Codes, Regulations, & Standards

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act): Primary workplace safety legislation.
• Work Health and Safety Regulation: 2011/2025 Fall prevention, plant, inspection & competence requirements.
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Guidance on hierarchy of fall controls.
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant Includes BMUs and lifting equipment.
• Rope Access Guidance (ISO 22846-aligned): Nationally accepted safe practice for rope access.

• AS/NZS 1891.1: 2020 Harnesses & associated equipment.
• AS/NZS 1891.2: 2001 Horizontal lifeline & rail systems.
• AS/NZS 1891.3: 2020 Fall-arrest devices.
• AS/NZS 1891.4: 2025 Selection, use & maintenance requirements.

• AS/NZS 5532: 2013 Manufacturing/testing of single-point anchors.
• AS/NZS 1891.2 Horizontal lifeline & rail anchor systems.

• AS/NZS ISO 22846.1: 2020 Fundamental principles for rope-access systems.
• AS/NZS ISO 22846.2: 2020 Operational code of practice.

• AS 1418.1: General requirements for cranes/hoists.
• AS 1418.15: Building Maintenance Units – primary design standard.
• AS 2550.1: Safe use of cranes.
• AS 2550.15: Safe use of BMUs – inspection & operation.
• AS/NZS 1170: Series Structural design actions for loads.
• AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules): Electrical installation safety requirements for BMUs.
• AS 61439: Series Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies used in BMU control panels.
• AS/NZS 60204.1: Safety of machinery – Electrical equipment of machines, relevant to BMU electrical systems.
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations for construction & demolition sites – applicable during BMU installation/commissioning.

• AS 1657: 2018 Walkways, platforms & fixed ladders.
• AS/NZS 1892: Series Portable ladder requirements.

• AS/NZS 1576 Series: Scaffolding components & suspended systems.
• AS/NZS 4576: Scaffolding guidelines.

• AS/NZS 4488: Series Legacy rope-access standards.
• AS/NZS 4142.3: Static kernmantle rope specifications.
• AS/NZS 2865: Confined spaces requirements.

• GB/T 19154-2017: Building Maintenance Unit (BMU). Core national standard covering scope, definitions, types, technical requirements, structural/stability and mechanical design, electrical/control systems, test methods, inspection rules, marking, and documentation.
• GB 50057 (Bibliography in GB/T 19154): Code for design protection of structures against lightning (relevant where BMU rails/structures interface with the building’s lightning protection design).

• Annex A–C: Type-tests for platforms, hoists/secondary devices, and suspension rigs (conformity & safety validation).
• Annex D: Guidance for presenting/interpreting loads imposed on equipment and building structures (coordination with structural engineers).
• Annex E: Restraint system analysis (ISA pins, soft ropes, etc.)—design guidance.
• Annex F: Requirements for wireless control systems (when BMUs/cradles use wireless control).
• Annex G: Design requirements for rail tracks, monorails, and support systems (including loads transferred to the building).
• Annex H: Travelling ladders and/or gantries (where applicable to façade access).

• Chapters 12–13: Test methods and inspection rules for BMUs and components.
• Chapter 14: Marking (machine labels/identification).
• Chapter 15: Accompanying documents (manuals, certificates, records).

• The standard explicitly addresses significant BMU hazards and prescribes technical measures to eliminate or reduce risk, and it assumes site-specific agreements between supplier and user about local installation conditions.
• It also states building parapets/roofs must have adequate strength for BMU installation (coordination with structural design)

Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (FIUO), Cap. 59

Governs workplace safety, including work-at-height and use of suspended working platforms.

Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Suspended Working Platforms) Regulation (SWPR), Cap. 59AC

The main statutory regulation controlling design, installation, safe operation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of Suspended Working Platforms (SWPs).

Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations (LALGR)

Applies to lifting appliances, lifting gear, and certain suspended access equipment categories.

Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (CSSR)

Relevant for construction-stage façade access activities, including certain lifting and suspended gear.

Buildings Ordinance, Cap. 123

Requires approval for anchorage, structural loads, and installation details affecting the building structure.

Engineers Registration Ordinance, Cap. 409

Regulates the qualifications of engineers involved in design, testing, certification, and approval.

The official COP under FIUO, providing mandatory safety and operational requirements, including:

• Design loads & wind loading requirements
• Anchorage & structural support requirements
• Safe operation, weather restrictions, training, marking & use rules
• Maintenance & examination requirements
• Certification, display and record-keeping

Code of Practice on Wind Effects Hong Kong 1983

Required for design of SWP stability and wind loading in docked/operating conditions.

Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel, 1987

Referenced when designing fixings, anchorage, and structural connections for BMUs/SWPs.

The Hong Kong COP recognises equivalent international standards if they meet or exceed referenced requirements. Included standards:

British Standards

• BS 6037:1990 – Permanently Installed Suspended Access Equipment
• BS 2830:1994 – Suspended Access Equipment
• BS 5974:1990 – Temporarily Installed Suspended Scaffolds
• BS EN 361:1993 – Fall Protection: Full Body Harnesses
• BS EN 795:1997 – Anchor Devices for Fall Protection

European Standards

• prEN 1808:1995 – Suspended Access Equipment Safety Requirements

American Standards (ANSI)

• ANSI A120.1 – Safety Requirements for Powered Platforms for Exterior Building Maintenance
• ANSI A10.8 – Scaffolding Safety Requirements

Singapore Standards

• CP 20:1981 – Code of Practice for Suspended Scaffolding

Japan Ministry of Labour Technical Guidelines

Referenced for safety standards relating to suspended gondolas.

Guidance from Labour Department (HK)

Guidance note on safety belts and anchorage systems

In Malaysia, the Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) under the Ministry of Human Resources uses these guidelines as a reference for Working at Height. For BMU design, they follow the standard from the country of origin where the machine is manufactured.

For example:

• If the machine is imported from Europe, they refer to the EN1808 code.
• If it comes from China, they refer to the Chinese standard.

As of now, Malaysia does not have a specific standard for BMU machine design.

• SS 598 – Code of Practice for Safe Use of Suspended Scaffolds
• SS 570 – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Protection Against Falls from Height
• SS 497 – Code of Practise for Gantry Crane – Overhead Crane – Monorail Hoist
• WSH Guidelines on Suspended Scaffolds – WSH Council
• Building Control Regulations (BCA) – Requirements for façade access and BMU installation

International Standards

• EN 1808 – Safety requirements on suspended access equipment

• SS 528 – Code of Practice for Personal Fall Arrest Systems
• SS 570 – Personal protective equipment for working at height
• WSH (Work At Heights) Regulations – Mandatory requirements for fall protection

International Standards

• EN 795 – Anchor devices for fall protection
• EN 363 – Full body harnesses and fall arrest systems

• Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act)
• WSH (Risk Management) Regulations
• WSH (General Provisions) Regulations
• Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health (CP79)
• WSH Guidelines: Working at Height, Lifting Operations, Electrical Safety, etc.

International Standard

• ISO 45001 – Occupational health and safety management systems