Where an anchorage sling has to be wrapped and unwrapped, a beam anchor clamps on and stays put. This aluminium unit adjusts to fit flanges from 100 mm to 330 mm, covering the great majority of structural I-beams and universal beams, and can be used with the load applied vertically or horizontally depending on how it is installed. Aluminium construction keeps the weight down for a component that often has to be carried up a ladder, and the ATEX certification allows use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Key Features
- 100 mm to 330 mm beam range: One anchor covers most structural sections rather than needing a size for each beam.
- Vertical or horizontal use: Rated for load applied in either direction relative to the installation, which gives flexibility in how and where it is fitted.
- Aluminium construction: Substantially lighter than a steel equivalent, which matters for equipment carried to height and repositioned during a job.
- ATEX 2014/34/EU certified: Approved for potentially explosive atmospheres, covering process plant, fuel storage and similar environments.
- Resistance 12 kN, MBS 23 kN: Single person application.
- Clamps rather than wraps: Faster to fit than a sling on a large section, and it stays in position once set.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 60 008 00 |
| Beam Flange Range |
100 mm – 330 mm |
| Material |
Aluminium |
| Users |
1 |
| Orientation |
Vertical or horizontal |
| Resistance |
12 kN |
| Minimum Breaking Strength |
23 kN |
| Conformity |
BS EN 795 Type B, ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU |
BS EN 795 Type B | ATEX 2014/34/EU | Category III PPE
Conforms to BS EN 795 Type B for transportable temporary anchor devices, together with the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU for equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres, under ATEX certificate 3266. Category III personal protective equipment, supplied with a Declaration of Conformity and covered by EU Type-Examination certificate 2777/10793-02 E01-01. Requires inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months and immediate withdrawal after arresting a fall.
Suitable Applications
Beam anchors suit any work at height where a structural beam is available and the anchor will stay in one place for the duration of the task. That covers steelwork erection and inspection, maintenance in plant rooms and process areas, warehouse and roof structure work, temporary works beneath structural floors, and confined or awkward positions where wrapping a sling would be difficult. The ATEX certification extends its use into process plant, fuel storage and any area where an ignition source cannot be tolerated. Where the anchor must move frequently along a beam, the FA 60 008 03 trolley version travels rather than needing to be released and refitted.
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 Beam Anchor
- Check the beam is in range and sound: Flange width must fall between 100 mm and 330 mm, and the beam must be structurally capable of withstanding fall arrest forces.
- Set and lock the adjustment: Adjust to the flange width and confirm the locking mechanism is fully engaged. The anchor must not be able to slide off the flange.
- Confirm orientation: The unit may be loaded vertically or horizontally, but the installation determines which. Follow the user manual for your configuration.
- Single user only: Rated for one person. A second user requires a second anchor.
- Calculate clearance: Include lanyard extension, deceleration distance and user height, plus a margin.
- Inspect before every use: Check the body for cracks and distortion, and the adjustment and locking mechanism for full engagement.
Warning: Category III PPE for trained, competent persons only. Single person use. Confirm the locking mechanism is fully engaged before applying any load. Aluminium is more susceptible to impact damage than steel, so any unit that has been dropped must be examined before further use. Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- One person only. A second user requires a separate anchor.
- Beam flange must be within the 100 mm to 330 mm range.
- The beam must be structurally capable of withstanding fall arrest forces.
- Confirm the locking mechanism is fully engaged before use.
- Examine after any impact or drop, as aluminium can crack without obvious deformation.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Inspection and Maintenance
Aluminium behaves differently from steel under impact: it can crack rather than deform, so a unit that has been dropped may look serviceable while being compromised. Inspect the body carefully for hairline cracking, particularly around the adjustment slots and any welded or machined transitions. Check the adjustment mechanism moves freely across its full range and locks positively at every setting, and confirm the anchorage eye shows no elongation or wear. Look for corrosion, especially where aluminium contacts steel fixings, since dissimilar metal corrosion accelerates in wet conditions. The dedicated inspection guide sets out the procedure.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Beam anchor or anchorage sling?
A sling is cheaper, lighter and works on almost any section, but must be wrapped each time and can chafe on edges. A beam anchor clamps on, stays put and handles repeated loading without wear. On a large flange, or for work lasting more than a few minutes, the anchor is quicker and more secure.
Q: Will it fit my beam?
Measure the flange width. Anything between 100 mm and 330 mm is within range, which covers most standard universal beams and columns. Outside that range you would need a sling or a different anchor.
Q: Why choose aluminium over steel?
Weight. A beam anchor often has to be carried up a ladder and repositioned during a job, and aluminium is substantially lighter. The trade-off is that aluminium is less tolerant of impact, so a dropped unit needs examining rather than just picking up.
Q: What is the trolley version for?
FA 60 008 03 runs along the beam rather than clamping in one position, so the anchor follows you as you work. Worth it where the task involves moving along a beam line; unnecessary if you are working in one place.
Q: Does ATEX certification matter for me?
Only if you work in areas where flammable gas, vapour or dust may be present, such as process plant, fuel storage or certain chemical sites. Where your risk assessment identifies a potentially explosive atmosphere, non-ATEX equipment must not be used.
