Regulatory standards

A standard number means nothing without its type and class.

Most equipment pages give you a row of standard numbers and leave you to it. This page explains what each one on our range actually certifies, and where it is and is not accepted.

European standards

EN, and why the type matters

The EN series splits work-at-height equipment by function. Two devices carrying the same standard number can be certified for opposite jobs, which is why the type and class always travel with the number.

Rope adjustment devices

EN 12841

Type A is a backup device on a safety line. Type B is an ascender. Type C is a descender. They are not interchangeable, and a Type C used as a backup is not a backup.

Descender devices

EN 341

Rescue descent devices, graded by class. Class 2A covers the descent energy typical of industrial lowering. The class tells you how much total descent the device is rated to deliver.

Connectors

EN 12275

Karabiners for climbing and mountaineering, by shape and gate type. Read it alongside the major-axis, minor-axis and gate-open strengths, because a cross-loaded connector loses roughly two thirds of its rating.

Rope clamps

EN 567

Ascending devices for climbing. Specifies holding on the rope diameters declared — using a device outside its declared diameter range puts it outside its certification.

Chinese national standards

GB, GB/T, XF, JB/T and QB/T

Our production is declared to the Chinese national standards below. GB is mandatory, GB/T recommended, XF covers fire and rescue service equipment, JB/T is a machinery-industry standard and QB/T a light-industry one.

Rope

GB/T 8834-2016

Test methods and performance for climbing rope: impact force, number of falls, static elongation and sheath slippage. The figures on our rope pages are measured against it.

Helmets

GB 24429-2009

Sport and climbing helmets: shock absorption, penetration resistance and retention-system strength.

Lanyards

GB 24543-2009

Safety belts and lanyards for work at height, covering static strength and dynamic performance.

Anchorage devices

GB 30862-2014

Fall-protection anchor devices, including the wire rope slings we supply for sharp and abrasive anchors.

Rescue equipment

XF 494

Fire-service rescue equipment requirements. Applied to our ascenders, rope clamps and rescue pulleys.

Footrest and bags

JB/T 8521.1-2007 · QB/T 1333-2018

Webbing sling performance, and multipurpose bag construction, respectively.

Acceptance

The part your inspector cares about

A standard is not a passport

Equipment declared to a Chinese national standard is not automatically acceptable to a Canadian, US or European jurisdiction, and the reverse is equally true. Tell us the market you are supplying and we will confirm what is required before you order.

Ask for the type and class in writing

If a supplier will not put the clause, type and class on the declaration, treat the certificate as marketing. Ours are issued per part number.

Local law sits on top

Standards describe the equipment. Your jurisdiction’s regulations describe the duty — training, inspection intervals, rescue provision and record keeping. Meeting one does not discharge the other.

Periodic inspection is a legal act

Pre-use inspection is the user’s job. Periodic inspection is a competent person’s, at the interval your regulator sets, with a written record.

Certification & documentation

Specifying for a regulated market?

Send us the jurisdiction and the task. We will tell you what the equipment has to be declared to, and whether we can supply it.

Ask a compliance question