Title: Climbing Anchor Points in Trees - Loading and Load Bearing Capacity

Summary: Failure of temporary anchor points in a tree is one of the major risks faced by climbing arborists. Information on the load bearing capacity of branches is available from a number of recent studies; however, the forces climbers exert on anchor points in trees have hardly been investigated. Information on loads generated during the ITCC work climb event in 2008 and other tests will be presented. Real-time tests will demonstrate the loading of natural anchor points during common tree climbing operations. This information will be used to help the audience identify scenarios that generate significant peak forces. In addition, potentially adverse climbing system set-ups for will be demonstrated.

Andreas Detter, Dipl.-Ing. TU, öbuv Baumsachverständige, Gauting, Germany

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