Manuals

Explanation of symbols

Important information is labelled with the following symbols:

1 Summary with an overview of the component and key points related to escape protection

1.1 General definitions

Aquaculture farm	Installation for the farming of fish.
Basin dimensions	The pen’s inner circumference.
Design working life	Assumed period for which a structure or part of it is to be used for its intended purpose with anticipated maintenance but without major repair being necessary.
Operation	Fish farming at site, including all installation and operation activities performed at the site while fish farming is in progress, and that are of relevance to the escape prevention of fish.
Extra equipment	Equipment that is not a main component.
Inspection	Systematic inspection/examination, usually visual, to ensure that the equipment satisfies the requirements.
Pen	Structure whose main function is to provide an enclosurewith buoyancy and/or stiffness.
Anchoring system	System of lines and bottom attachments with the main function of keeping the aquaculture farm or raft in position.
Bridles	Anchoring line between the pen and the anchoring system.
Main component	Part of an aquaculture farm that holds one or more of the installation’s load bearing main functions. Example: Pen, anchoring system, raft and enclosure.
Enclosure	Net or other system of load bearing parts that form a barrier between the farming volume in a production unit and the surrounding water volume.
Bracket	Component keeping the inner and outer floating collar pipes together.
Sinker weight	Weight or other device attached to the net to achieve the intended shape. Sinker weight/Centre weight is attached beneath the bottom centre of the net-cone.
Cage	Pen with enclosure.
NS9415:2021	Standard which sets out functional requirements for floating aquaculture farms and will be fundamental for stakeholders in the aquaculture industry, such as authorities, supervisory bodies, designers, suppliers, actors within R&D and manufacturers, as well as aquaculture farm owners.
NYTEK23 regulation	Governing Regulation for Fish Farming in Norway.
Circumference	Inner length of the inner floating collar.
Product certificate	Document confirming that the product is manufactured in accordance with the requirements of NYTEK23 and NS9425:2021.
Suspension system	Weights, bottom rings or similar to help maintain the three-dimensional shape of the net.

1.2 Introduction

This user manual provides a description of the velcro straps supplied by ScaleAQ and guidance for safe use. The velcro straps are a useful and environmentally friendly accessory that offers a robust and flexible attachment method for bird nets, jump nets, cables and attaching equipment to handrails. The straps are reusable and replace the need for single-use rope for the same purpose, eliminating the risk of rope cuttings falling into the sea.

2 Description of Velcro straps

Velcro straps come in two versions:

• 95 cm orange – article number 505166
• 146 cm black – article number 505167

Advantages of the Velcro straps:

• Labour-saving: No need for knots or rope cutting. Easy and quick attachment to handrail.
• Flexible use for attaching different equipment.
• High quality: The first version of the velcro straps is made of nylon in both velcro and the straps, but with a transition to polypropylene in the straps for the latest version. Design is identical. The straps are tested for heavy loads in demanding conditions, they have high resistance to UV and are water-repellent.
• Sustainable: The velcro straps can be reused for several generations.

2.1 Velcro strap 95 cm orange

ScaleAQ Velcro strap 95 cm is used for tying up bird nets, cables and other lightweight equipment. The velcro strap has a breaking strength of approx. 900 kg. A technical drawing of the strap is shown in Figure 2.1.

2.2 Velcro strap 146 cm black

ScaleAQ Velcro strap 146 cm is used for tying up jump nets and heavier equipment.
The Velcro strap has a breaking strength of approx. 1400 kg. A technical drawing of the strap is shown in Figure 2.2.

3 Interaction with other components

ScaleAQ Velcro straps are designed and developed for interaction between handrails on ScaleAQ pens and various equipment described in chapter 2. The velcro straps have limitations related to maximum capacity – 900 kg for the 95 cm variant and 1400 kg for the 146 cm variant. ScaleAQ takes no responsibility for any use that exceeds these loads.

4 Mounting the unit

The velcro straps come as single units and no assembling is required on-site.

5 Installation on site

When not in use, the velcro straps can be wrapped around handrails and secured with the velcro. 1 round for the 95 cm version and 2 rounds for the 146 cm version.

6 Use

When the Velcro straps are to be used for attaching equipment to the handrail as described in Chapter 2, the 146 cm velcro strap must be wrapped two times around the handrail pipe together with the equipment to attached before the angled end is threaded through the eye and finally secured with the velcro. Velcro strap 95 cm is wrapped 1 round around the handrail pipe before the end is threaded through the eye and secured with the velcro.

7 Inspection and maintenance

7.1 Recommended inspection and maintenance

The straps should be regularly inspected before use. Check that the velcro strap is intact, without tears, and that the velcro has not loosened from the strap.

7.2 Service life and replacement criteria

If inspection reveals visible tears, discolouration, deformation, loosening of the velcro or any other impact that may reduce strength or function, the unit should be replaced. When disposing of the product, the entire product should be delivered as mixed plastic or for residual waste.

8 Transport and storage

Velcro straps come in boxes of 200 per box. This is the estimated need per cage. Before using the straps for the first time, it is recommended to keep them in the boxes, but after the first use, they can be kept on the handrail.

9 Manufacturer and product identification

The velcro straps are labelled with the ScaleAQ logo.

HEAD OFFICE
Scale Aquaculture AS	Phone: +47 48 85 24 88
Beddings 16	E-mail: post@scaleaq.com
7042 Trondheim, Norway	www.scaleaq.no

10 Revision history

Auditing	Changes	Date
1	User manual created.	08.12.2025