Additional information: static strength tests
Warnings
- Carefully read the Instructions for Use used in this technical advice before consulting the advice itself. You must have already read and understood the information in the Instructions for Use to be able to understand this supplementary information.
- Mastering these techniques requires specific training. Work with a professional to confirm your ability to perform these techniques safely and independently before attempting them unsupervised.
- We provide examples of techniques related to your activity. There may be others that we do not describe here.
The following tests were done in labs; they were done on new ropes and devices, but it is impossible to recreate every scenario. Warning: we did not test every rope on the market; the results of these tests could be different with other types of rope.
The test values are given for information only, to give an idea of the loads involved in such situations.
Values recorded during tests with new ropes, certified to current European standards (EN 1891 low stretch kernmantel ropes, EN 892 dynamic ropes), and with static ropes (non CE).
Warning: older ropes are generally weaker.
Testing done with slow pulls, until the first signs of rope damage appear.
Warning: the rope damage values, recorded during the dynamic tests (falls/shock loads) are generally lower than with slow-pull: the frame-loaded ascenders are not designed to hold shock loads.
| Static test Slow-pull EN 1891 type A low stretch kernmantel ropes |
Rope diameter | Beginning of sheath damage |
| 8 mm | 4.9 kN | |
| 8.5 mm | 5.5 kN | |
| 9 mm | 5.4 to 5.9 kN | |
| 10 mm | 5.7 kN | |
| 10.5 mm | 5.4 to 6 kN | |
| 11 mm | 5.3 kN | |
| 11.5 mm | 6 kN | |
| 12.5 mm | 6.4 kN | |
| 13 mm | 6.4 kN |
| Static test Slow-pull Dynamic rope EN 892 |
Rope diameter | Beginning of sheath damage |
| 7.7 mm | 5.1 kN | |
| 9.1 mm | 5.3 kN |
| Static test Slow-pull Static rope (non CE) |
Rope diameter | Beginning of sheath damage |
| 9.5 mm | 5.1 to 5.3 kN | |
| 11 mm | 6.2 to 6.4 kN | |
| 12.5 mm | 5.9 to 6.3 kN |
