Using the ASAP in rope rescue / rappel pick-off situations

Hanging immobile in a harness, regardless of the model used, can cause serious physiological harm. Being suspended can aggravate an injury, a state of shock or a loss of consciousness. That is why work at height teams must be trained and autonomous in order to immediately and quickly rescue an accident victim who cannot perform a self-rescue.
 

ASAP intended use

The ASAP was developed and certified as personal protective equipment for fall arrest: that is, to stop a fall of one person (test weight: 100 kg)
In extraordinary rope rescue situations, when a rappel pick-off must be performed with a single descender, it may become necessary to back-up two people with a single ASAP.
In general, any two person dynamic load on a PPE system is prohibited due to the risk of high impact forces.

Tests performed in Petzl’s test laboratory

To test the ASAP in rope rescue conditions, we performed the EN353-2 standard dynamic performance test using a mass of 200 kg instead of the usual 100 kg mass.
These tests were performed with new ANTIPODE BEAL 10.5 ropes.
The energy absorbers were equipped with OK TRIACT carabiners without extensions.

Results

• WARNING: the rope breaks when the ASAP is used without an energy absorber (attachment to harness using OK TRIACT carabiner only).
• WARNING: in a factor 2 fall with energy absorbers (models ASAP’SORBER 20, ASAP’SORBER 40, ABSORBICA I/Y) + ASAP, the rope can break.
• With the ABSORBICA L57 + ASAP, a factor 2 fall is arrested without the rope’s sheath tearing.
   

These results are published for informative purposes only. In reality, results will depend on external conditions: the diameter and condition of the rope, weather conditions (wet, frozen ropes, etc.), the presence of deposits on the rope, position of the device relative to the anchor, etc.

Conclusion and advice

WARNING: the ASAP is not designed to arrest a two-person fall. Each person should have his own fall arrest system.
The use of a single ASAP to back-up two people must remain exceptional and done only if all of the following conditions are met:

• Only for roped rescue work - emergency rappel pick-off of an immobile hanging victim.

• Only when all the risks of falling and shock loading (anchor failure, pendulum, sudden loading, etc.) are minimized.

• Only when the operation is lead by a person experienced with this type of rescue.

• Only when using the ABSORBICA L57 absorbing lanyard, without an extension.

WARNING: this usage is neither certified nor covered by the directive on personal fall arrest protection.