BS 8610:2017

This standard BS 8610:2017 Personal fall protection equipment. Anchor systems. Specification is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.340.60 Protection against falling and slipping

This British Standard provides requirements and test methods for type testing anchor systems that are installed and tested in the base materials specified by the manufacturer for:

1. restraint systems;

2. fall arrest systems;

3. rope access systems;

4. work positioning systems;

5. rescue systems; and

6. evacuation systems.

This British Standard covers anchor systems intended for one or more users simultaneously and specifies the maximum number of users for each type of anchor system.

NOTE 1 Where the manufacturer intends to rate their anchor systems for more than the specified maximum number of users, it is recommended that they liaise with an appropriate test house, taking into account the principles of this British Standard and develop a test specification accordingly.

This British Standard is not applicable to:

1. equipment conforming to BS EN 516 or BS EN 517;

2. type A load-limiting anchor systems (see 3.3.2) for:

   • rope access and work positioning;

   • rescue – accompanied descent;

   • rescue – remotely operated – redirect attachment; and

   • evacuation,

   • as they are considered not to be appropriate for such use.

3. type C non-load-limiting and load-limiting anchor systems (see 3.3.3) for:

   • rope access and work positioning;

   • rescue – accompanied descent;

   • rescue – remotely operated – redirect attachment; and

   • evacuation,

   • as they are considered not to be appropriate for such use.

4. type B and type E, as described in BS EN 795 , are not covered in this British Standard as they are not installed in a base material;

5. bespoke structurally designed anchors incorporated into structures.

NOTE 2 The performance requirements in this British Standard are intended as minimum requirements for anchor devices, structural anchors and their base material(s). The performance requirements do not constitute structural verification of the structures for the imposed loads.

This British Standard is intended for use by manufacturers, installers and users of anchor systems and also other interested parties, e.g. architects and structural engineers, including those responsible for the design of safe access and egress on structures.

NOTE 3 Information on the use of anchor systems in personal fall protection systems, including rope access, can be found in BS 8437 , BS 7985 and BS 7883 .

NOTE 4 Anchor systems conforming to this British Standard for rope access should meet the requirements of the rope access industry for anchor systems, as detailed in BS 7985 and the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), International code of practice for industrial rope access (ICOP) [1].