Fall arrest anchor testing - straight pull

[skeletron]

Is there any way to test a fall arrest anchor and incorporate a bi-directional load? All the testing devices I see are straight-pull. CSA Z271 addresses the test load (11kN) and no permanent deformation. CSA Z259 addresses that the anchorage connector must be tested in all directions of the load for which will be applied.

Side-pull testing: you would almost have to chain two anchors together and then apply a load to both anchors. Is there any other way to practically do it?

My concern with the straight-pull test is that it wouldn't show "permanent deformation" as per the standard's requirement for testing.

 

[Lomarandil]

Does anything preclude testing the entire fall-arrest assembly with a properly weighted sandbag?

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just call me Lo.

 

[Greenalleycat]

@Lomrandil, practicalities potentially. The fall arrest systems here normally yield at 6kN but the anchorage to the structure needs to take 12kN or 15kN
So if you tested it with a sandbag you'd only get 6kN actual load on the fixing

@skeletron, potentially the reasoning is just that a straight tension load near an edge will be more critical than shear towards an edge?
The nearby edge will limit both loads by a lot, but will it limit tension more?
Not sure if this is true without busting out my spreadsheet, but just putting it out for discussion

 

[skeletron]

It's a steel assembly welded to existing steel structure that carries composite deck. So effectively half of the post above TOS is in the concrete roof deck. OG drawings were showing a V and M resolved at the top flange (design by others). Realistically I think the post should go into bearing against the deck, which would reduce any demand on the connection to existing.

For a concrete attachment, I agree that straight tension would be more critical in most cases.