The line is half the system. A rope grab is certified to work on this specific rope and no other, so the anchor line is not a consumable to be substituted but a certified component in its own right. Twisted polyamide in 14 to 16 mm, with an abrasion resistant thimble protecting the terminal loop from metallic contact and spliced ends covered by a transparent sleeve, which lets the stitching be inspected without removing the protection. Seven lengths from 10 metres to 200 metres.
Key Features
- Certified as a system with the rope grab: The device and line are type-examined together. This is the rope the Lofty arresters are approved for.
- Abrasion resistant thimble: Protects the terminal loop where it bears against a metal anchor connector, which is where an unprotected splice wears fastest.
- Transparent protective sleeve on the splices: Guards the stitching while leaving it visible, so pre-use inspection does not require dismantling anything.
- Seven lengths: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100 and 200 metres.
- Twisted polyamide construction: The rope structure the cam mechanism is designed to grip.
- Resistance 15 kN, maximum user 100 kg.
Technical Specifications
| Product Code |
Length |
| FA 20 100 10 |
10 m |
| FA 20 100 20 |
20 m |
| FA 20 100 30 |
30 m |
| FA 20 100 40 |
40 m |
| FA 20 100 50 |
50 m |
| FA 20 100 98 |
100 m |
| FA 20 100 97 |
200 m |
All 14–16 mm twisted polyamide, resistance 15 kN, maximum user weight 100 kg. Note the 100 m and 200 m codes end 98 and 97 rather than following the pattern of the shorter lengths.
BS EN 353 | Certified as a System with the Lofty Fall Arresters | Category III PPE
Conforms to BS EN 353 and is type-examined together with the FA 20 100 00A and 00B fall arresters under certificate 2777/10357-02 E03-01. The arrester is certified for use with this line only. Category III personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Requires inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months and immediate withdrawal after arresting a fall.
Suitable Applications
The anchor line is used wherever the Lofty rope grabs are: ladder access on towers, tanks and silos, inclined roof work, scaffold erection and any vertical or sloping route needing continuous protection. Length is chosen by the height of the climb plus enough to reach the anchor comfortably. The 100 and 200 metre lines suit tall structures such as masts, chimneys and wind turbine towers, where a single line covers the full ascent.
More About This Product
A retractable block is the most mechanically complex item in a typical fall protection kit, and the only one the user cannot inspect internally. Everything else — harness, lanyard, connectors — can be examined by eye and hand. A block is a sealed case containing a spring, a drum, a brake and a fall indicator, and the user sees none of it.
That is why the pre-use checks matter so much. Winding the line fully out, feeling it retract, testing the lock with a sharp pull and checking the fall indicator are the only windows into whether the mechanism still works. They take under a minute and they are the difference between a working block and a heavy metal box.
Clearance, Edges and the Horizontal Question
Three things determine whether a block is the right choice, and all three are commonly got wrong.
Clearance. A block arrests in a much shorter distance than a lanyard, which is usually why it is chosen. But the arrest distance is not zero: it is the deceleration distance plus the user's height below the attachment point plus a safety margin. On a short block over a low structure the numbers get tight quickly, and the block's own datasheet gives the figure to work from.
Edges. Where the line can cross an edge in a fall, the edge becomes the failure point. A wire rope line will be cut by a sharp steel edge under fall arrest load as readily as webbing. Blocks specifically rated for leading edge use exist and are constructed differently; a standard block used over an edge is being used outside its approval.
Horizontal use. Most retractable blocks require an overhead anchor and are not approved for horizontal work. On a deck, a roof or a gantry the anchor is often at or below foot level, which changes both the fall factor and the way the line runs. Only a block specifically marked for horizontal use may be used that way, and it is not something to infer from the model name or the supplier's category page.
How to Use the Anchor Line
- Anchor at the top: The line hangs from an anchor above the user, which must be capable of withstanding fall arrest forces.
- Use only with the certified device: The FA 20 100 00A or 00B. Other rope grabs are not certified on this line.
- Check the splices before use: The transparent sleeve lets you see the stitching. Look at it rather than assuming.
- Protect against edges: Rope over a sharp edge under fall arrest load can be severed. Fit edge protection where the line passes over structure.
- Keep the line free: It should hang clear rather than snagging on structure, which prevents the device travelling properly.
- Store it dry and out of sunlight: Polyamide degrades under UV and does not recover.
Warning: Use only with the certified Lofty fall arresters. Substituting a different rope grab, or using this device on a different rope, invalidates the certification and may prevent the arrester locking. Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- Use only with the certified FA 20 100 00A or 00B fall arresters.
- Maximum user weight 100 kg including tools.
- Anchor above the user to a point capable of withstanding fall arrest forces.
- Fit edge protection wherever the line passes over a sharp edge.
- Inspect the splices, thimble and full rope length before every use.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
- Store dry, away from direct sunlight, heat and chemicals.
Inspection and Maintenance
Rope fails from damage rather than gradual wear, so inspection is about finding specific defects. Run the entire length through your hands, feeling for soft spots, hard spots, flat sections and any change in diameter, all of which indicate internal damage that may not be visible. Look for cuts, abrasion, fluffing, glazing from friction heat, and staining that could indicate chemical contact. Examine the splices through the transparent sleeve for cut, pulled or missing stitches, and check the thimble for wear and distortion. Polyamide degrades under UV, so a line stored in sunlight may be compromised even if it looks sound. Clean with clean water only.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What length do I need?
The height of the climb plus enough to reach the anchor point comfortably, with a little spare. Too short leaves you unable to complete the ascent; surplus simply hangs. For masts, chimneys and turbine towers the 100 m and 200 m lines cover a full ascent on one rope.
Q: Can I cut it to length?
No. The spliced and thimbled terminations are part of the certified assembly. Cutting the line removes them and the assembly is no longer certified. Buy the length you need.
Q: Why does the sleeve leave the stitching visible?
So it can be inspected. A splice is the most highly loaded part of the rope and the stitching is what holds it, so being able to see the stitches without removing the protection makes a proper pre-use check practical rather than theoretical.
Q: How long does a rope last?
There is no fixed lifespan, but polyamide degrades with UV exposure, contamination and abrasion. Inspect before every use and formally at least annually, store it dry and out of sunlight, and withdraw it on any doubt. A line that has arrested a fall is scrap regardless of appearance.
