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This image shows a stress crack, distinguished by a brown stripe near the bolts, on the backside of a flume. |
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A crack caused by a failed glass joint, as shown above, usually starts small and grows rapidly. |
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This is an example of early stress cracking in the gel coat. |
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These surface cracks are caused by inappropriate coating over the fiberglass. |
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The classic star crack shown above is caused by an impact, such as a dropped tool or a sharp blow to the slide. If not attended to, the fiberglass will eventually chip or flake away. |
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Staffers should closely monitor the late-appearing manufacturer's defect shown above. |
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This image shows a failure in a slide joint that was glazed over either by the manufacturer or park staff. These failures always start small, and eventually a piece of fiberglass "blows out" through excessive flexing. |
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This is an example of a typical leak in a slide joint due to a gasket failure. |
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When a footing is below grade, staffers cannot perform a proper inspection. Landscaping in the image at left and sand in the image at right hide the footings from the inspector. |
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The footing above sits in a collection hole, exposing the vertical columns to excessive moisture. |
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The deteriorating, rusted steel bolts and the cracks in the wood structure above deserve a structural evaluation. |
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If not given proper attention, rusted and corroded steel columns and beams can lead to progressive deterioration of a slide's support structure. This image shows rust in the foundation as a result of overhead leaking. |
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Visible stain lines run down this column. |
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The bolts on the collar show signs of water trapped inside. |
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The underside of these steel steps exhibit the signs of a long period of neglect. |
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n assortment of defects can afflict a slide's fiberglass flume. When a small defect or crack is overlooked, it can grow to become a hazard to riders.
