Reliable, Efficient, Safety Checking

for Structured Metal Decks Ltd.

CoreRFID technology makes safety nets safer.

Heathrow Terminal 5, the O2 Dome, Manchester’s Arndale Centre, Bluewater Shopping Centre, Ski Dubai,
Wimbledon Centre Court, and the Oval Cricket Ground all have one thing in common - all include composite
flooring manufactured and installed by one of the UK’s leading suppliers,
Structural Metal Decks Ltd.
SMD delivers and installs over 1 million square meters of structured decking
every year and the company has a strong focus on safety. As part of that
focus, SMD decided on an innovative approach to ensuring that safety nets
rigged in support of installations are every bit as safe as they need to be.
The technology selected was radio frequency identification (RFID). The
partner they chose to work with them in the project was CoreRFID Ltd.

On The Top Floor

Structural Metal Decks is one of the UK’s leading composite flooring specialists.
They both manufacture and install their own metal profiles. As part of the
installation of SMD products, the staff of SMD’s Contracts Department often have
to work in hazardous environments. SMD installations make use of safety nets to
protect their staff and use riggers trained and approved by the Fall Arrest Safety
Equipment Training (FASET) association. Part of the FASET code of practice is to use
safety nets rigged and handled in conformance with British Standard BSEN1263-2
which requires regular testing of safety nets to ensure their continued suitability for
use.
To help manage this, SMD decided on an approach to inspecting safety nets that
used RFID tags attached to each net. The tags could be read electronically, The view from above at London’s new
providing information about each safety net and the checks it has been subjected Olympic Stadium illustrates the need
to. for safety in construction.
Using the information, SMD controls the usage of nets and ensure that only nets
that have been safety checked are allowed out to sites. CoreRFID was selected to develop and deliver the management
application, RFID tags and readers, initially to handle the safety management of 500 nets.

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“The CoreRFID solution works successfully in our environment and gives us an easy way
to manage net safety.” Craig Galway, SMD Contracts Director

Safety Management Using PDC

The SMD solution is being delivered by CoreRFID using the PDC™ application. PDC (Portable Data Collector) is a customisable
package that is used for asset management and health and safety applications
across a number of industries. PDC allows information to be collected from
electronic tags on a compact hand held computer. The information can then The Benefits
be transmitted in real time or at the end of the day over GPRS or wi-fi links to
the PDC server to update a database of the items tagged. Information on each SMD’s RFID based safety system provides:
tagged item can be accessed via a web interface making it easy to implement
the system and simple to provide access to a wide range of devices from a • Improved staff safety by removing
the risk of nets failing.
wide range of locations.
• Reduced effort in checking the
CoreRFID are providing high frequency RFID tags that are attached with cable requirement for scheduled safety
ties to the safety nets. Identity codes on the tags allow the system to record testing.
the date of manufacture, when and where it was last stored, which jobs it has
been used on and the safety checks carried out on it, including those needed • Data can be collected as nets are
for compliance with the BS EN 1263-2 standard. checked in and out of storage.

Tags are read using an easy to use, Microsoft Windows Mobile software • System highlights the whereabouts
application that runs on a Motorola Symbol MC35 handheld computer. The of each net and provides a history
MC35 is equipped with an RFID reader that fits into the computer’s SD slot. of its usage.
The MC35 • Remove the risks of projects being
and reader are delayed as a result of nets not being
held in a available for use.
rugged, water
and impact
resistant housing that allows them to stand up to the rigours
of use on construction states and in the SMD warehouse.
Using the reader, safety nets are checked into store at the
end of a job. The need for any safety checks needed before
the net is to go out again is highlighted. Nets are also
checked out of stores and onto sites. From this it is possible
to know the whereabouts of each safety net and how long it
has been in use and exposed to UV light which is one of the
main causes of potential deterioration in the strength of
netting.
One of the SMD reports showing the simple layout of
just the essential data that is a feature of the system. CoreRFID customised the PDC application to meet SMD’s
requirements, creating customer specific screens for the
MC35 based application and implementing data tables suitable for safety net tracking as part of the web based server system.
CoreRFID provided project management for the installation and support the operation of the software system.

About CoreRFID
Contact us at:
CoreRFID Ltd. Dallam Court, Dallam Lane, Warrington, U.K. WA2 7LT
T: +44 (0) 845 071 0985 F: +44 (0) 845 071 0989 W: www.corerfid.com E: info@corerfid.com

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