DAC-FL Confined Space Davit Arm System with Floor Mount
The Frontline DAC-FL is a high-strength aluminum davit arm system mounted to a floor base plate for permanent or semi-permanent confined-space entry and rescue positions. The cantilever boom adjusts to three pin-locked reach positions and swivels a full 360 degrees, so a single anchor footprint can service multiple manholes, vaults, or vessel openings without re-drilling concrete.
Configured per project as a stand-alone davit, a davit plus 60 ft winch, or a complete davit plus winch plus 3-Way SRL rescue package. Rated for 310 lb single-user load and qualified to ANSI Z359.18-2017 Type A via independent SATRA Technology Centre testing.
Who Needs a Floor-Mount Davit
If your facility has a fixed confined-space entry point that gets opened more than a handful of times per year, a portable tripod stops paying off fast. Tripods set up and tear down for each entry; a floor-mounted davit lives where the work lives. The DAC-FL is built for concrete floors and steel decks where you can install a permanent anchor base near a manhole, vault, sump, or vessel opening. The boom swings out of the way between entries and swings back into position for the next one. For multi-opening installations, the 360-degree swivel means a single base plate can often cover two or three nearby openings without re-mounting.
Watch: Frontline MEGApod Davit Arm System Overview
Tool-Free Assembly
The DAC-36BOOM, DAC-54MAST, and DAC-FLRMT base join with quick-release locking pins. No torque wrench needed for the boom-to-mast or mast-to-base connections; only the base-to-substrate fasteners require torquing.
Five Anchorage Points
Four fixed connection points on the boom plus a dedicated winch attachment point. Combine an SRL on a fixed point with a winch on the winch port for true entry-plus-rescue redundancy.
360-Degree Swivel
The mast rotates a full 360 degrees on the base. A removable locking pin pegs the boom at any orientation so workers can be retrieved and swung clear of the opening before being lowered to the deck.
Three Reach Positions
The boom pins into upper (83 in / 26 in vertical), middle (72 in / 33 in vertical), or lower (60 in / 36 in vertical) positions to clear obstructions, raise a worker over a parapet, or reach into a deeper opening.
Pre-Drilled Winch & SRL Brackets
The mast ships with pre-installed brackets for the RUW60 personnel winch and the RPG603W 3-Way SRL retrieval bracket. No field drilling, no shimming, no on-site fabrication.
Powder-Coated Aluminum
High-strength aluminum alloy with a powder-coat finish for corrosion resistance in pulp and paper, wastewater, and chemical environments where carbon-steel davits would rust through.
System Configurations
Choose the tier that matches your rescue plan. All three configurations share the same DAC-36BOOM boom, DAC-54MAST mast, and DAC-FLRMT floor base plate.
| Configuration | DAC-36BOOM | DAC-54MAST | DAC-FLRMT | RUW60 Winch | RPG603W 3-Way SRL | 3-Way Bracket | Kit Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System (DAC-FL) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | . | . | . | 88 lb |
| + Winch (DAC-FL-WINCH) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | . | . | 114 lb |
| + Winch + 3-Way SRL (DAC-FL-WINCH-3WAY) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 146 lb |
Technical Specifications
| Mounting Option | Floor Mount for concrete or steel substrates (DAC-FLRMT base plate) |
|---|---|
| Material | High-Strength Aluminum Alloy |
| Finish | Powder Coated |
| Assembled Dimensions | 64 in L x 12 in W x 60 in H |
| User Capacity | 310 lb (1 user, including clothing and tools) |
| Breaking Strength | 15 kN |
| Anchorage Strength | 5,000 lb (23 kN) |
| Cantilever Reach: Upper Position | 83 in horizontal reach / 26 in vertical drop |
| Cantilever Reach: Middle Position | 72 in horizontal reach / 33 in vertical drop |
| Cantilever Reach: Lower Position | 60 in horizontal reach / 36 in vertical drop |
| Swivel | 360 degrees with removable locking pin |
| Connection Points | 4 fixed boom points + 1 dedicated winch attachment |
| Concrete Min. Thickness | 8 in (203.2 mm) minimum |
| Edge Clearance | 11 in minimum from any free edge |
| Receiving Structure Rating | Must withstand 22.1 MPa compressive strength |
| Fastener Specification | M16 chemical fasteners. Hilti HVU2 M16x125 (P/N 2164508) or equivalent |
| Free-Fall Limit | 6 ft (1.8 m) maximum per ANSI Z359.1 |
| Spec-Sheet Weight | 88 lb (Tier 1 System bare kit). Tier 2 + Winch: 114 lb. Tier 3 + Winch + 3-Way SRL: 146 lb |
| Design Lifespan | 10 years from date of manufacture |
| Country of Origin | Imported |
SINGLE-USER RATING: The DAC-FL is rated for one user at a time with a maximum capacity of 310 lb including the worker, clothing, tools, and any attached equipment. Do not connect a second user, a second SRL with an active fall load, or any rescue payload that would put the system above 310 lb. Two-person operations require a second, independent anchorage.
OSHA 1910 + 1926
Meets OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (general industry) and 29 CFR 1926 (construction) requirements for personal fall arrest anchorage when installed per the user manual.
ANSI Z359.18-2017 Type A
Qualified as a fixed anchorage connector under ANSI Z359.18-2017 Type A via independent SATRA Technology Centre testing of the davit arm assembly common to the DAC family.
ANSI Z359.1 Free-Fall Limit
System engineered to a 6 ft (1.8 m) free-fall limit per ANSI Z359.1. Use only with personal fall arrest connectors that respect this free-fall envelope.
Independent Test Lab
The DAC family davit arm assembly was tested by SATRA Technology Centre Ltd, an independent ISO 17025 accredited test facility based in Kettering, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. SATRA report number 50651/1 covers the shared davit arm and mast assembly common to the DAC family.
Test Report: SATRA report 50651/1 covering the shared davit arm/mast assembly common to the DAC family. The published submittal file is titled DAC-HB because SATRA qualified the DAC-HB configuration as the reference test article; the boom and mast components are identical across DAC-FL, DAC-WL, and DAC-HB, so this report qualifies the family davit arm/mast assembly. The base plate (DAC-FLRMT for the floor-mount variant) is verified by structural calculation against the M16 chemical-fastener interface specified in the user manual.
For ANSI Z359.18 Type A qualification details, see the linked Test Report PDF in the Submittals section below.
Typical Applications
Installation Overview (Floor Mount)
Full installation must be performed by a qualified person per the Frontline MEGApod Davit User Manual. The steps below summarize the floor-mount sequence; refer to the linked User Manual PDF for torque values, fastener cure times, and inspection points.
- Verify the substrate. Confirm the receiving concrete is at least 8 in (203.2 mm) thick and rated for 22.1 MPa compressive strength. Steel substrates must be load-rated and reviewed by a qualified person.
- Verify edge clearance. Confirm the base plate location is at least 11 in from any free edge of the concrete slab to prevent edge break-out under fall arrest load.
- Mark and drill the fastener holes. Position the DAC-FLRMT base plate at the intended mount location and use the plate as a drilling template. Drill four holes per the user manual specification.
- Install the chemical fasteners. Install M16 chemical anchor fasteners (Hilti HVU2 M16x125, Hilti part 2164508, or qualified equivalent) per the fastener manufacturer instructions. Observe the published cure time before applying any load.
- Seat the base plate. Mount the DAC-FLRMT to the cured fasteners and torque the nuts to the specification in the user manual.
- Attach the DAC-54MAST. Insert the mast into the base socket and secure with the locking pin.
- Attach the DAC-36BOOM. Pin the boom to the mast at the upper, middle, or lower position appropriate for the work.
- Install the winch / SRL bracket as configured. For DAC-FL-WINCH and DAC-FL-WINCH-3WAY kits, mount the RUW60 winch and/or RPG603W 3-Way SRL to the pre-drilled mast brackets.
- Set swivel orientation. Rotate the mast to working position and insert the swivel locking pin.
- Pre-use functional check. Cycle the swivel, exercise the winch, and inspect every connection before authorizing the first entry.
Inspection & Retirement
Per the Frontline MEGApod Davit User Manual, the DAC-FL requires three inspection cadences:
- Pre-use inspection by the authorized user before every entry. Check the base plate fasteners for looseness, the swivel pin, the cantilever pin, the locking hardware, and all connection points for deformation, corrosion, or cracking.
- Six-month formal inspection by a competent person other than the user. Document findings; retire any component showing fastener fatigue, weld cracking, deformation of the mast or boom, or wear on the connection points.
- Annual qualified-person examination covering structural integrity of the base plate substrate, fastener pull-out check, and full system functional test.
Maximum service life is 10 years from the date of manufacture printed on the product label, assuming the inspection program is followed and no event removes the system from service earlier. Retire immediately after any fall arrest event.
Calculating Fall Clearance
Fall clearance is the vertical distance required below the worker to safely arrest a fall without striking the ground or a lower level. For davit-mounted SRL or winch retrieval setups, the worker is typically suspended directly below the boom tip, but the SRL deployment distance, harness stretch, and safety margin still apply. Confined-space depths often exceed the SRL stop distance, so verify clearance against the actual opening depth before authorizing entry. Use the Fall Protection Game Plan below to model the worker's specific configuration.
Fall ProtectionDistributors, LLC Free Tool · No Signup · OSHA 1926.502 Free Interactive Tool Fall Protection Calculator Pick your system. Run the math. Generate a plan. 1 Pick Your System Determine fall restraint vs. fall arrest based on your work surface, edge access, and clearance. 2 Run the Math Calculate exact fall clearance required below the work surface for your SRL or lanyard setup. 3 Generate a Plan Get a printable OSHA-compliant Fall Protection Plan structured around 29 CFR 1926.502(k).
Frequently Asked Questions
Submittals & Documentation
DAC-FL Spec Sheet (PDF) Dimensions, materials, capacities, and configurations for the floor-mount davit system. MEGApod Davit User Manual (PDF) Installation, inspection, and retirement guidance covering DAC-FL, DAC-WL, and DAC-HB. MEGApod Davit Test Report (PDF) SATRA report 50651/1. Note: file is titled DAC-HB because SATRA qualified the DAC-HB configuration as the reference test article; the report covers the shared davit arm/mast assembly used on the DAC-FL. Frontline Catalog (PDF) Complete Frontline Fall Protection product catalog including the full MEGApod confined-space family.Related Frontline Confined-Space & Rescue Products
- Frontline DAC-WL Confined Space Davit Arm System with Wall Mount. Same boom and mast on a wall-mount bracket for vertical structural attachment.
- Frontline DAC-HB Confined Space Davit Arm System with Non-Penetrating H-Base. Portable counterweighted H-base for sites where permanent floor anchors are not practical.
- Frontline RUW60 MEGApod 60-foot Confined Space Winch. The compatible winch shipped with the DAC-FL-WINCH and DAC-FL-WINCH-3WAY configurations.
- Frontline RPG603W MEGApod 60-foot 3-Way Self-Retracting Lifeline. The 3-Way SRL shipped with the DAC-FL-WINCH-3WAY configuration.
- Frontline TAN07 MEGApod 7-foot Aluminum Tripod. Portable tripod alternative for shallow or temporary confined-space work where davit reach is not required.
- Frontline TAN07RU MEGApod Confined Space Kit (Tripod + Winch). Tripod and winch combination for sites that need full portability without the cantilever boom geometry.
- Frontline TAN07-US Patriot 7-foot Confined Space Aluminum Tripod. Buy American sourced tripod alternative for federal and Buy American projects.
Specifying a Confined-Space Davit?
Confirm fit, fasteners, and base type for your structure before you order. Our team will walk through the substrate, edge clearance, and configuration tier with you so the right system ships the first time.
Call 863-703-4522 to talk through your project.
