Jakob: Nets for cable car stations - Synthetic fiber or stainless steel

Whether synthetic fiber or stainless steel – when it comes to safety nets for cable car stations, it's not just the price that counts, but also the appearance of the station, durability and maintenance requirements. We present the network types and explain which solution is worthwhile and when, and what operators should look out for when making their choice.

In many places, fall protection is mandatory at the exits of cable car stations – often in the form of nets. Loosely attached polypropylene nets are particularly common. But how long do they last and are there alternatives? Below, we explain the differences between synthetic fiber nets and stainless steel nets.

Polypropylene nets with rope diameters of 5 millimeters and mesh sizes between 45 and 100 millimeters are standard. They are lightweight, readily available, and easy to install. Large mesh widths – especially for winter tracks – allow most of the snow to fall through and avoid unnecessary additional loads.

But plastics age due to UV radiation, wind and weather. Without testing, such nets may only be used outdoors for one year. An annual load test is mandatory for prolonged use: Each net is therefore supplied with so-called test meshes, which are hung outdoors along with the net. A test sample is taken once a year and tested in the laboratory. This extends the service life of a synthetic fiber net to a maximum of four years.

Jakob Rope Systems is approved for tensile tests by the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) in addition to the manufacturers themselves. The tests are carried out in our in-house test laboratory in accordance with EN 1263-1 – an important service for operators who rely on legal certainty.

Instead of regular checks and replacements after a few years, some operators opt for permanent solutions: Stainless steel rope nets such as the Webnet from Jakob Rope Systems. The nets with 3 millimeter rope thickness and 100 millimeter mesh width meet all requirements for horizontal fall protection.

Although the installation process is more complex and requires trained fitters, it is worth the effort. The appearance of the station will be significantly enhanced. Stainless steel nets last for decades, only need to be checked visually and are much tighter. This even makes them accessible for maintenance or cleaning.

Synthetic fiber nets are a cost-effective solution for temporary applications with a maximum service life of four years. If you are looking for elegance, durability, low maintenance and greater stability, stainless steel is the better choice in the long term – especially for demanding outdoor use.