A single anchor point protects a worker standing still. A horizontal lifeline protects them while they move. This system spans between two anchor points at up to 20 metres, tensioned by a steel ratchet, allowing one or two operators to travel the full length while remaining permanently attached. The excess strap stows in an integral bag rather than trailing, and the whole system packs back into the same bag afterwards. Certified to BS EN 795 Type C and TS 16415 Type C for two-user application.
Key Features
- Continuous protection while moving: The operator stays attached throughout their travel along the line, removing the need to unclip and reclip between anchor points, which is when most falls happen.
- Two user capacity: Certified to TS 16415 Type C for two people on the line simultaneously, which halves the equipment needed on a two-person task.
- 2 m to 20 m adjustable span: One system covers everything from a short run to a full 20 metre span.
- Steel ratchet tensioner: Puts the system under proper tension after adjustment, which is what controls deflection.
- Deflection 0.8 m to 3.2 m: Published deflection figures by span, essential for calculating fall clearance.
- Integral storage bag: Inseparable from the system. Stows the excess strap during use rather than leaving it trailing, then holds the whole system afterwards.
- 30 mm polyester webbing: Resistance 18 kN, minimum breaking strength 23 kN.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 60 007 00 |
| Span |
2 m – 20 m |
| Maximum Users |
2 |
| Deflection |
0.8 m – 3.2 m (varies with span) |
| Webbing Width |
30 mm |
| Webbing Material |
Polyester |
| Resistance |
18 kN |
| Minimum Breaking Strength |
23 kN |
| Tensioning |
Steel ratchet |
| Conformity |
BS EN 795 Type C, TS 16415 Type C, Regulation (EU) 2016/425 Annex II |
Deflection increases with span and is the critical figure for clearance calculation. Refer to the specification sheet for deflection at your intended span.
BS EN 795 Type C | TS 16415 Type C | Category III PPE | Regulation (EU) 2016/425
Conforms to Regulation (EU) 2016/425 Annex II using BS EN 795 Type C for horizontal flexible anchor lines, together with TS 16415 Type C covering use by more than one person. Category III personal protective equipment, supplied with a Declaration of Conformity and covered by EU Type-Examination certificate 2777/13781-01 E01-01. Requires inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months and immediate withdrawal after arresting a fall.
Suitable Applications
A temporary horizontal lifeline suits any task requiring movement along a route at height where permanent protection does not exist. Typical uses include roof work along a ridge or edge, working along the length of a vehicle or trailer, steelwork erection along a beam line, plant and process maintenance along elevated walkways, and temporary works where a permanent system would be disproportionate. Being Type C, it is a temporary system installed and removed for each task. Where the requirement is permanent and recurring, an engineered fixed system will be more practical and cheaper over time.
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 Horizontal Lifeline
- Assess both anchor points: Each end anchor must withstand the forces generated in a fall arrest, which on a tensioned horizontal line are considerably higher than the user's weight because of the line geometry.
- Calculate clearance including deflection: A horizontal line sags under load. Deflection ranges from 0.8 m to 3.2 m depending on span, and must be added to the fall clearance calculation. This is the most commonly missed step.
- Tension with the ratchet: Tension the system properly after setting the length. An undertensioned line deflects further and increases fall distance.
- Stow the excess strap: Use the integral bag rather than allowing the tail to trail, where it becomes a trip hazard and can foul the connector.
- Do not exceed two users: The system is certified for two people. A third invalidates the certification and the deflection figures.
- Connect with an appropriate device: Use a suitable connector or traveller that runs along the line without needing to be detached.
Warning: Category III PPE for use by trained, competent persons only. Deflection must be included in the fall clearance calculation, and it can be as much as 3.2 metres. Never exceed two users. Both end anchors must withstand the resultant forces, which exceed the user's weight substantially. Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- Maximum two users at any time.
- Both end anchor points must withstand the resultant fall arrest forces.
- Include line deflection, up to 3.2 m, in every clearance calculation.
- Tension the line correctly using the ratchet before use.
- Inspect webbing, stitching and ratchet mechanism before every use.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
- Store in the integral bag away from sunlight, heat and chemicals.
Inspection and Maintenance
This system has two distinct elements to inspect. The webbing needs the same checks as any textile fall protection: cuts, abrasion, fraying, heat and chemical damage across its full length, with particular attention to the sections that pass through the ratchet and the end terminations. The steel ratchet needs checking as a mechanism: it must engage positively, hold tension without slipping, and release under control. Corrosion in the pawl or a bent handle are grounds for withdrawal. The integral bag should also be checked, since a torn bag lets the excess strap trail and abrade. The dedicated inspection guide in the downloads sets out the procedure.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is deflection and why does it matter so much?
A horizontal line sags when loaded. On this system that sag ranges from 0.8 m to 3.2 m depending on span. It must be added to your fall clearance calculation alongside lanyard length, deceleration distance and user height. Ignoring it is the most common and most dangerous error with horizontal lifelines, because it can mean the difference between arresting a fall and hitting the ground.
Q: Can three people use it?
No. It is certified to TS 16415 Type C for two users. A third person invalidates both the certification and the published deflection figures, since deflection increases with load.
Q: What is the difference between Type B and Type C anchors?
Type B is a transportable anchor at a single point, such as a sling or beam anchor. Type C is a horizontal flexible line spanning between anchors, allowing movement along its length while remaining attached. Type B protects you where you stand; Type C protects you while you move.
Q: What do I anchor each end to?
Structural points capable of withstanding the resultant forces, which on a tensioned horizontal line are significantly higher than the user's weight because of the line angle. Anchorage slings around suitable steelwork are common, but the structure itself must be assessed. If in doubt, get structural advice rather than assuming.
