Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Softwash Australia · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Temporary roof anchor systems. Whats out there?

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I along with some others have purchased A/C's roof pipe that slides into the vent pipes. Have you seen that?

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Patrick G wrote:
I along with some others have purchased A/C's roof pipe that slides into the vent pipes. Have you seen that?

Charlie, How is the vent pipe anchor working in conjunction with your Solar Bat sunglasses the you bought at the Atlantic City Event?

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Don't sniff the plumbing vents before dropping in the anchor. Ok never mind..sniff away.

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have not used the sunglasses yet, but............... My guys are NYFD and they like A/C's anchor alot. They did some test with it that they do with real equipment and said it definately would benefit them. Although he said it doesnt mean you can walk "any roof "but def. a saftey line. I showed him the problem that would come with "flicking"the line...although he see's how it could happen he said you wouldnt and shouldnt do it. He said yes if a space ship came along and pulled str8 up on it yes it would come out. But he said if you fall it can't come out and should stop you. Again he says he will sure feel a little bit better up there with it. So everyones on board wearing it.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

So just to confirm. You guys are not talking about being OSHA compliant, or even close, right?

RIP Rapid HotClean · Eternal Member

Patrick G wrote:
I along with some others have purchased A/C's roof pipe that slides into the vent pipes. Have you seen that?

What's it made? How long is it? Is it a rod or is pipe?

Softwash Australia · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks for that Patrick . I have seen the pipe anchor but I feel that the way construction is done here and the fact that the vent is 50mm PVC usually with a vent glue on top I was hoping for something with a bit more integrity.

I do wish to be compliant to OH&S and the fact that falling doesn't hurt its the sudden stop at the bottom that's the killer.

Eric i assume you have some other solution. Lets hear what you've got mate.

I am considering designing something that would fit the bill. Anyone interested

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

AC's Roof Pipe Anchor is not OSHA approved, and he will tell you that himself. The main option that OSHA like on shingle roofs is a screewd in achor point. You have to carry some Black Jack with you and fasten it up under the tabs, Black Jack the holes and put the tab back when done, as to not cause a leak. And you are supposed to as many fasteners in as there are holes in the plate, on the anchor base. You can tie off to certain trees and chimeys, but then you have to worry about a pivot point on the ridge cap, and ripping off pieces of the ridge cap.

S-5 make a great non pentrating anchor for metal roofs. look them up at www.s-5.com

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

John Aloisio wrote:
AC's Roof Pipe Anchor is not OSHA approved, and he will tell you that himself. The main option that OSHA like on shingle roofs is a screewd in achor point. You have to carry some Black Jack with you and fasten it up under the tabs, Black Jack the holes and put the tab back when done, as to not cause a leak. And you are supposed to as many fasteners in as there are holes in the plate, on the anchor base. You can tie off to certain trees and chimeys, but then you have to worry about a pivot point on the ridge cap, and ripping off pieces of the ridge cap.
S-5 make a great non pentrating anchor for metal roofs. look them up at www.s-5.com

Also don't forget to screw into a rafter when lifting the shingle tab.

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

How do homeowners feel about putting a roof anchor on their homes? Have you had any resistance to the installations?

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We hardly ever have to use it, because we try and hit everything from the gutter edge. We are licensed as a Home Improvement Contractor in NJ, so that builds a little credibility with the homeowners, plus I have been in the roofing business for 22+ years and my two lead techs used to be roofers. We have mainly used it on apartment buildings and they understand safety most of the time. I also provide them with a safety plan and procedure.

Softwash Australia · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks for all that. The up shot is that there is not a suitable edge mount anchor system in the States as far as anyone knows. I am familiar with the AC pipe anchor and as a brace its ok but won't ever pass as OH&S approved as it is simply not fastened.

I did mention the Ferno EDGELok unit at the front end and was hoping that someone had a similar multi purpose version of the same for metal, tile and shingle. (not that we have much shingle here). I will keep digging and when i find it I will let you all know.

Cheers

Nick

Michael Hickey · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We use 2 rubble bags one at either side of the house with 4 25kg water containers in each. A rope going over the roof from one rubble bag to the other. The rope is proper climbing rope with several eyes on it to hook our lanards into. Each lanard has a long rope with quick release and is attached to a safety harness. This allows us to move quite a bit on the roof and if needed we simply move the rubble bags along. In the event someone slips of the roof or needs to be let down to the ground in an emergency we are able to let them down using rock climbing "decenders". I know the rubble bags wont be OSHA compliant but they work for us.

We did a safety course on working on roofs a couple of years ago and one of the main differences between our method and the recommended one was they used an eye bolt in the foot path at each side of the house pressure tested to 600kg for 15 seconds. I would trust the rubble bags before I would trust one eye bolt.

Softwash Australia · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Michael.

Sounds like there is a real need for something that is an all purpose method to providing a temporary roof anchor system that does not penetrate the roof.

There should be a concept where this same idea as two anchored points either side of the pitch with some pick up points in the rope between fixed ends. The only difference is that the ends are somehow attached to the roof edge using the fascia, eave(soffit) and roof edge as a constraint.

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Safety must be a top concern for all of us. Our ground men should also be trained and always keeping an eye out for any potential mistakes one might make up on the roof.

-Hoses under foot
-working with back to edge of roof