Where a technician carries a dozen connectors through a full shift, weight stops being a detail. This aluminium karabiner gives 23 kN breaking strength at a fraction of the weight of steel, with a notably larger 22.5 mm gate that makes clipping to thicker anchor points quicker. Dual certified to BS EN 362 for fall protection and BS EN 12275 Class B/H for mountaineering, and additionally certified by the UIAA, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, which makes it equally at home in rope access work.
Key Features
- Substantially lighter than steel: The main reason to choose aluminium. Over a full harness rack the saving is significant and it is felt by the end of a shift.
- 22.5 mm gate opening: Noticeably larger than the 18 mm steel version, so it clips over thicker rings, bars and anchor points more easily.
- 23 kN breaking strength: Slightly below the steel version but still well above the EN 362 requirement.
- Dual certified plus UIAA: BS EN 362 Class B for fall protection, BS EN 12275 Class B/H for mountaineering, and UIAA certification on top. Genuinely dual-purpose.
- Screw locking collar: Simple and visibly checkable.
- Category III PPE: Under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 with a Declaration of Conformity.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 50 103 22 |
| Material |
Aluminium |
| Breaking Strength |
23 kN |
| Gate Opening |
22.5 mm |
| Operating Type |
Screw locking |
| Conformity |
BS EN 362 Class B, BS EN 12275 Class B/H |
| Additional Certification |
UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) |
| PPE Category |
Category III |
Note this is Class B only, not Class M. It is not rated for minor axis loading.
BS EN 362 Class B | BS EN 12275 Class B/H | UIAA Certified | Category III PPE
Conforms to BS EN 362 Class B for fall protection connectors and BS EN 12275 Class B/H for mountaineering connectors, with additional certification by the UIAA. Category III personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, supplied with a Declaration of Conformity. Requires inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months and immediate withdrawal after arresting a fall.
Suitable Applications
Aluminium connectors suit rope access, work positioning and any application where the operative carries their equipment all day and weight accumulates. The dual certification also makes this the right connector where work spans industrial fall protection and rope access disciplines, which is common in wind, telecoms and confined space work. The larger gate is a practical advantage on thicker anchor points. Where the connector will be in daily shared use, dragged over steelwork or exposed to knocks, steel will last considerably longer and is cheaper to replace.
More About This Product
Connectors are bought on price more often than any other component in a fall protection system, and they are the component where that is least sensible. A karabiner is the single point through which the entire system passes, and the difference between a good one and a poor one is measured in how the gate behaves after two years on site rather than in how it performs new.
The practical differences show up in use. A gate that is stiff with a glove on gets clipped carelessly. A connector too small for the anchor gets forced. One too large rolls out. None of these is a rating problem, and none of them appears on a spec sheet.
Gate Types, Roll-Out and Choosing by Anchor
Gate mechanism determines how a connector is used in practice. A screwgate is secure and slow, needing a deliberate twist to lock — and it is the one most often left unlocked, because locking it is a separate action nobody sees you skip. A twist-lock or triple-action gate locks automatically, which removes that failure mode entirely at the cost of being fiddlier with heavy gloves.
Roll-out is the failure mode that surprises people. A correctly rated connector can twist and come out of an anchor point that is too wide, too flat or awkwardly shaped, under load, without anything breaking. It is a geometry problem, not a strength problem, and no amount of extra rating prevents it. Where the anchor is a wide flat plate or a large eye, a connector with a captive-eye or a purpose-shaped body is the answer.
Gate opening is the dimension to check before buying a fleet. A connector that will not fit the anchor points on your site is useless whatever its rating, and the discovery is normally made on the day by someone who then improvises.
How to Use the Aluminium Karabiner
- Load along the major axis only: This is Class B, not Class M. It is not rated for minor axis loading, so orientation matters more than on the steel versions.
- Check the gate and collar: Gate must snap closed under its own spring, collar must wind fully down.
- Never load the gate.
- Treat drops seriously: Aluminium can crack under impact without visible deformation. A dropped connector must be withdrawn and examined.
- Avoid abrasive contact: Aluminium wears faster than steel where it runs against fixed metalwork or rope.
- Hand tight on the collar only.
Warning: This connector is Class B only and is not rated for minor axis loading. Aluminium is more vulnerable to impact damage than steel and may crack without visible deformation, so any connector dropped from height must be withdrawn. Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- Class B only. Load along the major axis. Not rated for cross loading.
- Confirm the gate closes fully and the collar winds down completely before every use.
- Withdraw and examine after any drop from height, as aluminium can crack invisibly.
- Inspect for wear grooves where the connector contacts fixed metalwork.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
- Do not modify, drill, machine or paint.
Inspection and Maintenance
Aluminium demands closer inspection than steel because its failure mode is different. Look for hairline cracking, particularly around the gate pivot, the nose and any point where the section changes, since aluminium can crack where steel would bend. Wear grooves matter more too: a groove worn into an aluminium body reduces section faster than the same groove in steel. Otherwise the checks are as any connector: gate closes fully under spring tension, collar winds smoothly to fully closed and fully open, markings legible, no distortion. Keep the collar thread clean. Any drop from height means withdrawal and examination, not a visual glance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is this Class B when the steel one is Class B and M?
Class M requires the connector to pass minor axis loading tests as well as major. This aluminium karabiner is certified for major axis loading only. In practice that means orientation matters more: it is less forgiving if it rotates in use. If cross loading is a realistic risk in your application, choose the steel Class M version or one with a captive pin.
Q: What does UIAA certification add?
The UIAA is the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, and its certification is a recognised additional standard above the EN requirements for climbing equipment. Combined with EN 12275, it means this connector is approved for rope access and climbing disciplines as well as industrial fall protection.
Q: How much lighter is it really?
Roughly a third to a half the weight of an equivalent steel connector. On a single karabiner that is barely noticeable; on a full rack carried up a tower or worn for eight hours it makes a real difference, which is why rope access technicians almost universally use aluminium.
Q: Will it last as long as the steel one?
No, if it is being knocked about. Aluminium wears faster and is more vulnerable to impact. In clean rope access use it lasts well; in daily site use shared between operatives, steel is the better economics.
