EN 12841:2024/prA1

EN 12841:2024/prA1 is a CEN draft amendment to EN 12841:2024 for rope adjustment devices used in rope access systems. It updates the technical requirements, test methods, marking and manufacturer’s instructions and information for devices used in personal fall protection equipment, so manufacturers, test laboratories and conformity assessors can work to the same rules.

What does EN 12841:2024/prA1 specify?

EN 12841:2024/prA1 specifies changes to the European Standard for rope adjustment devices intended for use in rope access systems. The scope remains focused on requirements, test methods, marking, and manufacturer’s instructions and information.

The amendment is organized as a set of modifications to Clause 2, 4.2, 4.5.5, 4.5.6, 5.6.3, 5.7.4 and Clause 7 of EN 12841:2024. It also points to informative Annex ZA, which is the part used for the relationship with EU legislation.

What are the key requirements of EN 12841:2024/prA1?

EN 12841:2024/prA1 changes the way some requirements are assigned to Type A, Type B and Type C rope adjustment devices, and it tightens several test and information points.

Type-specific requirements

Clause 4.2 replaces Table 1 with a clearer overview of which requirements apply to which device type and under which conditioning. In practice, this helps manufacturers and test labs see whether a requirement applies to Type A, Type B or Type C, and whether extra conditioning such as heat, wet, very cold, or wet and cold applies when claimed.

Type C descent speed and locking

Clause 4.5.5 changes the Type C requirement for descent velocity and panic locking. When tested with a rigid steel mass of 100 kg or a mass equivalent to the maximum rated load, whichever is greater, the device must be able to limit descent to the speed claimed in the manufacturer’s instructions, provided that claim is between 0.5 m/s and 2.0 m/s, and keep the mass off the ground. This matters because the claimed operating speed now has to be stated clearly and verified under test.

Temperature rise

Clause 4.5.6 limits the temperature-rise requirement to general conditioning only. That tells testers and manufacturers when this check applies, so they do not apply it to every environmental conditioning case.

Type A dynamic strength test

Clause 5.6.3 revises the dynamic strength and residual strength test for Type A rope adjustment devices. It uses a figure-of-eight knot, a blocked device position below the anchor point, and the test layout shown in Figure 8. In practice, this gives laboratories a defined fall-test arrangement for the Type A design.

Type C speed test and user information

Clause 5.7.4 changes the Type C velocity test so the anchor line is pulled through the device for 50 m at the maximum velocity claimed by the manufacturer. Clause 7 then adds a new instruction item for Type C devices: the maximum speed the device is intended to be operated with. That means the operating speed must be part of the supplied user information.

What terms does EN 12841:2024/prA1 define?

• Rope adjustment devices - Devices covered by EN 12841:2024/prA1 for adjusting rope in rope access systems.
• Rope access systems - The system context in which these devices are intended to be used.
• Type A rope adjustment devices - The Type A devices covered by the dynamic strength and residual strength test rules.
• Type B rope adjustment devices - The Type B devices covered by the free-movement and release-prevention-related requirements.
• Type C rope adjustment devices - The Type C devices covered by the locking, descent-speed and temperature-rise requirements.
• General conditioning - The baseline conditioning used for testing, distinct from extra cases such as heat, wet, very cold, and wet and cold when claimed.
• Panic locking - The locking behavior checked together with descent velocity for Type C devices.

Who uses EN 12841:2024/prA1?

EN 12841:2024/prA1 is used by manufacturers of rope adjustment devices, test laboratories, certification and conformity assessment bodies, and quality teams checking product compliance. It is also relevant to buyers, specifiers and rope access service providers who need to select devices and verify the claims in the manufacturer’s instructions.

What changed in EN 12841:2024/prA1 from the previous edition?

EN 12841:2024/prA1 modifies EN 12841:2024. The amendment updates Clause 2 with footnotes for EN 364:1992, EN 365:2004 and EN ISO 9227:2022, replaces Table 1 in 4.2, revises the Type C descent-velocity and panic-locking requirement in 4.5.5, limits the temperature-rise requirement in 4.5.6 to general conditioning, revises the Type A dynamic-strength test set-up in 5.6.3, updates the Type C pull test in 5.7.4, and adds a Type C operating-speed item to Clause 7.

Which standards are used with EN 12841:2024/prA1?

Clause 2 cites EN 364:1992, EN 365:2004 and EN ISO 9227:2022, and the amendment adds footnotes to each of those references to point to their associated amendments. These are the external documents EN 12841:2024/prA1 relies on where it refers testers and manufacturers to related test and information rules.

What does the EN 12841:2024/prA1 document contain?

The document contains a foreword, a contents list, and seven modification clauses that alter EN 12841:2024. It includes a replaced requirement overview table for Type A, Type B and Type C devices, a revised Type A dynamic-strength figure and test arrangement, and updated wording for Type C descent speed, locking, temperature rise, and user information. Annex ZA is noted as the part used for the relationship with EU legislation.