The taller of the two Kratos tripods, reaching 2.9 metres against the 7ft model's 2.15 metres. That extra 750 millimetres is not about reaching further down; it is about clearance above the opening. Recovering a casualty on a stretcher, lifting someone clear of an obstruction at the shaft mouth, or working over a raised chamber all need headroom that the shorter tripod cannot give. The wider wheelbase, up to 2.05 metres, provides the stability the extra height requires.
Key Features
- 1.9 m to 2.9 m adjustable height: Substantially taller than the 7ft model, giving clearance above the opening for stretcher recovery and obstructed access.
- Wider wheelbase: 1.52 m to 2.05 m, providing the footprint the additional height demands. Check your working area accommodates it.
- Two mounted head pulleys: In line with the main leg, passing cable cleanly to a leg-mounted winch.
- Built-in winch mounting: Accepts Kratos FA 60 003 20, FA 60 003 30, FA 60 023 20 and FA 60 023 20R directly.
- Two auxiliary eyebolts: Additional head anchorage for an independent fall arrest block alongside the recovery winch.
- Rubber-soled steel support shoes: Friction and stability on the wet concrete and steel plate typical of entry points.
- ATEX certified: Compliant with ATEX 2014/34/EU for potentially explosive atmospheres.
- Carry bag included: Supplied as standard.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 60 002 00 |
| Adjustable Height |
1.9 m – 2.9 m |
| Wheelbase |
1.52 m – 2.05 m |
| Max Load Under Head |
500 kg |
| Max Load On Leg |
250 kg |
| Breaking Strength |
20 kN |
| Resistance |
12 kN |
| Compatible Winches |
FA 60 003 20, FA 60 003 30, FA 60 023 20, FA 60 023 20R |
| Conformity |
BS EN 795 Type B, ATEX 2014/34/EU, Machinery Directive, EN 1808 |
The 7ft FA 60 001 00 adjusts 1.15 m to 2.15 m with a 1.08 m to 1.62 m wheelbase, and is the better choice where space is tight.
BS EN 795 Type B | ATEX 2014/34/EU | Machinery Directive | EN 1808
Conforms to BS EN 795 Type B for transportable temporary anchor devices, the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, the Machinery Directive and EN 1808. Breaking strength 20 kN, resistance 12 kN. Supplied with Declaration of Conformity and ATEX certificate, covered by EU Type-Examination certificate 2777/10800-01 E01-01. Requires thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, or 6 months where used for lifting persons.
Suitable Applications
The taller tripod suits confined space entry where clearance above the opening matters: deep manholes and shafts, tank and vessel entry through raised access points, silo and hopper work, and any operation where a rescue plan involves stretcher recovery. It also handles openings surrounded by obstruction, kerbs or plant where the shorter tripod's legs would not spread clear. The ATEX certification covers sewer, fuel tank and process vessel work. Where the opening is at ground level and space is restricted, the 7ft model is lighter and easier to position.
More About This Product
The anchorage is the part of a fall protection system people think about last and should think about first. Most sites can produce a harness and a lanyard within minutes; producing a certified, assessed anchor point is a different matter, and it is what genuinely determines whether the system works.
The forces involved are the reason. Arresting a fall is a dynamic event, and the load a falling person imposes on an anchor is many times their body weight — which is why BS EN 795 exists as a standard in its own right, and why the structure the anchor attaches to has to be assessed separately by someone competent to do it. The anchor may be certified; the beam, the tube, the roof purlin almost certainly is not.
Anchor Position, Fall Factor and Swing
Where the anchor sits changes the severity of a fall more than any other single decision.
Fall factor is the ratio of fall distance to the length of lanyard available to absorb it. An anchor above the head gives the lowest factor and the gentlest arrest. An anchor at foot level gives a factor 2 fall — the worst case, generating forces a shock absorber may struggle to control, and it is what happens when someone clips onto something convenient at their feet rather than something suitable above them.
Pendulum swing is the second consideration and the one that catches people out. An anchor directly overhead means a fall goes straight down. An anchor off to one side means the faller swings, and the swing can be more dangerous than the drop — into structure, into plant, or across a surface at speed. A swing that ends against a steel column is not survivable simply because the harness held.
The practical rule is to position the anchor as high as practicable and as close to directly overhead as the work allows, and to reassess it every time the work position moves.
How to Use the Confined Space Tripod
- Check the footprint fits: Up to 2.05 m wheelbase. On a footway or in a plant room, confirm the legs will spread fully before committing to this model.
- Set up on stable, level ground: All three feet bearing evenly. The rubber soles provide friction, not anchorage.
- Set all legs equally: Same setting on all three, locking pins fully engaged, head sitting level.
- Position the head over the opening: Directly above, so the line runs vertically.
- Fit the winch to the leg mounting: Use the built-in fixture and a compatible Kratos winch.
- Use a separate fall arrest line: An independent block on an auxiliary eyebolt, so fall protection does not depend on the winch.
- Respect the two ratings: 500 kg under the head, 250 kg on the leg. Different load paths, not interchangeable.
Warning: Category III PPE for use in confined space entry by trained, competent persons within a documented safe system of work. Never exceed 500 kg under the head or 250 kg on the leg. Never rely on the winch alone for fall protection. The wider wheelbase must be able to spread fully before use.
Safety Information
- Use only within a documented confined space entry procedure with trained personnel.
- Maximum 500 kg under head, 250 kg on leg. Separate ratings.
- All three legs equally adjusted with locking pins fully engaged.
- The head must sit directly above the opening so the line runs vertically.
- An independent fall arrest system is required alongside the recovery winch.
- Ground must be level and capable of supporting the load at all three feet.
- Confirm the full wheelbase can be accommodated before setting up.
- Withdraw from service immediately after arresting a fall.
- Thorough examination required at intervals not exceeding 12 months, or 6 months where used for lifting persons.
Inspection and Maintenance
Pre-use checks before every entry, plus formal periodic examination with records kept. Check the legs for distortion, dents and cracking particularly around the locking holes, confirm every locking pin engages fully and positively, inspect the head casting and both pulleys for free rotation and wear, check the auxiliary eyebolts are tight and undamaged, and examine the rubber soles for wear or contamination that would reduce friction. On the taller model pay particular attention to the leg extensions, since the longer sections are more susceptible to bending. The dedicated Tripod Inspection Guide sets out the full procedure.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: 7ft or 10ft?
The 10ft gives clearance above the opening, which matters for stretcher recovery, lifting a casualty clear of an obstruction, or working over a raised chamber. The 7ft is lighter, packs smaller and needs less floor space. For routine manhole work the 7ft usually suffices; where your rescue plan involves a stretcher, the 10ft is the safer specification.
Q: Will it fit where I am working?
Check the wheelbase. At full extension the legs spread to 2.05 m, which needs a clear area of roughly that diameter around the opening. On a narrow footway, in a plant room or against a wall, that can be the deciding factor and the 7ft model may be the only option.
Q: Does taller mean lower capacity?
No. Both tripods are rated 500 kg under the head and 250 kg on the leg, with 20 kN breaking strength. The wider wheelbase maintains stability at the greater height.
Q: What else do I need?
A compatible winch for controlled entry and recovery, and an independent fall arrest block on one of the auxiliary eyebolts so fall protection does not depend on the winch. Plus, of course, the gas monitoring, harness and permit-to-work system the entry itself requires.
