On the day of the event:
a) The bridges will be checked for compliance with the competition requirements as laid out in specification diagrams. (figures 1 – 6)
b) Bridges that do not comply will be tested as far as possible but will suffer a 25%, 50% or 75% deduction depending on the severity of the non-compliance and the effect of the unfair advantage on the bridges load bearing capacity. If the loading harness does not fit on the day of the competition you will be asked to remove parts of your bridge to enable the harness to fit. If the harness then cannot fit Mr. Buys will make an estimation of what your bridge would probably have held subject to the same rules as if your bridge accidentally broke on testing day.
c) Non-compliant bridges will also not qualify for medals.
e) In the unlikely event of two winning bridges that carry exactly the same load amount the lighter bridge will be the winner.
f) Bridges will be weighed to check if pupils have used more than the required 25 sticks and 1 set of epoxy resin glue.
g) The load that will count for marks is the load that the bridge was able to stand before total destruction. If a weight is put onto the loading harness and the bridge fails immediately, the previous load will be the counted load.
Testing recommendations:
a) Do not let the harness swing at all.
b) Do not "slam" or drop the weight onto the harness, not even for 1mm.
c) Use bigger weights in the beginning and smaller weights towards the end.
d) Ensure that the stem of the weight harness, which hooks onto the loading harness, sits in the middle of the peg at the bottom of the loading harness.
e) Ensure that your bridge sits evenly on each side of the desk.
f) Ensure that the loading harness is positioned in the middle of your bridge in both in lateral and longitudinal positioning.
