I'm studying engineer mechanics and I'm doing a project in school trying to design a kite.. I wish to make it as realistic as possible so I'm wondering if there should be any standards regarding safety issues(there properly is right). I can not find any guidelines on this topic. I have been searching the internet and so far I've only stumbled upon a french standard from 2005 (http://saucisseman.free.fr/wichard_en.htm) It seems pretty old and I assume that someone has made an update on this subject.
Do any of you guys know where I can find some more information regarding safety standards in kitesurfing.?
We here in the USA don't like regulations..we go 'Laissez-faire' until someone dies, then relatives take someone to court - and then laws are made...after that everyone forgets why the law was made and complain calling it socialism...
so are you designing a kite, or a control bar. or both.
there are no standards on kite performance
control bars that fly kites need a release system at the point of attachment to the rider. (called primary quick release) there are standards regarding how much force is require to activate that release, with up to x amount of tension on the system. thats what you already found.
although there are no "standards" for the rest of the deal, there is more involved: kites cannot be lost once separated from (they are a hazard to others and property). we wear a "leash line" to a "leash system" on the control bar that is designed to bring the kite down once the bar is released. most commonly and most effectively this is done by "leashing" to a single one of the kites flying lines (reducing line tension to 1 point will disable any kite thus far designed) a "front" aka "centerline" is the most effective, and is the type of leash system you will find on most of the industries bars at this point. (finally)
the "leash" also requires a release, in the event that the rider does in fact need to completely ditch the kite. (leash system failed to disable kite, or kite crashed in unfortunate spot in front of 12ft wave, etc)
thats pretty much the deal there.
there are alternative possibilities to this safety system, but no one manufactures one.
