Where webbing frays against rough steel, wire rope does not. That is the reason to choose a Helixon over a webbing block: on structural steelwork, in a foundry, around weld spatter or anywhere the line drags across abrasive surfaces, wire rope survives conditions that shorten a webbing block's life considerably.
The **S versions are approved for horizontal as well as vertical use**, which is the other significant advantage. A standard webbing block requires an overhead anchor; the Helixon-S can be used along a horizontal run, which opens up work on decks, roofs and gantries where an overhead point simply does not exist.
Three practical details set these apart: a **window in the casing** so the wire can be inspected without dismantling anything, a **wire rope brush** that cleans the line as it retracts, and a **guide rope** for controlling the rewind rather than letting the wire snap back.
Key Features
- Galvanised wire rope: Resists the abrasion that destroys webbing on rough steel, and does not degrade under UV.
- Horizontal and vertical approval on S versions: The 3.5 m, 7 m, 10 m and 15 m Helixon-S are approved for horizontal use. The 20 m and the non-S versions are vertical only.
- Inspection window: Allows the wire to be checked through the casing, which is otherwise the hardest part of a sealed block to assess.
- Wire rope brush: Cleans the wire as it winds back, extending its life and keeping grit out of the mechanism.
- Guide rope supplied: For controlling the rewind. A wire rope allowed to snap back damages both the wire and the mechanism.
- Twin swivel rotations: Two swivel points rather than one, so the block follows the user without twisting the wire.
- Fall indicator built into the snap hook: Visible where the user connects.
- Carrying handle: These are heavier than webbing blocks and get moved between positions.
Technical Specifications
| Product Code |
Length |
Wire Ø |
Use Approval |
Notes |
| FA 20 402 03 |
3.5 m |
4.8 mm |
Horizontal and vertical |
Helixon-S |
| FA 20 402 03B |
3.5 m |
4.8 mm |
See product marking |
Helixon |
| FA 20 402 07 |
7 m |
4.8 mm |
Horizontal and vertical |
Helixon-S |
| FA 20 402 10 |
10 m |
4.8 mm |
Horizontal and vertical |
Helixon-S, VG 11.060 |
| FA 20 402 10B |
10 m |
4.8 mm |
See product marking |
Helixon |
| FA 20 402 15 |
15 m |
4.8 mm |
Horizontal and vertical |
Helixon-S |
| FA 20 402 20 |
20 m |
4.5 mm |
Vertical only |
Helixon, ATEX Directive |
All: high impact polymer casing, twin swivel, resistance 12 kN, maximum user 140 kg, BS EN 360. Note the 20 m uses 4.5 mm wire where the rest use 4.8 mm, and is vertical use only despite being the longest.
BS EN 360 | S Versions Horizontal and Vertical | 20m Version ATEX | Category III PPE
Conforms to BS EN 360 for retractable type fall arresters. The Helixon-S versions are approved for horizontal and vertical use; the 20 m FA 20 402 20 is vertical use only and additionally complies with the ATEX Directive. The 10 m also meets VG 11.060. Category III PPE under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months and immediate withdrawal after arresting a fall.
Suitable Applications
Wire rope blocks belong wherever the line takes punishment: structural steel erection, shipbuilding and repair, foundries and hot work areas, quarrying and heavy industry, and any environment with abrasive surfaces or sharp edges. The horizontal approval on the S versions makes them the choice for deck and roof work where no overhead anchor exists. The 20 m version's ATEX compliance additionally suits refineries, tank farms and process plant. For clean environments with an overhead anchor, a webbing block is lighter and cheaper.
More About This Product
A retractable block is the most mechanically complex item in a typical fall protection kit, and the only one the user cannot inspect internally. Everything else — harness, lanyard, connectors — can be examined by eye and hand. A block is a sealed case containing a spring, a drum, a brake and a fall indicator, and the user sees none of it.
That is why the pre-use checks matter so much. Winding the line fully out, feeling it retract, testing the lock with a sharp pull and checking the fall indicator are the only windows into whether the mechanism still works. They take under a minute and they are the difference between a working block and a heavy metal box.
Clearance, Edges and the Horizontal Question
Three things determine whether a block is the right choice, and all three are commonly got wrong.
Clearance. A block arrests in a much shorter distance than a lanyard, which is usually why it is chosen. But the arrest distance is not zero: it is the deceleration distance plus the user's height below the attachment point plus a safety margin. On a short block over a low structure the numbers get tight quickly, and the block's own datasheet gives the figure to work from.
Edges. Where the line can cross an edge in a fall, the edge becomes the failure point. A wire rope line will be cut by a sharp steel edge under fall arrest load as readily as webbing. Blocks specifically rated for leading edge use exist and are constructed differently; a standard block used over an edge is being used outside its approval.
Horizontal use. Most retractable blocks require an overhead anchor and are not approved for horizontal work. On a deck, a roof or a gantry the anchor is often at or below foot level, which changes both the fall factor and the way the line runs. Only a block specifically marked for horizontal use may be used that way, and it is not something to infer from the model name or the supplier's category page.
How to Use the Wire Rope Block
- Check the use approval on the unit: S versions permit horizontal use; the 20 m does not. The marking on the block is definitive.
- Check the fall indicator in the snap hook before use.
- Test the locking action: A sharp pull should lock the wire.
- Use the guide rope for rewind: Never let the wire snap back. It damages the wire, the brush and the mechanism.
- Inspect through the window: Wind the wire out and check it through the casing window as well as the exposed length.
- Consider edge protection on horizontal use: Even wire rope is damaged by a sharp edge under fall arrest load.
Warning: Check the horizontal use approval on your specific unit. The 20 m version is vertical use only. Never release the wire to retract unguided. Withdraw any block whose fall indicator has triggered.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- Maximum user weight 140 kg including tools.
- Confirm the horizontal use approval on the specific unit before working horizontally.
- Check the fall indicator and test the locking action before every use.
- Use the guide rope to control rewind.
- Fit edge protection where the wire passes over a sharp edge.
- Withdraw immediately if the fall indicator has triggered.
- Do not open the casing or attempt repair.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Inspection and Maintenance
Wire rope fails differently from webbing, and the failure signs are specific. Wind the full length out and run a gloved hand along it feeling for broken wires, which protrude as sharp points and are the primary rejection criterion. Look for kinks, birdcaging where the strands have separated, corrosion, and flattening. Use the inspection window to check the wire that remains inside the casing, which is otherwise invisible and is the section most often overlooked. Check the wire brush is present and clean, the guide rope is intact, and the snap hook's fall indicator has not triggered. Never open the casing.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Wire rope or webbing block?
Wire rope where the line will be dragged across steel, exposed to spatter or used in abrasive conditions, and where horizontal use is needed. Webbing where the environment is clean, weight matters and the anchor is overhead. Wire lasts considerably longer in hard conditions; webbing is lighter and cheaper.
Q: What does the S mean in Helixon-S?
The S versions are approved for horizontal as well as vertical use, which most retractable blocks are not. If your anchor cannot be overhead, that approval is what you need. Check the marking on the unit rather than the code alone.
Q: Why is the 20m vertical only when shorter ones aren't?
It is a different specification: 4.5 mm wire rather than 4.8 mm, and certified for vertical use only, though it does add ATEX compliance. Length and horizontal approval are separate things, and it is worth checking rather than assuming the longest is the most capable.
Q: What is the inspection window for?
Checking the wire that is still wound inside the casing. On a sealed block that section is normally invisible, and it is the part that sees least daylight and most neglect. Being able to see it makes a proper inspection possible without opening a unit you must not open.
Q: Why does the wire need a guide rope for rewind?
Because an unguided wire snaps back at speed, which damages the wire, wears the brush and shocks the mechanism. The guide rope lets you feed it back under control, and using it materially extends the block's life.
