There are many different types of equipment that are installed for window washing, suspended maintenance, and fall protection. They can include (but are not limited to):
- roof anchors,
- wall anchors,
- soffit anchors,
- davits,
- rigging sleeves,
- horizontal trolleys,
- monorail,
- gantry’s and
- roof cars.
With all the customized equipment out there, nine times out of ten, it is a simple roof anchor that gets the job done!
Different companies (around the globe) use different styles of roof anchors that are each unique in their own way. A vertical steel pier anchor is the most common and is all pretty much the same. It is usually the actual tie-off (or anchorage point) that varies.
Some companies use a swivel-head U-bar that points horizontally (perpendicular to the pier) and can swivel, while others use fixed “U-bars” or “eyelets”. These points are vertical, as shown in the picture below. The materials used for piers, U-bars, and hardware can vary from galvanized to stainless steel (depending on the project specifications), although stainless steel piers are not used very often due to cost.
These (steel pier) anchors can be installed to accommodate three different styles of systems: window washing, suspended maintenance, and fall protection.
Window Washing
Window washers can use anchor points to suspend themselves from the building facade to perform window washing. This is commonly done on a bosun’s chair, but can also be performed on swing stages.
Suspended Maintenance
Companies performing facade maintenance, such as brick restoration, window caulking, or balcony repair, can utilize anchor points to suspend the platform (swing stage) that they work from.
Fall Protection
Workers can use either individual, localized anchor points or a horizontal lifeline cable system to prevent them from falling (travel restraint) or to save them from hitting the ground (fall arrest) if they do fall.
Often, the simplest approach is the best one, and window washing, suspended maintenance, and fall protection systems are no exception.