What Is WebRail Edge Protection?
Definition: WebRail is a portable fall arrest and tensioned guardrail system manufactured by Tie Down. Heavy-duty webbing is stretched between column towers that strap around a building's existing columns, forming a top rail, midrail, and toe rail along the open edge of a floor. The same webbing also serves as a fall arrest anchorage, so the system provides passive guardrail protection and active fall arrest at the same time — without drilling into or penetrating the structure.
Most edge protection forces a choice: install a guardrail for passive protection, or provide anchors for personal fall arrest when workers must lean over or work beyond the edge. WebRail does both. Its top, mid, and toe webbing is rated at 20,000 pounds, and up to four workers can be in fall arrest on a single span of webbing using a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline. Workers connect to WebRail's vertical fall arrest supports rather than the building column itself, which helps keep a falling worker from striking the floor or column.
Because WebRail attaches by strapping around columns with ratchet binders, it requires no drilling, embeds, or cast-in sockets — making it fast to install and relocate floor by floor. Column towers fit round and square columns up to 30 inches, and kits are available in 30-foot and 60-foot lengths, with chain kit versions and balcony posts for corners and ends. Each kit ships on its own stackable pallet. Through Scaffold Exchange, you can find vendors across the U.S. who carry WebRail edge protection and compare their inventory, rental rates, and availability in your area.
Key Components of a WebRail System
A WebRail kit arrives on a pallet with the components needed to protect a span of open edge between building columns.
Column Towers
Towers that strap to the building's existing round or square columns, up to 30 inches, and anchor the tensioned webbing without penetrating the structure.
Tensioned Webbing
Top, mid, and toe webbing rated at 20,000 pounds that forms the guardrail and doubles as a fall arrest anchorage for up to four workers per span.
Vertical Fall Arrest Supports
Intermediate support posts along the span that workers connect to, helping prevent collisions with the floor or column during an arrested fall.
Spring Tensioner Gauges
Gauges that show when the webbing has reached the correct tension, so crews can verify proper installation at a glance.
Ratchet Binders & End Posts
Recoiling column ratchet binders secure the towers, while terminating posts and balcony posts finish spans at ends and corners.
Common Applications & Job Site Uses
WebRail is used on multi-story construction throughout the United States wherever open floor edges between columns need both guardrail protection and fall arrest capability.
Open perimeter edges on concrete and steel frame buildings
Curtain wall and window installation at the slab edge
Exterior framing and cladding work from inside the floor
Material loading where workers must reach past the edge
Balcony edges using WebRail balcony posts
Parking structures and column-supported decks
Projects where drilling or cast-in embeds are not allowed
Fast floor-by-floor relocation as the building rises
How WebRail Compares to Other Fall Protection
WebRail combines features of guardrails and fall arrest anchors. Here is how it compares to other fall protection systems and which applications each suits best.
Temporary adaptable guardrail
- Posts mount to many structure types
- Passive protection only
- Rails between individual posts
- Best for varied open edges during construction
Full-height mesh panel barriers
- Top rail, midrail, and toe board in one panel
- Stops falling workers and falling objects
- Posts clamp or socket into the slab
- Best for high-rise slab edges and openings
Tensioned guardrail plus fall arrest
- Guardrail and anchorage in one system
- Up to four workers in fall arrest per span
- Straps to columns — no penetrations
- Best for column-supported floor edges
Temporarily fastened mobile anchors
- Fastened to the deck or structure
- Active fall arrest for multiple workers
- No guardrail protection
- Best for construction decks and roof framing
General perimeter edge protection
- Guardrails, panels, and netting
- Barriers along slab and floor edges
- Moves with construction progress
- Best for building perimeters during construction
Find WebRail Edge Protection Vendors Near You
Use the Scaffold Exchange map to search by location, filter by equipment type, and connect directly with local suppliers who carry Tie Down WebRail fall arrest and tensioned guardrail systems.
OSHA Compliance & Safety Standards
Guardrail and personal fall arrest systems on U.S. construction sites are governed by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.502, with general industry requirements in 29 CFR 1910. Guardrails must meet height and strength requirements, and fall arrest anchorages must support at least 5,000 pounds per employee or be designed by a qualified person with a safety factor of at least two. Tie Down states that WebRail's 20,000-pound webbing exceeds OSHA 1926 and 1910 requirements when installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Top webbing at compliant guardrail height above the walking surface
- Webbing tensioned to the gauge indicator before use
- No more than four workers in fall arrest per span
- Workers connect to vertical fall arrest supports, not columns
- Column towers installed only on columns within the size range
- Webbing inspected for cuts, abrasion, and UV damage before each use
1926.502
Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices — U.S. Construction Regulations
OSHA Interpretations & Rulings →