A net is a more demanding specification than a rope. Instead of one material, one construction and one diameter, you are describing a sheet with multiple coordinated parameters. The good news is that a complete netting specification follows a small, predictable set of fields, and the same fields work for cargo nets, debris nets, safety nets, sports nets and agricultural nets.
The fields of a complete netting specification
| Field | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Net type | Knotted or knotless | Knotted cargo net |
| Material | Fiber | PP multifilament, PE monofilament |
| Cord diameter or runlength | Single number | Cord 2.5 mm, or 400 m/kg twine |
| Mesh size | Stretched inside mesh, mm | 50 mm stretched mesh |
| Mesh shape | Square or diamond | Square mesh |
| Finished size | Length × width, finished | 3.0 m × 2.0 m finished |
| Border | Border rope, eyelets, ties | 8 mm PE border rope, eyelets every 50 cm |
| Color | Standard or custom | Black; custom on request |
| Breaking strength (if required) | Per relevant standard | “Conforms to EN 1263-1” |
| Quantity | Number of finished panels | 200 panels |
If your net is for personnel fall protection, the specification is governed by a safety standard (EN 1263-1 in Europe, ANSI/ASSE A10.11 in the US, and various national standards elsewhere). Material, mesh, border, test methods and documentation are all set by the standard — not by the buyer’s preference. Confirm the standard at the RFQ stage.
Knotted vs knotless
- Knotted nets. Standard for cargo containment, lifting nets, heavy debris nets. The knots add weight and bulk but the net holds its shape and continues to work if a single mesh is damaged. PP and PE are the standard fibers.
- Knotless nets. Standard for protective uses where the net must not scratch or abrade what it touches (sports nets, scaffolding debris nets, light garden netting). Lighter, softer, often less expensive for the same panel size. Usually extruded PP.
Border and finishing
- Border rope. A rope sewn or braided around the perimeter to take the load and to give the eyelets something solid to attach to. Diameter is usually 6–10 mm. Match the border rope fiber to the net fiber (PE border on PE net).
- Eyelets. Brass or stainless eyelets crimped or pressed into the border at regular intervals. Standard spacing 30 / 50 / 100 cm; confirm against the fixings.
- Heat-cut edge. For knotless extruded net, a clean heat-cut edge is often enough. Confirm the cut does not unravel at the temperatures the net will see in service.
Common specification mistakes
- Confusing finished size with roll size. Netting is usually made in roll and then cut to finished panel. The finished size is what the buyer receives, and is what should be in the RFQ.
- Forgetting the border. A net without a border can be supplied, but the eyelets then have to be in the net itself, which is much weaker.
- Mixing standards. A cargo net and a fall-arrest net look similar but the testing, documentation and price are completely different. Say what the net is for, and the supplier will quote the right product class.