Slope Protection Mesh — Rockfall Barriers, Drape Systems & Engineering Support

Haobo Metal's Slope Protection Mesh systems provide engineered solutions for rockfall mitigation, landslide prevention, and slope stabilization. From active tensioned drape systems to passive ring net barriers, our slope protection products meet ETAG 027 and EN 13285 standards. Whether you're securing a highway cut slope, mining bench, or railway corridor, we deliver certified mesh with full engineering support.

1. Complete Product Range

System Type	Description	Energy Capacity	Best Application
Active Drape Mesh (TECCO®)	High-tensile wire mesh tensioned against slope face with spike plates and anchor bolts	Up to 100 kJ	Preventing small rockfalls (<0.5m³), stabilizing loose surface material
Passive Ring Net (ROCCO®)	Interconnected steel rings forming flexible barrier; supported by posts and anchor ropes	500–5,000 kJ	Catching large rockfalls (>1m³), avalanche debris, mudflows
Hexagonal Wire Mesh	Double-twist mesh combined with steel wire rope; surface stabilization layer	30–50 kJ	Low-risk slopes, erosion control combined with hydroseeding
Spider Net System	Spiral rope net with integrated anchor system for irregular rock surfaces	200–800 kJ	Irregular rock faces, historic preservation sites

2. Technical Specifications

Parameter	Active Drape	Ring Net Barrier
Wire Diameter	2.0mm – 3.0mm	3.0mm – 4.0mm (ring wire)
Breaking Force	Up to 1,770 N/mm²	1,770 N/mm² minimum
Coating	Zn-Al (95% Zn + 5% Al)	Galfan / Zn-Al super coating
Coating Mass	≥150 g/m²	≥250 g/m²
Mesh Opening	83mm × 143mm (TECCO G65)	300mm ring diameter (ROCCO)
Standards	ETAG 027, EN 13285	ETAG 027, ONR 22110

3. How to Select the Right Slope Protection System

Selecting the correct system depends on four critical factors:

1. Hazard Assessment: Conduct a rockfall trajectory analysis (RocFall™ or similar) to determine impact energy (kJ) at the barrier location. This is the single most important parameter.
2. Slope Geometry: Slope height, angle, and bench configuration determine mesh type and anchor spacing. Active systems work best on slopes steeper than 60°; passive barriers suit catch benches and toe areas.
3. Rock Mass Quality: RMR (Rock Mass Rating) and GSI (Geological Strength Index) values influence anchor depth and pattern. Poor-quality rock requires deeper, more frequent anchors.
4. Environmental Exposure: Coastal, alpine, or chemically aggressive environments demand upgraded coating specifications (Galfan or PVC over standard Zn-Al).

4. Installation Methodology

Active Drape Mesh Installation:

1. Slope scaling — remove loose rock and vegetation from installation zone
2. Top anchor row installation — drill and grout anchors at 3–5m spacing along crest
3. Mesh unrolling — deploy mesh from top to bottom using rope access or crane
4. Spike plate installation — pattern-drive spike plates at 2m × 2m grid with pneumatic hammer
5. Mesh tensioning — apply 5–10 kN tension per connection point using torque wrench
6. Edge termination — secure mesh edges with boundary ropes and additional anchors

Passive Ring Net Barrier Installation:

1. Foundation preparation — excavate and cast reinforced concrete foundations for posts
2. Post erection — install H-beam or pipe posts with base plate connections, torque to spec
3. Ring net assembly — connect ring panels on ground, hoist into position with crane
4. Anchor rope installation — install uphill and lateral anchor ropes, tension to 20–30 kN
5. Brake element attachment — connect energy-dissipating brake rings at anchor rope ends
6. System testing — apply test load to verify brake activation threshold and net deflection

5. Project Case Studies

• Highway Slope, Malaysia (2023): 5,000m² active drape mesh installed on 70° granite cut slope along PLUS Expressway. Zero rockfall incidents in 3 years post-installation. Mesh specification: TECCO G65/3, Zn-Al coating, 2.0mm wire.
• Mining Bench Protection, Chile (2022): 2,000 kJ ring net barrier protecting haul road from 80m high pit wall. 8-post system with 19mm anchor ropes. Survived 3.2m³ rock impact event in 2024 with zero structural damage.
• Railway Corridor, Switzerland (2021): 800m of active drape mesh with integrated monitoring sensors (strain gauges + inclinometers) on alpine railway cut. Remote monitoring enables predictive maintenance scheduling.

6. Quality Assurance & Full-Scale Testing

All Haobo Metal slope protection systems undergo full-scale impact testing per ETAG 027 guidelines:

• MEL (Maximum Energy Level) Test: System must stop a standardized concrete block at specified energy without exceeding 50% of nominal height residual
• SEL (Service Energy Level) Test: Two consecutive impacts at 1/3 MEL — system must remain functional with repairable damage only
• Mesh Tensile Testing: Individual wire tensile strength and elongation tested to ISO 6892-1
• Salt Spray Corrosion: 2,000-hour neutral salt spray test per ISO 9227 for coastal/marine applications
• UV Resistance: Xenon arc accelerated weathering per ISO 4892-2 for PVC-coated systems

7. Engineering Support & Design Services

Haobo Metal provides complimentary preliminary engineering support for qualified projects:

• Rockfall trajectory analysis using RocFall™ software
• Slope stability analysis (SLIDE / SLOPE/W) with mesh reinforcement modeling
• Custom barrier design for non-standard energy levels or site constraints
• Installation methodology statements and QA/QC plans
• As-built documentation package for regulatory compliance