SIST EN 958:2017

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 958:2017
01-julij-2017
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 958:2007+A1:2011
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 - Systèmes absorbeurs d’énergie utilisés en Via
Ferrata - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d’essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 958:2017
ICS:
97.220.40 Oprema za športe na Outdoor and water sports
prostem in vodne športe equipment
SIST EN 958:2017 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN 958:2017

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SIST EN 958:2017


EN 958
EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

March 2017
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.220.40 Supersedes EN 958:2006+A1:2010
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 - Absorbeurs Bergsteigerausrüstung - Fangstoßdämpfer für die
d'énergie utilisés en Via Ferrata - Exigences de sécurité Verwendung auf Klettersteigen (Via Ferrata) -
et méthodes d'essai Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
Prüfverfahren
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 16 January 2017.

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, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2017 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 958:2017 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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SIST EN 958:2017
EN 958:2017 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Safety requirements . 6
4.1 Design . 6
4.1.1 Construction . 6
4.1.2 Connecting device . 6
4.1.3 Connection to the safety line . 6
4.1.4 Initial arrangement . 6
4.1.5 Rest attachment point . 6
4.2 Operation of the EAS . 6
4.2.1 General . 6
4.2.2 Force to initiate operation . 7
4.2.3 Dynamic performance . 7
4.2.4 Dynamic strength of the EAS under wet conditions . 7
4.3 Static strength of the energy absorbing system . 7
4.3.1 General . 7
4.3.2 Static strength of the whole system . 8
4.3.3 Breaking strength of the components of elasticated arms . 8
4.3.4 Breaking strength of the textile components of non-elasticated arms and harness
attachment point . 8
4.3.5 Energy absorber initiation force . 8
4.3.6 Breaking strength of the rest attachment point . 8
5 Test methods . 9
5.1 Design . 9
5.1.1 General . 9
5.1.2 Measurement of the distance between the two arm extremities . 9
5.1.3 Measurement of the overall length of the EAS . 9
5.2 Operation tests . 9
5.2.1 General . 9
5.2.2 Conditioning and test conditions for energy absorbing systems with textile
components . 9
5.2.3 Apparatus . 9
5.2.4 Procedure. 10
5.3 Strength test . 12
5.3.1 Determination of static strength of the whole system . 12
5.3.2 Fatigue test for elasticated arms . 12
5.3.3 Breaking strength of the textile components of non-elasticated arms . 13
5.3.4 Breaking test of the rest attachment point . 13
6 Marking . 14
7 Information supplied by the manufacturer . 14
Annex A (informative) Standards on mountaineering equipment . 16
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Directive 89/686/EEC aimed to be covered . 18
2

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SIST EN 958:2017
EN 958:2017 (E)
European foreword
This document (EN 958:2017) 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 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 September 2017, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by September 2017.
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 supersedes EN 958:2006+A1:2010.
In comparison to the previous edition EN 958:2006+A1:2010, the following technical changes have
been made:
a) in the scope, energy absorbing systems (EAS) according to this document have been limited to
users weighing not less than 40 kg (total weight without equipment) and no more than 120 kg
(total weight including the equipment);
b) additional design requirements for the arm and overall lengths;
c) in 4.2, the maximum braking length was changed to 2200 mm;
d) in Clauses 6 and 7, the requirements of 40 kg and 120 kg was added;
e) in 4.3.3 a fatigue test was added.
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 EU Directive(s).
For relationship with EU Directive 89/686/EEC, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of
this document.
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, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
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SIST EN 958:2017
EN 958:2017 (E)
1 Scope
This European Standard specifies safety requirements and test methods for energy absorbing systems
(EAS) for use in climbing on a Via Ferrata, for users weighing not less than 40 kg (total weight without
equipment) and no more than 120 kg (total weight including the equipment).
NOTE This European Standard is one of a package of standards for mountaineering equipment, see Annex A.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 565, Mountaineering equipment - Tape - Safety requirements and test methods
EN 1891, Personal protective equipment for the prevention of falls from a height - Low stretch kernmantel
ropes
EN 12275, Mountaineering equipment - Connectors - Safety requirements and test methods
EN ISO 2307, Fibre ropes - Determination of certain physical and mechanical properties (ISO 2307)
ISO 6487, Road vehicles — Measurement techniques in impact tests — Instrumentation
ISO 7000, 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 consisting of a fixed climbing installation including a safety line where the user is not always
supervised
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).
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
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.
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SIST EN 958:2017
EN 958:2017 (E)
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
part of the EAS between the energy absorber and the connecting device to the safety line of the Via
Ferrata; an arm may be elasticated or non-elasticated
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
3.8
elasticated arms
arms with a static elongation of the arm material, as measured in 5.2.4.5, greater than 5 %
3.9
rest attachment point
specific attachment point intended to attach the user to the safety line or to the anchor points of the Via
Ferrata to take a rest
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.

Key
1 connecting device (to Via Ferrata) 4 energy absorber
2 arm 5 harness attachment point (to climber)
3 rest attachment point
Figure 1 — Example of an energy absorbing system
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SIST EN 958:2017
EN 958:2017 (E)
4 Safety requirements
4.1 Design
4.1.1 Construction
4.1.1.1 General
All load bearing connections shall be designed so that they cannot be altered or disassembled by the
user, with the exception of removable connecting devices. EAS shall not have any sharp or rough edges
that may cut, abrade or cause injury to the user.
4.1.1.2 Distance between the two arm extremities
When measured in accordance with 5.1.2, the distance between the two extremities of the arms
(without connecting devices) shall be ≥ 1 000 mm, unless there is only a single arm.
4.1.1.3 Overall length of EAS
When measured in accordance with 5.1.3, the length of the energy absorbing system without
connecting devices shall be ≤ 1 500 mm
4.1.2 Connecting device
If the connecting device is a connector according to EN 12275, it shall be a type K connector.
If an EAS is not fitted with a connector of type K according to EN 12275, refer to the information
supplied by the manufacturer of the EAS (see Clause 7).
4.1.3 Connection to the safety line
There shall be at least two arms intended for attachment to the safety line, unless designed for a
continuous system which does not permit disconnection of the EAS from the safety line (except at entry
and exit points), where just one arm could be used.
4.1.4 Initial arrangement
The initial arrangement of the energy absorber shall be designed in such a way that it can easily be
checked by visual examination by the user.
4.1.5 Rest attachment point
The rest attachment point shall activate the energy absorber in case of fall.
4.2 Operation of the EAS
4.2.1 General
Table 1 summarizes the dynamic performance requirements of the EAS, which are described in detail in
4.2.3 to 4.2.4.
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SIST EN 958:2017
EN 958:2017 (E)
Table 1 — Summary of dynamic test requirements of the EAS
Symbol Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4
M 40 kg 120 kg 120 kg 120 kg
EAS wet or dry Dry Dry Dry Wet
Arm (s) The two arms The two arms If symmetrical Most constraining
connected connected test one arm. If (configuration
asymmetrical test with the
each arm. maximum braking
length)
Fmax 3,5 kN 6 kN 6 kN 8 kN
L < 2 200 mm < 2 200 mm < 2 200 mm < 2 200 mm
max
M: rigid steel mass equal to the maximum user weights (with equipment) and minimum user
weights (without equipment).
F : max. allowable impact force during dynamic test.
max
L : max. braking length.
max
4.2.2 Force to initiate operation
When tested in accordance with 5.2.4.2, the static force to initiate operation of the EAS shall be greater
than 1,3 kN (see Table 2).
4.2.3 Dynamic performance
The requirements of the dynamic tests 1, 2 and 3 shall be fulfilled (see Table 1).
a) When tested in accordance with 5.2.4.3 with a rigid steel mass of 40 kg the maximum impact force
shall not exceed 3,5 kN and the maximum braking length shall not exceed 2 200 mm.
b) When tested in accordance with 5.2.4.3 with a rigid steel mass of 120 kg the maximum impact force
shall not exceed 6 kN and the maximum braking length shall not exceed 2 200 mm.
4.2.4 Dynamic strength of the EAS under wet conditions
After conditioning the selected sample according to 5.2.4.4, when tested in accordance with 5.2.4.3,
using a rigid steel mass of 120 kg, the maximum impact force shall not exceed 8 kN, and the maximum
braking length shall not exceed 2 200 mm.
4.3 Static strength of the energy absorbing system
4.3.1 General
Table 2 summarizes the static strength requirements of the EAS, which are described in detail in 4.3.2
to 4.3.5.
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SIST EN 958:2017
EN 958:2017 (E)
Table 2 — Summary of static test requirements of the EAS
Minimum static strength
Symbol
kN
F 1,3
init
F 12
stat
F 12
stat-elast arm
F 15
stat non-el
...