ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
(OP)
My current project (building code: IBC 2009) requires fall arrest D-ring anchors to be post-installed in a concrete wall. When I researched fall arrest anchors, I found many that are compliant with OSHA 1926, but cannot find any that are compliant with IBC 2009, or any version of IBC for that matter. The ICC website confirms this, as all of the ESR reports listed on their website are for structural anchors, not necessarily life safety. This is a little confusing, especially since I cannot find any exception in IBC 2009 or ACI 318-08 that excludes fall arrest systems. In fact, Section D2.1 of ACI 318 states right up front that safety related devices are inclusive: "Appendix D is restricted in scope to structural anchors that transmit structural loads related to strength, stability, or life safety."
So, are there really no options for post-installed anchors for fall arrest systems, or is there some language in IBC or ACI that defaults approval to OSHA in lieu of ICC for safety system anchorage? Even if that were the case, the suppliers would then be able to advertise that their anchors are IBC compliant as well as OSHA compliant, which they do not. IBC does state in Section 1703 that approval comes from an approved agency, but it is not clear to me if an anchor is OSHA-approved that it does not need to be ICC-approved. Any thoughts?
So, are there really no options for post-installed anchors for fall arrest systems, or is there some language in IBC or ACI that defaults approval to OSHA in lieu of ICC for safety system anchorage? Even if that were the case, the suppliers would then be able to advertise that their anchors are IBC compliant as well as OSHA compliant, which they do not. IBC does state in Section 1703 that approval comes from an approved agency, but it is not clear to me if an anchor is OSHA-approved that it does not need to be ICC-approved. Any thoughts?






RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
Perhaps a related issue: There are many products available that say "Not for lifting people, or lifting loads over people" or something to that effect. Can they be used for that purpose anyway?
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
I guess what I am really getting at is: Do fall arrest anchors need to be ICC approved/certified?
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
Basically, ICC does not evaluate anchors for shock loading such as a person impacting against an anchor. You'll find this under section 5.0 of every ICC post installed anchor report.
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
"Since an ICC-ES acceptance criteria for evaluating data to determine the performance of expansion anchors subjected to fatigue or shock loading is unavailable at this time, the use of these anchors under such conditions is beyond the scope of this report."
So in a way that brings us back to square one again. Going on the assumption that the above language is in all of the ESRs, which appears to be the case based on how the ICC statement is worded, there are no post-installed fall arrest anchors available that are ICC certified. But do they need to be or not need to be? That is the question.
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
If you are really concerned, then pick an anchor that has a non-brittle steel failure mode. Also, I would consider anchors used to support structural loads as "life safety" anchors.
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?
I would talk with my local AHJ and local OSHA office since they are the ones who will ultimately approve the system, or rule on it if all hell does break loose. OSHA offices have been told to be more helpful to industry in understanding their reqr’mts. (contractors, engineers, etc.) and more helpful in prevention, if you ask before hand, and with an intelligent design and plan in hand, rather than just being the s.o.b’s of last resort. Some officials are more helpful than others, but if you come well informed, rather than with a really dumb idea, they generally want to help. Obviously, your design and the sum of the parts has to have a good engineering basis, and some individual documentation for the various parts. If it can overload one A.B. in a group, your design better account for that; maybe you shouldn’t fix this device to brick veneer or a ladder style up to the roof; Just good sound engineering judgement. There used to be a little verbiage in the IBC (UBC?) something like “by rational analysis and in accordance with well established principles of mechanics,” and this got us through a lot of tough details and most approval discussions.
RE: ICC Certification for Fall Arrest Anchors - Required?