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Rope Descent System

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Rope Descent System

What is a Rope Descent System (RDS) and how does it work?

A Rope Descent System is a non-motorized system that uses gravity, with the worker controlling their rate of descent to access the interior and exterior facade of a building. The system’s friction device also allows workers to stop the descent and remain suspended at any location along their rope to perform their work. This system is commonly used by window cleaners.

Below are questions and answers to OSHA’s definition of an RDS, as defined in OSHA Subpart D. It is important that the designer understand OSHA’s use of these definitions to avoid confusion when designing an RDS.

What does a Rope Descent System consist of?

  1. “Rope descent system…usually consists of a roof anchorage, support rope, a descent device, carabiner(s) or shackle(s), and a chair (seatboard). A rope descent device does not include industrial rope access system.” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(l)(i))
  2. “Each employee uses a separate, independent personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of subpart I of this part.” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(2)(vi))
  3. “Stabilization is provided at the specific work location when descents are greater than 130 feet (39.6 m)” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(l)(x))

What height limitations are there with a Rope Descent System?

OSHA restricts a rope descent to 300 feet, unless there isn’t another way to do the work or it poses a greater hazard by not performing a 300-foot rope descent. See OSHA’s 300-foot rule below:

“Use of rope descent systems. The employer must ensure: No rope descent system is used for heights greater than 300 feet (91 m) above grade unless the employer demonstrates that it is not feasible to access such heights by any other means or that those means pose a greater hazard than using a rope descent system…” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(2)(i))

What is the required load capacity for anchorages used for Rope Descent Systems?

OSHA requires each anchor to be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds. See OSHA’s requirements for anchor capacity for rope descent systems: 

“Rope descent system–(1) Anchorages (I) Before any rope descent system is used, the building owner must inform the employer, in writing that the building owner has identified, tested, certified, and maintained each anchorage so it is capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (286 kg), in any direction, for each employee attached. Anchorages used to attach to personal fall protection equipment must be independent…capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2kN) for each employee attached…” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(l)(i))

Caution! When Monorails, Davits, Outriggers and any other attachments are used as an RDS anchorage these must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds. Further, OSHA requires each RDS employee to attach to an independent anchorage for their suspension line and an independent anchorage for their lifeline.

Rope descent system components:

1.   Rope attached to an independent Anchorage on the roof
2.   Suspension Line (Blue)
3.   Seat board

RDS requisite independent fall arrest system:

4.   Rope attached to an independent Anchorage on the roof
5.   Full body harness
6.   Lifeline (Red)

Does OSHA provide layout guidelines for anchors for rope descent systems?

OSHA requires proper rigging of rope descent systems. Basically, this means that each worker is required to be attached to two independent anchorages. One anchor is for a lifeline and the other for the suspension line. Anchors located within 15 feet of the edge require workers to observe OSHA fall protection rules.

Below are OSHA’s requirements for anchors used in a rope descent system:

“Each employee used a separate, independent personal fall arrest system…” (OSHA 1910.27 Subpart D for Rope Descent Systems section (vi).

  • “(12) Anchorages used to attach to personal fall protection equipment must be independent.

1.   Tie- Back angle within 15 degrees is MARGINAL

2.   Tie- Back angle within 10 degrees is GOOD

3.   Tie- Back angle within 5 degrees is VERY GOOD

Anchor Layout Diagram, based on the I.14 Window Cleaning Safety Standard

What is the building owner’s responsibility to contractors who use rope descent systems?

The owner is responsible for providing written assurance that the anchorages meet OSHA’s 5,000 load requirement. Anchor testing is required to confirm the anchor’s capacity. See OSHA’s anchor loading requirements below:

 “Before any rope descent system is used, the building owner must inform the employer, in writing that the building owner has identified, tested, certified, and maintained each anchorage so it is capable of supporting 5,000 pounds in any direction, for each employee attached…” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(l)(i)

What is the employer’s responsibility to workers using rope descent access?

The employer must not perform work unless the building owner provides written assurance that the anchorages have been tested and certified within the previous 10 years, are inspected annually, and meet OSHA requirements. See OSHA’s requirements for the employer below:

“The employer must ensure that no employee uses any anchorage before the employer has obtained written information from the building owner that each anchorage meets the requirements of OSHA Subpart D, (b)(l)(i) of this section.

What is the timeline for building owners to comply with OSHA’s rope descent system requirements?

“The requirements…must be implemented no later than November 20, 2017.” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(l)(iii)

What can owners do if their buildings aren’t in compliance?

Building owners can get proposals from reputable companies for testing existing equipment as well as for installing new anchor systems or replacing failed anchors. While installing anchors may be costly, the building owner should weigh the risk of not complying with OSHA requirements. See the OSHA memorandum to OSHA compliance officers:

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2017-11-20

Is a counter weighted outrigger an acceptable substitute for permanently installed anchorages?

A counter weighted outrigger must have appropriate load capacity and must be tied back to an anchorage with a 5,000-pound load capacity. This is because a portable outrigger is a non-permanent anchorage requiring a tieback. Because the tieback is a component of the rope descent system it therefore requires an anchorage with a 5,000-pound load capacity. See OSHA’s requirement for non-permanent anchorages below:

“The rope descent system has proper rigging, including anchorages and tiebacks, with particular emphasis on providing tiebacks when counterweights, cornice hooks, or similar non-permanent anchorages are used…”(OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(l)(v))

“All components of each rope descent system, except the seat boards, are capable of sustaining a minimum rated load of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.27 section (b)(l)(vii))

Design & Layout

Experience and forethought is required to design a suspended maintenance system that is code-compliant and safe to utilize as well as install. OSHA Subpart D requires that “anchor design and layout shall be performed by a qualified person experienced in such design”. GHB Fapp Protection has years of experience designing code-compliant systems and providing layout drawings for use during installation, testing, and future maintenance work.

Design Considerations

  1. Carefully examine all pertinent structural and architectural projects drawings to find areas required suspended access:
    • Windows located above 20 foot
    • Building facade requiring periodic maintenance (i.e. re-caulking and waterproofing)
    • Areas above 4 foot from grade that workers will need to access
  2. Identify unique building features that may require additional suspended maintenance products:
    • Overhangs
    • Atriums
    • Sloped roofs
    • Roofs above 300 ft.
    • Cornice conditions
    • Balconies
    • Rotundas
    • Sloped walls
    • Curtain walls
    • Canopies, signage, and other projections
  3. Determine if anchors will be used for rope descents systems, for fall protection for personnel on swing stage, general fall protection for horizontal lifelines or all of the above.
  4. Identify structural features to witch anchors may be attached:
    • Roof slabs
    • Concrete curbs
    • Concrete beams
    • Concrete walls
    • Cornice conditions
    • Steel beams
  5. Verify that structural features to witch anchors and davits, etc. might be attached have the capacity to support the allowable, test, and ultimate loading requirements below. OSHA and ANSI I-14.1 standards require that structural elements are capable of supporting loading requirements.
  6. Verify that structural capacity of the parapet wall commensurate with the loading application (i.e. parapet clamps, outriggers, suspension lines, fall arrest lines, power cables, etc.) during suspended maintenance. If the parapet wall cannot support these loads, additional suspended maintenance products may be required to circumvent loading the parapet.
  7. Verify that workers will be able to safely access anchor locations. The ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 requires fall protections when a maintenance worker must travel within 6 feet of an unprotected edge.

Davits are a solution If parapet or glass guardrail is not adequate to support loads from workers ropes.

Parapet must be capable of supporting the load imposed by workers.

Anchor Layout Requirements

  1. Anchors shall be identified on a plan of maintenance, typically posted on the inside of the roof door, so that workers can easily locate these anchorages on roofs.
  2. Each worker shall be tied off to two independent anchorages – one for a fall rope and one for a suspension rope.
  3. Anchorages shall be placed in line with the work area required service, and there shall be no objects obstructing the path of the rope from the anchorages to the work area. Properly aligned anchors prevent unsafe lateral rope movement or displacement, which damages the rope proportionate to load.
  4. Anchors should be placed to allow for at least two workers to make rope descending system descents in the same area of the building facade for both suspension line and fall arrest line.
  5. Consideration should be given to providing sufficient anchorage for rescue workers to access window cleaners in the event that they are stranded on the facade of the building.
  6. Anchors shall not be placed within 6 feet (1800mm) of an unprotected roof edge unless fall protection is provided. In most cases anchors can and should be placed further then 6 feet (1800mm) back from the edge to reduce risk falling.
  7. Outside corners of the roof are of particular concern. Anchors must be located to prevent the rope from being displaced on the parapet/guardrail. See diagram below:
  8. The diagram below illustrates the standards governing a safe placement of roof anchors:

Temporary Roof Anchors

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If your building has limited roof anchors or tie off points, we have mobile roof anchors that are OSHA and ANSI approved.  Parapet Clamps and Roof Rig Mobile Anchors.

Parapet Clamp and Roof Rig for window cleaning and building maintenance

If you have limited access to cleaning windows, or exterior building maintenance work GHB Window Cleaning Services has the tools and expertise to wash your windows  or maintain the exterior of buildings safely and on budget.

Prior to using any mobile anchor system a proper knowledge of a typical worker weight and instruction must be understood by each operator.

Mobile roof rigs are designed with an Outreach Arm/Beam and Counterweights.  The Outreach arm can extend typically from 2 feet to 3 feet and can hold a typical average worker plus tools.   The counterweights, depending on the arm outreach, ranges from 400 lbs – 800 lbs.  Mobile roof rigs must be certified by OSHA and meet all ANSI standards for fall protection and proper inspection prior to use is required.

A parapet clamp is another anchor point that could be used for buildings with limited roof anchors.   The clamp is secured on the engineered  structured parapet wall and can typically hold one average person  including tools and supplies.  Each parapet clamp needs to be OSHA certified and  meet all ANSI standards for fall protection.

Prior to any work initiating, a proper Fall Protection Site Safety Plan must be submitted to the building owner and property manager.   The Site Safety Plan must be signed by any employee working on edges higher than 4 feet.   Any leading edge over 4 feet is considered a fall hazard, thus requiring a Fall Protection Site Safety Plan and system per OSHA 1910.23(b)(1).