Testing of climbing equipment in New Zealand is limited to the static load tests provided by DM Standen and the like. These tests put hydraulic load on rope, splices or slings to ascertain their breaking strength. An advantage of these static tests is the precise measurement of the load at breaking point. However this style of test does not show how equipment might perform in the work environment where a fall puts shock load on the system.
Those tests were carried out in the Auckland Domain on November 12, 2009. The DB Tree Rope Saver passed the initial series of tests without any issuesso progressively longer drops and heavier weights were added (up to 100 kg) to stress the system. No elements in the DB Tree Rope Saver system failed;rope, splices, pulley or webbing slings throughout the entire series of 'shock load' tests.
There has been some debate regarding the New Zealand made 22 kN Aspiring webbing sling used in the DB Tree Rope Saver System. Variouscritics have claimed the Aspiring slings are prone to failure after 6 months due the effects of UV rays on the dyneema material. To settle the issue once-and-for-allthe DB Tree Team tested a 9 month old sling to the extreme - without failure. (As predicted by Lindsay Main from Aspiring Enterprises).
