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CHAPTER 4. DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SUBCHAPTER
7. GENERAL INDUSTRY SAFETY ORDERS
GROUP 1. GENERAL PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND STRUCTURES
ARTICLE 5. WINDOW CLEANING

§3291. Special Design Considerations--Permanent Roof Top Installations.

(a) General. A Civil or Mechanical Engineer registered in the State of California shall prepare calculations and/or plans substantiating the structural integrity of all facets of the complete installation, including the eyebrow sleeves, roof davit systems, roof outrigger beams, and roof tie-backs. Such plans shall be available to the Division at the installation site.

(b) Projecting Ledges or “Eyebrows” at Roof Level.

(1) Those buildings so designed that projecting ledges or “eyebrows” at the roof or intervening levels prohibit the normal suspension of ropes supporting suspended scaffolds, shall be provided with sleeves that extend through the ledge or eyebrow. The minimum inside diameter of the sleeve shall be 6 inches to permit the passage of shackles, sockets, clamps and other rigging devices. The center-on-center spacing of sleeves shall be consistent with the length of the suspended scaffold to be utilized, but in no case shall this spacing exceed 24 feet for transportable scaffolds. Sleeves shall not be used as a rigging point unless securely anchored to the structure and be capable of supporting the rated load with a minimum safety factor of four.

NOTE: In lieu of the use of sleeves, other means of scaffold support, such as soffit monorail systems, etc., that offer equivalent safety and are acceptable to the Division, may be provided.

(2) Each sleeve assembly or each scaffold support system shall be provided with a securely affixed durable and readily visible metal plate bearing the rated load and installer's name in letters at least 1/4-inch in height. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-8505(b).)

Roof davit systems specifically shall comply with applicable provisions of Article 6 and the following:

(1) Each davit shall be provided with a securely affixed, durable and readily visible metal plate bearing the following information in letters at least 1/4-inch in height:

(A) The davit's rated load, based upon a safety factor of 4.

(B) Manufacturer's name.

(2) Provisions shall be made to easily rotate davits while on the scaffold platform or boatswain's chair unless the platform may be safely re-positioned inboard or outboard without the necessity for personnel to stand on unguarded roofs or ledges unless protected by a personal fall restraint system complying with the requirements of Section 1670 of the Construction Safety Orders.

(3) Portable davit systems shall comply with the applicable provisions of Article 6. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-8505(c).)

(d) Outrigger Beams.

(1) Outrigger beams shall not be employed on buildings exceeding 130 feet in height unless acceptable to the Division. All outrigger beams shall be designed to support the rated load imparted by the suspended scaffold or boatswain's chair with a safety factor of at least 4. Outrigger beams shall not extend more than 6 feet beyond the face of the building. Only steel or high strength alloy beams shall be used. The inboard end of outrigger beams, measured from the fulcrum point to the anchorage point, shall be not less than 1 1/2 times the outboard end in length. The fulcrum point of the beam shall rest on leg(s) or equivalent supports securely attached to the beam and so arranged as to prevent lateral overturning of the beam. Bearing pads shall be securely affixed to each support and shall be of sufficient area to safely distribute imposed loads to the roof structure. The inboard ends of outrigger beams shall be securely anchored by means of tension members (tie-down) affixed to the structural frame of the roof in such a manner that applied forces are resisted within allowable limits affording a safety factor of at least 4. All tie-down fittings at the inboard end of the beam shall be of a type that vibration effects shall not produce accidental disengagement. Safety hooks for beam tie-down purposes shall not be used. The use of counterweights at the inboard end of mobile and fixed outrigger beams are prohibited.

(2) The use of counterweights on the inboard end of portable or transportable outrigger beams shall be permitted only when the following conditions have been met:

(A) The building on which the counterweight beam is to be used, was constructed prior to July 23, 1990.

(B) The building was not designed for other suspension systems.

(D) The counterweights shall be secured to the inboard ends of beams and shall consist of non-flowable solid materials (e.g., concrete, steel, etc.).

(E) The outrigger shall be secured with a tie-back to a verified anchorage on the building during the entire time of use. The anchorage shall be designed to have a safety factor of not less than four based on the rated capacity of the outrigger.

(F) The counterweight shall provide a stability factor of at least 4 against overturning or upsetting of the outrigger.

(G) Each outrigger shall be designed by a registered engineer to support a load of 4 times the rated hoist capacity or the total load whichever is greater. Outrigger beams shall have a minimum rated capacity of 1000 pounds.

(H) The outrigger beam shall be secured against horizontal movement when in use.

(I) Portable outriggers weighing more than 80 pounds shall be provided with a stable means for its transport (wheels or cart).

(J) Each outrigger shall be so located that the suspension wire ropes, for two point suspended working platforms, are hung parallel.

(K) The parts of sectional outrigger beam(s) (i.e. an outrigger beam(s) consisting of more than one piece) shall be identified (e.g. numbered, color-coded). Parts shall not be interchanged or substituted except with the approval of the manufacturer.

(3) Each outrigger beam shall be provided with a securely affixed, durable and readily visible metal plate bearing the following information in letters at least 1/4-inch in height:

(A) The beam's rated load.

(B) Manufacturer's name.

(C) Precautionary warning message prohibiting use of the beam within 10 feet of high-voltage lines. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 3105A.4.2.)

(e) Portable Outrigger Beams. The use of portable outrigger beams shall comply with the applicable provisions of Article 6. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-8505(d).)

(f) Roof Tie-Backs.

(1) Every building constructed 3 stories or 36 feet or more in height, shall have roof tie-backs or other permanent devices installed at the roof level for the purpose of securing or tying back suspended scaffold hooks or clamps and safety lines.

Exceptions:

1. Roof tie-backs are not required on buildings employing other acceptable means of permanently installed roof top maintenance systems specified in this Article or Article 6.

2. Roof tie-backs are not required on buildings constructed up to 4 stories or 48 feet in height when building maintenance can be accomplished using extension tools, ladders, approved ground equipment such as scaffolds, or aerial devices designed and used for positioning personnel.

(2) Such devices should be spaced at approximately 12-foot intervals; however, the spacing shall depend primarily on the availability of roof structural framing members of sufficient strength to safely carry applied loads. Tie-backs may be installed in structural parapets that are of adequate strength to sustain applied loads, but, placement shall be as close to the roof level as practicable. Design criteria for tie-backs shall be as follows:

(A) Roof tie-backs shall have at least a 2-inch inside diameter closed “eye.”

(B) Tie-back assembly shall be hot-dip galvanized or afforded equivalent corrosion resistance.

(C) Assembly and anchorage provisions adequate to sustain a 5000 pound load applied in any direction without permanent deformation.

(3) Suspended scaffolds shall not be permitted unless roof tie-backs or equivalent anchorages are provided.

(g) Parapets of Excessive Height. Where building parapet heights exceed 42 inches, special provisions shall be employed to provide a safe means of access to the top of the parapet for rigging purposes if such access is necessary to the safe performance of the work. If such support systems as davit/sockets, parapet hooks or clamps, etc., are utilized at the top of parapets, a catwalk platform meeting the applicable sections of these orders, or other equivalent means of affording access for the safe performance of the work shall be provided. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-8505(f).)

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. Amendment filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No. 29).

2. Amendment filed 7-26-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 30).

3. Editorial correction of subsection (c)(1) (Register 79, No. 17).

4. Editorial correction filed 10-7-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 41).

5. Amendment filed 9-12-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 37).

6. Renumbering of section 3291 to section 3289 and renumbering and amendment of section 3292 to section 3291 filed 3-9-93; operative 4-8-93 (Register 93, No. 11).

7. Amendment of subsection (f)(1) and Note filed 4-22-96; operative 5-22-96 (Register 96, No. 17).

8. Change without regulatory effect redesignating former subsection (f)(3)(A) to new subsection (f)(4) filed 6-22-98 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 98, No. 26).

9. Amendment of subsections (d) and (d)(1), new subsections (d)(2)-(d)(2)(K), subsection renumbering and amendment of newly designated subsection (d)(3)(C) filed 7-23-98; operative 8-22-98 (Register 98, No. 30).

10. Amendment of subsections (c)(1) and (c)(2) filed 3-31-2000; operative 4-30-2000 (Register 2000, No. 13).

11. Amendment of subsections (a), (f)(1) and (f)(2)(A)-(C), repealer of subsection (f)(3), subsection renumbering, amendment of newly designated subsection (f)(3) and amendment of Note filed 3-27-2007; operative 4-26-2007 (Register 2007, No. 13).

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