The short answer
ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 is the window cleaning safety standard published by the International Window Cleaning Association and approved by the American National Standards Institute in 2001. It is not an OSHA regulation, but OSHA drew on it for its rules and uses it as evidence of recognized hazards and feasible fixes. Treat OSHA as the legal floor and I-14.1 as the industry's recognized practice.
What the standard covers
- Safe practices for window cleaning at height
- Equipment and its use
- How buildings and anchors support safe rigging, including anchor spacing for sound rigging
How it relates to OSHA
- OSHA included the standard in the record for its walking-working surfaces rulemaking, and many of the same principles now sit in 1910.27.
- OSHA does not cite violations of ANSI standards it has not adopted.
- OSHA does refer to industry standards like I-14.1 as evidence of hazard recognition and feasible abatement, including under the General Duty Clause.
OSHA 1910.27 vs. ANSI/IWCA I-14.1
| OSHA 29 CFR 1910.27 | ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Federal regulation | Industry consensus standard |
| Published by | OSHA | IWCA, approved by ANSI |
| Legal status | Enforceable | Not enforced directly; used as evidence of recognized practice |
| Anchor focus | Owner certification, 5,000 lb per worker, written confirmation | Safe rigging practice, including anchor spacing |
What it means for property managers
- Meet OSHA first: certified anchors and written confirmation before rope descent work
- Expect your contractor to work to recognized practice, and ask whether they follow I-14.1
- When adding or relocating anchors, lay them out for the drops the facade actually needs
- Keep records that show both: compliance with the rule, and a program that follows recognized practice
See what your window cleaning contractor should be asking about roof access.
Not sure where your building stands? Start with a free roof compliance survey, or read the full Roof Anchor and Fall Protection Compliance guide.
