EN 958:2024

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 958:2022
01-december-2022
Gorniška oprema - Sistemi za absorpcijo energije pri zahtevnem varovanem
planinstvu (via ferrata) - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne metode
Mountaineering equipment - Energy absorbing systems for use in klettersteig (via
ferrata) climbing - Safety requirements and test methods
Bergsteigerausrüstung - Fangstoßdämpfer für die Verwendung auf Klettersteigen (Via
Ferrata) - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren
Équipement d'alpinisme et d'escalade - Absorbeur d'énergie utilisé en via ferrata -
Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 958
ICS:
97.220.40 Oprema za športe na Outdoor and water sports
prostem in vodne športe equipment
oSIST prEN 958:2022 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 958:2022
oSIST prEN 958:2022
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 958
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2022
ICS 97.220.40 Will supersede EN 958:2017
English Version
Mountaineering equipment - Energy absorbing systems for
use in klettersteig (via ferrata) climbing - Safety
requirements and test methods
Équipement d'alpinisme et d'escalade - Absorbeur Bergsteigerausrüstung - Fangstoßdämpfer für die
d'énergie utilisé en via ferrata - Exigences de sécurité Verwendung auf Klettersteigen (Via Ferrata) -
et méthodes d'essai Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
Prüfverfahren
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 136.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 958:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 958:2022
prEN 958:2022 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Safety requirements . 7
4.1 Design . 7
4.1.1 Construction . 7
4.1.2 Connecting device . 8
4.1.3 Connection to the safety line . 8
4.1.4 Initial arrangement . 8
4.1.5 Rest attachment point . 8
4.2 Operation of the EAS . 8
4.2.1 General . 8
4.2.2 Force to initiate operation . 8
4.2.3 Dynamic performance . 9
4.2.4 Dynamic strength of the EAS under wet conditions . 9
4.3 Static strength of the energy absorbing system . 9
4.3.1 General . 9
4.3.2 Static strength of the whole system . 9
4.3.3 Breaking strength of the components of elasticated arms . 10
4.3.4 Breaking strength of the textile components of non-elasticated arms and harness
attachment point . 10
4.3.5 Energy absorber initiation force . 10
4.3.6 Breaking strength of the rest attachment point . 10
5 Test methods . 10
5.1 Design . 10
5.1.1 General . 10
5.1.2 Measurement of the distance between the two arm extremities . 10
5.1.3 Measurement of the overall length of the EAS . 10
5.1.4 Elastic arm static elongation method . 10
5.2 Operation tests . 11
5.2.1 General . 11
5.2.2 Conditioning and test conditions for energy absorbing systems with textile
components . 11
5.2.3 Apparatus . 11
5.2.4 Dynamic strength tests . 14
5.3 Static strength and fatigue tests . 16
5.3.1 Determination of static strength of the whole system . 16
5.3.2 Fatigue test for elasticated arms . 16
5.3.3 Breaking strength of the textile components of non-elasticated arms . 17
5.3.4 Breaking test of the rest attachment point . 17
6 Marking . 18
7 Manufacturer's instructions and information . 18
oSIST prEN 958:2022
prEN 958:2022 (E)
Annex A (informative) Standards on mountaineering equipment . 20
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 aimed to be covered . 22

oSIST prEN 958:2022
prEN 958:2022 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 958:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 136 “Sports,
playground and other recreational facilities and equipment”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 958:2017.
In comparison with EN 958:2017, the main changes are:
a) in the scope, energy absorbing systems (EAS) according to this document have been limited to users
over 14 years old weighing not less than 40 kg (total weight without equipment) and no more than
120 kg (total weight including the equipment) and the use is limited on via ferrata according to
EN 16869:2017;
b) modification of the maximum impact force in 4.2.3 a);
c) modification of the mass in 4.2.3 b);
d) modification of the test apparatus and the test method for the dynamic performance;
e) the manufacturer’s instructions and information take into account the previous modifications and
add the EAS disinfection.
This document has been prepared under a Standardization Request given to CEN by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU
Directive(s) / Regulation(s).
For relationship with EU Directive(s) / Regulation(s), see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part
of this document.
oSIST prEN 958:2022
prEN 958:2022 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies safety requirements and test methods for energy absorbing systems (EAS) for
use in climbing on a via ferrata according to EN 16869:2017, for users over 14 years old weighing not
less than 40 kg (total weight without equipment) and no more than 120 kg (total weight including the
equipment).
NOTE This document is one of a package of standards for mountaineering equipment, see Annex A.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 565:2017, Mountaineering equipment — Tape — Safety requirements and test methods
EN 892:2012+A2:2021, Mountaineering equipment — Dynamic mountaineering ropes — Safety
requirements and test methods
EN 1891:1998, Personal protective equipment for the prevention of falls from a height — Low stretch
kernmantel ropes
EN 12275:2013, Mountaineering equipment — Connectors — Safety requirements and test methods
EN ISO 2307:2019, Fibre ropes — Determination of certain physical and mechanical properties
(ISO 2307:2019)
ISO 6487:2015 , Road vehicles — Measurement techniques in impact tests — Instrumentation
ISO 7000:2019, Graphical symbols for use on equipment — Registered symbols
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
via ferrata
route, generally on rocky terrain, consisting of a fixed climbing installation including a safety line where
the user is not supervised
[SOURCE: EN 16869:2017, 3.1]
Note 1 to entry: The mere presence of a wire cable/rope on a mountain route does not constitute a via ferrata
(e.g. Hörnli Ridge on Matterhorn).

As impacted by ISO 6487:2015/AMD 1:2017.
oSIST prEN 958:2022
prEN 958:2022 (E)
3.2
safety line
flexible or rigid, horizontal, vertical or sloping, continuous or discontinuous installation, used as
protection against fall from a height and possible progression aid
[SOURCE: EN 16869:2017, 3.4]
3.3
energy absorbing system
EAS
device connecting the climber to the safety line, using an energy absorber to limit the impact forces on
the climber and the fixed installation
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
3.4
energy absorber
part of the EAS which limits the impact force during a climber's fall
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
3.5
braking length
increase in the distance between the connection to the safety line and the connection to the harness after
the climber's fall
3.6
initial arrangement
original configuration of an un-activated energy absorber
3.7
arm
...