AS/NZS 1891.4 AND AS/NZS 5532 Roof Anchor Point Compliance, Testing, Status, Application & Industry Confusion from the introduction of AS/NZS 5532
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT AS AT JANUARY (2023)
What is a compliant roof anchor point ?
A compliant roof anchor point is a roof anchor point that complies with AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 as per the Falls Code of practice. The roof anchor point must comply with all parts of AS/NZS 1891.4:2009, includes roof anchors must be tested to 15kN of load that's approximately 1,500kg of load. The roof anchor point must be clearly labelled with manufacturing branding, selection and use written on each roof anchor, correct fastenings to be used with roof anchor must also be written on each roof anchor. Manufacture must provide signed test reports and manufactures selection, use, maintenance installation user and owner's manual with each roof anchor, roof anchors must be individually packaged and labelled and must be sold with fastenings. Roof anchor MUST NOT be installed in a corrosive environment, that includes incompatible materials.
ABOUT ANKAme ROOF ANCHOR TESTING FULLY COMPLIANT roof anchor points have been load tested as per AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 ( table 3.1 ) testing requirements, single point anchors to15KN of "Static load" (15kN = approximately 1.5 tones of load) in directional use witness tested by Test Safe Australia a division of SafeWork NSW, NATA accredited for testing roof anchors to AS/NZS 1891.4:2009
Product testing required load to ONLY achieve max load (15KN), Test Safe Australia decided to hold the max load of (15KN) for 2:30 minutes, roof anchors tested and passed
The new standard AS/NZS 5532:2013 is now asking for the same testing requirements to hold the load for 3:00 minutes
AS/NZS is currently under review by Standards Australia, SafeWork NSW, and industry as a whole is being investigated by the ACCC, as some roof anchor manufactures continue to falsify there product testing and manipulate product compliance since the release of AS/NZS 5532:2013
ANKAme will carry out no additional testing until current standards have been reviewed and updated, as previously advised by SafeWork NSW
SafeWork NSW Clarifies:
Each anchorage point should comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices selection, use and maintenance
The falls code clearly states that roof anchors MUST comply with the AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 standard
As clearly outlined in the FALLS CODE OF PRACTICE roof anchors and static lines and ladder access brackets must comply to the following standards;
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AS/NZS 1891.4:2009: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Selection, use and maintenance ( Roof anchors )
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AS/NZS 1891.2 Supp 1:2001: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Horizontal lifeline and rail systems – Prescribed configurations for horizontal lifelines ( Roof anchor static line systems )
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AS/NZS 1657:2018: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design, construction and installation ( Ladder access brackets )
The following points should also be noted for industry safety and product compliance awareness:
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NOTE: 15kn of load is approximately 1500kg of load - tested in the direction of a fall as per AS/NZS 1891.4:2009
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NOTE: there is NO dynamic testing in AS/NZS for surface mounted roof anchors ( eg. dropping a 100kg weight approximately 2 meters )
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NOTE: be aware that stainless steel roof anchors are not compatible with direct contact to Colourbond or Zincalume roof sheeting and Aluminium fasteners / rivets are also NOT compatible with Stainless Steel, refer to blue scope steel compatibility chart HERE
ANKAme roof anchors and static lines have been independently tested and approved by a registered competent Australian engineer and proudly comply with the following AS/NZS 1891 standards
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AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 - Roof anchor points, includes testing to 15kN directional "load testing"
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AS/NZS 1891.2: Supplement 1:2001 Part 2, static line systems
Australian Standards AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 and AS/NZS 5532:2013 The Work Health and Safety legislation, SafeWork NSW has published a fact sheet explaining their expectations.
Find out about the guidelines and expectations now set by Safework NSW and Safety SAI Global. Providing advice on fall arrest anchors for:
AS 1891.4: 2009 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices Part 4: Selection, use and maintenance
Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation.
Protecting the safety of workers who work at heights is critical so ANKAme products comply with the agreed relevant standards such as
AS/NZS 1891.4: 2009 – Single Point Anchorage (15Kn) - View Test Report (current compliance 2021 )
“GET THE FACTS” from SafeWork NSW Fact Sheet” - View SafeWork Status & Facts Update August 2019
The SafeWork NSW fact sheet has been developed to clarify the situation given the apparent industry confusion regarding AS/NZS 5532 and subsequent marketing of anchor inspection and replacement services based on assertions that the standard applies retrospectively. Safety Standards Australia Standards Australia is also currently reviewing the non-mandatory AS/NZS 5532
AS/NZS 5532 standard based on the outcomes of an industry forum hosted in February 2015 with a view to issuing a revised standard. In the meantime, you can be assured that ANKAme products undergo thorough stress tests and comply with the relevant AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 ( roof anchor testing and compliance ) and AS/NZS 1891.2: Supplement 1:2001 ( static line systems ), so with ANKAme products your workers will all work safely at Heights. ANKAme roof anchors have been independently tested by a NATA Accredited company specifically for testing roof anchor points to AS/NSZ 1891.4:2009 proudly tested by Test Safe a division of SafeWork NSW
Given the above, SafeWork NSW advice is:
Product would be expected to comply with either the strength requirements of AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 or AS/NZS 5532.
The fall arrest systems being used with the anchors should provide energy absorbers, or other means, that limit the peak load on the harness connection and thus anchor during a fall to 6kN, as per the AS/NZS 1891 suite of standards
Once the issues are resolved with AS/NZS 5532, manufacturers would be expected to be supplying complying product within 2 years
AS/NZS 5532 is not expected to apply retrospectively to existing installed anchors AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 would be the relevant standard to apply
Inspection programs based on AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 including annual load testing of chemical and friction anchors, should continue for all installed anchors
Where anchors are found to be damaged or not to have been installed in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions - eg roof mounted anchors with insufficient fasteners or installed in roof sheeting that is thinner than specified - the anchors be made compliant with the manufacturer’s instructions, or replaced
