Not Everyone Is Qualified to Install Roof Anchor Points
Most people get this wrong. A roof anchor point looks simple. A plate, a ring, some fixings. But the standards governing who installs them, how they get verified, and how often they need checking are specific. Getting it wrong puts people at risk and exposes building owners to liability.
The Two Standards You Need to Know
Two standards apply. Both were updated in 2025. AS/NZS 1891 covers industrial fall-arrest systems broadly. AS 5532:2025 supersedes the 2013 version and sets the manufacturing, performance and installation requirements for single-point anchor devices. This is the one that matters most for installation.
Under AS 5532:2025, a competent person must design, install and verify each anchor. Every completed installation needs a written compliance certificate. The 2025 revision tightened testing protocols, made substrate-specific testing mandatory, and strengthened traceability requirements.
If your building has anchors last assessed under the 2013 standard, get them reviewed. The superseded date was 18 September 2025.
A Builder or Roofer Cannot Sign Off on This
The standard uses ‘competent person’ rather than naming a specific licence. In practice, competency here means structural load calculation, substrate assessment, anchor system engineering, and working knowledge of AS 5532:2025.
A licensed builder constructs a parapet. That does not qualify them to certify an anchor point installed into it. A roofer accesses a roof every day. That does not qualify them to assess substrate suitability or verify installation compliance. A working at heights ticket covers personal safety at height. It does not cover the competency to install systems other people depend on.
For commercial and high-rise buildings, only height safety specialists and manufacturer-accredited installers meet the bar.
Kattsafe Accreditation: What It Actually Covers
Kattsafe, formerly Sayfa, was one of Australia’s most recognised height safety brands for over 20 years before rebranding in February 2024. Their products are designed and tested to exceed AS 5532:2025 and AS/NZS 1891.4. Each unit is batch tested and individually numbered for full traceability from manufacture to installation.
A Kattsafe-accredited installer knows how to specify the right anchor for the substrate and load, install to manufacturer specs, and produce compliant certification documentation. That is what accreditation certifies.
Kattsafe anchors carry a 10-year product warranty and a 10-year usage lifespan. After that, the device comes out of service. That clock starts at installation. If you cannot confirm when your anchors were installed, you cannot confirm they are within their usage life.
Pull Testing Is Not Always Required
A widespread assumption is that every anchor needs an on-site proof load test. It does not. The right verification method depends on the anchor type and how it fixes to the structure. If you need anchor point installation in Sydney, we can assess which system and method applies to your building.
| Anchor Type | Example (Kattsafe) | Installation Compliance | Inspection Method | Suitable for Ongoing Access? |
| Concrete mount, permanent | AP110, AP125A | Accredited installer + on-site proof load test | Proof load test. Annual minimum. Every 6 months in coastal environments. | Yes |
| Metal deck mount, permanent | AP141A, AP141W, AP130 | Accredited installer to manufacturer specs. No on-site pull test required. | Visual: tek screws seated into purlins, rivets intact, plate condition, no corrosion, deck condition around fixings. | Yes |
Take the AP141A. This is a metal deck anchor that fixes to roof sheeting and the purlin underneath using tek screws and rivets. No concrete drilling. No chemical anchor. No pull-out test. To verify compliance, you check that tek screws are fully seated and biting into the purlin, rivets are properly set and undamaged, the plate sits flat against the roof, there is no corrosion on the stainless components, and the deck is in sound condition around the fixings.
Concrete-mounted anchors are different. Their holding strength depends on the quality and depth of the concrete. An on-site proof load test confirms the substrate performs as required. Visual inspection alone does not.
An accredited installer knows which method applies to which anchor. Most non-accredited operators do not.
The Inspection Interval Most Building Managers Get Wrong
Kattsafe specifies 6-month inspection cycles for corrosive environments. Annual inspection is the standard minimum. It is not right for every building. Salt air and coastal humidity qualify as corrosive environments. If your building sits on a beachfront or esplanade, 6-monthly applies to you.
| Building Type | Minimum Inspection Interval | Notes |
| Inland commercial, low-exposure | Every 12 months | Standard AS/NZS 1891.4 requirement |
| Coastal, high-humidity | Every 6 months | Kattsafe specification for corrosive environments |
| Beachfront, esplanade, direct salt exposure | Every 6 months | Applies to coastal areas. |
| High-usage, multiple contractors | Every 6 months or more frequently | Usage accelerates hardware wear beyond calendar cycles |
Annual inspection is not the same as annual load testing. For concrete anchors, load testing frequency follows the manufacturer specification and the standard. For metal deck anchors, the annual check is visual. It still needs to be thorough, documented, and done by a competent person.
Hire the People Who Actually Use These Systems
IRATA, the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association, sets the international standard for rope access technicians. An IRATA-certified team installing anchors on a tall building works from these systems on actual jobs. They know the real-world forces an anchor takes during rope access. They know what a compromised fixing feels like before it shows on paper.
For buildings where anchors are used for painting, facade cleaning or abseiling, hiring an installer who is also an IRATA-certified operator is the most practical combination of credentials available.
No Certificate Means Non-Compliant
Ask for a written compliance certificate, signed by an accredited installer, documenting the verification method and result for each anchor point. No certificate means non-compliant. Full stop. It does not matter who did the work or how long it has been there.
Installing outside the relevant standards and manufacturer guidelines voids the system certification and the product warranty. No documentation means no warranty and no verified performance on record.
Five Questions to Ask Before You Hire Anyone
1. Are you Kattsafe accredited, or accredited with another recognised manufacturer?
2. Will you provide individual compliance certificates for each anchor, and explain which verification method applies to each anchor type on this building?
3. What inspection interval do you recommend for this building and environment, and why?
4. Are your technicians IRATA certified, and will they personally carry out the installation?
5. What is your public liability coverage, and does it specifically cover height safety installation?
Get in Touch
Next Level Painting is Kattsafe-accredited and IRATA-certified. We are a rope access company servicing Sydney, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
We install and test anchor points for commercial and high-rise buildings across 3 states.
See our anchor installation pages for each city below:
Get a quote, visit nextlevelpainting.com.au/contact-us/
