Introduction

Design a escape descender for enabling workers at height to escape by controlled descent,
in the form of a lifeline and brakes, which is attached to the building or scaffolding.
Specification
Performance specification
The device must contain 33m of line and a braking mechanism.
The user must descend smoothly at a suitable speed.
All parts of the mechanism must withstand a maximum static test load of 13 kN.
Product specification
Safety descender is for workers at height to escape by controlled descent.
Manufacturing cost is 150.
Design specification
The product design specification will be consider as follow which able to meet the
requirement:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

The device must have 33m of line.

The device must have a braking mechanism.
Mechanism must withstand a maximum static test load of 13 kN.
The weight of the complete product is 12 kg.
Manufacturing cost is 150.
The rope size.
The overall product dimension,

A background research will be done to understand the specified of safety descender

equipment and the important detail of the design. Competitor analysis will be carry on
compare the existing products in the market.
The size and selection of the design specification will be calculated according to the
British standard of safety. A PDS checklist will be shown the details of the wish and
demand of the product design.

Competitor analysis
Table 1 Competitor analysis from (Latchways 2014) (Capital Safety 2014) (Capital Safety 2014) (Interlift 2012) (Lifting Safety 2014) (Lifting
Safety 2014)
Competitor

2 person 250kg

RGR 9
AUTOMATIC
DESCENDER
1 person 150 kg

Latchways
Personal
Rescue Device
1 person 140kg

12kN

12kN

10kN

10kN

35m
2.4m/s
14kg
1
Aluminum

90m
1m/s
3.6kg
2
Chromium

180m
1m/s
9kg
2
Aluminum

Zinc plated steel

Forged Alloy
Steel

Stainless Steel

20m
1.25m/s
1kg
1
Powder coated
aluminum
Steel

Lifeline
material

9.5 mm Kernmantle,
Braided Polyester Cover
with Nylon Filament Core

5 mm Stainless
Steel Wire Rope

high-strength
electro-zincplated steel
8mm sheathed
with polyester
braided sleeve,
galvanized steel
core

150m
0.8m/s
1.1kg
1
Powdered coated
alloy
High tensile steel
alloy

10.5 mm Polyamide
Kernmantle Rope

9mm Kernmantle
rope

Wheel material
Brake
standards

Nylon thermoplastic
Dual brake
OSHA, ANSI Z359.42013,
CSA Z259.2.3-12

Braking trolley
Capital Safety
Gen. Mfg. Req.

Centrifugal
EN 341 0082/
037/ 160/ 06/
98/ 0092

EN 341 (d), EN
360, csA
Z259.2.2.96,
ANsI A1014

Price

480.00

5,050.00

783.00

Glass Reinforced Nylon

Centrifugal
OSHA, ANSI/ASSE
Z359.4, prEN341:
2008/1A, EN1496:
2007/B,CE0123,
ISO22159:07/1/A
1,128.25

5.4 mm UltraHigh Molecular

Weight
Polyethylene
core, Aramid
overbraid rope
integral braking
EN 341: 2011
Type 1, Class D
ANSI
Z359.4:2007

730.44

680.00

Specification
Max working
load
Min braking
strength
Rope length
Descent speed
Weight
No. of user
Housing
material
Hook material

Rollgliss R550

Rollgliss
Descender

BIMATICII
AG152

Miller SafEscape
ELITE

2 person 250kg

1 person 141kg

2 person 136kg

15kN

11kN

46m
0.75m/s
7.14kg
2
Aluminum

In the market, there are lots of safety descender with different specification and price but not
all of them provide a complete details about their product which will lead to not enough
information to the customer and calculation to design the safety descender.
Table 2 Product comparison
Competitor
Specificatio
n
Max
working
load
Min
braking
strength
Rope length
Descent
speed
Weight
Price

Rollgliss
R550

Rollgliss

Descende
r

BIMATICI
I AG152

Miller
SafEscap
e ELITE

RGR 9
AUTOMATI
C
DESCENDE
R

Latchway
s
Personal
Rescue
Device

Very high

Medium

High

Very high

Medium

Medium

High

Medium

Medium

Medium

Low

Low

Medium
Slow

Medium
Very fast

Long
Medium

Very long
Medium

Very long
Slow

short
Fast

Medium

Very
heavy
Very
expensive

Light

Heavy

Very light

Very light

Expensive

Very
expensive

Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Description of comparison
Base on the table of competitor analysis, we could further understanding the specification of
design of each product manufacturer form different brand. Using internet research on safety
descender specification will help us to understand more about the conceptual design which
can be an improvement for the customer.
The draft design will have similarity with the existing product, but some of the feature will be
modify to fulfill customer requirement. Each have their unique selling point, but not all suits
customer taste. Hence, the custom design will fulfill customer requirement.

SPECIFICATION FOR:

Escape Descender

Author(s): No Name
No.

D/
W

Date: 1 August 2014

Design requirement
Function(s):

Consider safety factor of 5

2. Lifting ability

Descender will lift up for other user

3. Braking System

Prevent overspeed while descending

Descend with a suitable speed

Ensure safety of the products

ref standard: BS EN 12385-4 (2002)

Enable descender from 10th floor height

1. Maximum Test Load capability :

W
D
2

13kN

Performance/dimensions
D

Max weight : 12 Kg
Rope

Rope speed when pulling max load

Safety factor on rope breakage

Rope type and diameter

Rope Length

1.5 m/s

= 5

= 6mm / Steel Core

33 m

Drum
W

Drum Diameter

250 mm

Drum length

88.034 mm

No. of layers of rope =

Centrifugal Brake

Mass of Brake pad

0.3 kg

Angular Velocity

32.1699 rad/s

Brake Radius

40 mm

Centrifugal Force

12.4188 N

Braking Torque

0.9926

Operation:
W

Operation procedures

Able to operate by 1 people

Ergonomics

Able to function by anyone

Safety belt tied design to universal size of

people

Maintenance

Ease to assembly and maintain condition

Safety

Safety belt

Control

Safety release button

Easy to use when emergency

Brake system have try with different speed

of loading
Rope tensile strength test
Destructive test

Manufacturing:

4
D

Target manufacturing cost

150

Test procedures
W

Environment of operation:

5
W

Able to stand for any corrosive environment.

It able to support for any vibration or shock.

Sustainability:
W
Material able to reuse/ recycling

Material properties for stated parts:

7
W

Drum
=
Aluminium Alloy
Lightness
High corrosion resistance
High ductility/ easily deformable
Hight thermal/electrical conductivity

Casing
=
Aluminium
- Have tensile strengths between 70 and 700 MPa.
- Aluminium combines low density and high strength.
- Aluminium has excellent resistance in neutral and slightly acid
environments and provides excellent corrosion protection.

Hook
=
Stainless steel
- Stainless steel: Iron major element. Cr min. 10.5%
- Corrosion resisting grades
- Heat and creep resisting grades, for use over 550C

Brake Pad =
Semi- Metallic
- Low to medium coefficient of friction (0.28 - 0.38)
- Excellent temperature over 200 C
- Generally inferior noise, vibration and harshness

Brake Drum =
Cast Iron
High strength
Low production cost
Vibration dampening
Superior compressive strength compared to steel

Function
Tree
Descend
User Safely

Escape
Building

Attach Body

Mount
Building

Attach Body
Fast

Mount
Building
Firmly

Apply
Resistance

Attach Body
Easily

Prevent
Sliding

Measure
Speed

Attach Body
Comfortable

Control
Speed

Dissipate
Energy
Auto Adjust
Speed

Protect from
Environmen
t

Use by
Anyone

In Normal
Environmen
t

Withstand
High Weight

Resist Fire

Attach Body
of Different
Size

Resist
Corrosion

Triz Physical Contradiction (Separation in time) (Yeoh 2009)

Safety descender is needed for user to use it during escape from height to ground level.
However the safety descender is needed to automatically stop when the user reached to the
ground at a suitable speed descend speed.
1
2

When do I want to stop?

- After user have reached to the ground level.
When do I not want to stop?
- During smoothly descending from high level.

Suggested inventive principle for separation in time. (Tate and Domb 1997)
#09
#10
#11
#15
#16

Prior counter-action
Preliminary action
Beforehand cushioning
Dynamization
Partial or excessive action

#19
#20
#34
#37

Periodic action
Continuity of useful action
Discarding and recovering
Thermal expansion

#09 Prior counter-action = #11 beforehand cushioning (Tate and Domb 1997)
-

Create beforehand stress in an object that will oppose known undesirable working
stress later on.
o Example: Shock absorber system or mechanism.

#10 Preliminary action (Tate and Domb 1997)

-

Prearrange objects such as that they can come into action from the most convenient
place and without losing time for their delivery
o Example: Flexible hook or anchor point.

#15 Dynamization (Tate and Domb 1997)

-

Allow (or design) the characteristics of an object, external environment, or process to

change to be optimal or to find an optimal operating condition.
o Example: Self-braking or self-adjustable descending speed.

#16 Partial or excessive action (Tate and Domb 1997)

-

If 100% of an object is hard to achieve using a given solution method then, by using
slightly less or slightly more of the same method, the problem may be considerably
easier to solve.
o Example: Decrease the falling speed, increase the landing time or use more
powerful braking system.

#19 Periodic action (Tate and Domb 1997)

-

Instead of continuous action, use periodical or pulsating action.

o Example: Periodical descend instead of continuous descend to reduce the
forces.

#20 continuity of useful action (Tate and Domb 1997)

-

Carry on work continuously; make all parts of an object work at full load, all the time.

o Example: Breaking system is always providing forces on the rope to control

the user descend speed so that the user able to descend smoothly.
#34 discarding and recovering (Tate and Domb 1997)
-

Make portions of an object that have full filled their functions go away or modify
these directly during operation.
o Example: Conservation of energy

#37 Thermal expansion (Tate and Domb 1997)

-

Use thermal expansion (or contraction) of the materials

o Example: Expanding the rope or brake to generate more friction on the contact
surface area to adjust the descending speed or fully stop the descending.

Morphological Chart
Function

Means
On
Building

Air
Friction

Knot

Clip

Button

Magnet

Screw

Glue

Non-flammable
material

Vacuum

Water

Stainless Material

Vacuum

Nano
Technology

Apply Resistance

Clamp Drum

Clamp Rope

Internal Drum Brake

On Body

Measure Speed

Sensor

Tachometer

Centrifugal Force

Dissipate Energy

Heat Energy
Conversion

Kinetic Energy
Conversion

Sound Energy
Conversion

Electric
Energy
Conversion

Attach Body

Buckle Clip

Velcro

Hook

Mount Building

Hook

Bolt

Resist Fire

Coating

Resist Corrosion

Coating

Magnet

Concept Evaluation (Stage 1)

Concept 4 and concept 5 scored the highest in the first stage of conceptual evaluation. However, having a high score does not mean that the
concept is best to be used as final design. In this stage, braking ability and safety are the top priorities of the design criteria. Thus, concept 1,
concept 2 and concept 5 were chosen as they have positive score in the braking ability and safety.

Concept Evaluation (Stage 2)

The final design of the product will be a combination of the advantages from the three concepts by adopting the braking ability from concept 1,
attachment ability to various locations from concept 2 and the extra safety from concept 6. Thus, by combining the advantages from each
concept, the final design has more advantages than any of the conceptual design.

Flow Chart

Title
Choosing
Literature Review
and Research

Brainstorming

Project Planning and management

Functional
Product Design

Conceptual
Morphological Chart

Drawing Conceptual
Conceptual Evaluation
No
Selection of Final Design

Yes

Sustainability

Eco-it

FMEA

Calculation

Drawing Final Design

Final Submission

Critical Path Method

Individual reflection Section: Yen Foo Soon

Through the research, generally function of the product have been decide. By using the
function tree to determine the main and sub function as well as the mechanism of the product
will help us to understand easier.
Other than that, morphological chart is included to help use choose the important and useful
parts and mechanism to generate conceptual design. The result from the morphological chart
will be used as the generally guideline for the conceptual design.
Product design specification (PDS) is used to generate a list of data from the market research
and customer requirement such as the material, price, standard, function and etc. This will
become a list of requirement for the designer to follow in order to satisfy to customer.
Besides that, evaluation of Pugh method and Datum method is use to evaluate the conceptual
design generate from each member with different design and idea. The design will be chosen
based on the most suitable and who ever meet the most criteria of the product needed. The
chosen design might have the highest score and will become the final conceptual design. But
it doesnt means the other product is bad, hence we need to confirm the score is given to the
most important criteria only we can improve the product.
Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) was used to determine the product probability of
failure and to improve it to minimize to increase the factor of safety. Other than that, Eco-It
software also involved to show the product sustainability and environment free form
pollution. As a designer, it is very important to product a product which has a high
sustainability and environment friendly.
To create a professional engineering drawing by using Solidworks is able to show the detail
of the design in 3D view and easier for us to understand the overall function of the final
products. Using a software to generate drawing is much cleaner and tidy compare with using
hand drawing. The measurement were able to generate and is easier for a person without
engineering drawing knowledge to understand easier.
In the brainstorming section, a problem solving method known as triz is applied as well. It
provided a several suggestion while generation idea. It is a very powerful tools to innovate us
to think out of the box. The project planning and management is practices through teamwork,
solving the problem together, helping each other and etc.
In a nut shell, we have successfully design the product according to the demand and wishes
form the PDS. The design method had guide us from the beginning step by step until the final
design. It had teaches use how to cooperate and communicate with each other, share and learn
from each other.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

NAME:

Yen Foo Soon

ID NUMBER:

22048349

Title:

Escape Descender Design

Group:

NO_NAME

This record sheet is for your guidance only you may present your development record in any other format.
Key dates

What did you

do?

Why?

What did you learn from this?

How have/will you use this?

Any further action?

1/7/2014

Literature
review and
research.

To understand more
about the product
characteristic and
specification as well as
its function.

Same product could have different

type of design, purpose, function,
characteristic and prices. Dont get
bound by own knowledge. Think
out of the box.

The research material will used as a stepping

stone for our conceptual design by
combining their uniquinty.
Other method of transferring people from
high level to ground level will be taken into
consideration.

2/7/2014

Brainstorming

Discussing, generate
idea and get inspired
with team members

To enhance our communication as

well as team work. The ideas come
from each person is different some
what we expected. Not all the thing
occur according to what we plans.

By understanding each person ideas will help

us to proceed further and generate a better
conceptual design. All the possibilities of the
ideas could be useful for the following
process.

5/7/2014

Project
planning and
management

Distribute work evenly

to each team member

Teamwork had provide us more

understanding of what we need and
help each other to cover the part
which is insufficient information.
Trust and respect as a team.

Teamwork by separating the workload

evenly to increase the work progress. Using
the minimum time to archive the maximum
performance as a team.

8/7/2014

Function
analysis

Using the research

material and group
discussion to fully
understand the function

Function analysis provide us an

easy way of understanding the
product main and sub function. It
simplify the complexity of a

Using function analysis able to save some

time by avoiding unnecessary uncertainty.

of the product using

function analysis chart.

product as well as clear our

misunderstanding of the product.

9/7/2014

Morphological
chart

Discuss and apply the

weightage of the
product.

Morphological is a very good chart

which help us to determine which
conceptual design would have a
higher rating. But we need to
justify the result again by make
sure the important function is
chosen as a good rating.

Morphological chart is needed to narrow

down the selection of function and will carry
forward the chosen designs and combine
each own unique to create a better
conceptual design.

10/7/2014

Product Design
Specification

Referring to the research

specification to
understand what the
customer demand and
hope.

PDS able clearly stated what

demand and hope of the customer.
It is a guide for us to follow and
make sure we stay on the correct
path. So we can fulfill the customer
requirement.

PDS will be needed when we wanted to refer

the requirement of the design. For example
the type of material use, manufacturing cost,
length of the rope and etc. It can come in
handy as a list of requirement.

14/7/2014

Drawing
conceptual
design

To draw out the design

based on the
information and result
previously obtain.

Innovative and creativity drawing

skill is needed to generate a good
conceptual design. Each person
have its own design.

Drawing a conceptual design is to let others

more understand about how it function by
looking at it. It is a good way to deliver the
information to others.

16/7/2014

Conceptual
evaluation

To understand the
important parts using
Pugh method and
Datum method

By evaluating the design, we were

able to simplify the important of
useful part and combine the useful
part to generate a final conceptual
design.

It will become the key of the final design.

The final design will fulfill most of the
requirement and might left some small
problem which is in the acceptable range.

22/7/2014

Presentation

To present the work we

have done from
beginning.

Through presenting, we received

feedback from the tutor and student
and increase our presentation skill

Presentation will help increase the

impression and understanding of the product
to the customer about what we are trying to

as well as self-confident.

archive.

24/7/2014

Sustainability
analysis

Using Eco-it software to

generated the life cycle
of the product.

Understanding the importance of

the impact that may cause by the
product. The carbon emission,
material waste generated, product
life span and etc.

Create a product which is less impact to the

environment. Reduce the waste generate,
fully optimize the possibility of recycling the
product.

25/7/2014

FMEA

Analysis the product

reliability and quality.

Understanding the importance of

the product reliability and quality
by applying the FMEA

Improve the product sustainability and

quality.

26/7/2014

Gantt chart

List down all the

activity to ensure all the
activity is keep on track.

Fully utilize the time to complete

To perform the project systematically and
all the activity and avoid delay by
archive max performance.
knowing what and when the next is.

28/7/2014

Calculation

Calculate using equation

such as capstan,
centrifugal and etc. to
provide an accurate data
and result.

The importance of calculating that

will affect the outcome of a
product. The force, speed, tension,
torque and etc.

Ensure the product is able to perform

according to the requirement.

30/7/2014

Drawing final
design

Generate a complete
drawing using
Solidwork by having all
previous data and result
as the guidance.

The knowledge of using Solidwork

draw a proper engineering drawing
to show the completeness of a
product.

Using Solidwork to show the complexity of

the design, mechanism function, internal part
and etc.

References
1. CAPITAL SAFETY (2014). Rollgliss Descender - Sloped/Auto Retract. [online].
Last accessed 30 July 2014 at: http://www.capitalsafety.com/enus/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?prodId=1814
2. CAPITAL SAFETY (2014). Rollgliss R550 Rescue and Descent Device. [online].
Last accessed 30 July 2014 at: http://www.capitalsafety.com/enus/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?prodId=8404
3. INDEX MUNDI (2014). Aluminum Monthly Price - US Dollars per Metric Ton.
[online]. Last accessed 3 August 20114 at:
http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=aluminum&months=60
4. INTERLIFT (2012). Product guide. [online]. Last accessed 30 July 2014 at:
http://www.inter-lift.co.uk/static/files/product-catalogue.pdf
5. LATCHWAYS (2014). Latchways PRD (Personal Rescue Device). [online]. Last
accessed 30 July 2014 at: http://www.latchways.com/personal-rescue-device
6. LIFTING SAFETY (2014). Miller "SafEscape Elite" Automatic Rescue Descender to
Raise and Lower a Casualty (With handle) - Rope Lengths 20 to 180 Metre. [online].
Last accessed 30 July 2014 at: http://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/product/millersafescape-2815.html#Description
7. LIFTING SAFETY (2014). Protecta "AG152 Bimatic" Steel Rope Descender for
Successive Multiple Rescues - 5m - 100 Metre. [online]. Last accessed 30 July 2014
at: http://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/product/5m-to-100m-auto-descender2966.html#pricing
8. TATE, Karen and DOMB, Ellen (1997). 40 Inventive Principles With Examples.
[online]. How to Help TRIZ Beginners Succeed,. Article from The TRIZ Journal last
accessed 3 August 2014 at: http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/b/
9. YEOH, Teong San (2009). Contradiction. In: TRIZ - Systematic Innovation in
Manufacturing. Petaling Jaya, Firstfruits Publishing, 70-76.

Manufacturing and raw material cost

Raw Material cost
Aluminium price per kg = 1
Steel per kg = 0.80
Iron per kg = 0.40
Semi-metallic per kg = 0.63
Table 3 Raw material price list (Index Mundi 2014)
Raw material
Aluminium
Steel
Iron
Semi-metallic
Total

Weight (Kg)
6.6
2.4
1.6
0.4
11

Cost()
6.6
1.92
0.64
0.252
9.412

Manufacturing cost
Working day = 8 hour per day
Production rate = 500 per day
Labor cost = 8 per hour * 8 hours * 10 workers
= 640
Labor cost per unit = 640 / 500
= 1.7 per unit
Factory overhead cost per unit = 100

Total Manufacturing cost = Raw material + labor cost + factory overhead cost
= 9.412 + 1.7 + 100
= 111.11

Appendix: