[TowerTalk] Permanent fall arrest line?

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/15/2006 9:02:39 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  I'd like to install a permanent fall arrest line from top to  bottom 
of my tower that I could clip onto using a "rope grab" type of  
device. I think the rock climbers call them "ascenders".

>   My question is what type of line or rope would be suitable for 
permanent  attachment? Most rope will deteriorate in sunlight and I 
don't want  something I can't trust. Perhaps a wire line, although the 
rope grabbers  I've seen so far are only for rope, not wire. How about  
Phillystran?
 
    Not PhillyStran either - the PVC jacket is too  soft and prone to 
abrasion damage plus there's no grab/slider for it. All the  tower safety climb 
systems I've seen use 3/8" wire rope (with the exception of  the Trylon safety rail 
system). The best sliders are the Rohn and DBI/Sala  ones. 
 
    I've never seen one on an amateur installation -  too expensive and if 
you observe the 100% tie-off to the tower, you really  don't need it anyway.
 
Cheers & climb safely,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams
Cell: 206-890-4188