Buyers Guide
What to look for when choosing a Self Retracting Lifeline? I’ll start by saying that with the range of choices we offer, it is likely there are many srls that will work for you. What follows is a discussion of the main features and how they might play out in your application. With luck, this will help you narrow the search.
Lifeline material
Cable - The traditional choice has been Galvanized Steel cable. It is durable, resists extremes of heat and cold, is not burned by incidental welding spatter and is unaffected by sunlight. Cable is very dense, making it ideal to spool extreme lengths in a reasonably small package. However, its weight and cost are more than webbing of equal length, and it conducts electricity. For areas with corrosion problems, Stainless Steel offers the well known resistance to a large array of chemical and atmospheric contaminants. We usually see these being used around waste treatment facilities, chemical plants and off-shore applications. In general plant use, the galvanized works just fine.
Webbing - We offer SRLs with either Nylon or Polyester webbing. Both are very light weight, with amazing strength. This has allowed the introduction of small, lightweight personal fall limiters. Many of these can be attached directly to your harness, replacing the traditional lanyard completely. With 8ft -11ft versions between 2.5 and 3 lbs, they weigh about the same as a lanyard. In general, polyester is a bit more expensive, but has the advantage of being more resistant to UV rays from sunlight. So, in outdoor applications, polyester is preferred. Neither type will conduct electricity in the case of accidental contact with energized circuits. Both are prone to being burned by welding spatter, with the polyester being a bit better here. 20 feet is about the longest available.
Synthetic Rope - Some SRLs are available with rope. The most common type is Spectra. This gives you the electrical non-conducting properties of the webbing, and the ability to have the extended length (up to 55 ft) of cable. Spectra is relatively expensive, and will be burned by welding spatter and sparks. In general use it will not be as durable as metal cable.
Housing
Plastic/Composite - The majority of SRLs have a case made from injection molded plastic resins. These offer light weight, low cost and good dimensional stability. They are generally reinforced with metal at critical stress areas and have shown excellent life in service. Due to cost and weight considerations, these are being widely adopted, and are our most popular.
Metal - Many heavy duty SRLs are still made with metal housings. Most are aluminum, though some are steel. This includes the ‘Sealed’ SRL from DBI. In jobs where an SRL will be expected to take a beating, a cast metal housing is still a good choice.
Sealed - This concept from DBI has many applications in dirty and harsh environments. The inner workings of the SRL are sealed off in one portion of the metal housing. A rubber gasket and shield keep the gears, brakes and springs separated from the outside environment. So when the lifeline retracts, covered with ‘stuff’, and the surrounding air is thick with whatever, the sealed area stays clean. They definitely cost more, and your situation will dictate whether this extra protection is worth the price.
Connectors
Snap Hooks - This the most common type of connector offered. They are used to connect the SRL to a d-ring on your harness or to a compatible anchor point. The size and shape of the anchor point is critical, and should be verified by a competent person. Never wrap the lifeline around an object and clip back on to the lifeline. A cross-arm strap is designed for this purpose.
Swivel Snap Hooks - Similar to the hooks mentioned above, except that they incorporate a swivel. This acts to counter the inevitable twisting of the cable or webbing as the user moves about.
Rebar Hook - This term refers to hooks that have a large throat opening, typically 2 in. or more. These are useful in making secure attachment to objects larger than 3/4 in. in diameter. These are not used to connect the lifeline to a harness d-ring, rather they should be used at the anchor point end of the connection.
Carabiners - These are available in a variety of shapes and openings. In general it is best to choose the smallest that will do the job. A smaller carabiner will allow you to use a hole in an I-beam, while a larger opening may be useful in attaching to a large piece of rebar or a railing (if strong enough).
Re-Certification
Virtually all the SRLs we sell do not require re-certification on a scheduled basis. Please see the details on our Repair/ReCertify page. You should have them inspected by a ‘Competent Person’ annually. What this entails is extending the webbing or cable to look for wear and making sure that other components are in good working order, including checking the impact indicator.
