ISO 22846-1:2003

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22846-1
First edition
2003-11-15
Personal equipment for protection
against falls — Rope access systems —
Part 1:
Fundamental principles for a system of
work
Équipement individuel de protection contre les chutes — Systèmes
d'accès par corde —
Partie 1: Principes fondamentaux pour un système de travail

Reference number
©
ISO 2003
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ii © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
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established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
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International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 22846-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Protective clothing and
equipment, Subcommittee SC 4, Personal equipment for protection against falls.
ISO 22846 consists of the following parts, under the general title Personal equipment for protection against
falls — Rope access systems:
— Part 1: Fundamental principles for a system of work
— Part 2: Code of practice (in the early stages of preparation)
Introduction
Rope access is a system that provides a user with the means, typically using synthetic fibre kernmantel ropes
and associated equipment, to gain access to, be supported at, and then as a means of egress from, a place of
work for the purpose of carrying out a work task.
Rope access has its background in mountaineering and particularly in caving, where it has been well proven,
although it relies on only a single rope. For adaptation to the work environment, the techniques and some of
the equipment have been modified. The most significant change is the inclusion of a second rope to provide
additional safety. These modifications allow the system to offer a level of protection to the operatives equal to,
or better than, other similar forms of access.
In a typical system, one rope (the working line) is used for access and egress (usually ascent and descent)
and for support at the workplace. A harness is attached to the user and specially designed devices are
attached to the working line and to the harness. The other rope (the safety line) is connected to the user via a
safety device, which travels along the safety line as the user ascends or descends the working line. In the
event of a failure of the working line or any of its components, the safety line protects against a fall and limits
the load to the equipment and operative. This is one example of a system. However, the need to provide a
basic access system and a back-up system may also be accomplished in other ways. The techniques and
equipment used for this purpose may be extended to encompass traversing and aid climbing.
The safe use of rope access systems requires competence, normally acquired by training, and confirmed with
independent assessment and certification, not only in the use of the system itself, but also in workmate
rescue/retrieval.
While this part of ISO 22846 provides the generalized framework for the specification and the operation of
rope access, individual countries, states and localities may have particular requirements. These local
requirements should be followed in addition to those of this part of ISO 22846.

iv © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22846-1:2003(E)

Personal equipment for protection against falls — Rope access
systems —
Part 1:
Fundamental principles for a system of work
1 Scope
This part of ISO 22846 gives the fundamental principles for the use of rope-access methods for work at height.
It is intended for use by employers, employees and self-employed persons who use rope-access methods, by
those commissioning rope-access work and by rope-access associations. This part of ISO 22846 is applicable
to the use of rope-access methods on buildings, other structures (on- or offshore) or natural features (such as
cliff faces), during which ropes are suspended from or connected to a structure or natural feature. It is
applicable to situations where ropes are used as the primary means of access, egress or support and as the
primary means of protection against a fall.
This part of ISO 22846 is not intended to apply to the use of rope-access methods for leisure activities,
arboriculture, general steeplejack methods or emergency personal-evacuation systems, or to the use of rope-
access (line rescue) techniques by the fire brigade and other emergency services for rescue work or for
rescue training. Nevertheless, those engaged in other similar activities are likely to benefit from the advice
given in this part of ISO 22846, as many of the principles do apply to, and offer good practice for, activities
outside this formally defined scope.
NOTE This is the first of a planned multi-part series of International Standards for rope access.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
aid climbing
method of progression in suspension, either by moving from one fixed anchor to another or by the use of
moveable anchors or anchor points
2.2
anchor
fixture or place for the attachment of lines or persons
2.3
ascender
rope adjustment device which, when attached to a line of appropriate type and diameter, locks under load in
one direction and slides freely in the opposite direction
NOTE Normally used for ascending the working line or positioning the operative on it.
2.4
back-up device
rope adjustment device for a safety line of appropriate type and diameter, which accompanies the user during
changes of position or allows adjustment of the length of the safety line, and which locks automatically to the
safety line, or only allows gradual movement along it, when a sudden load is applied in one direction, e.g., in
the event of a fall
2.5
belay
system incorporating a device to control, by friction, a running rope which acts as a brake should the user
experience sudden movement or fall
2.6
competent
suitably trained or qualified by knowledge and practical experience to enable the required task or tasks to be
carried out properly
2.7
descender
manually operated, friction-inducing rope-adjustment device, which, when attached to a line of appropriate
type and diameter, allows the user to achieve a controlled descent
NOTE Normally used for descending the working line or positioning the operative on it.
2.8
exclusion zone
zone designa
...