Davit Inspection in Seattle, WA

Annual and 10-year compliance for davit arms, base sockets, and complete davit systems on Seattle high-rises.

What a Davit System Is, and What Makes It Different

A davit is the complete rooftop suspension system that lowers a window washing platform, bosun chair, or other suspended access equipment down the side of a high-rise building. It has two main parts: an articulating mast called the davit arm, and a fixed receiver called the davit base or socket, which is permanently mounted to the roof structure.

A davit is different from a fixed tie back anchor, which holds a single rope. A davit reaches out away from the building, so the worker, the platform, and the line all hang past the edge instead of dragging across the parapet. Davits are the most common rooftop suspension system on high-rise residential and commercial buildings in Seattle's downtown core, South Lake Union, Belltown, and the high-rise residential corridor in Capitol Hill.

Because a davit is a mechanical system with moving parts and a structural connection to the roof, the inspection has to cover both pieces independently. We cover the davit arm and the davit base as separate evaluations within the same site visit, and the report calls out each component's status.

Davit Inspection Requirements in Seattle

Davit systems are governed by the same OSHA fall protection rules that apply to fixed anchors, plus equipment-specific requirements that apply to powered and suspended platforms:

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1) requires owner certification of the 5,000 pound anchor capacity, including the davit base.
ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 sets the specific safety standard for window cleaning safety equipment, including davits and powered platforms.
Washington WAC 296-880 mirrors federal fall protection requirements with state enforcement.
Annual inspection by a competent person is required, with re-certification at 10 years.

For most Seattle high-rises, davit inspection happens at the same site visit as the rest of the rooftop fall protection inspection, with the davit reports issued as separate deliverables for the arm and the base.

The Davit Arm: What We Inspect Above the Roof

The davit arm is the articulating mast that the worker rigs to and lowers from. It is removable on most Seattle systems, which means it goes through more handling, more wear, and more opportunity for misalignment than the fixed base. A complete davit arm inspection covers:

Mast condition. The mast itself is inspected for straightness, weld integrity, paint or coating condition, and any visible deformation from prior overloads.
Boom and slewing joints. Boom pivot pins, king pin assemblies, and any rotating connections are inspected for play, wear, and proper greasing.
Suspension hardware. The suspension point at the top of the mast and any associated sheaves, fairleads, and rigging hardware are inspected.
Reach geometry. The reach and drop alignment of the davit are verified against the building geometry to confirm the worker lands in the right plane below the roof.
Manufacturer's plate. The arm is checked against the original manufacturer's rating plate and the current allowed configurations.

An arm that fails any of these checks is taken out of service immediately and either repaired or replaced before the building's next window washing cycle.

The Davit Base: What We Inspect at the Roof Connection

The davit base is the part most owners forget. It is the receiver socket, sleeve, or pedestal that is permanently embedded in or anchored to the roof structure. Every time the arm is inserted for window washing, the base has to hold the full load of the suspended worker plus the equipment. The base is also the part subject to OSHA 1910.27(b)(1) anchor certification, including the 5,000 pound capacity rule.

A proper davit base inspection covers:

Socket interior. The inside of the receiver is checked for corrosion, debris, deformation, and any wear from repeated arm insertion. This is the area where damage most often goes undetected because it cannot be seen without removing the arm.
Retaining pin and safety hardware. The pin that locks the arm into the base is inspected, along with any retaining clips, set screws, or safety lanyards that are part of the connection.
Base flange and substrate. The flange that secures the base to the roof structure, along with the surrounding concrete, steel, or other substrate, is inspected for cracks, settlement, water intrusion, and corrosion at the connection.
Base sealing. Around the base perimeter, roof sealant and any flashing details are checked for water tightness, since water entering the base socket from above is the single most common cause of base socket corrosion.
Load path verification. The 10-year recertification confirms the load path from the davit base through the substrate to the building structure still meets the 5,000 pound capacity requirement.

The base is the structural element under OSHA certification, so failures at this level are usually the most expensive to remediate. Catching base corrosion early matters.

Common Seattle Davit Issues We Find

Across the Seattle high-rise inventory, the same issues show up year after year:

Base socket interior corrosion. Seattle's wet winters and marine air drive water into the base socket, accelerating corrosion on the inside of the receiver where it is hardest to see without removing the arm.
Failed base sealing. Around the base perimeter, original roof sealant ages out and lets water track into the socket, often years before the corrosion shows up externally.
Loose or missing safety pins. The retaining pin that locks the arm into the base socket can be lost during use, or simply never installed correctly during the last rigging.
Worn slewing joints in the arm. On high-use davits, the pivot joints that allow the boom to rotate develop play that can mask itself until the unit is under full load.
Paint or coating failure on the arm or base, leading to undetected substrate corrosion.
Missing or illegible manufacturer plates. A davit without a clearly marked rating plate cannot be certified for use until the original capacity is documented.

Most of these issues can be addressed with maintenance or replacement of specific components. A few require coordinated work with the original davit manufacturer or a licensed structural engineer.

Seattle Davit Inspection FAQ

What is a davit?

A davit is the complete rooftop suspension system used to lower a window washing platform, bosun chair, or other suspended access equipment down the side of a high-rise. It has two parts: the articulating mast called the davit arm, and the fixed receiver called the davit base or socket, which is permanently mounted to the roof structure.

What is the difference between davit arm and davit base inspection?

The davit arm is the removable mast that the worker rigs to, with moving joints, suspension hardware, and a manufacturer rating plate. The davit base is the permanent socket or pedestal mounted to the roof structure. Both are inspected at every visit but they are separate scopes with separate failure modes. The arm sees more wear, the base sees more structural risk.

How often do davits need inspection in Seattle?

Davits require annual inspection by a competent person, with a full engineering recertification every 10 years. The annual visit covers visual, structural, and mechanical condition of both the arm and the base. The 10-year recertification involves an engineering review of the system, including proof load testing of the davit base.

What is a davit base pin and why does it matter?

The base pin is the retaining pin that locks the davit arm into its receiver socket on the roof. If the pin is loose, missing, or installed incorrectly, the arm can shift or come free under load. Pin condition and installation are one of the first things we check on every davit inspection.

Why does davit base corrosion go undetected?

The inside of the davit base socket is hidden when the arm is in place. Water tracking in around aged roof sealant can corrode the socket interior for years before the damage is visible from outside. Pulling the arm and inspecting the socket interior is the only way to catch this kind of damage, and it is a standard part of every ADS davit inspection in Seattle.

Can damaged davits be repaired or must they be replaced?

It depends on what is damaged. Worn pins, retaining hardware, and minor surface corrosion are usually field-repairable. Bent masts, failed welds, or substrate corrosion in the base socket typically require manufacturer involvement or full replacement. Our inspection report includes a repair-versus-replace recommendation for any deficient component.

Do I need davit inspection if I also do tie back recertification?

Yes. Davits and tie backs are separate systems with separate certification requirements. A building can have both, and most Seattle high-rises do. Both should be inspected annually and recertified on their 10-year cycles. ADS performs both as part of a coordinated annual visit.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact ADS today for a free evaluation. We will assess your building's fall protection systems and provide a detailed report with no obligation. Call us at (206) 338-2584.