The standard connector against which every other is judged. Alloy steel body, screw collar that locks the gate closed, 25 kN breaking strength and an 18 mm gate. Its Class M rating is what sets it apart from a basic connector: it is tested and approved for loading on both the major and minor axis, which matters because in real use a karabiner does not always end up loaded the way you intended. Category III PPE to BS EN 362.
Key Features
- Class B and Class M rated: Class B is a basic connector; Class M is a multi-use connector approved for loading along both the major and minor axis. That dual rating makes it far more forgiving of real-world use than a Class B connector alone.
- 25 kN breaking strength: Comfortably above the 15 kN minimum that BS EN 362 requires for steel connectors.
- Screw locking collar: Threaded sleeve winds down over the gate and locks it mechanically. Simple, reliable, and the operator can see at a glance whether it is closed.
- 18 mm gate opening: Suits harness attachment points, lanyard eyes and standard anchor rings.
- Alloy steel construction: Heavier than aluminium but far more resistant to wear and impact, which suits equipment in daily use and shared between operatives.
- Category III PPE: Certified under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 with a Declaration of Conformity.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 50 101 17 |
| Material |
Alloy steel |
| Breaking Strength |
25 kN |
| Gate Opening |
18 mm |
| Operating Type |
Screw locking |
| Conformity |
BS EN 362 Class B & Class M |
| PPE Category |
Category III |
BS EN 362 Class B & M | 25 kN | Category III PPE
Conforms to BS EN 362, the standard for connectors used in personal fall protection. Class B denotes a basic connector; Class M denotes a multi-use connector rated for loading on both major and minor axis. 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
This is the connector for general fall protection work: joining lanyards to harness attachment points, connecting to anchorage slings and eyes, linking fall arrest blocks and any application where a robust, forgiving, inexpensive connector is needed in quantity. The Class M rating makes it the sensible default where the loading direction cannot be guaranteed, which covers most site work. Where weight matters over durability, choose the aluminium FA 50 103 22. Where the connector is exposed to corrosive conditions, the stainless FA 50 106 22 will last considerably longer.
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 Karabiner
- Check the gate and collar before every use: The gate must snap fully closed and the collar must wind down completely. A collar left partly open provides no locking.
- Load along the major axis: Load should run spine to gate along the long axis. Class M means it is also rated across the minor axis, but the major axis remains the correct orientation.
- Never load the gate: Even on a Class M connector, the gate is not a load-bearing component.
- Avoid three-way loading: A karabiner with load pulling in three directions is loaded in a way no class rating covers.
- Watch for roll-out: Confirm the connector cannot work its way into a position where it levers open against an adjacent surface.
- Hand tight only on the collar: Overtightening, particularly under load, can make it impossible to release afterwards.
Warning: Category III PPE for use by trained, competent persons only. Always confirm the locking collar is fully closed before applying load. Withdraw from service immediately after arresting a fall, and after any impact, drop from height or doubt as to condition.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and competent persons within a safe system of work.
- Confirm the gate closes fully and the collar winds down completely before every use.
- Load along the major axis. Never load the gate.
- Avoid any arrangement where the connector could lever open against a surface.
- Withdraw immediately after arresting a fall or any significant impact.
- Do not use a karabiner with a sticking gate, seized collar or visible distortion.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
- Do not modify, drill, machine or paint.
Inspection and Maintenance
The gate and collar mechanism is what fails on a karabiner, long before the body does. Check the gate springs fully closed under its own tension every time, and that the collar winds smoothly to fully closed and fully open without binding. Grit in the thread is the usual cause of a seized collar; a drop of light oil at the gate pivot prevents most problems. Inspect the body for distortion, cracks, deep gouges and wear grooves where the connector has run against a fixed point, and check the markings remain legible, since an unidentifiable connector cannot be certified. Any karabiner dropped from height should be withdrawn and examined, as internal damage is not always visible.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do the EN 362 classes actually mean?
Class A is an anchor connector, shaped to attach directly to a specified type of anchor. Class B is a basic connector for general use. Class M is a multi-use connector, rated for loading on both the major and minor axis. Class T is a termination connector, designed so the load sits in a predetermined direction. This karabiner is Class B and M, meaning general purpose and rated on both axes.
Q: Why does Class M matter?
Because in real use a connector does not always sit the way you intended. Class M means it has been tested and approved for loading across the minor axis as well as along the major, so it is more forgiving if it rotates or is loaded off-axis. It is not permission to load it sideways deliberately, but it does provide a margin.
Q: Steel or aluminium?
Steel for durability, aluminium for weight. This steel karabiner will outlast an aluminium one in daily shared use and shrugs off knocks that would damage aluminium. Where a technician carries a dozen connectors all day, aluminium saves real weight. For a fixed kit that stays on site, steel is usually the better buy.
Q: Screw lock or twist lock?
Screw locking requires a deliberate action to close and is visibly either done or not, which is easy to check. Quarter turn and double action mechanisms lock automatically, so nothing is forgotten, but they are more complex and can be fouled by grit. For fall protection, either is acceptable; screw locking is cheaper and simpler.
Q: How long does a karabiner last?
There is no fixed lifespan for metal connectors as there is for textiles, but they must be inspected at least every 12 months by a competent person and withdrawn on any sign of damage, distortion or mechanism failure. Any connector involved in arresting a fall, or dropped from height, goes out of service immediately.
