SIST EN 131-4:2020+A1:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2025
Lestve - 4. del: Lestve z enim ali več pregibi (vključno z dopolnilom A1)
Ladders - Part 4: Single or multiple hinge-joint ladders
Leitern - Teil 4: Ein- oder Mehrgelenkleitern
Échelles - Partie 4 : Échelles articulées à articulations simple et multiple
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 131-4:2020+A1:2025
ICS:
97.145 Lestve Ladders
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 131-4:2020+A1
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.145 Supersedes EN 131-4:2020
English Version
Ladders - Part 4: Single or multiple hinge-joint ladders
Échelles - Partie 4 : Échelles articulées à articulations Leitern - Teil 4: Ein- oder Mehrgelenkleitern
simple et multiple
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 22 December 2019 and includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 11 June
2025.
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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists 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.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 131-4:2020+A1:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Content Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Functional dimensions . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Hinged ladders in “platform position” . 7
4.3 Hinged ladders in “stand-off” position . 8
5 Requirements . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Decking component . 8
5.3 Ladder hinged in the longitudinal direction . 8
6 Test methods . 9
6.1 General . 9
6.2 Tests method for hinge ladders . 9
6.2.1 Principle . 9
6.2.2 Strength test for ladders with hinges in longitudinal direction . 9
6.2.3 Additional strength test for ladders with more than one pair of hinges in
longitudinal direction . 10
6.2.4 Cyclic test of hinge joint . 11
6.2.5 Test of the ladder in the platform position . 11
6.2.6 Cyclic test of hinge joints for lateral hinge ladders . 14
6.2.7 Capacity to pass from storage positions to working position in lateral direction . 14
7 Marking . 15
8 User instructions . 15
Annex A (normative) Test sequence . 16
Annex B (informative) A-deviations . 18
Bibliography . 19

European foreword
This document (EN 131-4:2020+A1:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 93
“Ladders”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2026, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 2025-06-11.
The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags !".
This document supersedes !EN 131-4:2020".
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of Directive 2001/95/EC.
!Deleted text"
This document is one of a series about ladders. Other standards of this series are listed in Clause 2 and
in the Bibliography.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the
United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies the requirements, tests and marking of hinged combination ladders with one
or several hinge joints.
This document is not applicable to hinge-joints of combination and standing ladders as defined by
EN 131-1.
This part of the standard is intended to be used in conjunction with EN 131-1, EN 131-2 and EN 131-3.
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 131-1:2015+A1:2019, Ladders — Part 1: Terms, types, functional sizes
EN 131-2:2010+A2:2017, Ladders — Part 2: Requirements, testing, marking
EN 131-3, Ladders — Part 3: Marking and user instructions
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 131-1 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/ui
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
ladder hinged in the longitudinal direction
ladder with hinge-joints which enable folding (manual or automatic) in the longitudinal direction
Note 1 to entry: Excluding ladders covered in EN 131-1.
3.1.1
ladder with one lockable hinge joint device
ladder including a hinge-joint device with at least one predetermined lockable position with or without
extendable parts
Note 1 to entry: See Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Figure 1 — Position as leaning ladder
Figure 2 — Position as leaning ladder with extendable legs

Figure 3 — Position as standing ladder

Figure 4 — Position as standing ladder with extendable legs
3.1.2
ladder with several lockable hinge-joint devices
ladder having several hinge-joint devices with at least one fixed position which can be locked by hinge
joint devices at predetermined angles
Note 1 to entry: See Figures 5 to 8.

Figure 5 — Position as leaning ladder

Figure 6 — Position as standing ladder
Figure 7 — Position as Stand–off ladder

Figure 8 — Position as Platform
3.2
ladder hinged in the lateral direction
ladder having several hinge-joints enabling it to be folded laterally
Note 1 to entry: The hinge-joints can be located between the legs and the steps. The steps themselves can be
equipped with hinge-joints.
Note 2 to entry: See Figure 9.

Figure 9 — Ladder hinged in the lateral direction
3.3
decking component
single or multiple element forming a standing surface enabling the use of a multiple hinge-joint ladder
in the “platform” position
3.3.1
reference level
upper surface of the decking component, including the anti-skid surface
3.3.2
decking component height
h
height above ground of the reference level
3.3.3
overhang
l
length of the decking component after the last support point
4 Functional dimensions
4.1 General
Dimensions are given in EN 131-1.
If these ladders can be used as leaning ladders, then functional dimensions for leaning ladders shall
apply.
If these ladders can be used as standing ladders the functional dimensions for two-piece combination
ladders shall apply.
The inner width b shall be measured as shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10 — Dimension b
4.2 Hinged ladders in “platform position”
Table 1 — Functional dimensions
h l a b
3 10 α α
mm mm
min. – – 65° 65°
max. 1 000 50 75° 70°
a
For rung ladders.
b
For step ladders.
If the decking component fits within the stiles the gap shall be no more than 5 mm (see Figure 11). If the
decking component fits across the stiles, the overhang shall be no more than 25 mm on each side. The
platform shall be centred at ± 10 mm in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ladder. Where decking
components consist of multiple elements, they shall be assembled such that a person cannot fall
through them.
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 11 — Hinge-joint ladder in “Platform” position
4.3 Hinged ladders in “stand-off” position
Table 2 — Functional dimensions
l
α
min. – 65°
max. 1 200 mm 75°
Figure 12 — Hinged ladder in “stand-off” position
5 Requirements
5.1 General
The requirements are based upon a maximum total load of 150 kg.
Hinge-joint ladders are determined to be used by one person at a time.
5.2 Decking component
If the multiple hinge ladder can be used in a platform position, the decking component shall be
delivered with the product. The decking component shall be secured against unintentional movement
and shall have a durable slip resistant working surface. It shall be designed so as to be unable to slip and
tilt on the ladder.
5.3 Ladder hinged in the longitudinal direction
All hinges should be locked in the position of use except for the centre hinge in the standing ladder
position, which may be unlocked. The storage position (folded) is not required to be lockable.
6 Test methods
6.1 General
General provisions, see EN 131-2.
After each of the tests specified in Annex A, the ladder shall remain functional with no fracture or visible
cracks. The ladders shall sustain the load without ultimate failure. Permanent deformation is permitted.
After the test, fold the ladder completely to its storage/transportation position and open it again
completely. During this movement the locking system shall function without any interference. After the
test, the hinges/locking systems shall remain functional in all positions.
6.2 Tests method for hinge ladders
6.2.1 Principle
All the ladders conforming to Clause 3 shall comply with all tests and the requirements specified in
Annex A.
6.2.2 Strength test for ladders with hinges in longitudinal direction
The test shall be carried out on the complete ladder. The test shall be carried out on the maximum
extended ladder according to the manufacturers’ instruction. Lateral or pole type stabilizers shall not be
deployed in this test if the design permits the ladder to be used with the lateral or pole type stabilizers
removed or temporarily adjusted as permitted by EN 131-1:2015+A1:2019, 4.2.1, General.
Where the ascendable side cannot be determined by the construction of the product the ladder shall be
tested twice. For the second test the ladder shall be rotated 180° about the longitudinal axis. For
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