Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
a) In
addition to the definitions in Section
6000.10, the
following shall apply to and govern this Section 6000.352:
"Acceptance Inspection" means the final inspection of a course
performed upon installation completion and before commissioning.
"Anchor System" means a system of anchorages and anchorage
connectors that provide a secure termination for a life safety system, personal
safety system, belay system, or rope rigging system.
"Anchorage" means the terminating component of a life safety
system, personal safety system, belay system, or rope rigging system intended
to support any force applied to the system.
"Anchorage Connector" means an interface component coupling any
anchor system or system component to an anchorage.
"Aerial Adventure Course" means a patron participatory facility
or facilities consisting of one or more elevated walkways, platforms, zip
lines, nets, ropes, or other elements that require the use of fall hazard
Personal Safety Equipment (PSE).
"Automatic Anchorage Connector" means an anchorage connector
that is properly engaged by automatic action without manually applied fasteners
in the connector.
"Brake" means a device, method or system used to arrest the
traverse of the participant.
"Brake System" means a complete system, comprised of the
primary and emergency brakes, that arrests the participant's traverse along an
element. Brake systems can be active or passive.
"Commissioning" means an action by the installer or other
competent person of putting a new element or course into service for the
owner/operator.
"Competent Person" means a person possessing the skills,
knowledge, experience, training and judgment to perform assigned tasks or
activities satisfactorily, as determined by a reasonable person.
"Dismount" means the act of disembarking from the element and
proceeding away from the landing area.
"Fixed Course" means a course that is designed to be used at a
fixed, single location and not readily moved to a different location.
"Landing Area" means the area provided for the participant to
arrest and dismount after traversing an element.
"Mobile Course" means a course that is designed or adapted to
be moved from one location to another and is not fixed at a single
location.
"Mobile Course Manufacturer" means a company responsible for
the design, quality, fabrication and delivery of a mobile course.
"Operating System" means the system or systems of processing a
patron through the course route used on a particular site. This includes
registration, preparation, getting to the landing point, methods of attachment,
the rigging and lowering system, and the landing recovery method.
"Operation, Maintenance, Inspection and Training Manual" or
"Manual" means a document containing the procedures and forms for the operation
of the course activity and equipment on the site.
"Service Proven" means an element, ride, device, structure or
major modification to an element, ride or device of which:
units have been in service to the public for a minimum of 5
years; and
units that have been in service without any significant design
related failures or significant design related safety issues that have not been
mitigated.
"Third Party Inspector" means a qualified person:
not directly employed by the operator of the course or parent
company, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or vendor; and
not offering other services to the operator of the course or
parent company.
The person shall be qualified via ACCT accreditation, AIMS
certification, NAARSO certification, PRCA accreditation, or other approval that
equally qualifies that person to provide course inspections.
b) This Section shall govern all courses in
operation on or after January 1, 2021. However, the Director may grant a permit
to an operator of a course in operation on December 8, 2020 that does not meet
all the standards set forth in this Section if the operator can clearly
demonstrate a service-proven element or demonstrate that the applicable safety
requirements throughout this Part are substantially satisfied to ensure the
safety of the public.
c) This
Section specifies the site, site approval, design, testing of equipment,
management of the operation, operating procedures, and emergency provisions and
procedures for courses from any mechanically operated platforms that carry
participants to the top of the structure. All courses shall meet the
manufacturer's standards and specifications.
d) Site Plan, Equipment Design and
Construction
1) All course operating system
designs shall be reviewed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer and a
licensed structural engineer. ANSI, ACCT, ASTM or other applicable standards
shall be used as general guidance. The designer of fixed courses and the
manufacturer of mobile courses are responsible for preparing the report for the
owner. The design report shall contain site plans, safety zones, drawings and
specifications of equipment, platform, rigging system, and safety equipment.
The report shall be submitted to the Department before the commissioning of
fixed courses and operation of mobile courses and shall be maintained on the
site where the course is operating. The design evaluation included in the
report shall consider the following:
A) Static
and dynamic loads on anchors and components.
B) Fatigue limits or absolute component
replacement intervals.
C) Fatigue
limits for structures.
D)
Protection against metallic corrosion and wood rot.
E) Clearances and hazard analysis, including
consideration of the effects of heavy crosswinds, rain, fog and other
conditions resulting in impaired visibility, maneuverability, loss of traction
or grip, and reduced braking capability.
F) Platform, walkway, ladder and associated
foundation size and load ratings, including factors of safety.
G) Anchor and foundation analysis for mobile
courses shall consider the load path through the anchor attachment point and
shall identify loading through all components, including an identified fixed
foundation. Vehicle frames or underframes can be used as fixed foundations,
providing a verifiable load analysis is submitted. Alternate qualification,
consisting of a statement by the vehicle manufacturer confirming the anchor
attachment point and loadings are suitable for the vehicle, is
acceptable.
2) An
inspection by a third-party inspector shall be conducted each time a major
component is modified. Scheduled component replacements in accordance with
manufacturer or designer maintenance procedures do not constitute a design
modification.
3) Fixed courses
shall be inspected by a third-party inspector annually. This information shall
be presented in a report to the owner in accordance with the ACCT Challenge
Course Inspection Standards or equivalent standards approved by the Department.
The report shall be submitted to the Department.
4) Differences between the design as detailed
in the engineer's report and evaluation and the implemented installation by a
competent person shall be reconciled. Appropriate explanations of the
differences, which may include modified drawings, procedures, analyses and
additional calculations, shall be appended to the original design report or
engineering evaluation, as applicable. Owner's manuals shall be updated to
reflect the engineer's or manufacturer's acceptance of the
modifications.
5) A fixed course
site commissioning plan, including an acceptance test procedure and report,
shall be incorporated in the engineer's report. Commissioning and testing shall
be conducted by a competent person
6) Mobile course site setup, pre-start
inspection, and test procedures shall be clearly documented and followed by a
competent person.
7) The Department
shall maintain the confidentiality of the engineer's report as authorized by
Section 7(1)(g) of the Freedom of Information Act.
e) General Compliance Criteria
1) Equipment
A) When a portion of the course or landing
area is not visible from the element departure point, a departure procedure
shall be utilized to ensure a clear unobstructed run.
B) There shall be adequate clear space above,
below and around the course to ensure the participant will not strike or
contact any permanent or transient obstruction, object or person.
C) Rescue ropes, equipment appropriate to
applicable rescue loads, rescue plans, and personnel trained to retrieve a
participant from anywhere within course spans shall be present during
use.
D) Carabiners and snap-hooks
shall comply with the gate strength and other applicable requirements of
ANSI/ASSP Z359.1(2007)
for the manufacturer's estimated life cycle of the product. Carabiners and
snap-hooks shall be auto-closing and auto-locking and require at least two
deliberate consecutive actions to open.
E) Lanyards shall comply with the strength
requirements of ANSI/ASSP Z359.1(2007)
for manufacturers estimated life cycle of the product. Lanyards should carry
the marking of the manufacturer and the safe working load or breaking
strength.
F) Hair, clothing that
may become entangled in safety equipment or component parts, and items carried
by participants, including backpacks and carryalls, shall be secured
properly.
G) Pulleys and trolleys
shall be of the double wheel type construction per the design specification to
eliminate derailing during operation.
H) All parts and components shall be
purchased from the manufacturer or shall only be manufacturer approved
replacement parts.
2)
Course Arrival Point, Protection and Braking
A) Courses shall have appropriate safety
devices, such as impact-absorbing materials, ground cover, load limiters,
landing mats, or landing nets, installed per the manufacturer's design
specifications at the course arrival point. Descriptions and operating
characteristics of the safety devices shall be included in the design
drawings.
B) One or more of the
following methods shall be included in the operating system of the course:
i) Impact absorbent ground cover, impact
absorber/load limiter, landing mats, nets, water landings, or other protective
methods installed in arrival areas to reduce injury potential.
ii) Passive braking systems shall not require
any action by the user and shall always be in effect through gravity or
engineered or mechanical means. In the event gravity braking is designed to
result in the participant being removed after arriving at a low point in the
course, the removal device or equipment shall be rated for the design reach and
loads, as determined by the design plan. In the event mobile equipment is used
to remove participants at the arrival point, the approach path shall be free of
potential hazards. The stability of the vehicle shall be insured through proper
selection of the equipment and the approach.
iii) Active braking systems with use of a
mechanical braking system must also have a secondary braking system or
assistance of an operator as a secondary or emergency braking system.
C) Parked vehicles shall only be
used as secondary tie-off points for portable courses and may be used as
primary anchor points when the vehicle meets the weight class and type
specified by the manufacturer and engineering requirements of the ride.
Additionally, any vehicle used as a primary or secondary anchoring point must
be physically prevented from being operated by disabling the electrical system
(disconnecting battery) so that the vehicle cannot be started or by other means
outlined in the manufacturer's design specifications.
D) The use of a tree as an anchor point for
the termination of a course or to secure the takeoff platform of a course is
acceptable. The tree or trees shall be inspected and approved by a certified
arborist to ensure good health and stability of the trees. All trees on fixed
installations shall receive this assessment no less than annually.
3) Course Takeoff Platform
A) Takeoff platforms shall be designed to
prevent the participant from striking any portion of the platform or lower
obstacle during the takeoff.
B)
Angles of inclination of the landing ramps shall not constitute a tripping
hazard for the participant.
C)
Where necessary, impact-absorbing material shall be utilized to prevent
injury.
D) Unauthorized access to
course platforms during periods when the ride is shut down or not attended by a
qualified operator shall be prevented by suitable means, including barriers.
Hazard warning signs shall be conspicuously placed where applicable.
f) Site Operating
Manual and Documentation
1) Each site shall
have an operating manual for the safe operation of course activities on that
site. The manual and all amendments shall be on-site and freely available to
operator staff and governing bodies.
2) The manual shall include the procedures
for complying with this Part.
3)
The manual shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A) A site plan;
B) A description of operating systems and
equipment;
C) Job procedures,
including training, for each task in the operating system. The Staff Training
Plan (see Section
6000.120(c))
shall include documentation of training provided by the qualified industry
training professional, including certificates verifying competency in technical
skills for each challenge course staff;
D) Challenge Course Personnel Job
Descriptions
i) Challenge course managers
shall be 21 years of age or older.
ii) Challenge course staff shall be 16 years
of age or older and shall have training (see Section
6000.120(c))
and general knowledge of the operation of the element to which they are
assigned.
E) Sample of
staff qualifications;
F) Staff
selection procedures;
G)
Maintenance standards and procedures;
H) Testing procedures and
recording;
I) Criteria for the
periodic replacement of rigging;
J)
Criteria for the regular planned inspections of ropes, webbings and
bindings;
K) Emergency plan and
procedures;
L) Reporting of
injuries, damage and incidents;
M)
Requirements for maintaining logs, including:
i) Site;
ii) Equipment and rigging; and
iii) Personnel;
N) Records to be kept;
O) Requirements for analysis of
records;
P) Inspection procedures,
standards and follow-up actions; and
Q) Examples of forms to be used.
g) Emergency Provisions
and Procedures
1) Each site shall have an
emergency plan.
2) A medium first
aid kit and blankets shall be on site.
3) Emergency lighting shall be provided at
sites that operate between 1/2 hour before sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise.
The emergency lighting system shall illuminate the takeoff platform, the
course, and the arrival point for participants. The emergency lighting system
shall have its own power source.
4)
In inclement weather, including but not limited to lightning, rain, hail, snow
or high winds, outdoor operations shall cease and participants shall not be
allowed to be on or near the course.
h) If a course operating system meets all the
equipment and inspection requirements of this Section, the Department will
issue an operating permit, subject to the applicant submitting the fees
required by Section
6000.50(b)
and (c).
i) An owner or operator of a course that is
permitted under the Act and this Part may disclose or advertise such permit
status. Misrepresentation of permit status shall be a violation of the Act. No
owner or operator shall advertise any course as being otherwise endorsed or
approved by the Department, in any advertisement, brochure, commercial, TV or
radio show, or newspaper, or in any other public manner.