Type V safety nets – adjustable safety net bracket at the slab edge
EN 1263 System V is a safety net with a border rope fixed to gallows-type cantilever supporting elements, suspended vertically along floor slab edge. It is deployed where rebar steelfixing and formwork assembly are underway on exposed upper storeys before permanent perimeter guardrails can be installed, closing off voids beneath the active work deck. A type V safety net equipped with adjustable bracket forms a vertical barrier along the entire open edge on unprotected construction levels. Unlike traditional rigid construction gallows, our system features adjustable bracket arm angles that allow the bottom border of the netting to be pulled flush against the slab edge. This eliminates dangerous open gaps between the building facade and the netting, creating a continuous vertical safety screen around the work area. Below, we explain how the adjustable safety net bracket operates, actual assembly times, and EN 1263-1 standard requirements for vertical netting systems.
System V in the EN 1263 standard – and why not all systems are equal
Under the EN 1263-1 classification, System V denotes a vertical safety net with a border rope attached to gallows-type cantilever support brackets. That is all the standard specifies. It does not dictate how far from the edge the net must sit, or at what angle the bracket arm must be positioned—yet those two factors determine whether a falling worker drops half a meter or six meters. The remaining standard systems address different site scenarios:
- Type S – a horizontal net stretched below the working level and fixed directly to structural members. This is the simplest and most economical system. Read more under type S safety nets.
- Type T – a net fixed to horizontal cantilever brackets, installed storey by storey along the façade. Read more under system T safety nets.
- Type U – A vertical net attached to a supporting framework used as edge screening. An example of this is our hall edge protection.
The problem with traditional gallows: three metres of open void
The most common System V setup utilizes netting mounted on rigid cantilever brackets, commonly referred to as gallows brackets. These rigid brackets hold the net at a fixed distance of approximately 3 meters from the working edge, leaving a wide, open gap between the slab edge and the net. This gap creates a severe hazard: a worker losing balance at the slab edge falls several meters into an open void before reaching the net, risking severe impact injuries against structural beams, formwork, or lower floor levels. While the system arrests the ultimate fall to the ground, the impact injuries from dropping through that gap can be severe.
The adjustable safety net bracket system solves this problem differently. The cantilever arm is fully adjustable, allowing the side nets to be positioned flush against the working edge rather than held at a fixed offset. It creates a tight, elastic vertical screen directly adjacent to formwork and rebar crews, preventing workers from dropping through an open void. If balance is lost, the vertical netting catches the worker immediately without undergoing a multi-meter free fall.
| Feature | Traditional gallows (fixed arm) | Adjustable bracket (hinged arm) |
|---|---|---|
| Net distance from the slab edge | about 3 m, fixed | drawn up to the edge, five angle settings |
| Fall distance before the net catches the worker pracownika | several metres | limited to the space right at the edge |
| Floor protected | the lower one only; the working floor is left open | both: the lower floor and the one being worked on |
| Installation | crane only | by hand, two people; crane optional |
| Moving up to the next floor | by crane, the whole set at once | by crane, but faster — after the first floor the nets no longer need joining |
| Behaviour in high wind | net hangs loose and works like a sail | net is guided inside the bracket, with no freedom of movement |
The comparison covers two solutions that both fall within type V of EN 1263-1. The standard describes how the net is fixed, not its distance from the edge or the angle of the arm.
Components of the type V system – the adjustable bracket
The System V adjustable bracket assembly consists of standardized modular steel components and EN 1263-1 certified netting. All steel parts are manufactured from S-275JR structural steel with corrosion-resistant coatings:
- Mounting sockets (plastic or steel) — a plastic socket (60×40×4×170 mm) is embedded directly into fresh concrete during slab pouring, serving as a cast-in sleeve. This represents the fastest and most economical anchorage. Alternatively, a surface-mounted steel socket (60×40×4×150 mm) is anchored to cured concrete by means of four M12×100 or M12×120 mm bolts.
- Adjustable Bracket base (1,2 m) — a 60×40×4 mm steel profile featuring integrated upper and lower safety locks and 5 angle-adjustment positioning holes, inserted about 10 cm into the mounting socket.
- Bracket extension (2 m optional) — a 60×40×4 mm steel profile that extends the total vertical protection height up to 72 m.
- Adjustable bracket (3 m) — a 60×40×3 mm steel profile connected to the base post via M14 safety pins. Features an integrated top ring for threading tie ropes.
The bracket angle is adjusted via M14 safety pins across 5 position holes. Adjusting the angle alters both net height and overhang offset simultaneously, and can be adjusted at any time even after netting is attached. Tie ropes threaded through the Ø 10 mm top ring allow raising and lowering the net panel.
Netting is supplied in two formats: 5 × 10 m (for external bracket mounting) and 6 × 10 m (for internal bracket mounting). Made from high-tenacity polypropylene 100 mm square mesh, tested to EN 1263-1 Class A2. Net panels are joined using coupling ropes so no gap exceeds 100 mm. A fine micro-mesh can be sewn onto the main net where small falling debris is a hazard.
The net bottom edge is secured along slab edge using Ø8 mm rebar hooks embedded min. 10 cm into concrete at max. 50 cm spacing. Around columns, eye-anchors with webbing straps (2,5 m spacing) are utilized.
Crane-free Installation – assembly time
The assembly process for adjustable netting mounts is designed for rapid construction progress. While traditional gallows require cranes for every movement, adjustable bracket assemblies are built manually by two workers on site; cranes are only needed when hoisting complete assemblies to upper floors. The entire bracket and net assembly weighs approximately 33 kg. Below are actual assembly times provided by the manufacturer based on itemized task breakdowns:
| Operation | Scope | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting sockets and hooks | 50 lm edge | 2 people | max. 20 min |
| Installing one bracket | 1 unit | 2 people | max. 5 min |
| Hanging and joining nets | 50 lm edge | 2 people | about 70 min |
| Moving up to the next floor | 50 lm edge | 3 people (including the crane operator) | max. 85 min |
Times given by the manufacturer of the system, broken down into people and minutes. Moving up to the following floors takes less, because the nets no longer have to be joined to one another.
Concrete maturity requirements: under normal conditions sockets and brackets can be installed 24 to 48 hours after pouring once concrete reaches 40% design strength, as adjustable brackets exert minimal structural load on the slab. Socket locations are defined in the site health and safety plan and embedded during pouring.
Standards and Compliance – EN 1263-1 class A2 certification
EU Directive 92/57/EEC identifies safety nets as a primary collective measure for fall protection. At the request of the European Commission, the European Committee for Standardization drew up the EN 1263 standard comprising Part 1 (safety requirements and test methods) and Part 2 (installation positioning limits).
Our adjustable bracket System V successfully passed all compliance tests under EN 1263-1. Netting panels themselves are certified to Class A2 (100 mm square mesh), with border ropes exceeding 20 kN tensile breaking strength.
General EN 1263 standard requirements — four systems, net sizes, test meshes, and mandatory annual UV inspection — are detailed on our type S safety nets page. Here we focus on what applies to the adjustable bracket system alone.
FAQ – frequently asked questions about type V safety nets
How does the adjustable bracket system differ from traditional gallows?
Traditional gallows hold netting 3 metres away from building edge, creating a dangerous open void between the slab and the net into which workers can fall from height. AITANA SAFETY adjustable bracket system positions netting flush against the slab edge, secured by hooks every 50 cm to form a tight vertical screen with zero open gap. Arm angles can be adjusted even after net installation to adapt to changing site needs.
What is the maximum spacing of adjustable brackets along the façade?
The maximum safe spacing between the mounting sockets and brackets is 5 m.
Does installing an adjustable bracket system require a crane?
Not for initial assembly. One adjustable bracket is installed by two people in a maximum of five minutes, by hand, without any lifting equipment. A crane is only useful when the complete set of brackets and nets is moved up to the next floor — and even then it is not essential, since a bracket set made of S-275JR steel weighs about 33 kg.
How do adjustable bracket (type V) perform in high winds?
It is held inside the blackets, it remains stable during windy conditions. Loose-hanging gallows nets act as sails in high winds, placing severe loads on anchors and complicating floor jumps.
How high must a type V safety net extend above the working level?
According to EN 1263-2 standard, the top edge of a type V safety net must extend at least 1 m above the active working level where steelfixing or formwork takes place.
Are you looking for a solution to protect the slab edge during reinforcement and formwork work?
The most cost-effective time to select edge protection is prior to concrete pouring, as plastic sockets are embedded directly into fresh concrete. Send us your floor plan dimensions and perimeter measurements—our engineering team will specify socket layouts for your health and safety plan and issue a custom quote! Contact us today.
Where work above a System V net generates falling concrete debris or tools, explore our dedicated page for falling object protection.
System V is one of four safety net configurations defined under EN 1263 standard. To compare all setups, consult our main guide: how to choose a safety net system for your type of structure.