Identical to the standard FA 50 101 17 in material, strength and gate size, with one addition that solves a specific and common problem. The captive pin holds whatever is attached at the spine end in position, so the karabiner cannot rotate and end up loaded across its weak axis. Cross loading is the most frequent cause of connector failure in the field, and this is the simplest fix for it. Worth the small premium wherever the connector stays attached to a harness or anchor for the duration of the work.
Key Features
- Captive pin: Retains the attached item at the correct point on the spine, preventing the connector rotating into a cross-loaded position.
- Class B and Class M rated: General purpose and rated for loading on both major and minor axis, giving a margin should off-axis loading still occur.
- 25 kN breaking strength: Same as the standard version, well above the EN 362 minimum for steel.
- 18 mm gate opening: Suits harness attachment points, lanyard eyes and standard rings.
- Screw locking collar: Visibly either closed or not, which makes checking straightforward.
- Alloy steel construction: Robust enough for daily shared use.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 50 102 17 |
| Material |
Alloy steel |
| Breaking Strength |
25 kN |
| Gate Opening |
18 mm |
| Operating Type |
Screw locking |
| Special Feature |
Captive pin |
| Conformity |
BS EN 362 Class B & Class M |
| PPE Category |
Category III |
BS EN 362 Class B & M | Captive Pin | 25 kN | Category III PPE
Conforms to BS EN 362 Class B and Class M. The captive pin retains the attachment in the correct position on the spine, reducing the risk of cross loading. 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
The captive pin version is the right choice anywhere the connector stays in place rather than being clipped and unclipped constantly. That covers permanent attachment of a lanyard to a harness D-ring, fall arrest block terminations, work positioning systems, and any arrangement where the connector could rotate against a fixed structure. On a harness attachment point in particular it stops the karabiner wandering round the D-ring and ending up loaded sideways. Where the connector is moved frequently between anchor points, the standard version without the pin is quicker to use.
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 Captive Pin Karabiner
- Fit the attachment behind the pin: The point of the captive pin is lost if the connection is made on the wrong side of it. Check it is correctly seated.
- Check the gate and collar: Gate must snap fully closed, collar must wind down completely.
- Load along the major axis: Spine to gate. The pin helps ensure this, but does not guarantee it.
- Never load the gate: The gate is not load bearing regardless of class rating.
- Check the pin itself at each use: A bent or missing pin removes the benefit entirely and is grounds for withdrawal.
- Hand tight only on the collar: Overtightening under load makes release difficult.
Warning: Category III PPE for trained, competent persons only. The captive pin reduces but does not eliminate the risk of cross loading. Always confirm the locking collar is fully closed. Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall, any impact, or if the pin is bent or missing.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- Ensure the attachment is correctly seated relative to the captive pin.
- Confirm the gate closes fully and the collar winds down completely before every use.
- Load along the major axis. Never load the gate.
- Withdraw if the captive pin is bent, damaged or missing.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall or any significant impact.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
- Do not modify, drill, machine or paint.
Inspection and Maintenance
In addition to the usual gate and collar checks, the captive pin needs inspecting in its own right. Confirm it is present, straight and secure, since a bent pin no longer retains the attachment correctly and a missing one leaves you with a standard karabiner at a higher price. Check the gate springs fully closed and the collar runs smoothly through its full travel. Inspect the body for distortion, cracking and wear grooves, particularly around the pin location where the section is reduced. Keep the collar thread clean and lightly oiled. Withdraw any connector dropped from height for examination.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is cross loading and why is it dangerous?
Cross loading is when a karabiner is loaded across its minor axis, side to side, rather than along its major axis. Connectors are far weaker in that direction, sometimes by more than half. It happens when the connector rotates in use, typically against a harness D-ring or an anchor point. The captive pin stops that rotation.
Q: Is it worth the extra over the standard version?
Where the connector stays put, yes, comfortably. The premium is small and it removes a real failure mode. Where the connector is clipped and unclipped repeatedly, the pin gets in the way and the standard version is more practical.
Q: Does the captive pin mean I can ignore loading direction?
No. It reduces the chance of cross loading; it does not make cross loading safe. The connector should still be loaded along its major axis, and the Class M rating is a margin rather than a licence.
Q: The pin has bent. Can I straighten it?
No. Never modify or attempt to repair fall protection equipment. A bent pin means the connector has been loaded in a way it should not have been, which raises questions about the body as well. Withdraw it.
