From time to time, we receive inquiries from building owners, property managers, or contractors regarding load testing of facade access equipment such as davit systems, dedicated anchorages, and rail-supported carriages. One of the most common questions we encounter is whether equipment should be tested to the full strength required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration—typically 5,000 pounds for dedicated anchorages or four times the rated load for davit systems—or to half of the required strength.
Read this primer from structural engineers Jon Lewis and Gwenyth Searer to learn if your facade equipment should be load tested to full strength or half strength.
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