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SFS / Installation manual Soter
Typical Fall Arrest System layout
Fall Arrest
When a work restraint system cannot be feasibly offered, then a
fall arrest system can then be considered.
Fall arrest systems are designed to ‘limit the consequences of a
fall should it occur’.
The Soter HLL system will arrest a users’ fall, only if the required
fall clearance has been allowed.
Fall clearances must be factored in when a fall arrest system is
designed, considering the following factors;
n
Building height
n
Free fall distance from roof edges
– To the ground
– Lower level roofs/adjacent buildings
n
Free fall distance through fragile roof areas/roof lights/canopies
etc.
Although fall arrest systems are often employed to give a user full
roof access, they come with major disadvantages, such as;
n
They do not stop a fall from height occurring as the user has
flexibility of PPE lengths.
n
They can only be used on buildings with the required free fall
clearance from all fall hazards including through roof lights.
n
A full rescue plan must be in place to return the user
to safety, often this is overlooked.
n
The users must be trained so they can use extra PPE equipment
safely including extended rope and grab devices and anti-
pendulum/swing posts.
* Soter systems should not be designed to arrest on standing seam
roof sheets due to the weakness of the connection between clip
and sheet which will not give required arrest figures.
Key:
A – Soter HL Start/End post with female M10/Universal
B – Soter R Intermediate post with intermediate bracket
C – Soter HL Corner with corner kit/solid corner
D – Soter anti-pendullum/swing post
Work Restraint
Work restraint systems are the safest method of HLL system
design. Keeping a user in restraint removes the possibility of fall
occurring. The users path, and what they have access to can be
dictated/controlled.
Keeping a user in restraint is dictated by the relationship of two
key distances;
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Lanyard length (A)
n
Position of the system and distance away from fall hazard (B),
*see figure adjacent and on page 6
If the achievable distance between position of line and fall hazard
varies on the system route, the lesser distance and therefore
lanyard length should be preferred before any variable lanyard
lengths/multiple lanyards are proposed.
The general spacing from system to roof edge/fall hazard is 2.30m
based on a typical lanyard length of 1.85m.
Fall Hazards can be roof edges, roof lights or other fragile roof
areas such as windows/glass.
Main advantages of Work Restraint systems;
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No possibility of a fall
n
No need for any rescue plan
n
Adjacent buildings/lower level roofs and fall clearances do not
need to be factored
n
Minimal system user training required
Typical Work Restraint System layout
Key
:
A – Soter HL Start/End post with female M10/Universal
B – Soter R Intermediate post with intermediate bracket
C – Soter HL with intermediate bracket
D – Soter HL T-Off with 2 hole plate and intermediate bracket
E – Soter HL Corner with corner kit/solid corner
D
A
B
A
C
D
D
D
A
B
E
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
E
D
C
A
A
Installation manual