Energy absorbers

Compact stitched webbing fall arrester packages are the most common design, and there are also flexible variants that are stitched along the entire length of the connecting device to absorb the fall energy.

Friction fall arresters are still available on the market, but they are less commonly encountered. In the event of a fall, the fall energy should be dissipated by the tearing of the stitching or the slipping of the friction element, reducing it to a level of maximum 6kN that can still be tolerated by the human body.

For protection, fall arresters can be used in single-strand (I-shape) configuration, allowing the user to have a permanent connection between the harness and the anchor point. Changing or relocating is not possible, as releasing the connection would result in no longer being secured.

In this case, Y-shaped fall arresters are used, where the second arm of the connecting device allows for relocating or changing the anchoring device without leaving the user unprotected.

Fall arrester systems according to EN 355 are offered in various lengths and with different EN 362 certified carabiner hooks, allowing the user to select the most suitable configuration for the intended use. The permissible length of a fall arrester, including the connecting device and carabiner, must not exceed 2m. The required free fall clearance below the user must be taken into account when using fall arresters.

Different lengths, designs, the user's body weight, and the choice of anchor point height require different distances to dissipate the fall energy. Therefore, it is not possible to determine in advance how far the fall arrester will deploy in the event of a fall. Under no circumstances should a fall arrester be used for work in suspension, as it can trigger at just 2kN. Fall arresters are disposable items; once they have been partially deployed, they must be discarded immediately and should not be reused. show less