We inspect: every anchor, static line and guardrail on the roof
Interval: at least every 12 months under AS/NZS 1891.4
You receive: new tags, a photo report and a dated anchor register
Areas: Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong
Anchor Point Inspection & Recertification in Sydney
Roof anchor points, static lines and guardrails are what window cleaners, painters, gutter contractors and other trades clip into when they work from the roof. Under AS/NZS 1891.4, anchors and lifelines in service should be inspected by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, and most contractors will not rig from an anchor that is out of date. Ace Abseiling inspects, tests, tags and recertifies existing anchor systems on strata, commercial and residential buildings across Sydney. This page covers the annual inspection. For new anchors, static lines and guardrails, see our anchor point installation page.
What an annual anchor point inspection covers
We inspect every anchor, static line and guardrail on the roof. The inspection combines a visual check of each item with a function check where the anchor needs to be tested, and finishes with new tags and an updated record for the building.
- Fixings. Each anchor and line is checked at its fixings.
- Corrosion. Anchors, lines and fasteners are checked for corrosion.
- Substrate. The concrete slab, steel structure, metal sheeting or masonry the anchor is fixed into is checked for damage around the fixing.
- Proof load testing. Where required, anchors are proof load tested with a calibrated pull tester.
- Static lines and guardrails. Inspected together with the anchors, with the same checks on fixings, corrosion and substrate.
- Tags and records. Tags are replaced with the inspection date and next due date, and every result is recorded in the report and the building’s anchor register.
Who needs an annual anchor inspection
Any building where people work from the roof using anchors, static lines or guardrails needs them kept in date. NSW WHS duties require height-safety systems to be maintained, and keeping the system current avoids delayed jobs, failed inductions and liability questions after an incident. We inspect anchor systems for:
- Strata managers and owners corporations responsible for the roof of a residential building;
- Building and facility managers of commercial buildings with regular window cleaning, painting, gutter or plant maintenance;
- Owners of residential buildings with roof anchors used by visiting contractors.
For strata portfolios we schedule the recertification across buildings and send a reminder before each due date, so certification does not lapse between visits.
When an inspection is needed outside the annual cycle
Besides the routine inspection at intervals not exceeding 12 months, an anchor or static line should be inspected before further use:
- after it has arrested a fall;
- after visible damage or corrosion;
- after roof works near the fixings;
- when the manufacturer’s instructions require it.
What the inspection report contains
- Tagged anchors showing the inspection date and next due date.
- An inspection report with photos of each anchor and line.
- A dated anchor register for the building file, with each anchor’s location, last inspection date, result and next due date.
- Clear notes on any item that failed or is restricted from use.
- A quotation to repair or replace anything that failed.
- Certificates of currency and the SWMS for the work.
Pass or fail: what each item is checked against
Each anchor, line and guardrail is recorded as passed, restricted from use or failed. These are the points behind that result:
- Fixings: pass when secure; fail on a loose fixing.
- Corrosion: pass when the anchor, line and fasteners are free of corrosion that affects them; fail on corrosion.
- Substrate: pass when the structure around the fixing is sound; fail on substrate damage.
- Proof load test (where required): pass when the anchor holds the test with the calibrated pull tester; fail when it does not.
- Records: pass when the item can be identified in the register and its history is known; fail on missing records.
- Tag: a new tag with the next due date goes on every item that passes.
What happens if an anchor fails
- The anchor or line is tagged out of service on the day, so no one rigs from it.
- The report shows its location, a photo and the reason it failed.
- We explain the options: repair, replace the anchor, or install a new anchor or static line nearby.
- Once the work is approved and completed, the item is re-inspected, tagged and added back to the register.
We cannot guarantee an existing system will pass, but if it fails or has no records we explain what can be recertified and what needs repair or replacement.
Combine the inspection with window cleaning and façade access
Window cleaning by rope access cannot start until the roof anchors are in date, and rope access work such as window cleaning or painting cannot be rigged from a failed anchor. Strata and building managers can book the annual anchor inspection and our high-rise window cleaning together: we inspect and tag the anchors first, then our rope access team cleans the windows from the certified system, and you receive one photo report covering both. The same applies to rope access painting and other façade work, which we can complete in the same mobilisation.
If you have façade work planned, book the inspection well before it, so any failed anchor can be fixed without holding up the job.
Why building managers use Ace Abseiling for anchor inspections
- We use these systems ourselves. Our IRATA Level 3 supervised rope access crews rig from roof anchors every week, so we know what works on a real roof.
- Insured for the work. A$20 million public liability insurance, with certificates of currency sent with every quote.
- Standards. Inspection to AS/NZS 1891.4, anchor devices to AS/NZS 5532 and guardrails and access to AS 1657, together with the manufacturer’s requirements.
- Local. Based in Manly NSW, working across Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
5.0 from 23 Google reviews
“We used Ace Abseiling for one of our jobs that required rope access and was stunned by their professionalism and attention to detail. We are now using them for all our jobs that require rope access.”Aymeric Beghin, Google review
For background on anchor types and when they are required, read our guide to roof anchor points in NSW.
Frequently asked questions
How often do anchor points need to be inspected in Sydney?
AS/NZS 1891.4 calls for anchors and lifelines in service to be inspected by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, or sooner if the manufacturer’s instructions require it. Most contractors will not rig from an anchor that is out of date.
What is checked during an annual anchor point inspection?
Every anchor, static line and guardrail on the roof. We check the fixings, corrosion and the substrate, proof load test anchors where required, replace the tags and record the results in the report and register.
What do we receive after the inspection?
Tagged anchors showing the inspection date and next due date, an inspection report with photos of each anchor and line, a dated anchor register for the building file, clear notes on any item that failed or is restricted from use, and a quote to fix any failed item.
What happens if an anchor fails inspection?
It is tagged out of service on the day and must not be used until it is repaired or replaced and passes inspection. The report shows its location, a photo and the reason it failed, and we quote the repair, replacement or a new anchor or static line nearby.
Does the 2025 edition of AS/NZS 1891.4 make our existing anchors non-compliant?
Not automatically. Permanently installed anchors and static lines still need a periodic inspection by a competent person, typically every 12 months, but some older installations may not meet current criteria at their next inspection.
Can the anchor inspection be done on the same visit as window cleaning?
Yes. We inspect and tag the anchors first, then our rope access team cleans the windows from the certified system, and you receive one photo report covering both.
Related
Anchors due for inspection?
Send us the building address, the system type, the previous report and the due date if you have them. We will come back with a clear quotation for the inspection, and for window cleaning or other façade work from the same access.