A connector is the link between one part of a fall protection system and another, and BS EN 362 classifies them by what they are designed to connect to. That classification is worth understanding, because the classes are not interchangeable.
Class A anchor connectors attach to a specific anchor point. Class B basic connectors are general purpose. Class M multi-use connectors may be loaded along the major and minor axes. Class T termination connectors are designed to stay in one place in a subsystem. Using a connector outside its class is the commonest way a compliant system stops being compliant.
Manufacturer specification. Operating Type: Screw Locking. Breaking Strength: 22 kN. Gate opening: 10mm. Conformity: BS EN 362 Class Q. Material:
Key Features
- Conforms to BS EN 362: The applicable standard for this product type
- Operating Type: Screw Locking
- Breaking Strength: 22 kN. Gate opening: 10mm
- Conformity: BS EN 362 Class Q. Material:
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA-50-401-10 |
| Std |
BS EN 362 |
BS EN 362 | LOLER Ready
Operating Type: Screw Locking. Breaking Strength: 22 kN. Gate opening: 10mm. Conformity: BS EN 362 Class Q. Material: 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
Connecting harnesses, lanyards, blocks and anchorage devices in fall protection systems. Gate opening is usually the deciding dimension — a connector that will not fit the anchor point is no use whatever its rating. Aluminium saves weight where a worker carries several; steel lasts longer in abrasive conditions.
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
- Check the connector class suits the application: BS EN 362 classes A, B, M and T are not interchangeable.
- Check the gate opening fits the anchor: Measure the anchor point before ordering, not on the day.
- Confirm the gate locks: A connector whose gate does not lock positively is withdrawn.
- Load along the major axis: Side loading and tip loading are outside the rating for most classes.
- Check for roll-out: A connector can twist out of a wide anchor point under load. Check the geometry.
- Withdraw after arresting a fall: Regardless of appearance.
Warning: Never load a connector across the gate or on the minor axis unless it is a Class M connector rated for it. Check the gate locks positively before every use — a gate that does not lock is the commonest connector defect and it is easily missed.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- Check the connector class suits the application.
- Confirm the gate closes and locks positively before every use.
- Load along the major axis unless the connector is rated otherwise.
- Check the gate opening fits the intended anchor point.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Inspection and Maintenance
The gate is what fails. Operate it repeatedly and confirm it closes fully under its own spring and locks positively every time — a gate that has become sluggish from grit, corrosion or a bent pin is on its way to failing open. Check the nose and gate for wear where they meet, since a worn nose lets the gate ride over rather than seating. Inspect the body for distortion, gouging and cracking, particularly at the point of maximum curvature, and confirm markings remain legible.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do the EN 362 classes mean?
Class A anchor connectors attach to a specific anchor point. Class B are basic general purpose connectors. Class M multi-use may be loaded on major and minor axes. Class T termination connectors stay in one place in a subsystem. They are not interchangeable.
Q: Aluminium or steel?
Aluminium is lighter, which matters when a worker carries several all day. Steel lasts far longer in abrasive conditions and where connectors are dragged across structure. Most fleets carry both.
Q: What is roll-out?
When a connector twists and comes out of a wide or awkwardly shaped anchor point under load. Check the geometry of the anchor against the connector before use — a correctly rated connector can still roll out of the wrong shape of anchor.
