Why anchor devices matter
Every personal fall protection system has three parts: the full body harness the worker wears, the connecting equipment such as a lanyard or fall arrester, and the anchor that connects it all to the structure. The harness and lanyard can be perfect, but if the anchor fails, the system fails. That is why anchor devices have their own standard.
EN 795 is the European standard that sets requirements and test methods for anchor devices used with personal fall protection equipment. The current edition most often referenced is EN 795:2012. It is widely cited in India in tenders, consultant specifications and multinational company safety rules, even though it is a European standard rather than an Indian one.
The five types of anchor device
EN 795 groups anchor devices into five types according to how they are installed and how they work. You will see these described as “Type” or sometimes “Class”; both refer to the same categories.
- Type A covers anchor devices with one or more stationary anchor points that are fixed to the structure with structural anchors. A single-point roof or wall anchor is a typical example.
- Type B covers transportable anchor devices with one or more stationary anchor points, designed to be set up temporarily and then removed, for example a tripod or a beam clamp.
- Type C covers anchor devices employing a flexible horizontal anchor line. This is the category that describes horizontal lifelines, where a worker stays connected to a cable or line while moving along it.
- Type D covers anchor devices employing a rigid horizontal anchor line, such as a rail along which a trolley or shuttle travels.
- Type E covers anchor devices for use on horizontal surfaces that rely on mass and friction rather than fixing into the structure, often called deadweight anchors.
Knowing the type helps you compare like with like. A Type A single-point anchor and a Type C lifeline solve different problems: the first suits a fixed work position, while the second allows a worker to move along a roof edge or gantry without disconnecting.
Single users, multiple users and CEN/TS 16415
EN 795:2012 is written for anchor devices used by one person at a time. On many industrial sites, however, more than one worker needs to use the same lifeline or anchor at once. For that situation, CEN/TS 16415 provides recommendations for anchor devices intended for use by more than one person simultaneously.
When a supplier references both EN 795 and CEN/TS 16415 for a product, it indicates that the product has been considered for multi-user applications. The number of users a specific system allows is set by its design and its user instructions, so always check the datasheet rather than assuming.
What EN 795 does not cover
EN 795 is about the anchor device itself. It does not, on its own, confirm that:
- the roof, beam, column or wall the device is fixed to can safely carry the loads involved in a fall arrest;
- the device has been installed correctly, with the right fixings for that structure;
- the harness, lanyard, energy absorber and connectors used with it are suitable and compatible;
- there is enough clearance below the work position for a fall to be arrested safely;
- there is a rescue plan for a worker suspended after a fall.
Those questions are answered by site-specific engineering, competent installation and good work planning. This is why we always start with a site hazard assessment and carry out system design for the actual structure.
Anchor devices on Indian industrial roofs
Much of the anchoring work in India takes place on metal-sheeted PEB roofs, RCC slabs and steel structures. Each presents different fixing questions. On a sheeted roof, an anchor may be fixed through the sheeting into the purlins, clamped to a standing seam, or fixed to the sheet itself using a system designed for that profile. On an RCC slab, the condition and thickness of the concrete matter. On a steel structure, clamps or bolted brackets may avoid drilling altogether.
An anchor device tested under EN 795 will have been tested in a particular configuration. The user instructions should explain which structures and fixings it is intended for. If your roof differs, that is a question for the manufacturer’s engineers before installation, not after.
How EN 795 relates to TsaF systems
Our catalogue references EN 795:2012 Class C, together with CEN/TS 16415:2013 and IS 3521 Part 8:2021, for the Overhead Lifeline System, which protects workers on vehicle tops, tankers and other areas where a continuous overhead anchor line is needed, and for the Horizontal Lifeline System, which gives roof workers a continuous anchor along their working routes.
A horizontal lifeline is, by its nature, the kind of system that Type C describes. Our Anchorline & Rescue System includes mobile counterweight anchors of the general kind Type E addresses. For these, refer to the product datasheet for the applicable standard; we only state a standard on a product page once it has been confirmed for that product.
What to ask your supplier
When EN 795 appears in a specification or proposal, these questions help you check that the claim is meaningful:
- Which type (A to E) does the product fall under, and which edition of the standard is referenced?
- Is there a type-examination certificate or test report, who issued it, and does it name this exact product?
- How many users can be connected at the same time, and is CEN/TS 16415 referenced for multi-user use?
- How will the anchor be fixed to my structure, and who has confirmed the structure can carry the loads?
- What fall clearance is needed below the work position?
- What are the inspection requirements, and how will inspections be recorded?
Inspection and records
Anchor devices need periodic examination by a competent person, in line with the manufacturer’s instructions, and should be withdrawn from use after a fall arrest until they have been checked. Many sites also keep an inspection record for every anchor point and lifeline. Our Annual Maintenance Check is designed to keep your system inspected and documented year after year.
Planning an anchor system?
Standards help you compare products, but the right solution depends on your structure and the work being done. Request a site assessment and our engineers will recommend the anchor solution for your site, with the applicable standard stated for every product.
Specifications are indicative. Refer to the product datasheet or ask our engineers for project-specific values.
