What is BS EN 17109 about?
BS EN 17109 discusses mountaineering equipment. BS EN 17109 specifies safety requirements and test methods for rope courses. BS EN 17109 discusses the components of an individual safety system for protection against a fall from a height used in permanent and mobile rope courses as defined in EN 15567-1.
The products considered in BS EN 17109 are not intended to limit, by themselves, the deceleration of the fall of the user, as defined in EN 15567-1. For this requirement, it is essential to consider the whole ropes course system.
Note: Safety lines and harnesses are not covered in this standard.
Who is BS EN 17109 for?
BS EN 17109 on mountaineering equipment is useful for:
- Manufacturers of mountaineering equipment
- Trekking expedition companies
- Rescue workers
- Professional mountaineers
Why should you use BS EN 17109?
Rope courses can be safe when all safety procedures are followed. But there is the possibility of serious injury if they are not. The foremost responsibility of the facilitator is safety. Safety requirements and tests given in BS EN 17109 cover aspects such as design and construction, static strength, manual extraction test, function under a test load (only for MCD with pulleys), deformation test for MCD, static strength test, MCD transversal static strength test, locking devices of the opening of the MCD, stability of tape, and corrosion resistance.
BS EN 17109 provides safety requirements and test methods for individual safety systems for rope courses so that there is a flexible or rigid, horizontal, vertical or sloping, continuous or discontinuous device used as a protection against falling from a height.