This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the use of rope access methods for work at height. It is intended for use by employers, employees and self-employed persons who use rope access methods, and those who commission rope access work, e.g. building owners and contractors, and also by national enforcement agencies and safety officers. This British Standard is applicable to the use of rope access methods for access to buildings, other structures (on or offshore) or natural features (such as cliff faces), in which the ropes are suspended from, or connected to, the structure or natural feature. It is applicable to situations where ropes are used as the primary means of access, egress or support and as the primary means of protection against a fall.
This standard is not intended to apply to the use of rope access methods for leisure activities, arboriculture, general steeplejack methods or emergency personal evacuation systems, or to the use of rope access (line rescue) techniques by the fire brigade and other emergency services for rescue work or for training.
NOTE1 For building owners and contractors, the information and guidance given in Clause4 and Clause5 and in 12.1 is of particular relevance.
NOTE2 A typical method of descending and ascending using rope access techniques is given in AnnexA, an equipment inspection checklist in AnnexB, a harness comfort and adjustability test in AnnexC and information on the effect of wind speed and working height on available working times in AnnexD. A list of useful addresses is given in AnnexE.