The simplest anchor device there is, and often the most useful. A loop of heavy polyester webbing passed around a beam, column or other structural member creates a certified anchor point where none exists, in seconds and without tools. At 45 mm wide this is the broad-webbing version, which spreads the load over a greater contact area and copes better with the edges and corners of steelwork than a narrow sling. 1.5 metres long, resistance 18 kN, minimum breaking strength 30 kN, certified to BS EN 795 Type B.
Key Features
- 45 mm wide webbing: Broader than the standard 20 mm round sling, spreading the load across a wider contact patch. That reduces the stress concentration where the sling passes over a steel edge or corner.
- 1.5 metre working length: Long enough to wrap most structural beams and columns and return to a connector.
- Resistance 18 kN, MBS 30 kN: Tested resistance of 18 kN with a minimum breaking strength of 30 kN.
- Polyester construction: Good abrasion resistance, minimal stretch under load and no moisture absorption, so performance does not change in the wet.
- BS EN 795 Type B: The standard for transportable temporary anchor devices, meaning it can be moved between locations rather than being permanently installed.
- No tools or installation: Wrap, connect, use. Nothing to drill, bolt or leave behind.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 60 004 15 |
| Length |
1.5 m |
| Webbing Width |
45 mm |
| Material |
Polyester |
| Resistance |
18 kN |
| Minimum Breaking Strength |
30 kN |
| Conformity |
BS EN 795 Type B |
| PPE Category |
Category III |
BS EN 795 Type B | Category III PPE | Regulation (EU) 2016/425
Conforms to BS EN 795 Type B, the standard for transportable temporary anchor devices. Category III personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, supplied with a Declaration of Conformity and covered by EU Type-Examination certificate 2777/10788-01 E01-02. Fall protection equipment requires inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, and must be withdrawn immediately after arresting a fall.
Suitable Applications
An anchorage sling is the answer whenever work at height needs an anchor point and the structure has no engineered one. It suits steelwork erection and maintenance, roof work where a suitable structural member is accessible, scaffolding and temporary works, plant and process maintenance, and any short-duration task where installing a permanent anchor would be disproportionate. The 45 mm width makes this version the better choice where the sling passes over structural steel with sharp edges. For textile and rope work, or where a narrower sling threads more easily through an opening, the 20 mm FA 60 005 range is more appropriate.
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 Anchorage Sling
- Assess the structure first: The anchor is only as good as what it wraps. The structural member must be capable of withstanding the forces generated in a fall arrest, which are considerable.
- Anchor above the user where possible: An anchor point above head height minimises both fall distance and swing.
- Wrap and connect: Pass the sling around the member and connect both eyes to a certified karabiner. Do not pass the sling through itself in a choke unless the manufacturer's instructions permit it.
- Protect against edges: Where the sling passes over a sharp edge, fit edge protection. Webbing cut over an edge under fall arrest load fails instantly.
- Check clearance below: Calculate the required fall clearance including lanyard extension, deceleration distance and the height of the user, plus a safety margin.
- Inspect before every use: Look for cuts, abrasion, fraying, heat damage, chemical staining and any distortion of the stitching.
Warning: This is Category III personal protective equipment. It must only be used by trained, competent persons within a documented safe system of work. Withdraw from service immediately after arresting a fall. Never use a sling showing cuts, abrasion, heat damage or damaged stitching. Never allow the webbing to bear on a sharp edge without protection.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- The structure being wrapped must be capable of withstanding fall arrest forces.
- Fit edge protection wherever the webbing passes over a sharp edge.
- Anchor above the user wherever possible to minimise fall distance and swing.
- Calculate required clearance below the anchor before use.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall, and after any doubt as to condition.
- Inspect for cuts, abrasion, fraying, heat and chemical damage before every use.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
- Store away from direct sunlight, heat sources and chemicals.
Inspection and Maintenance
Textile fall protection equipment fails from damage rather than wear, so inspection is about looking for specific defects rather than measuring degradation. Check the full length of webbing on both faces for cuts, cuts into the edge, abrasion, fluffing and any change in texture that suggests heat or chemical exposure. Examine the stitching at the eyes closely, since that is where load concentrates, and reject anything with cut, pulled or missing threads. Look for staining that could indicate chemical contact, which can weaken polyester invisibly. The dedicated Anchorage Sling Inspection Guide in the downloads sets out the full procedure. Clean with clean water only, never solvents, and dry naturally away from direct heat.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does BS EN 795 Type B mean?
Type B covers transportable temporary anchor devices: equipment carried to the job, used, and taken away again. That is distinct from Type A, which is permanently fixed to the structure, and Type C, which is a horizontal flexible lifeline. A Type B device does not require permanent installation or engineering sign-off of a fixture.
Q: How is this different from the FA 60 005 slings?
Webbing width and construction. This is 45 mm flat webbing with 18 kN resistance. The FA 60 005 range is 20 mm round sling with 22 kN resistance and additionally certified to BS EN 566. The wider webbing here spreads load better over structural steel edges; the narrower round sling threads more easily through openings and around smaller sections.
Q: Can I use this for lifting?
No. This is fall protection PPE certified to EN 795, not a lifting accessory. Lifting slings are certified to entirely different standards and marked with a Working Load Limit. The kN figures here describe fall arrest performance, not a safe working load.
Q: What happens after it arrests a fall?
It is scrapped. Fall arrest loads permanently damage textile equipment even where no damage is visible. Any sling involved in arresting a fall must be withdrawn from service immediately and destroyed to prevent reuse. This applies to the whole system, not just the sling.
