Rigging a retrievable rope with the RESCUCENDER
Warnings
- Carefully read the Instructions for Use used in this technical advice before consulting the advice itself. You must have already read and understood the information in the Instructions for Use to be able to understand this supplementary information.
- Mastering these techniques requires specific training. Work with a professional to confirm your ability to perform these techniques safely and independently before attempting them unsupervised.
- We provide examples of techniques related to your activity. There may be others that we do not describe here.
There are many techniques for setting up a rappel in order to (for example) leave a work station without leaving any equipment behind when the job is done.
The choice of technique depends mainly on the type of anchors available, on the condition of their surface, which must not damage the rope during retrieval, and also their diameter: on a small-diameter anchor, the standard techniques for blocking a rope with a simple knot can be limiting (passing the knot around the anchor, knot-blocking...), as can those that use a connector (cantilever loading).
The technique presented below with the RESCUCENDER prevents the system from tightening around the anchor, thus minimizing the risk of cantilever loading or of system imbalance when loaded. This also allows installation on an anchor with an obstructed underside (e.g. electrical conduit under a beam).
For the sake of clarity, only one rope system is shown; repeat the operation on a second anchor to install a second rope.
Installation tested only with Petzl ropes: the tensile strength with AXIS is greater than 20 kN, if the anchor is a smooth round metal bar with a minimum diameter of 10 mm.
WARNING: the shape of the anchor affects the overall strength, which can be as low as 10 kN on a beam whose shape limits the force distribution on the two strands of rope.
Beware of sharp edges and the texture of the anchor, which must not damage the rope during use or retrieval.
Identify the blocked strand of rope and the retrieval strand to avoid confusion. Remember to untie the stopper knot before retrieval.
This use cannot be certified and is not covered by any current PPE standard.
