CIRCUS DIVISION aerial silks: technical manual and certification

Certification and compliance

CIRCUS DIVISION is a whole new range of aerial equipment engineered, manufactured and certified in Italy by PLAY S.r.l. according to Directive 2001/95/CE of the European Parliament and the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety, and to the European legislation UNI EN 913:2019.

The retailer must provide the instruction manual in the language of the country where the product is to be used. It is essential to fill in all sections of the life sheet found in the manual and to keep the manual for each individual product in a safe place, so that it can be easily found in the event of an inspection and for annual checks by qualified personnel.

Technical data

Working load limit (WLL)	150 daN (approx. 150 kg)
Breaking load limit (BLL)	1350 daN
Material	100% polyester, treated to reduce longitudinal stretch
Standard width	160 cm (item CDASK)
SLIM width	130 cm (item CDASKS)
Maximum use	3 years or 300 hours
Inspection	every 12 months or 100 hours, by a skilled person
Washing	machine washable up to 30 °C
Warranty	3 years from the purchase date
Manufacturing	designed and made in Italy

Warning: the workload of a system and its breaking strength are determined by the weakest link in the chain. Always refer to the WLL and BLL of the fasteners used for the installation.

CIRCUS DIVISION aerial silks have been developed in collaboration with professional acrobats and teachers from all over the world. The treatment applied to the polyester makes the fabric grippy, which allows beginners and professionals alike to climb with less effort and makes the consequences of slips and falls far less dramatic and easier to control.

How to calculate the right length

The knot uses about 0.5 m of the silk, and you also need roughly 1 m of extra length on the floor for wraps. To find the right length, multiply the rig height by two and add 2 metres.

L = (H × 2) + 2 m

where H is the height of the anchor point from the floor and L is the silk length. Example: with the hook 4 m above the floor, the correct length is 8 + 2 = 10 m.

Anchor point height	Silk length
2.5 m	7 m
3 m	8 m
3.5 m	9 m
4 m	10 m
4.5 m	11 m
5 m	12 m
5.5 m	13 m
6 m	14 m
7 m	16 m
8 m	18 m

Assembly and knot

Aerial silks must be folded in half and hung from the middle on a specific aerial silk hook. CIRCUS DIVISION hooks are designed to avoid any damage to the fabric, guaranteeing safety and extending its lifespan.

The cylindrical design allows the silk to be installed with the clove hitch knot, the safest and simplest of all: it keeps the two extremities well separated from each other and minimises fabric stress. Use the length doubled and strapped around the hook to avoid damage in the anchor point area.

Anchoring and rigging

Warning: always consult an experienced professional to determine whether the ceiling or the beam you intend to attach your anchor point to is suitable for this purpose.

Plate with throughbolts in the ceiling

• Plate + concrete throughbolts
• Quick Link or carabiner
• Aerial silk hook
• Silk

Polyester loop around the beam

• Polyester loop
• Quick Link or carabiner
• Aerial silk hook
• Silk

Plate with screws in the beam

• Plate + screws for wood
• Quick Link or carabiner
• Aerial silk hook
• Silk

Inspection and withdrawal from service

In addition to the normal inspection required before, during and after each use, this product must be inspected by a skilled person every 12 months or 100 hours of use, starting from the date the product is first used. This date and the subsequent checks must be recorded on the product's life sheet. Check the legibility of the product's markings.

The product should be withdrawn from service immediately if any of these defects appear:

• evident holes or burns;
• evident thinning of the fabric due to extensive usage.

Any product or component showing a defect or wear, or if in doubt, should be withdrawn from service immediately. Each product in the safety system can be damaged during a fall and must always be inspected before using it again.

Lifetime

The lifetime of the product is unlimited, unless a defect appears and provided that periodic inspections are made at least once every 12 months from the date the product is first used, recording the results in the life sheet. The following factors can reduce the lifetime: intense use, damage to components, contact with chemical substances, high temperatures, tears and abrasions, violent impacts and failure to maintain as recommended.

The silk is machine washable at a maximum of 30 °C and must be stored in a dry place. Fast slides may provoke burns: check the general condition regularly, especially the part strapped around the hook.

Maintenance and storage

Cleaning of the textile and plastic parts: rinse in clean water and neutral soap at a maximum temperature of 30 °C and dry naturally away from direct heat. Cleaning of the metallic parts: rinse in clean water and then dry. Always keep this product below 80 °C so as not to affect its performance. Withdraw the product from service if it comes into contact with chemical reagents, solvents or fuels, which could affect its performance.

Store unpacked in a cool, dry, dark place away from heat sources, high humidity, sharp edges, corrosives or other possible causes of damage.

Safety warnings

This equipment should be used only by trained and competent persons. Otherwise the user should be under the direct supervision of a trained and competent person. This document will not teach you techniques for work at height or any other associated activity: you must have received qualified instruction before using this product.

Aerial dance and aerial acrobatics, and any other activity for which these products may be used, are inherently dangerous. The consequences of incorrect selection, misuse or poor maintenance of the equipment could result in damage, serious injury or death.

The user must be medically capable to control his own security and any possible emergency situations. It is essential for safety that the anchor device or anchor point should always be positioned in such a way as to minimise both the potential for falls and the potential fall distance. Verify the free space required beneath the user before each occasion of use, so that in the case of a fall there will be no collision with the ground or any other obstacle in the fall path.

Being a full body harness the only acceptable body holding device that can be used in a fall arrest system, and given that by their nature aerial acrobatics and aerial dance generally do not provide the use of such devices, an approved safety mat placed in the fall path is required.

The product should only be used as instructed and no alterations should be made to it. It may be used in conjunction with any appropriate items of suitable specification and according to the EN standards, with due consideration to the limitations of each individual piece of equipment. Before using the equipment, take all necessary steps to familiarise yourself with rescue techniques should an emergency occur.

Responsibility and warranty

The company PLAY S.r.l., or the distributor, will not accept any responsibility for damage, injury or death resulting from misuse of or from modifications to a CIRCUS DIVISION branded product. It is the user's responsibility at all times to ensure that he or she understands the correct and safe use of any equipment supplied, that it is used only for the purposes for which it is designed and that all proper safety procedures are practised.

This product is warranted against any faults in materials or manufacture for 3 years from the purchase date. Limitations of warranty include: normal wear and tear, modifications or alterations, incorrect storage, corrosion, damage due to accidents or negligence, and use for which this product is not specifically designed.