EN 1263 Temporary Work Equipment - Safety Nets

The European standard “EN 1263 Temporary work equipment - Safety nets” consists of the following sub-sections published under the same title:

The standard “EN 1263-1 Part 1: Safety requirements, test methods” applies to safety nets and accessories used to protect against deeper falls in construction and assembly work. This standard includes safety requirements and test methods and is based on the performance characteristics of polypropylene and polyamide fibers. The mechanical properties of the materials used in the nets should not decrease significantly between -10 degrees and +40 degrees Celsius. This standard does not apply to the installation of safety nets. For the installation of safety nets, the EN 1263-2 standard applies.

This standard defines four network classes with maximum mesh sizes and energy values that can affect the network:

Class A1 and Class A2: Higher energy absorption (suitable for higher fall heights or energies)
Class B1 and Class B2: Lower energy absorption.

In addition, four security network systems are defined in terms of network security:

System S Edge rope safety net: The minimum size must be at least 35 m2. For rectangular safety nets, the length of the shortest side must be at least 5,0 m. Smaller safety nets (smaller than 35 m2 and with a shortest side less than 5,0 m) are not part of this standard and, where applicable, should be determined by national regulations.
System T Safety net attached to brackets for horizontal use.
System U is a safety net connected to a support frame for vertical use.
System V is a safety net with edge ropes attached to a suspension type support.

Safety nets are used as collective protective equipment in construction, assembly, maintenance and similar temporary work to stop falls from height, thereby preventing or reducing injury to workers and providing protection against falling objects. This standard applies to safety nets used for the following purposes:

To catch people who fall during the construction of buildings, halls, bridges, or other structures.
To provide protection against deeper falls (i.e., to stop falls altogether, rather than simply blocking access to hazardous areas).
To protect both people and objects from falling to lower levels.

These nets cover horizontal and certain vertical applications in construction and assembly work. The nets are not designed for use as permanent installations or personal fall arrest systems (these fall under other standards such as EN 361 or EN 363).

In European Union countries, safety nets used on construction sites must comply with the EN 1263-1 standard to meet the requirements of the 92/57/EEC construction site directive and national health and safety regulations.

The standard “EN 1263-2 Part 2: Safety requirements regarding positioning limits” describes the safety requirements for positioning safety nets in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual and product specifications, and for testing System S, System T, System U, and System V safety nets according to the EN 1263-1 standard. Small System S safety nets (smaller than 35 m² and with a shortest side of less than 5,0 m) are outside the scope of this standard according to EN 1263-1.

For the use and application of safety nets, an instruction manual conforming to EN 1263-1 standard must be included with every shipment of safety nets. This instruction manual must contain at least the following information:

Required anchor forces
Maximum fall height
Minimum capture width
Safety network connection
Minimum distance under the safety net.
Storage
Examination
Changing

Fall heights are specified in the table entitled "Definitions of Fall Heights" within the standard. Safety nets should be installed as far below the working level as possible. Each fall height should not exceed 6,0 m. Furthermore, the reduced fall height within 2 m of the limit should not exceed 3,0 m.

The EN 1263-2 standard complements the EN 1263-1 standard, focusing on the practical installation, positioning, and limits of use of safety nets in temporary structures. While EN 1263-1 defines the design, materials, and testing of nets, EN 1263-2 ensures their correct placement and configuration to effectively stop incidents without causing serious injury.

This standard specifies safety requirements for the following:

Positioning of safety nets according to manufacturer's instructions and product specifications.
Installation configurations for the main system types defined in the EN 1263-1 standard.
Limitations on fall heights, clearance distances, anchoring, and overall geometry to ensure safe energy absorption and minimize the risk of impact with the base or secondary injury.
Test methods for verifying the performance of the installed system (for S, T, U, and V systems).

This standard applies to collective fall protection in construction, renovation, demolition, maintenance and assembly works (primarily horizontal or inclined applications, but also including vertical/facade protection). Small System S nets (maximum 35 m2 and shortest side maximum 5,0 m) are exempt from some detailed rules.

The main system types are as follows:

System S: Horizontal subsurface/flat protection (most common, e.g., under floors, roofs, bridges).
System T: Cantilevered/protruding/sloping mesh (e.g., extending outwards from the edges).
System U: Vertical/perpendicular side protection (e.g. along scaffolding or building edges).
System V: Vertically suspended nets (e.g., facade protection in high-rise buildings).

The EN 1263-2 standard provides specific positioning rules, anchoring requirements, and maximum dimensions/drop heights for each. This standard includes verification tests (typically dynamic drop tests) to confirm that the installed configuration meets performance criteria when combined with nets certified according to the EN 1263-1 standard. These ensure that excessive sagging, tearing, or bottoming events do not occur.

The EN 1263-2 standard is required for compliance with the 92/57/EEC construction site directive and national health and safety regulations.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the EN 1263 standard.