OSHA Roof Anchor Standards
Fall protection anchor point is a vital part of keeping your workers safe on the job site, no matter if they’re doing rooftop maintenance, window washing, or even something as simple as retrieving a lost ball. But just like the saying goes, “a team is only as strong as its weakest member,” a fall protection safety system is only as strong as its weakest anchor.
Regular testing of roof anchors is important for keeping your workers safe and is also required by OSHA. It MUST be done by a properly trained and certified professional every five years. However, your certification does not have to be done by the same organization that installs the anchors.
Requirements for roof anchor testing
Roof anchor testing is vital to ensure safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
OSHA guidelines mandate that all rooftop safety anchors “be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached; or designed, installed, and used, under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall protection system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.”, as per OSHA 1910.140(c)(13).
Since OSHA section 1910.140(d)(1)(i) states that a fall arrest system must “limit the maximum arresting force on the employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN)”, so “a safety factor of at least two” would mean that your fall arrest system can maintain a maximum force of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) of force.
Types of Roof Anchor Testing
There are two main types of roof anchor testing: Proof Testing and Strength Testing (also known as Pull Testing). To be a properly certified fall protection system, an anchor must pass both types of testing, and every anchor on the system must be individually certified.
Proof testing
It is the first step of roof anchor testing. In this case, a theoretical stress test using a variety of mathematical formulas is conducted on the anchor installation to ensure the placement of the anchor, the material the anchor is made out of, and the roof. If an anchor fails the proof testing, there’s no need to move on to the next type of testing – it’s time to fully replace the anchor or possibly even redo the fall protection system design layout.
Strength testing (Pull Testing)
This one comes afterward and requires physical hands-on testing of the tensile strength of the anchor. This is done by repeatedly attaching a hydraulic pull tester and increasing its weight load. Anchors are tested multiple times to ensure no “flukes” and are generally tested up to either 5000 lbs or 1.25x the manufacturer's recommended weight load. The physical testing also involves checking the wear and tear on the anchor, how anchored it is into the foundation material, any potential building shifts, etc, to ensure the safest working environment possible.
Roof Anchor Inspection
Pro-Bel employs a team of licensed engineers with extensive knowledge, training, and experience in performing roof anchor inspections. Our competent experts have significant expertise in testing permanent anchors, bolt-through roof anchors, adhesive roof anchors, cast-in-place roof anchors, welded roof anchors, soffit roof anchors, wall anchors, and wrap-around roof anchors. We provide multi-year inspection programs to perform superior inspection and testing and help building owners meet compliance requirements.
When conducting roof anchor inspection, Pro-Bel can provide:
- Review of the roof anchor system
- Annual deficiency inspection
- Technical audit/compliance inspection
- Roof assessment
- Recommendations for load testing and re-certification of existing equipment (if necessary)
We provide inspection service to ensure your roof anchors comply with OSHA, ANSI, and ASME standards. Our experts provide a detailed report outlining the inspection and identifying potential compliance issues.
At Pro-Bel, we can handle the inspection, testing, and certification of all your fall protection systems and anchors, as well as the design and installation aspects. This guarantees safety for your workers and takes the stress off you and your team.
Contact Pro-Bel today for more information about how our team of competent experts can help you maintain OSHA roof anchor requirements.
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