ISO 16024:2005

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16024
First edition
2005-10-15
Personal protective equipment for
protection against falls from a height —
Flexible horizontal lifeline systems
Équipement de protection individuelle contre les chutes de hauteur —
Systèmes de ligne de vie horizontale flexible

Reference number
©
ISO 2005
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ii © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
4 Design requirements . 5
4.1 General. 5
4.2 Flexible horizontal lifelines. 6
4.3 Anchor connectors. 6
4.4 Mobile attachment devices . 7
4.5 Lifeline energy absorber . 7
5 Performance requirements . 7
5.1 Acceptance criteria. 7
5.2 Dynamic performance . 8
5.3 Static residual strength. 8
5.4 Lifeline fittings static strength . 8
5.5 Intermediate anchor connector strength. 8
5.6 Corrosion resistance. 8
6 Testing . 8
6.1 Test equipment . 8
6.2 Verification tests. 9
6.3 In-line fitting static strength . 11
6.4 Intermediate anchor connector strength.11
6.5 Corrosion. 11
7 Labelling and instructions . 11
7.1 User's instructions . 11
7.2 Marking . 12
Annex A (informative) Sample test procedure . 13
Bibliography . 14

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
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
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 16024 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Protective clothing and
equipment, Subcommittee SC 4, Personal equipment for protection against falls.
iv © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

Introduction
In cases of work where the hazard of falling from a height exists and where, for technical reasons or for work
of a short duration, safe access cannot be provided, it is necessary to consider the use of personal fall
protection systems. Such use should never be improvised and its adoption should be specifically provided for
in the appropriate formal provisions for safety in the work place.
Flexible horizontal lifeline systems conforming to this International Standard satisfy ergonomic requirements
and are only be used if the work allows means of connection to suitable anchor devices of demonstrated
strength and can be implemented without compromising the safety of the user. Personnel are to be trained
and instructed in the safe use of the equipment and be observant of such training and instructions. The
end-user organization is to have a rescue plan and the means at hand to implement it.
This International Standard has been prepared in response to user and industry requirements for an
International Standard to cover flexible horizontal lifeline systems. It is based on current knowledge and
practice concerning the use of personal fall protection systems and equipment specified in the ISO 10333
series of International Standards and other ISO personal fall protection standards. While this International
Standard covers flexible horizontal lifeline systems from anchor connector to anchor connector, it does not
cover the anchor or anchors themselves.
This International Standard presumes that the manufacturer of the personal fall protection system, subsystem
or components used in a flexible horizontal lifeline system operates a quality management system which
conforms to national and regional regulations in force at the time. Guidance on the form that this quality
management system may take can be found in ISO 9000.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 16024:2005(E)

Personal protective equipment for protection against falls from
a height — Flexible horizontal lifeline systems
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies design and performance requirements, test methods, user instructions,
marking and labelling as appropriate, of flexible horizontal lifeline systems for use at any one time by up to
three persons, exclusively for the attachment of personal protective equipment for protection against falls from
a height. It does not stipulate designs for flexible horizontal lifelines, except for design limitations that are
necessary for safe and durable service.
This International Standard does not cover rigid rail systems, nor is it intended to cover flexible guardrails,
hand lines and work-positioning anchor lines.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 9227, Corrosion test in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests
ISO 10333-1, Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 1: Full-body harnesses
ISO 10333-2, Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 2: Lanyards and energy absorbers
ISO 10333-3, Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 3: Self-retracting lifelines
ISO 10333-4, Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 4: Vertical rails and vertical lifelines incorporating
a sliding-type fall arrester
ISO 10333-5, Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 5: Connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates
ISO 10333-6, Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 6: Systems performance tests
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
component
integral assembly of interconnected elements (parts) intended to perform one or more functions in the system
NOTE A mobile attachment device is an example of a component.
3.2
configuration
defined layout of a flexible horizontal lifeline system in terms of numbers, arrangements and lengths of spans
together with defined requirements for flexible horizontal lifeline materials and strength of end anchors and
intermediate anchors
3.4
element
integral part of a constituent, component, hybrid component, subsystem or system, which is generally not sold
separately to users (e.g. webbing)
3.5
end anchor
structural member located at each end of the flexible horizontal lifeline
See Figure 1.
NOTE End anchors are outside the scope of this International Standard.
3.6
end anchor connector
component with means specifically for coupling the flexible horizontal lifeline to an end anchor
See Figure 1.
3.7
fall arrest system
assembly of components joined together so that, when connected to a suitable anchor point with sufficient
clearance from the ground or other obstacles, it operates as a complete arrangement of equipment able to
fulfil its function in use of arresting a fall
3.8
flexible horizontal lifeline system
flexible lifeline supported by two or more anchors such that the slope of a straight line joining any two adjacent
anchors does not deviate from the horizontal by more than 15°
3.9
flexible lifeline
line comprising wire rope, fibre robe or webbing
3.10
free fall distance
vertical displacement of the harness fall arrest attachment point between the onset of the fall and at the point
just before the system begins to react by applying force to arrest the fall
See Figure 2.
NOTE This distance excludes deceleration distance, but includes any fall arrester activation distance before fall
arrest forces occur.
3.11
in-line fittings
fittings incorporated in the line between the flexible horizontal lifeline terminations and anchor connectors
3.12
intermediate anchor
structural member supporting a flexible horizontal lifeline at location(s) other than at its ends
See Figure 1.
2 © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

3.13
intermediate anchor connector
component with means specifically for coupling the flexible horizontal lifeline to an intermediate anchor
NOTE An intermediate anchor connector guides and supports the flexible horizontal lifeline and does not restrict the
longitudinal movement of the line.
3.14
lifeline energy absorber
device connected to a flexible horizontal lifeline to dissipate energy and reduce the forces in the line resulting
from a fall arrest
3.15
lifeline termination
fixture at the end of a flexible horizontal lifeline that allows connection to the end anchor or anchor connector
EXAMPLE Splice, ferrule, or swage.
3.16
maximum arrest force
peak force and measured at the full body harness attach
...