What is BS EN 341-Requirements and test methods for descender devices about?
BS EN 341 is a European standard on personal fall protection equipment that discusses the requirements and test methods for descender devices to ensure protection for workers against falls from a height.
BS EN 341 specifies requirements, test methods, marking and information to be supplied by the manufacturer for descender devices, which include descent lines (hereinafter referred to as lines), intended for rescue and to protect against falls in a rescue system, which is a personal fall protection system.
Note1: BS EN 341 does not specify requirements for descender devices that are used for descending in mountaineering, rope access or work positioning systems.
Note2: A descender device that enables the user to rescue himself and which conforms to BS EN 341 is personal protective equipment (PPE).
Who is BS EN 341-Requirements and test methods for descender devices for?
BS EN 341 on the requirements and test methods for descender devices is useful for:
- Descender devices manufacturers
- Descender devices test personnel
- Descender devices designers
- Occupational health and safety departments
- Risk assessment authorities
- Quality assurance departments
Why should you use BS EN 341-Requirements and test methods for descender devices?
Descender device is an automatic (type 1) or manually operated (type 2) device, including a line, by which persons can, at a limited velocity, rescue themselves or others from a higher to a lower position in such a way that a free fall is prevented.
BS EN 341 provides you with guidance on requirements, design, materials and construction, corrosion resistance, additional requirements for manually operated descender devices (type 2), additional requirements for descender devices for class D, marking and information, and test methods, examination of the design, etc.
The requirements and test methods provided by BS EN 341 assist you in improving the performance, quality and stability of the descender device and ensuring a reduction in the risk to workers while rescuing themselves or others if a fall occurs.
With obedience and compliance to BS EN 341, you can enhance descender devices’ effectiveness and efficacy and manufacture a standardized high-quality product.
What is changed since the last update?
BS EN 341:2011 supersedes EN 341:1992, which is withdrawn. BS EN 341:2011 has made some technical changes compared to the previous editions EN 341:1992. These include:
- The scope has been modified. Normative references have been updated
- Definitions for “automatic descender device (type 1)”, “manually operated descender device (type 2)”, “minimum rated load”, “maximum rated load”, "control device" and "panic locking element" have been incorporated
- The requirements have been re-structured. Test methods have been re-structured. The sequence of the several tests has been added. New subclauses have been incorporated, to address new requirements
- Additional requirements for marking of the device have been added. Four new figures for the description of the test procedures have been added