Illinois Administrative Code › Title 56 - LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT › Part 6000 - AMUSEMENT RIDE AND ATTRACTION SAFETY ACT › Section 6000.350 - Zip Lines

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) In addition
			 to the definitions in Section
			 6000.10, the
			 following shall apply to and govern this Section 6000.350:
"Acceptance Inspection" means the final inspection of a zip
				line performed upon installation completion and before commissioning.
"Anchor System" means a system of anchorages and anchorage
				connectors that provide a secure termination for a life safety system, personal
				safety system, belay system, or rope rigging system.
"Anchorage" means the terminating component of a life safety
				system, personal safety system, belay system, or rope rigging system intended
				to support any force applied to the system.
"Anchorage Connector" means an interface component coupling any
				anchor system or system component to an anchorage.
"Automatic Anchorage Connector" means an anchorage connector
				that is properly engaged by automatic action without manually applied fasteners
				in the connector.
"Brake" means a device, method or system used to arrest the
				traverse of the participant.
"Brake System" means a complete system comprised of the primary
				and emergency brakes.
"Canopy Tour" means a guided aerial exploration or transit of
				the forest canopy, most commonly by means of a series of zip lines or aerial
				walkways with platforms.
"Commissioning" means an action by the installer or other
				competent person of putting a new element or course into service for the
				owner/operator.
"Competent Person" means a person possessing the skills,
				knowledge, experience, training and judgment to perform assigned tasks or
				activities satisfactorily, as determined by a reasonable person.
"Dismount" means the act of disembarking from the zip line and
				proceeding away from the landing area.
"Fixed Zip Line" means a zip line that is designed to be used
				at a fixed, single location and not readily moved to a different
				location.
"Landing Area" means the area provided for arrest and dismount
				after traversing a zip line.
"Mobile Zip Line" means a zip line that is designed or adapted
				to be moved from one location to another and is not fixed at a single
				location.
"Mobile Zip Line Manufacturer" means a company responsible for
				the design, quality, fabrication and delivery of a mobile zip line.
"Operating System" means the system or systems of processing a
				patron through the zip line route used on a particular site. This includes
				registration, preparation, getting to the landing point, methods of attachment,
				the rigging and lowering system, and the landing recovery method.
"Operation, Maintenance, Inspection and Training Manual" or
				"Manual" means a document containing the procedures and forms for the operation
				of the zip line activity and equipment on the site.
"Sag" means the vertical deflection in a horizontal
				line.
"Service Proven" means an element, ride, device, structure or
				major modification to an element, ride or device of which:
units have been in service to the public for a minimum of five
				years; and
units that have been in service without any significant
				design-related failures or significant design-related safety issues that have
				not been mitigated.
"Third Party Inspector" means a qualified person not directly
				employed by the operator of the zip line or parent company, original equipment
				manufacturer (OEM) or vendor, and not offering other services to the operator
				of the zip line or parent company who is qualified via ACCT accreditation,
				NAARSO certification, PRCA accreditation, or another approval that equally
				qualifies that person to provide zip line inspections.
"Zip Line Brake System" means a system that arrests the
				participant's traverse along a zip line. Brake systems can be active or
				passive.
"Zip Line Landing Area" means an area provided for the
				participant to arrest and dismount after completing a zip line traverse.
"Zip Line Tour" means a guided, aerial exploration or transit
				of a landscape using a series of zip lines and platforms generally supported by
				man-made structures.
b)
			 This Section shall govern all zip lines in operation on and after March 27,
			 2013. However, the Director may grant a permit to an operator of a zip line
			 that was in operation on March 27, 2013 that does not meet all the standards in
			 this Section if the operator can clearly demonstrate a service proven element
			 or that the applicable safety requirements throughout this Part are
			 substantially satisfied so as to ensure the safety of the public.
c) This Section specifies the site, site
			 approval, design, testing of equipment, management of the operation, operating
			 procedures, emergency provisions, and procedures for zip lines from any
			 mechanically operated platforms that carry participants to the top of the
			 structure. All zip lines shall meet the manufacturer's standards and
			 specifications.
d) Site Plan,
			 Equipment Design and Construction
1) All zip
			 line operating system designs shall be reviewed and sealed by a licensed
			 professional engineer and a licensed structural engineer. ANSI, ASTM or other
			 applicable standards shall be used as general guidance. The designer of fixed
			 zip lines and the manufacturer of mobile zip lines are responsible for
			 preparing the report for the owner. The design report shall contain site plans,
			 safety zones, drawings and specifications of equipment, platform, rigging
			 system, and safety equipment. The report shall be submitted to the Department
			 before the commissioning of fixed zip lines and the operation of mobile zip
			 lines and shall be maintained on the site where the zip line is operating. The
			 design evaluation included in the report shall consider the following:
A) Static and dynamic loads on anchors and
			 components.
B) Fatigue limits or
			 absolute component replacement intervals.
C) Fatigue limits for structures.
D) Protection against metallic corrosion and
			 wood rot.
E) Clearances and hazard
			 analysis, including consideration of the effects of heavy crosswinds, rain, fog
			 and other conditions resulting in impaired visibility, maneuverability, loss of
			 traction or grip, and reduced braking capability.
F) Platform, walkway, ladder and associated
			 foundation size and load ratings, including factors of safety.
G) Anchor and foundation analysis for mobile
			 zip lines shall consider the load path through the anchor attachment point and
			 identify loading through all components, including an identified fixed
			 foundation. Vehicle frames or underframes can be used as fixed foundations,
			 providing a verifiable load analysis is submitted. Alternate qualification,
			 consisting of a statement by the vehicle manufacturer confirming the anchor
			 attachment point and loadings are suitable for the vehicle, is
			 acceptable.