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Anchor Point Load Calculator

Work out anchor point load instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Anchor Point Load Calculator

An anchor must resist the arrest force of every worker attached, multiplied by a safety factor, and also satisfy the prescriptive minimum in the standard, commonly 12 kN or 15 kN per attached worker. The design load is the greater of the two, and on shared horizontal lifelines the line geometry can multiply the load on end anchors considerably.

Formula

Design load

Design = max(workers x arrest force x safety factor, workers x code minimum)

Worked example

With the default values below, Anchor Point Load Calculator returns Anchor design load of 24.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Workers attachedminimum 1
2
Arrest force per workerminimum 0.1 kN
6 kN
Safety factor on the anchorminimum 1
2
Code minimum capacity per workerminimum 1 kN
12 kN

Results

Anchor design load
24.00 kN
Total arrest load
12.00 kN
Code minimum capacity
24.00 kN
Governing requirement
Calculated arrest load with safety factor governs

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Design load
  3. 3Anchor design load= 24.00 kN
  4. 4Total arrest load= 12.00 kN
  5. 5Code minimum capacity= 24.00 kN
  6. 6Governing requirement= Calculated arrest load with safety factor governs

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Preliminary estimate only. Anchor points must be designed, installed and certified by a competent engineer and proof tested where required.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Preliminary estimate only. Anchor points must be designed, installed and certified by a competent engineer and proof tested where required.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Anchor Point Load figure worked out?

Design = max(workers x arrest force x safety factor, workers x code minimum). An anchor must resist the arrest force of every worker attached, multiplied by a safety factor, and also satisfy the prescriptive minimum in the standard, commonly 12 kN or 15 kN per attached worker.

Can any structural element be an anchor?

No. It must be verified for the design load in the direction of loading, including the fixing into the substrate. An untested anchor is the commonest defect found in fall protection audits.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 4 inputs: Workers attached, Arrest force per worker, Safety factor on the anchor, Code minimum capacity per worker. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.

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Anchor Point Load Calculator – Calculate Anchor design load