IRATA (the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) sets the globally recognised professional standard for rope access. The certificate evidences that the technician has been trained to that standard, keeps equipment inspection discipline and knows the rescue procedure.
IRATA’s International Code of Practice (ICOP) defines the trade end to end: equipment selection, rescue procedure, supervision structure and working method. Certification has three levels, each requiring a set number of logged hours and an assessment.
Why it matters to a building management
Work at height is a field where mistakes cannot be undone. IRATA certification evidences three things:
- The technician can rig a twin rope system to the standard
- There is equipment inspection and record-keeping discipline
- A rescue procedure is known — the most frequently skipped and most critical item
Equipment standards
The hardware used in rope access is defined by European standards. Rope adjustment devices fall under EN 12841 in three types: Type A back-up device (on the safety line), Type B ascender, Type C descender (on the working line). General requirements for personal fall protection systems are set out in EN 365.
The risk of uncertified work
Even where an uncertified team has physically rigged two ropes, a wrong anchor choice or the wrong device can render the system useless. The safety of the method comes not from the equipment but from the training of the person using it.
So the question to ask when taking quotes is not “do you work on ropes?” but “are your technicians certified, and may I see the certificates?”
Frequently asked questions
What is IRATA certification?
IRATA, the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association, sets the globally recognised professional standard for rope access. The certificate evidences training to that standard.
Is IRATA certification mandatory?
In Türkiye the legal requirements are a work-at-height certificate and OHS training. IRATA is an additional internationally recognised standard that many teams do not hold.
Which equipment standards apply to rope access?
Rope adjustment devices fall under EN 12841: Type A back-up, Type B ascender, Type C descender. General requirements for personal fall protection systems are in EN 365.