Question 1

Is the site assessment really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Requesting an assessment carries no obligation - we review your site details, recommend the right system, and provide a quotation. You decide from there.

Question 2

How long does a typical quote take?

Accepted Answer

Quote turnaround is one business day from your site assessment request. A site visit, where needed, is typically scheduled within 3-5 days, and we give you a clear installation timeline as part of your quotation.

Question 3

Do I need to know exactly what system I need before I contact you?

Accepted Answer

No. Most enquiries start with a problem, not a spec, such as a roof that needs safe access, or an upcoming audit. Describe your site and what you're trying to achieve on the assessment form, and we'll recommend the right system.

Question 4

Do you work directly with facilities managers, or only with roofing and construction contractors?

Accepted Answer

Both. We work directly with facilities managers, building owners, and solar installers on ongoing access and compliance needs, as well as with contractors on new-build and retrofit projects.

Question 5

What material are your systems made from?

Accepted Answer

Marine-grade stainless steel or hot-dip galvanised steel, depending on the application and environment. Both are fabricated by our sister company, EMFab, to the same standard whether the system is a permanent installation or a temporary kit.

Question 6

Are your products SANS-compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Anchor devices are designed and installed in line with SANS 50795, and any harnesses, lanyards, and connecting equipment used on our systems conform to SANS 1808. Every roof anchor is pull-tested above 15 kN before handover.

Question 7

Can I buy products directly through the shop, or do I need a full site assessment first?

Accepted Answer

Straightforward items like temporary anchor kits and guardrail sections can be ordered directly. For permanent installations, cat ladders, and anything site-specific, we recommend starting with a free site assessment so what you order actually fits your roof and use case.

Question 8

Do you provide data sheets and test certificates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, every installed system comes with test certificates and inspection sheets ready for your safety file. Downloadable data sheets for shop products are being finalised and will appear on each product page.

Question 9

Can you fabricate a custom system that isn't in your standard range?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because EMFab fabricates to spec rather than sourcing generic imported components, we can engineer anchors, ladders, platforms, and walkways around unusual rooflines, equipment layouts, or access constraints.

Question 10

Do you ship products nationwide, or only install in person?

Accepted Answer

We work on-site nationwide, from Johannesburg and Pretoria to Cape Town and Durban, for installation, inspection, and training. Shop orders that don't require installation can be shipped directly.

Question 11

What standards actually apply to fall protection in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Anchor devices fall under SANS 50795, harnesses and lanyards under SANS 1808, and portable ladders under SANS 10147. These technical standards work alongside the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Construction Regulations, which set out the employer's legal obligations for working at height.

Question 12

Do you help with Fall Protection Plans, not just equipment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A site-specific Fall Protection Plan, compiled by a competent person, is a Construction Regulation 10 requirement wherever a fall of 2 metres or more is possible. We assist with compiling and maintaining this documentation alongside installation.

Question 13

Can anchors be installed into any wall or roof structure?

Accepted Answer

No, and this is a common source of non-compliant installations. Standard chemical anchors are engineered for solid concrete of an adequate strength class. South African brick walls are generally single-skin construction without the composite strength assumed by some imported standards, so anchoring into brick or fixing into structural steel requires written engineering sign-off confirming the substrate is suitable, not just a drilling job.

Question 14

Who is actually qualified to select and install anchor points?

Accepted Answer

Competence in anchor point selection and installation is its own specific training area. Related qualifications such as rope access certification or lifting machine inspection do not, on their own, cover anchor point engineering. We work to this standard rather than treating installation as routine drilling.

Question 15

Is a verbal sign-off from a site supervisor enough for compliance?

Accepted Answer

No. Compliance depends on documented evidence: test certificates for the anchors themselves, an inspection record showing the system was checked before use, and, for anything falling outside standard anchor classes, an engineer's written confirmation the installation suits the substrate.

Question 16

What if my roof isn't a standard type?

Accepted Answer

We work across IBR, corrugated, Kliplok, Saflok, tiled, and concrete roofs. If you're not sure what you have, flag it as 'not sure' on the assessment form and we'll confirm on site.

Question 17

How long does a typical installation take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the scope, but a site visit is typically scheduled within 3-5 days of your assessment request, and we'll give you a clear timeline as part of your quotation.

Question 18

Do you offer temporary lifeline hire, or only permanent installations?

Accepted Answer

Both. Temporary Lifeline & Anchor Kits are available for short-term or project-based work, alongside permanent installations for ongoing site access.

Question 19

Will installation disrupt operations at an occupied site?

Accepted Answer

We schedule around your operating hours wherever possible and can phase installation across multiple visits for occupied industrial or commercial sites. Access requirements are confirmed with you as part of the quotation, not discovered on the day.

Question 20

How often do anchors and lifelines need to be re-inspected?

Accepted Answer

Annually as a baseline, and also immediately after any significant event, such as a fall, storm damage, roof repairs, or structural changes to the building. We offer scheduled inspection and recertification so this doesn't fall through the cracks.

Question 21

Can you inspect a system that someone else installed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SANS-aligned inspection requirements apply regardless of who installed the original system. We'll assess it against the applicable standard, flag anything non-compliant, and recertify or recommend remedial work as needed.

Question 22

Do workers need training to use fall protection equipment, or just the equipment itself?

Accepted Answer

Both are required. Every worker who works at height must be trained on the specific equipment they use, and this training needs to be documented alongside your other compliance records, not just assumed from experience.

Question 23

What happens if our safety file isn't audit-ready when an inspector arrives?

Accepted Answer

That's exactly what scheduled inspection and recertification is meant to prevent. We keep the paper trail current, so test certificates, inspection records, and Fall Protection Plan documentation are ready whenever an audit happens, rather than assembled under pressure.

Question 24

Do you only work in Johannesburg?

Accepted Answer

No, we work nationwide, from Johannesburg and Pretoria to Cape Town and Durban.

Question 25

Who actually fabricates the equipment?

Accepted Answer

Our sister company, EMFab, fabricates every anchor, lifeline, and ladder system in marine-grade stainless or hot-dip galvanised steel. We install, inspect, and certify it.

Question 26

What industries do you typically work with?

Accepted Answer

Industrial plants, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, roofing and construction contractors, and solar installers needing inverter cage protection, among others. If your site has a roof, plant deck, or elevated access point, it's likely a fit.

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