ECS Mid-Atlantic, an engineering firm with structural engineers and specialty testing capabilities, and Clean & Polish Building Solutions (C&P), a building-exterior restoration specialist and one of the largest window-cleaning companies in the mid-Atlantic region, have teamed up to provide safe access to building façades using rope descent systems in Washington, DC, and the mid-Atlantic region. Since 2015, nearly 200 buildings have completed OSHA-required load testing/certification from this partnership. In addition, more than 1,200 annual visual inspections have been completed per OSHA requirements and many older buildings retrofitted with new anchorage.
C&P promoted anchor-safety systems before the release of early façade-access safety standards, such as the International Window Cleaners Association (IWCA) ANSI I-14 safety standard in 2001.
ECS Mid-Atlantic met C&P more than a decade ago on a large portfolio project certifying anchorages on buildings nationwide for a large real estate owner. As registered professional engineers, ECS provides anchor certifications, design services and annual inspections. ECS and C&P realized their interests in safe access aligned and partnered to bring additional safe oversight and professional expertise to building owners with or without roof-anchor systems.
In 2017, OSHA released the walking-working surfaces and personal fall-protection systems which brought roof-anchor safety to the forefront for many building professionals and owners. C&P and ECS were there to provide now-required testing and support.
The OSHA requirements for fall protection are wide ranging and encompass any falls more than 4 feet in height as well as fall restraints, anchor systems, guardrails, safety nets and/or work positioning. While fall prevention is the safest option, utilizing roof anchors as part of a fall-protection system is often the only or most cost-effective option for contractors working on façades. When access is by rope descent, OSHA places the responsibility of providing anchorages on the building owner (OSHA 1910.27(b)(1)(i)). Anchors must be identified, tested, certified and maintained by the building owner, including an annual visual inspection of anchorage and certification at least every 10 years. Many anchorage systems designed and installed by manufacturers require their anchors to be load tested every five years.
OSHA provides guidance as to the required anchorage strength but defers to industry standards for the layout of roof anchors. OSHA also provides options allowing fall-protection systems that are “designed, installed and used under the supervision of a qualified person.” Structural engineers, such as those at ECS, are considered a qualified person. The takeaway is that OSHA subtly acknowledges that each building is different and there is no one-size-fits-all system. When a fall-protection system is carefully considered and designed by a professional, qualified person it has met the standard OSHA looks for.
While C&P is the mouthpiece for safety and provides in-house training for their staff and clients, ECS provides engineering expertise which elevates the position of a “qualified” person. Today, ECS uses engineering staff to perform the annual inspections required by industry standards and uses licensed staff to provide design and certification services for anchors. Additionally, ECS generates contractor-use plans on behalf of building owners. A contractor-use plan provides the limitations of the fall-protection anchor system, locates acceptable tie-off anchor locations and the required safety measures needed to use them and helps the building owner to communicate anchor restrictions to contractors using the anchors, including limitations set forth by industry standards.
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