There are many different types of tree security systems that are utilised for various types of tree protection. One of the best pre cursors for the installation of any protection system is to use the QTRA (Quantified Tree Risk Assessment) system and VTA (Visual Tree Assesment) to validate the probability of failure of any part of the tree. However we are finding now that the percepton of risk from the public is the general trigger point for certain security systems and not actual risk.

In short these systems work the same as a safety belt system in a car, in as far as it doesnt stop the incident but reduces or eliminates the damage caused by the failure, especially around high target areas. There mare many things that need to be considered before beginning any of these forms of systems. One of the  primary considerations is that once systems are installed they need to be constantly managed over a period of years.

Fall arrest systems cannot be installed by untrained personnel as the ramifications of getting any of part of the appication wrong are too high.

Fall Arrest system

There are many parts of the fall arrest system and the main fundamental function is as the name suggests a fall arrest system is a dynamic function and does in no way inerfere with the trees growing or movement in general winds.

In the event of high storm events the system can be arranged to slow down aggresive branch movement and in the extreme situations actually stopping portions of the tree damaging a predetermined target. I.e a house, shed, walkways, infastructure or services.

The installation of the fall arrest system requires a high degree of bio mechanical understanding of tree physics and threshold perimeters of various tree species. A clear and concise understanding of VTA will assist to some degree how any particulr tree will react to various storm events.

Cable bracing

This is using a dynamic or static cabling system. This system is the process of cabling branches together to minimise or reduce the threat of failure.

 

 Fall diversion system

 This system as the name suggests is installed to control the direction of total/part failure of the tree. In the situation of a fall diversion system being installed in a whole tree, this is made to control the aspect of direction of the tree failure. A situation where this could be used is when a significant tree may be beside a road and damage/excavation may have been done to its roots system and the structural stability may be questionable. The size of the rigging systems used is detemined by the expected forces and certain types of probable failures, such as total root ball shearing, soil erosion, root failure due to excavation.

 

 We are currently running courses for "Certified Arborist's" in Singapore on the 22nd & 23rd November 2010, if you are interested in learning more about this process please contract CUGE or go to their website www.cuge.sg to sign up.

 

LIGHTENING PROTECTION