A retractable fall arrest block pays out as you move and locks the moment you fall — like a seatbelt. That gives two things a lanyard cannot: freedom of movement without slack, and a much shorter arrest distance, which means less clearance is needed below.
The critical question is whether the block is approved for horizontal use. Most retractable blocks require an overhead anchor. Where the anchor cannot be overhead — on a deck, a roof or a gantry — only a block specifically approved for horizontal use may be used, and that approval is not something to assume from the model name.
Manufacturer specification. 20m (FA 20 410 20). High impact resistant polymer with stainless steel casing. x1 Swivel rotations. Vertical use only. Complete with swivel snap hook with load indicator at attachment end and shackle at anchorage end. Integrated carrying handle. The design of the internal mechanism in 2 different parts allows a perfect impermeability (meets IP68 level of IEC 60529) of the blocking-braking system. As for the pulley & wire rope part, it allows to replace the wire rope quickly & easily with minimum tools. Wire: ø4.5mm. Resistance: 12 kN. Max Weight: 140 KG. Conformity: EN 360, IP68 + ATEX Directive. Material: Casing: / Fittings: / Wire:
Key Features
- Conforms to EN 360: The applicable standard for this product type
- Stainless finish: Identifies the range on site — never repaint a lifting or safety product
- 20m (FA 20 410 20): As specified by the manufacturer
- High impact resistant polymer with stainless steel casing: As specified by the manufacturer
- x1 Swivel rotations: As specified by the manufacturer
- Vertical use only: As specified by the manufacturer
- Complete with swivel snap hook with load indicator at attachment end a: As specified by the manufacturer
- Integrated carrying handle: As specified by the manufacturer
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA-20-410-20 |
| Std |
EN 360 |
| Finish |
stainless |
EN 360 | LOLER Ready
20m (FA 20 410 20). High impact resistant polymer with stainless steel casing. x1 Swivel rotations. Vertical use only. Complete with swivel snap hook with load indicator at attachment end and shackle at anchorage end. Integrated carrying handle. The design of the internal mechanism in 2 different parts allows a perfect impermeability (meets IP68 level of IEC 60529) of the blocking-braking system. As for the pulley & wire rope part, it allows to replace the wire rope quickly & easily with minimum tools. Wire: ø4.5mm. Resistance: 12 kN. Max Weight: 140 KG. Conformity: EN 360, IP68 + ATEX Directive. Material: Casing: / Fittings: / Wire: Under LOLER 1998, lifting accessories and Category III PPE require thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, and immediate withdrawal after arresting a fall or any overload.
Suitable Applications
Work at height where movement is needed and clearance below is limited: tower and mast work, plant and process equipment, tank and vessel access, confined space entry and general maintenance. A block earns its cost over a lanyard wherever the arrest distance matters, because a lanyard plus absorber needs considerably more clearance than a block does.
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
- Check the use approval on the unit: Horizontal or vertical only. The marking on the block is definitive, not the model name.
- Check the fall indicator before use: Usually in the snap hook. A triggered indicator withdraws the block.
- Test the locking action: A sharp pull should lock the line.
- Guide the line back on retraction: Never let it snap back — it damages the line and shocks the mechanism.
- Fit edge protection where the line may cross an edge: Even wire rope is damaged by a sharp edge under fall arrest load.
- Do not open the casing: A sealed block is not field serviceable.
Warning: Confirm the horizontal use approval on your specific unit before working horizontally. Never release the line 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.
- Confirm the horizontal use approval on the specific unit before working horizontally.
- Check the fall indicator and test the locking action before every use.
- Fit edge protection where the line passes over a sharp edge.
- Withdraw immediately if the fall indicator has triggered.
- Do not open the casing or attempt repair.
- A rescue plan must be in place before work at height begins.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Inspection and Maintenance
Wind the full length out and inspect it: on webbing look for cuts, abrasion, fraying and heat glazing on both faces; on wire rope run a gloved hand along it feeling for broken wires, which protrude as sharp points and are the primary rejection criterion, along with kinks, birdcaging and corrosion. Let it retract under control and confirm full smooth return. Test the locking action several times. Check the fall indicator, the casing for cracks and impact damage, and all connectors for gate operation and throat wear. Never open the casing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Block or lanyard?
A block retracts, so there is no slack, and it arrests a fall in a much shorter distance — which means less clearance needed below. A lanyard is cheaper, lighter and has no mechanism to fail. Where clearance is limited, the block is the better answer.
Q: What does horizontal approval mean?
That the block may be used where the anchor is not overhead. Most blocks may not. It is the single most important selection criterion for deck, roof and gantry work, and it must be confirmed from the marking on the unit.
Q: Why must the line not snap back?
Because it damages the line, wears the internal components and shocks the mechanism. Guiding it back materially extends the block's life.
