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Articles: - Alnet Ground Sheeting at the ICC World Cup Cricket

Hailguard Nets

Types of Hailnet

Alnet manufactures two types of hail guard netting known as square mesh and diamond mesh respectively.

Square mesh:

Nets are available in a 9.84 ft (3m) width on special orders only. They are as stable as shadecloth and are similarly handled.

Diamond mesh:

Hail nets are not as stable and require special handling.

Both types of net are designed to cover crops where hail is a problem, but which require plenty of sunlight.

Mesh Size

The mesh size is ± 0.39 inch (10mm) square when stretched to specified width which gives about 20% shade but, please note, will still allow penetration of fine hailstones. If this presents a problem, 30% shadecloth should be used in preference.

Lifespan of Shade Cloth

Nets handled and erected to our specifications can be expected to last at least
5 years and up to 10 years depending on the severity of climatic conditions in any particular region.

Hailguard nets are mainly used to cover crops such as tomatoes, green peppers, kiwi fruit, table grapes, strawberries and so on, but special structures can be designed to suit any type of crop. Whilst pitched-roof and multispan structures are ideal for hail protection, another type of structure detailed later may better suit your specific needs.

Charactaristics of standard 'open mesh' hailnetting

A basic understanding of the characteristics of hailnetting illustrates why it requires different handling from shadecloth:

• Untensioned, with the meshes elongated in the length, the material will be one-third longer when rolled out than the length indicated on the roll. In other words, a net which is 164.04 ft (50m) long when stretched to its correct width will measure 216.53 to 219.81 ft (66-67m) in its 'relaxed' state.
• The appearance of the reinforced selvages of hailnetting differs from that of shadecloth because the hailnet meshes themselves are reinforced and are thicker than the rest of the meshes.
• Hailnetting is supplied in standard widths of 9.84 ft (3m), 13.12 ft (4m), 14.76 ft (4.5m) and 19.68 ft (6m), although other sizes can be made if the quantity ordered is economically viable. But to their flexibility, the nets can be made slightly wider or narrower by allowing more on less slack in the width whilst opening them on the taut edge wires.

Lacing up of hailnetting

To lace up hailnetting, follow these easy steps:

Fitting the hailnetting

Lift the laced-up roll into position and strain and fix the edge wires to their respective end poles and at one end, sew the loose end of the netting onto the cross wire/slope support wire.

Do not sew the other end at this stage!

All rolls of netting for the entire structure should be sewn onto their cross wires/slope support wires in exactly the same way. Now, starting about 16.40 ft (5m) from the sewn ends, remove all the slack in each roll of netting and bind the adjacent edge wires together across the full width of the structure. Now tension and join the next 16.40 ft (5m) across the width of the structure, and repeat the process in 16.40 ft (5m) sections until you reach the far end of the structure. Sew the netting to the cross/slope wire at the far end and cut of any excess netting.

Points to remember

With hailnetting available in 9.84 ft (3m), 13.12 ft (4m), 14.76 ft (4.5m) and 19.68 ft (6m), widths and bearing its flexibility in mind, it should be possible to cater for any row spacing you require.

Remember: Always design your structure to incorporate a slope of 30 degrees minimum to the horizontal to ensure effective hal shedding in severe storms.

Bear in mind that the wider netting can cover a complete apex. In such cases, a third wire is laced into the reinforced center of the netting at the same time as the edge wires are laced up. When the roll is lifted into position, the center wire is secured to the taller apex poles and edge wires to the shorter valley end poles.

Also remember, that the apex wire must be secured to the internal poles, the tops of which should be fitted with 'pole caps' to prevent the rough edges from fraying the hailnetting. These 'pole caps' can easily be made by cutting old car tires into quarters. This method provides excellent protection when the nets are pulled over the poles.