EN 360 relates to devices which contain a lanyard for attachment between a full body harness and a suitable anchorage device. In these devices, the lanyard will retract (under a spring loaded mechanism) back onto a drum in the casing of the device. In the case of a fall, a braking device (or similar) will cause the drum to lock, arresting the fall of the user in as short a distance as possible.

1) Dynamic Performance

Retractable lanyards are subject to a drop test similar to that used for lanyards (using a solid 100 kg test mass, measuring arrest distance and arrest force). However, the drop height for this test is fixed at 600 mm, irrespective of the total length of the device. A clip is applied to the lanyard at 600 mm to prevent it being retracted back into the case, and allow a clear freefall. The lanyard should not deploy beyond a maximum length of 1.4 metres (essentially arresting the fall within 2 metres from the point of release), with a maximum arrest force of 6 kN.

2) Locking After Conditioning

In the case of mechanical devices, additional testing is required to ensure they are not adversely affected by environmental conditions. Devices are checked for their locking function (by dropping a mass of at least 5 kg) following conditioning to high temperature (50°C, 85 % relative humidity for at least 2 hours), low temperature (-30°C for at least 2 hours) and water (sprayed at 70 litres per hour for at least 3 hours). Optional testing following submersion in diesel oil or dust can also be included.

3) Corrosion Resistance

Metallic components used in fall protection equipment are subjected to a neutral salt-spray test intended to prove a minimum resistance to environmental corrosion (specifically rust). Products are held within a sealed chamber, which is filled with a salt-water mist, which can induce rust in unprotected metals. Products are subjected to either 24 or 48 hours exposure and examined for rusting and function afterward.

4) Static Strength

Whole products are subjected to tensile tests. Textile lanyards are subject to a 15 kN tensile force and metal to 12 kN.  Tensile forces are applied and held for at least 3 minutes, to ensure the breaking strength of the product is in excess of the force specified by the standard.

Systems made up of a line intended to be fixed (either temporarily or permanently) to a structure at the top only, on which a travelling device is attached. The user connects to this travelling device when climbing or descending – in the case of a fall, the travelling device should grip the line and arrest the fall.

1) Static Strength

Connectors are subject to a range of tensile strength tests, applied in several directions, depending on the type of connector. Where a connector has only one possible direction of loading (e.g. where one end of the connector is permanently attached to another component), loading is applied in only one direction. However, where foreseeable misuse could result in loading being applied in directions other than the ‘main’ direction, testing is required in both the major (length) axis and minor (width) axis. In addition, where connectors do not automatically lock on closure, testing is carried out with gate both locked and unlocked.

In the case of EN 362, tensile loads are applied and held for 3 minutes, whereas in EN 12275, the load is increased to the point where breakage occurs. Therefore, it is important when comparing products, to be aware of which standard the connector has been tested to.

2) Corrosion Resistance

Metallic components used in fall protection equipment are subjected to a neutral salt-spray test intended to prove a minimum resistance to environmental corrosion (specically rust). Products are held within a sealed chamber, which is filled with a salt-water mist, which can induce rust in unprotected metals. Products are subjected to either 24 or 48 hours exposure and examined for rusting and function afterward.