Ohio Administrative Code › Title 901:9 - Fairs & Amusement Rides › Chapter 901:9-1 - Amusement Ride Standards; Bungee Jumping Standards › Section 901:9-1-29 - Bungee cord specifications

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A) The performance criteria and system
			 requirements contained in these rules are for both types of bungee cords
			 currently in use in the United States.
(B) The maximum G-force allowable on a jumper
			 using waist and chest harness is four and one-half G's. The maximum G-force
			 allowable on a jumper using an ankle harness is three and one-half
			 G's.
(C) The minimum factor of
			 safety (FS) for any cord configuration attached to a jumper whether "mil.spec."
			 or "New Zealand" shall be no less than five. This means that the maximum
			 dynamic load possible for a jumper to exert on a bungee cord configuration
			 shall be no greater than twenty per cent of the cord configuration's minimum
			 breaking strength.
Click to view
				image
(D) Bungee
			 cord design, manufacturing and testing is to be such that it meets the
			 following specifications:
(1) In a single
			 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 cord system, the cord shall be bound together in a manner to prevent
			 potential jumper entanglement. The bindings shall not damage or effect the
			 performance of the cords.
(2) All
			 bungee cords shall be designed and tested to perform within the prescribed
			 limits of the maximum G force and factor of safety as stated.
(3) All bungee cord manufacturers must
			 perform conclusive minimum break strength testing on a representative section
			 of all manufactured bungee cords. The bungee cord samples must have been
			 constructed using the manufacturer's standard methods which shall include
			 bungee cord loop end connections that meet the guidelines in this document. All
			 tests shall be performed or supervised by an independent certified testing
			 authority or a independent certified engineer. Test results must be readily
			 available to purchasers of the bungee cords, or regulating authorities, 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.
(4) A load verses elongation curve resulting
			 from the aforementioned test shall be used to calculate the maximum G force and
			 factor of safety of the corresponding lot of bungee cords tested. These test
			 results must be readily available to purchasers or users of the bungee cords,
			 or regulating authorities upon request.
(5) Operator testing: All commercial
			 operators shall follow the inspection and testing recommendations set forth by
			 the cord manufacturer or distributor. These tests shall be completed utilizing
			 the maximum load the cords are designated for.
(6) All bungee cord manufacturers must
			 provide specifications to purchasers on maximum allowable usage of bungee cords
			 expressed in number of jumps.
(7)
			 Bungee cord retirement: Bungee cords shall be retired when the cords exhibit
			 deterioration or damage, do not react according to specifications, or have
			 reached the maximum usage expressed in number of jumps as specified by the
			 manufacturer. All commercial operators must have an auditable system for
			 recording the number of jumps on each individual cord in use. This data must be
			 readily available to the manufacturer and any regulating authority upon
			 request.
(8) Bungee cord
			 destruction: Bungee cords retired from use shall be destroyed by cutting the
			 cord into five foot lengths.
(9)
			 Bungee cords end connections: The end connections shall have a minimum safety
			 factor of five times the maximum dynamic load for that bungee cord
			 configuration. All end connections shall be of a size and shape to allow easy
			 attachment to the jumper harnesses and to the rigging. On multiple cord
			 systems, each cord must meet its own independent end connection. All end
			 attachment points subject to wear are to be retired when the cord is retired.
			 On multiple cord systems, all end attachment points shall be bound together in
			 a protective sheath that allows the individual ends to move with respect to
			 each other. All cord ends shall be inspected every day for wear, slippage, or
			 any other abnormalities, unless the manufacturer specifies more frequent
			 inspections.