Should a rigging plate be backed up by a second?
In conjunction with Rescue 3 Europe, we carried out testing on the effects of using doubled up rigging plates and the relationship with other components within the system.
A series of three different tests were conducted using various alloy and steel connectors.
Test 1. Single rigging plate pulled between two connectors of the same type.
Test 2. Double rigging plates (loose) pulled between two connectors of the same type.
Test 3. Double rigging plates (bolted together) pulled between two connectors of the same type. (DMM Bat Plates are drilled and threaded during manufacture to enable them to be bolted together).
All of the tests above were conducted using a variety of different connectors from the smallest alloy carabiner capable of fitting into the rigging plate, through to the larger 30kN Alloy carabiners and 45kN Steel carabiners. For more technical data the list of connectors and rigging plates can be found along with links to their web pages below.
We also attempted to pull a DMM rigging plate to failure, the results of all of these tests can be seen in the video made by Rescue 3 Europe below:
Products used during testing:
DMM Bat Plate Large - Helix Operations – Rescue – Hauling & Rigging
DMM Shadow Screwgate - Helix Operations – Rescue – Carabiners & Connectors
DMM Shadow HMS Screwgate - Helix Operations – Rescue – Carabiners & Connectors
DMM PerfectO Screwgate - Helix Operations – Rescue – Carabiners & Connectors
DMM Ultra O Screwgate - Helix Operations – Rescue – Carabiners & Connectors
DMM Ultra D Screwgate - Helix Operations – Rescue – Carabiners & Connectors
DMM 30kN Boa Screwgate - Helix Operations – Rescue – Carabiners & Connectors
12mm Offset D Steel Screwgate - Helix Operations – Rescue – Carabiners & Connectors