NR-35 Anchor Height 2m

NR-35 work at height: anchorage & fall factor

Brazilian regulation NR-35 kicks in the moment work happens above h ≥ 2 m from a lower level and there's a chance of falling. What the worker has to wear is non-negotiable: a full-body harness (an abdominal belt won't do), a shock-absorbing lanyard or a retractable fall arrester, and a structural anchor rated for at least Fanc ≥ 15 kN per person. Certain standards push that figure to 22 kN once you account for shock loads.

How bad an arrested fall gets comes down to the fall factor f = H / L, where H is the free-fall distance and L the length of the lanyard. You want f < 1, which means anchoring above the dorsal D-ring. The most you can tolerate is f = 2. Before anyone goes up there has to be a Preliminary Risk Analysis (APR), a supervisor present, 8 h of initial training with a refresher every two years, and a rescue plan ready.

Applications

Think construction (scaffolding, roofs, façades), electrical line work, telecom towers, wind turbines, oil platforms, bridge maintenance, picking from warehouse racks. A few of these jobs also qualify for special retirement after 25 years of continuous exposure under Brazilian social-security rules.

FAQ

Why is 2 m the threshold? The data shows falls from 2 m or higher are already enough to cause serious or fatal injury. Below that height NR-35 doesn't apply, though other PPE rules still might.

Can I anchor on guardrails or pipes? Only when a qualified engineer has certified that the structure holds 15 kN. Plain handrails and thin pipes don't cut it as anchor points.

How often must training be refreshed? Every 2 years as a rule, but sooner if there's been an accident, the worker changes job function, or someone is caught behaving unsafely.