Certified vs. Non-Certified Anchors (When Anchorages Do NOT Need to Support 5,000 Pounds)

There are lots of exciting definitions in the world of fall protection, and it can be confusing to try and keep track of all of them (thankfully, this is why ANSI Z359.0 is in existence), but it’s important to know the different terms that are used for fall protection, especially when those terms have to do with the anchorage point of your entire fall protection system.

As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, the anchorage for a fall protection system can be either the fall protection structure for portable systems, the roof of a building, or a section of a building.  When a permanent system is installed, the part of the building upon which it is being affixed needs to be able to support two things. The anchorage needs to be able to support the weight of the system and it needs to be able to support the potential forces exerted by a falling worker. And this is where the definitions found in ANSI Z359.2 (Section 5.2—General Requirements for Fall Protection Systems) come into play.

Certified Anchorages (Section 5.2.3.1) are initially listed with the following text: “It is preferred that all fall anchorages be designed or selected by a qualified person.” However, the standard recognizes that this may be impractical in some situations. This standard provides that a competent person may supervise the selection, installation, use, or inspection of non-certified anchorages.

A Certified Anchorage as defined by ANSI Z359.2 (Section 5.4.2.2) must adhere to the following guidelines:

Anchorages selected for fall arrest systems shall have a strength capable of sustaining the static loads applied in the directions permitted by the system of at least:
A) 5,000 Pounds (22.2kN) for non-certified anchorages, or
B) Two times the maximum arresting force for certified anchorages
When more than one fall arrest system is attached to an anchorage, the strengths set forth in (A) and (B) above shall be multiplied by the number of systems attached to the anchorage.

After that definition, there is an additional section that lists other things that a qualified person will need to consider during either the anchorage design or system installation process. Some of the other things that a qualified person will want to consider include:
• safe areas for people to connect and disconnect to the system
• how the forces of fall arrest will impact the anchorage areas
• existing and anticipated loading weights
• loading paths
• structural strength of anchorage areas
• connection and support strength
• general anchorage stability
• clearance and swing fall requirements
• rescue deflection
• impact on the structural members

And then, if the qualified person determines that there are limitations to the anchorage, it is their responsibility to inform users, safety managers, and anyone else involved with the use of the fall protection or prevention system of those limitations. And, safety managers, qualified people, and competent persons must ensure that those anchorage points are not used for any other purpose other than the support of the fall arrest system and that they be marked solely for those purposes.

A Non-Certified Anchorage is an anchorage that is selected by a competent person after a visual inspection of the location.  In order for a competent person to designate a point as a non-certified anchorage point, they must visually inspect the location and decide whether or not that area is capable of supporting 5,000 pounds (roughly the weight of a full size pickup truck).

It is always prudent to collaborate with a qualified person whenever there is any doubt about the structural strength of a building or an anchorage location. If there’s doubt, math it out! But, more often than not, a thorough visual inspection of the structure of a building or potential anchorage location can determine whether or not the location could be used as a viable anchorage point. The anchorage for a personal fall arrest system is literally the skeletal support structure for the entire system.  It is critical to the effectiveness of the entire system that the anchorage be able to support the system and the forces that could be applied during a fall arrest event.

Until the next time, stay safe up there!