1910.66(e)(2): Tie-in guides
Key takeaways
- 1910.66(e)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart F).
- Related part: 1910.66(e)(2)(iii).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.66(e)(2) ("Tie-in guides") is one requirement inside 1910.66 Powered platforms for building maintenance, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart F). It includes 7 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) Tie-in guides.
(i) The exterior of each building shall be provided with tie-in guides unless the conditions in paragraph (e)(2)(ii) or (e)(2)(iii) of this section are met. Open (e)(2)(i)
See figure 1 in appendix B of this section for a description of a typical continuous stabilization system utilizing tie-in guides.
(ii) If angulated roping is employed, tie-in guides required in paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section may be eliminated for not more than 75 feet (22.9 m) of the uppermost elevation of the building, if infeasible due to exterior building design, provided an angulation force of at least 10 pounds (44.4 n) is maintained under all conditions of loading.
(iii) Tie-in guides required in paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section may be eliminated if one of the guide systems in paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(A), (e)(2)(iii)(B) or (e)(2)(iii)(C) of this section is provided, or an equivalent. Open (e)(2)(iii)
(A) Intermittent stabilization system. The system shall keep the equipment in continuous contact with the building facade, and shall prevent sudden horizontal movement of the platform. The system may be used together with continuous positive building guide systems using tie-in guides on the same building, provided the requirements for each system are met.
(1) The maximum vertical interval between building anchors shall be three floors or 50 feet (15.3 m), whichever is less.
(2) Building anchors shall be located vertically so that attachment of the stabilizer ties will not cause the platform suspension ropes to angulate the platform horizontally across the face of the building. The anchors shall be positioned horizontally on the building face so as to be symmetrical about the platform suspension ropes.
(3) Building anchors shall be easily visible to employees and shall allow a stabilizer tie attachment for each of the platform suspension ropes at each vertical interval. If more than two suspension ropes are used on a platform, only the two building-side suspension ropes at the platform ends shall require a stabilizer attachment.
(4) Building anchors which extend beyond the face of the building shall be free of sharp edges or points. Where cables, suspension wire ropes and lifelines may be in contact with the building face, external building anchors shall not interfere with their handling or operation.
(5) The intermittent stabilization system building anchors and components shall be capable of sustaining without failure at least four times the maximum anticipated load applied or transmitted to the components and anchors. The minimum design wind load for each anchor shall be 300 (1334 n) pounds, if two anchors share the wind load.
(6) The building anchors and stabilizer ties shall be capable of sustaining anticipated horizontal and vertical loads from winds specified for roof storage design which may act on the platform and wire ropes if the platform is stranded on a building face. If the building anchors have different spacing than the suspension wire rope or if the building requires different suspension spacings on one platform, one building anchor and stabilizer tie shall be capable of sustaining the wind loads.
See figure 2 in appendix B of this section for a description of a typical intermittent stabilization system.
(B) Button guide stabilization system.
(1) Guide buttons shall be coordinated with platform mounted equipment of paragraph (f)(5)(vi) of this section.
(2) Guide buttons shall be located horizontally on the building face so as to allow engagement of each of the guide tracks mounted on the platform.
(3) Guide buttons shall be located in vertical rows on the building face for proper engagement of the guide tracks mounted on the platform.
(4) Two guide buttons shall engage each guide track at all times except for the initial engagement.
(5) Guide buttons which extend beyond the face of the building shall be free of sharp edges or points. Where cables, ropes and lifelines may be in contact with the building face, guide buttons shall not interfere with their handling or operation.
(6) Guide buttons, connections and seals shall be capable of sustaining without damage at least the weight of the platform, or provision shall be made in the guide tracks or guide track connectors to prevent the platform and its attachments from transmitting the weight of the platform to the guide buttons, connections and seals. In either case, the minimum design load shall be 300 pounds (1334 n) per building anchor.
See paragraph (f)(5)(vi) of this section for relevant equipment provisions.
See figure 3 in appendix B of this section for a description of a typical button guide stabilization system.
(C) System utilizing angulated roping and building face rollers. The system shall keep the equipment in continuous contact with the building facade, and shall prevent sudden horizontal movement of the platform. This system is acceptable only where the suspended portion of the equipment in use does not exceed 130 feet (39.6 m) above a safe surface or ground level, and where the platform maintains no less than 10 pounds (44.4 n) angulation force on the building facade.
(iv) Tie-in guides for building interiors (atriums) may be eliminated when a registered professional engineer determines that an alternative stabilization system, including systems in paragraphs (e)(2)(iii) (A), (B) and (C), or a platform tie-off at each work station will provide equivalent safety. Open (e)(2)(iv)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.66.
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Powered platforms: Suspension height limits for transportable outriggers. (1998-10-01)
- Demonstrating equivalency for powered platform tie-in guides. (1998-06-10)
- Tie-in guides for platform stabilization. (1992-06-02)
- Anchors required for two-point suspension scaffolds. (1987-07-16)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.66(e)(2)(iii)
- 1910.66(e)(9) Emergency planning
- 1910.66(e)(3) Roof guarding
- 1910.66(e)(2)(iv)
- 1910.66(e)(2)(i)
- 1910.66(e) Powered platform installations—Affected parts of buildings
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Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.66 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.
