It continues to be the responsibility of all challenge course installers to thoroughly research all of the components used in their designs and verify that they are appropriate for the application.
It has always been ACCT's process to gather information relating to the safe use of challenge courses, assess it for its relevance, change or create new standards, and circulate them in a responsible manner. Although the issue regarding the safe use of Strandvises® is not new, the manufacturer's statement regarding their use requires us to review our standards and assess whether they are still appropriate. This represents a process that is ongoing and a natural part of the standards creation process in our industry. As a result, we all must learn to expect these issues to come up as we move ahead. Our success will be based on dealing with these issues responsibly with good research and communication.
Thanks to all the ACCT Professional Vendor Members who gathered information to help the committee move ahead on this issue. Your support is appreciated.
