Qualcraft The Rack User Manual

Product Name: The Rack

Part #: 15169

Instruction Manual

Do not throw away these instructions!

Read and understand these instructions before using equipment!

Table of Contents

Introduction

Worker Classifications

Safety Information

Maintenance, Cleaning, and Storage

Inspection

Product Specific Applications

Limitations

Components and Specifications

Installation and Use

Labels

Inspection Log

Notes

1-2

2

3-4

5

5

6

7-9

10

11-12

13

14

14

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a Guardian Fall Protection The Rack. This manual must be read and
understood in its entirety, and used as part of an employee training program as required by
OSHA or any applicable state agency.

This and any other included instructions must be made available to the user of the equipment.
The user must understand how to safely and effectively use The Rack, and all fall safety
equipment used in combination with The Rack.

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

1

Date of First Use:

Serial #:

Trainer:

User:

Worker Classifications

User Information

CAUTION

!

Qualified Person: A person with an accredited degree or certification, and with extensive
experience or sufficient professional standing, who is considered proficient in planning and
reviewing the conformity of fall protection and rescue systems.

Competent Person: A highly trained and experienced person who is ASSIGNED BY THE EMPLOYER
to be responsible for all elements of a fall safety program, including, but not limited to, its
regulation, management, and application. A person who is proficient in identifying existing and
predictable fall hazards, and who has the authority to stop work in order to eliminate hazards.

Authorized Person: A person who is assigned by their employer to work around or be subject to
potential or existing fall hazards.

It is the responsibility of a Qualified or Competent person to supervise the job site and
ensure all applicable safety regulations are complied with.

Understand the following definitions of those who
work near or who may be exposed to fall hazards.

2

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

Safety Information

Failure to understand and comply with safety regulations may result in

WARNING

!

Do not alter equipment.

Do not misuse equipment.

Workplace conditions, including, but not limited to, flame, corrosive chemicals, electrical shock,
sharp objects, machinery, abrasive substances, weather conditions, and uneven surfaces, must
be assessed by a Competent Person before fall protection equipment is selected.

The analysis of the workplace must anticipate where workers will be performing their duties,
the routes they will take to reach their work, and the potential and existing fall hazards they
may be exposed to.

Fall protection equipment must be chosen by a Competent Person. Selections must account for
all potential hazardous workplace conditions.

All fall protection equipment should be purchased new and in an unused condition.

Fall protection systems must be selected and installed under the supervision of a Competent
Person, and used in a compliant manner.

Fall protection systems must be designed in a manner compliant with all federal, state, and
safety regulations.

serious injury or death. Regulations included herein are not all-inclusive,

are for reference only, and are not intended to replace a Competent

Person’s judgment or knowledge of federal or state standards.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the maximum allowable free fall distance for lanyards must
not exceed 6’. No free fall allowed for non-LE SRLs. SRLs must arrest falls within 54”.

Forces applied to anchors must be calculated by a Competent Person.

Harnesses and connectors selected must be compliant with manufacturer’s instructions, and
must be of compatible size and configuration.

A pre-planned rescue procedure in the case of a fall is required. The rescue plan must be project­specific. The rescue plan must allow for employees to rescue themselves, or provide an
alternative means for their prompt rescue.

Store rescue equipment in an easily accessible and clearly marked area.

Training of Authorized Persons to correctly erect, disassemble, inspect, maintain, store, and use
equipment must be provided by a Competent Person.

Training must include the ability to recognize fall hazards, minimize the likelihood of fall hazards,
and the correct use of personal fall arrest systems.

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

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NEVER use fall protection equipment of any kind to hang, lift, support, or hoist tools or
equipment, unless explicitly certified for such use.

Maintenance of equipment must be done according to manufacturer’s instructions. Equipment
instructions must be retained for reference.

Prior to EACH use, all equipment in a fall protection system must be inspected for any potential
or existing deficiencies that may result in its failure or reduced functionality. IMMEDIATELY
remove equipment from service if any deficiencies are found.

Equipment must be inspected by a Competent Person at least every six months. These
inspections must be documented in equipment instruction manual and on equipment inspection
grid label.

Equipment must be inspected for defects, including, but not limited to, the absence of required
labels or markings, improper form/fit/function, evidence of cracks, sharp edges, deformation,
corrosion, excessive heating, alteration, excessive wear, fraying, knotting, abrasion, and absence
of parts.

Equipment that fails inspection in any way must immediately be removed from use, or repaired
by an entity approved by the manufacturer.

No on-site repair of equipment unless explicitly permitted by Guardian Fall Protection.

Equipment subjected to forces of fall arrest must immediately be removed from use.

Snap hooks, carabiners, and other connectors must be selected and applied in a compatible
fashion. All risk of disengagement must be eliminated. All snap hooks and carabiners must be
self-locking and self-closing, and must never be connected to each other.

Age, fitness, and health conditions can seriously affect the worker should a fall occur. Consult a
doctor if there is any reason to doubt a user’s ability to withstand and safely absorb fall arrest
forces or perform set-up of equipment.

Pregnant women and minors must not use this equipment.

Physical harm may still occur even if fall safety equipment functions correctly. Sustained post-fall
suspension may result in serious injury or death. Use trauma relief straps to reduce the effects of
suspension trauma.

Allowable individual worker weight limit (including all equipment), unless explicitly stated
otherwise, is 130-310 lbs.

4

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

Maintenance, Cleaning, and Storage

Repairs to The Rack can only be made by a Guardian Fall Protection representative or an entity
authorized by Guardian. Contact Guardian for all maintenance and repair needs at:
1-800-466-6385. If The Rack fails inspection in any way, immediately remove it from service,
and contact Guardian to inquire about its return or repair.

Cleaning after use is important for maintaining the safety and longevity of The Rack. Remove all
dirt, corrosives, and contaminants from The Rack before and after each use. If The Rack cannot
be cleaned with plain water, use mild soap and water, then rinse and wipe dry. NEVER clean The
Rack with corrosive substances.

When not in use, store equipment where it will not be affected by heat, light, excessive
moisture, chemicals, or other degrading elements.

Inspection

KEEP INSTRUCTIONS AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE. Record Date of First Use.

Prior to EACH use, inspect The Rack for deficiencies, including, but not limited to, corrosion,
deformation, pits, burrs, rough surfaces, sharp edges, cracking, rust, paint buildup, excessive
heating, alteration, and missing or illegible labels. IMMEDIATELY remove The Rack from service if
defects or damage are found. Prior to EACH use, inspect all rope to be used in combination with
The Rack.

Ensure that applicable work area is free of all damage, including, but not limited to, debris, rot,
rust, decay, cracking, and hazardous materials. Ensure that selected work area will support the
application-specific minimum loads set forth in this instruction manual. Work area MUST be
stable.

At least every 6 months, a Competent Person other than the user must inspect The Rack.

Competent Person inspections MUST be recorded in inspection log in instruction manual
and on equipment inspection grid label. The Competent Person must sign their initials in
the box corresponding to the month and year the inspection took place.

During inspection, consider all applications and hazards The Rack has been subjected to.

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

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Product Specific Applications

The Rack is not a component of a PFAS, and MUST ALWAYS

DANGER

!

The Rack is intended to be installed over a compatible parapet wall to assist in window washing
applications, and prevent fraying or breaking of suspension and tie-back ropes.

PFAS must function to allow worker to operate in Work Positioning applications. PFAS must limit
maximum free fall to 2’, average arrest forces to 900 lbs., and maximum arrest forces to
1,800 lbs. MAXIMUM PFAS lanyard length is 2’.

be used in combination with a complete and compatible

PFAS. NEVER make attachments to Suspension Bar

other than those specified by this instruction manual.

(including all clothing, tools, and equipment) is 130-310 lbs.

Worker weight capacity range:

6

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

Limitations

Fall Clearance: There must be sufficient clearance below the anchorage connector to arrest a fall

before the user strikes the ground or an obstruction. When calculating fall clearance, account for
a MINIMUM 3’ safety factor, deceleration distance, user height, length of lanyard/SRL, and all
other applicable factors. Diagram shown is an EXAMPLE fall clearance calculation ONLY.

FALL CLEARANCE CALCULATION

Lanyard length

(6’ total)

Required

distance

from
anchorage
(19’ total)

Deceleration

distance (4’ total)

Height of harness

dorsal D-ring from

worker’s feet

(6’ total)

Safety factor

(3’ total)

Swing Falls: Prior to installation or use, make considerations for eliminating or minimizing all
swing fall hazards. Swing falls occur when the anchor is not directly above the location where a
fall occurs. Always work as close to in line with the anchor point as possible. Swing falls
significantly increase the likelihood of serious injury or death in the event of a fall.

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

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Compatibility: When making PFAS connections, eliminate all possibility of roll-out. Roll-out
occurs when interference between a hook and the attachment point causes the hook gate to
unintentionally open and release. All connections must be selected and deemed compatible
with The Rack by a Competent Person. All connector gates must be self-closing and self-locking,
and withstand minimum loads of 3,600 lbs. See the following for examples of
compatible/incompatible connections:

Connector
closed and
locked to
D-ring. OK.

Two or more
snap hooks or
carabiners
connected to
each other. NO.

Two connectors
to same
D-ring. NO.

Incompatible
or irregular
application,
which may
increase risk
of roll-out. NO.

Connector
to integral
lanyard.

NO.

Connector
directly to
webbing.

NO.

Application
that places
load on gate.

NO.

Connector
directly to
horizontal
lifeline. NO.

8

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

Correct Anchorage Positioning:

This chart details allowable working zones required

to reduce risk of swing falls and improper side loading.

ALWAYS adhere to information specified by chart.

Anchor Distance

From

Leading Edge (Y)

6’

10’
15’

20’
25’
30’
35’
40’
45’
50’
55’
60’

For example, if the anchorage connector is 6’ from the leading

edge (Y), the working distance (X) is 8’ in each direction from

the perpendicular, which translates to a 53° working angle.

Key:
X: Working Distance
Along Roof Edge
Y: Distance From
Leading Edge
Ø: Total Working
Angle

Working Distance

Along Roof Edge

(Either Direction) (X)

8’

9’ - 9”

11’ - 7”
13’ - 3”
14’ - 6”

16’
17’ - 2”
18’ - 3”
19’ - 4”

19’ - 10”

21’ - 4”
22’ - 3”

Y

Working Angle

From

Perpendicular (Ø)

53°
45°
38°
33°
30°
28°
26°
24°
23°
21°
21°
21°

Ø

X

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

9

Components and Specifications

Materials: galvanized steel.
Weight: 35 lbs.

(4) Connector Pins

Suspension Bar

Foot Assembly

Frame Extender

Frame Assembly

10

Foot Extender

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

Installation and Use

The Rack is a welded steel frame for placement on a building’s parapet, and functions to assist in
window washing applications. Parapet must withstand loads of at least 5,000 lbs., as
determined by a Qualified Person.

Prior to Installation:

1. Optional foot extender is for use on parapets with an overhang of 12” or less.

2. Make considerations for eliminating or minimizing swing fall hazards.

3. Extreme care must be taken when using descent equipment near electrical sources, heat,
and turbulent or unstable areas, such as air vents.

4. All PFAS equipment must be deemed compatible by a Competent Person. Always read and
understand all PFAS equipment instructions.

5. Compatible with parapets between 10“ - 24” wide. NEVER attempt to attach to parapets wider
than 24”. Parapet must be at least 10“ in height. After installation, The Rack must be fully flush
and fully set on parapet.

6. Window washing ropes must not be used longer than 2 years from Date of First Use, or
3 years from Date of Manufacture. On descents exceeding 130’, provisions must be made for
continuous suspension, intermittent suspension, or for a work station. Descents must never
exceed 300’.

Installation:

1. Remove (4) Connector Pins and set Frame Assembly aside.

2. Extend Foot Assembly to desired length. Suggested distance is 4’ below top of parapet.

3. If parapet has overhang, remove Foot Assembly from Frame Assembly and slide optional Foot
Extender onto Foot Assembly, adjusting its length to accommodate the overhang. Then, re-insert
Foot Assembly into Frame Assembly.

4. Install (2) Connector Pins to connect Foot Assembly to Frame Assembly.

5. Slide Frame Extender into Frame Assembly to location where The Rack will fit snugly onto the
parapet, then connect them with (2) remaining Connector Pins.

6. Attach safety line to certified anchor point with minimum breaking
strength 5,000 lbs. THIS ANCHOR POINT MUST BE SEPARATE FROM THE
ANCHOR POINT THE TIE-BACK ROPE WILL BE ATTACHED TO. Safety line
must be directly in line with anchor point.

7. If parapet is 42” or lower, attach to safety line before coming within 6’
of fall hazard. ALWAYS use complete and compatible PFAS.

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

11

8. Attach compatible tie-back rope to Suspension Bar on The Rack. Then, attach tie-back rope
to certified anchor point with minimum breaking strength 5,000 lbs. THIS ANCHOR POINT MUST

BE DIFFERENT THAN THE ANCHOR POINT THE SAFETY LINE IS ATTACHED TO.

9. Ensure all Connector Pins of The Rack are fully secured. Pay
special attention to the secure attachment of the Foot Assembly.

10. Place The Rack onto parapet, adjust Frame Extender if needed, and
ensure The Rack fits snugly on parapet. To do so, remove Connector
Pins, adjust Frame Extender, and re-insert Connector Pins.

• Attach tie-back rope to Suspension Bar with one of the following options:
a) doubled bowline knot, b) figure-eight knot, or c) carabiner with
minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs.

• Knot must not reduce minimum breaking strength of tie-back rope to
below 5,000 lbs.

11. Let down tail of tie-back rope to ground.

12. Let down tail of safety line to ground.

13. Attach compatible descent control device and bosun
chair to tie-back rope as close to Suspension Bar as possible.

14. With harness attached to safety line and bosun chair attached to tie-back rope, step over
parapet, and stand on Foot Assembly while holding onto Frame and/or Frame Extender.

15. Before releasing grip on The Rack, slowly sink down until firmly seated on bosun chair.
Pay special attention to use of descent control device and rope grab.

12

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

Labels

1-800-466-6385

6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032

www.guardianfall.com

The Rack

Part #: 15169

Date of Manufacture:

Prior to use, read and understand all
manufacturer’s instructions provided

with equipment at time of shipment.

Materials: galvanized steel.

Capacity Range: 130-310 lbs.

(including all equipment).

INSPECTION GRID

User must inspect prior to EACH use. Competent

Person must complete formal inspection every

6 months. Competent Person to inspect and initial.

Date of First Use: __________________.

Product lifetime is indefinite as long as

equipment passes pre-use and
Competent Person inspections.

YR

MO

20___ 20___20___ 20___20___

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

If equipment fails inspection

IMMEDIATELY REMOVE FROM SERVICE

DO NOT REMOVE LABELS

Refer to instructions for proper

installation and use.

WARNING

!

Eliminate all risk of roll-out in PFAS.
NEVER use incompatible connectors.

NEVER connect PFAS to The Rack.

For window washing line protection ONLY.

NEVER allow lifeline contact with

sharp or abrasive surfaces or edges.

NEVER allow contact with hazards,
including, but not limited to, heat,

electric shock, or corrosive chemicals.

ALWAYS maintain 100% tie-off.

90148 (Rev. B)

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com

13

Inspection Log

User must inspect prior to EACH use. Competent Person other than user must complete
formal inspection at least every 6 months. Competent Person to inspect and initial.

Date of First Use: __________________. Product lifetime is indefinite as long as it passes
pre-use and Competent Person inspections.

This inspection log must be specific to one The Rack. Separate inspection logs must be
used for each The Rack. All inspection records must be made visible and available to all
users at all times.

If equipment fails inspection IMMEDIATELY REMOVE FROM SERVICE.

Notes

14 85137 (Rev. D)

Guardian Fall Protection 6305 S. 231st St., Kent, WA 98032 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] www.guardianfall.com