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Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling
2

Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

(OP)
I am being ask if a channel beam (10ft) part of mechanical frame is adequate for a fall protection being tied to.

OSHA says apply 5000# that some coworker say it is high? Is this a load that I need to apply?
Also I dont know where along the length to apply the load and also if I have to apply load tilted and with an angle since the guy falling may fall with an angle

How to apply the swinging effect? Shall I apply that?

Any sources that you can reffer - a design example

Thank you

RE: Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

Do a check by pressing the "Search" tab above and entering "Fall Arrest". There are many strings on the subject that might help.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

5000 lbs. is the correct load I believe. OSHA requires impact and other safety factors that drive the number up pretty high.

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RE: Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

Like Mike said, many a post on this topic. I believe OSHA says 5,000 without failure. I have taken that to include impact/load/and phi factors. IMHO the 5,000 is a load right when the system arrests the fall (big deceleration). That would largely be vertical by the nature of gravity. But you can still get a respectable horizontal load (just not the 5 kips) at an angle, or swinging load depending on where the person falls from. For that part you need to apply some for your specific conditions.

RE: Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

(OP)
So do I need to apply that 5000# horizontallt too? I thought I need to apply it just vertivally?


dcarr82775 (Structural),
"But you can still get a respectable horizontal load (just not the 5 kips) at an angle, or swinging load depending on where the person falls from." so how do I know that how that person falls?


dcarr82775 (Structural), what's IMHO? Did u mean impact horizontal?
What's the phi factors? what are you refering to?

Amazing such a common issue and no detail and information availble???

I apprecaite if anybody can refere me to rigth source.

Thank you

RE: Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

IMHO = In My Humble Opinion

Phi factor is the strength reduction factor for LRFD design methodology.

I don't know the geometry of your situation. Where is the channel with respect to the edge? where might a worker be located when tied off to the channel? It is up to you to decide how the load gets applied to the channel based on the existing conditions.

RE: Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

2
I thought IMHO was short for I'm Hot...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Is the beam adequate for holding a person falling

I save those sorts of declarations for other types message boards

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