ISO 22846-2-2012 PDF

Full title and description

Personal equipment for protection against falls — Rope access systems — Part 2: Code of practice. This International Standard gives recommendations and practical guidance for the use of rope access methods for work at height and is intended to be used together with ISO 22846‑1.

Abstract

ISO 22846‑2:2012 expands on the fundamental principles in ISO 22846‑1 to provide a code of practice for planning, selecting equipment, safe working methods, training and emergency/rescue arrangements where ropes are used as the primary means of access, egress or protection against a fall. It is aimed at employers, operatives, commissioning organisations and rope‑access associations and excludes leisure activities, arboriculture, routine steeplejack methods and emergency services line‑rescue techniques (although those users may still benefit from the guidance).

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed in periodic review).
• Publication date: March 2012 (Edition 1, 2012-03).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.340.60 — Protection against falling and slipping.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2012).
• Number of pages: 44 pages (ISO edition).

Scope

Applies to situations where ropes are the primary means of access, egress, support or fall protection on both man‑made and natural features for work at height. The document provides recommendations on planning, risk assessment, method statements, equipment selection, procedures for ascending/descending, rope management, communications, training and rescue arrangements. It is not primarily intended for leisure climbing, arboriculture, conventional steeplejack methods or emergency services line‑rescue (though those activities can use parts of the guidance).

Key topics and requirements

• Risk assessment and preparation of method statements for rope access work (job planning and documentation).
• Selection, inspection and use of ropes (including low‑stretch/kernmantel ropes), connectors, harnesses, lanyards and rope‑adjustment devices.
• Work positioning, movement and transfer techniques (including lead climbing and progression methods where applicable).
• Training and competence requirements for operatives and supervisors, and recommended organisational arrangements.
• Rescue planning and emergency procedures specific to rope access scenarios (on‑site rescue methods, equipment and practice).
• Inspection, maintenance, marking and information to be supplied by manufacturers and employers.

Typical use and users

Used by employers, contractors and operatives involved in industrial rope access, facade maintenance, offshore and onshore structure work, inspections on natural features (e.g., cliffs) and by rope access training organisations and associations. Also used by those who commission rope access work to define safe working practices and method statements.

Related standards

Key related documents include ISO 22846‑1 (Fundamental principles for a system of work), European standards for rope adjustment devices (EN 12841), low‑stretch/kernmantel rope requirements (EN 1891) and broader personal fall protection system standards such as EN 363. These documents are commonly referenced together when specifying equipment, tests and procedural requirements for rope access work.

Keywords

Rope access; code of practice; fall protection; low‑stretch rope; kernmantel; method statement; rescue planning; rope adjustment devices; work at height; personal protective equipment.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 22846‑2:2012 is the part of the ISO 22846 series that provides a code of practice for the use of rope access systems as personal protective equipment for work at height.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers practical guidance on planning rope access work, equipment selection and inspection, procedural controls, competence and training, communication and rescue arrangements where ropes are used as the primary means of access or fall protection. It excludes leisure climbing, arboriculture and emergency services line‑rescue as primary scope items.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Employers, rope access technicians and supervisors, training bodies, safety managers and organisations that commission or audit rope‑access work use the standard to develop safe systems of work and method statements.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The published ISO 22846‑2:2012 edition is the ISO document of record for Part 2 (Edition 1, 2012). The ISO entry shows the standard as published and confirms the publication during periodic review; national catalogues list it as valid. Users should check with their national standards body for any later amendments or national adoptions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 2 of the ISO 22846 series. Part 1 (ISO 22846‑1:2003) contains the fundamental principles for a system of work and is intended to be used together with Part 2.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Rope access, fall protection, code of practice, method statement, low‑stretch rope (kernmantel), rope adjustment device, rescue planning, work at height.