A Minimum Industry Standard for Tree Support Systems
This standard covers the basics of tree dismantling, including rigging techniques, the use of a chainsaw in trees, and some fundamental concepts of rigging forces and rigging system design.
Information on equipment inspection, site setup, pre-start checks, tree inspection, rope use, knot tying, the operation of chainsaws, tree felling and tree access is contained within the appropriate MISs for those work tasks.
About the MIS Series
This book is one in a series of Minimum Industry Standards (MIS) produced by Arboriculture Australia Ltd and the New Zealand Arboricultural Association in consultation with the national arboriculture community in both countries. These industry peer-reviewed documents provide a ‘body of knowledge’ which is shared by practitioners and can be used as the basis for training, dissemination of skills and professional development.
MIS303 – Tree Dismantling (2nd ed.) (Non-Member Price)
1: Preparing for Tree Removal
Introduction to tree rigging and dismantling
Arriving on site
Scope of works
Preparing to remove trees – site setup
Tree removal strategies
Tree inspection for dismantling
Hazard control measures for tree dismantling
Basic rigging concepts
Parts of an aerial rigging system
Selecting and inspecting rigging equipment
Rigging equipment: general concepts and terminology
Rigging equipment inspection checklist
Aerial rigging systems
Common components of a rigging system
Selecting anchor points in trees – tree strength and structural integrity
Fixed rope anchor points – attaching a rope
- Running bowline
- Round turn with 2 half-hitches
- Main attachment knot plus half-hitch
- Clove hitch with two half-hitches
- Cow’s hitch with better half
- Timber hitch
- Karabiner
- Karabiner and sling
- Shackle or similar connector
- Other fixed-rope attachments
Moving rope anchor points
- Natural crotch
- Block, rigging block, impact block
- Pulleys
- Rigging rings
Moving rope anchor point attachment components
- Sling, tape sling, tube tape sling
- Loopie sling
- Whoopie sling
- Dead-eye sling
- Other anchor points and attachment options
Rope brakes
- Trunk wraps
- Wraps in tree
- PortaWrap or similar floating friction brake
- Bollard, drum or similar
Rigging equipment configuration and proper use
Example of misconfigured rigging equipment
Designing a rigging system
Rigging system design considerations
Estimating weight of sections
- Tree species density table
Introduction to forces in rigging
Different loads on components in rigging system
2: Dismantling Trees
Performing works
Communication during tree work
Call-and-response protocol
Hand and whistle signals for use on tree sites
Using a chainsaw in trees
Cut sequences and techniques – branches
- Straight back cut
- Step cut – undercut made first – top cut inside
- Step cut – undercut made first – top cut outside
- Step cut – top cut made first
- Step cut – lateral cuts
- Scarf and back cut – downward
- Scarf and back cut – upward
- Box cut
Cut sequences and techniques – tree heads and timber
- Falling the head out of a tree
- Falling sections of timber
- Falling sections of timber – landing sections flat
- Cutting techniques where trunk diameter is greater than bar length
- Blocking down: step cuts on timber
Falling techniques for tree dismantling – use of wedges and taglines
Rigging operations
Rigging attachment point: cut and behaviour
- Rigging upright sections
- Rigging lateral sections or branches
Rope control during rigging operations
Rope control: rope brakes and friction management
Installing rope brakes
Using rope brakes: adding tension
Rope control during rigging operations – general principles
- Tips for using rope brakes
Returning rigging components
Specific rigging techniques
Natural crotch rigging
Applying friction at the point of cut
Techniques for applying friction at the point of cut
- Branch removal – wraps method 1
- Branch removal – wraps method 2
- Artificial rope brake at point of cut
- Snatching – wraps at point of cut
Snatching
Minimising peak force in negative rigging
- Estimating peak loads in negative rigging
Mass damping
Bracing a rigging point
Floating anchors: highlines and multiple point floating anchors
Speed line or zip line
Running anchor rigging
- Running anchor rigging example
Lifting systems
Guying a tree
3: Completing Tree Removal
- Biosecurity and transmission of pathogens
Completion of works