AS/NZS 5532 Australian and New Zealand Standard – Manufacture of Anchor Points

 

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Hello, I’m Murray Voss. I’m the Technical Manager at SAYFA GROUP.

Today, I’m going to give you some information about the Australian and New Zealand Standard, the AS/NZS 5532. This Standard is in particular to do with the manufacture of anchor points. It’s critical that we understand this Standard in relation to the installation of anchor points. In particular, I’m referring to the surface mount type of anchors which is rivetted to the roof sheets. This is in relation to all surface mounted type anchors, not only the SAYFA range of anchors.

Prior to the AS/NZS 5532 Standard coming out, it was the AS/NZS 1891.4  Standard which particularly referred to anchors in their strength requirements being 15kN and 21kN but did not have any testing criteria.

Anchors have evolved. They’ve been designed to attach to lighter gauge structures, therefore it’s important to come up with a testing criteria for these types of anchors. In the past, anchors have been designed and rated but not considering the structure to which it’s attached.

The AS 5532 Standard is taking into account the anchor in its installed state, so that the testing of the anchor and the roof structure to which it’s attached. This is a very important part for surface mount type anchors. This Standard also stipulates that the anchor must be tested on various roof types that it might be used on.  So, one test doesn’t suit all structure types. Depending on the different type of roof material each test must be done in accordance with that roof type material.

The AS/NZS 5532 Standard has four main testing procedures for surface mounted anchors.

The first test is a dynamic load. The dynamic load test is a 100kg mass dropped 2 metres which equates to 15kN of dynamic load onto the anchor and the structure and then this is done in line with the roof deck.

The second test is a static load test. 1,530kg or again 15kN, but pulled on the anchor and held for 3 minutes. This is a very important test because it has to do with the anchor and the performance in conjunction with the roof deck structure. So, it’s testing the performance of the anchor in its installed state.

The third test is same as the first, in that it’s 15kN dynamic load but then tested in the other direction. So the roof sheet is then turned and tested across the roof deck.

The fourth test is then the same test as Test 2, which is a static load of 15kN in the other direction as well, so again in the 90 degree direction to the first test.

Every anchor and roof structure type must have these four tests done and all perform satisfactorily before it can be claimed to conform to the AS/NZS 5532 Standard.

The rating of an anchor point to 15kN is important to understand that the anchor is rated to 15kN and the roof structure, that is why these test are so important. The reason why most roof anchors are rated to 15 and not 21kN is that it would mean that the roof structure would also need to withstand 21kN which is approximately equivalent to 2,100kg or 2.1 tonnes. Most roof decks are not capable of taking this huge loads so the anchor may be rated to 21kN but in its installed state, that is with the structure underneath, it’s the structure that will possibly fail, not so much the anchor.

21kN is not necessary for the requirement of rescue. If the anchor is tested to the static load requirements after the dynamic test on the same anchor that’s already tested, then the anchor can be used for rescue. This is the case with all SAYFA’s surface mount anchors. We always test the static load, after the dynamic load has been performed on the same anchor and same roof deck system. This ensures that a rescue can be performed off an anchor that has already taken a fall arrest situation.

You must make sure that the anchors you install can perform a rescue off the same anchor. All surface mount anchors use roof sheet as the main substrate to take the loads as the roof sheet acts like a diaphragm and spreads the 15kN across the purlins. But it’s important to understand that it’s critical the roof sheet has to take 15kN of shear load.

So, with reference to 15kN and a roof sheet taking these loads. Clip fix roofs are only clipped down and not physically fixed into the purlins. When installing an anchor on these types of roofs you must understand that huge forces are involved. 15kN is approximately 1.5 tonnes. Are you sure that your roof sheet will take these loads? How do you know that the clip fix roof sheet will not just slide off if a fall did occur? It must be understood that in most cases the anchor or roof should be screwed through to the purlin beneath to stop the roof sheet from sliding.

The other point to note is that some clip fix roof sheets do not have a full lap so where the anchor is riveted is critical. The rivet may not have gone through two thicknesses of roof sheet. If it is riveted on the lap, depending on the way it is fixed, it could be that if the anchor is put under tension, it could cause the roof sheet to unclip or delaminate. It’s very important to understand this when installing an anchor.

With the SAYFA range of surface mount anchors all anchors have been tested to the requirements of the AS/NZS 5532 Standard in that they have been tested in both directions, on virtually all roof deck systems available. The anchors have also been tested for a rescue situation after a fall has occurred. So the anchor can be used for rescue from the same anchor. That is, if someone is already suspended in a fall arrest situation, you can still then send someone else to rescue off that anchor.

The other advantage of our 3SIXTY Anchor Plate, because it’s a bigger plate spread over two roof sheets, there’s less chance of roof deck delamination or unclipping and a better roof deck performance due to less point load and more spread load. All our surface mount anchors have a swivel attachment which gives an even load to the roof sheet structure. It also eliminates the potential of roll-out issues where the snaphook could be activated accidentally and the swivel then eliminates this issue.

So, remember these loads. 15kN, 1.5 tonnes. These are huge loads and correct installation is imperative in order to save a life.

When you install your anchor point next time, are you sure that the way you’ve installed it will take these loads? If someone takes a fall, will that person be saved? Installers have an equal duty of care to ensure that fall arrest systems are installed correctly as these systems are to save lives. There are no shortcuts when a life is dependent on your actions.

Last of all. We save lives. Make sure you do too!

Thank you all.