Section 334.62. Bungee cord requirements.

 

(1)   Maximum g-force. The maximum G-force allowable on a jumper using waist and chest harness shall be 4.5 G's. The maximum G-force allowable on a jumper using an ankle harness shall be 3.5 G's.

(2)   Factor of safety. The minimum factor of safety for any bungee cord configuration attached to a jumper shall be no less than 5.

(3)   Bungee cord design. The owners of bungee jumping facilities shall use bungee cords that meet the following specifications:

(a) In a single bungee cord system, the binding shall hold the cord threads in the designed positions. The binding shall have the same characteristics as the cord itself. In a multiple bungee cord system, the cord shall be bound together to prevent potential jumper entanglement. The bindings shall not damage or affect the performance of the bungee cords.

(b) All bungee cords shall be designed and tested to perform within the prescribed limits of the maximum G-force and factor of safety specified in subs. (1) and (2) .

(c) Conclusive ultimate tensile strength testing shall be performed on a representative amount of all manufactured bungee cords. All tests shall be performed or supervised by an independent certified testing authority or an independent certified engineer. Test results shall be made available to purchasers of the bungee cords and the department upon request. The testing authority shall determine the ultimate tensile strength of each test specimen and use the lowest failure value recorded as the ultimate tensile strength value for the corresponding lot of bungee cords tested. The ultimate tensile strength is reached when the applied load reaches a maximum before failure.

(d) A load versus elongation curve resulting from the test specified in par. (c) shall be used to calculate the maximum G-force and factor of safety of the corresponding lot of bungee cords tested. The test results shall be made available to purchasers or users of the bungee cords and the department upon request.

(e) Owners shall follow the inspection and testing recommendations set forth by the bungee cord manufacturer or distributor. These tests shall be completed utilizing the maximum load the bungee cords are designated for.

(f) Owners shall obtain specifications on the maximum allowable usage of bungee cords expressed in number of jumps.

(4)   Cord material and sheathing. The bungee cord material and sheathing to be used shall be clearly specified in the site operating manual.

(5)   When to destroy cord. The bungee cord owner shall destroy the bungee cord and its non-metallic connectors when one of the following conditions occur:

(a) Exposure to daylight exceeds 250 hours, unless the bungee cord cover of the sleeve fully protects all of the cord from visible and ultra-violet exposure;

(b) Six months has elapsed from the date of manufacture;

(c) Bungee cord threads exhibit wear, such as bunched threads or uneven tension between threads or thread bands;

(d) The number of broken threads exceeds 5%;

(e) A bungee cord has had contact with solvents, corrosives or abrasives;

(f) Other flaws in a bungee cord are found;

(g) When the dynamic load capacity becomes less than the maximum designed dynamic load;

(h) After a bungee cord has been used a maximum of 500 jumps; or

(i) When the bungee cord or its connectors do not comply with the manufacturer's specifications.

(6)   Cord records. Owners of bungee jumping facilities shall have a system for recording the number of jumps on each individual bungee cord in use.

(7)   Bungee cord destruction. Bungee cords retired from use shall be destroyed by cutting the cord into 5-foot lengths.

(8)   Bungee cord end connections. Bungee cord end connections shall have a minimum safety factor of 5 times the maximum dynamic load for that cord configuration. All end connections shall be of a size and shape to allow easy attachment to the jump harness and to the rigging. On multiple bungee cord systems, each cord shall have its own independent end connection.

(9)   Cord inspection. Bungee cords shall be examined daily. Before starting the day's operations, the jump master shall visually inspect the entire length and circumference of the bungee cord for signs of wear. The inspection shall be repeated at least 4 times during daily operation and recorded in the site log.

History: Cr. Register, January, 1994, No. 457 , eff. 2-1-94.

Note

A factor of safety of no less than 5 means that the maximum dynamic load possible for a jumper to exert on a bungee cord configuration is no greater than 20 percent of that cord configuration's minimum breaking strength. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 As the bungee cord stretches over the course of its jump life, the dynamic load required to extend the bungee to 4 times its unloaded length will reduce. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 The performance criteria and system requirements contained in this section are for 2 types of bungee cords: Cotton or nylon sheathed cords and synthetic or natural rubber cords. Cotton or nylon sheathed bungee cords, called "preloaded" style cords, are rubber cords originally developed for military use. These cords are made in conformance with military specifications and are often referred to as "Mil. Spec." However, some nonmilitary specification cords currently in use meet the specifications contained in this section and are considered an approved variation. Synthetic or natural rubber bungee cords, called "New Zealand" style cords, are made with continuous loops of strands of natural or synthetic rubber. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1