At 40 kN this is the strongest connector in the Kratos range by a considerable margin, against 25 kN for the standard steel screw gate. The triple action mechanism requires three separate deliberate movements to open, typically push, twist and lift, which makes accidental opening effectively impossible. Where a screw collar can be left half-closed and a double action can in principle be caught and worked open, three independent actions cannot happen by chance.
Key Features
- 40 kN breaking strength: Roughly 60% stronger than the standard steel screw gate karabiner, and well beyond the EN 362 minimum. Where the connector is the single point of attachment, that margin is worth having.
- Triple action locking: Three deliberate, distinct movements to open. It cannot be opened by snagging, by pressure against a surface, or by being knocked.
- Self locking: Locks automatically on closing, so nothing can be forgotten as it can with a screw collar.
- 22 mm gate opening: Larger than the 18 mm standard steel karabiner, so it clips over thicker anchor points more easily.
- Alloy steel construction: Robust enough for daily shared use and resistant to the wear that damages aluminium.
- Category III PPE: Certified under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 with a Declaration of Conformity.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 50 301 23 |
| Material |
Alloy steel |
| Breaking Strength |
40 kN |
| Gate Opening |
22 mm |
| Operating Type |
Triple action locking |
| Conformity |
BS EN 362 Class B |
| PPE Category |
Category III |
Note this is Class B only, not Class M, so it is not rated for minor axis loading.
BS EN 362 Class B | 40 kN | Triple Action Locking | Category III PPE
Conforms to BS EN 362 Class B for fall protection connectors. Triple action locking mechanism requires three deliberate movements to open. 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
Triple action connectors belong wherever an inadvertent opening would be serious and where the connector may be handled, knocked or dragged during use. That covers rope access and rescue work, confined space entry, work positioning systems, and any single-point attachment where there is no redundancy. The 40 kN rating also makes it the sensible choice at anchor points carrying high forces, and where a system is left rigged and unsupervised between uses. For routine clipping and unclipping many times a shift, the extra movements become tiresome and a screw gate or double action is more practical.
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 Triple Action Karabiner
- Confirm it has locked after every connection: The mechanism self locks, but confirm by attempting to open the gate without operating it.
- Load along the major axis: This is Class B, not Class M, so it is not rated for cross loading. Orientation matters.
- Never load the gate: The gate is not a load-bearing component regardless of the locking mechanism.
- Watch for roll-out: Check the connector cannot rotate into a position where it bears against a surface.
- Keep the mechanism clean: Three moving elements means three things grit can foul. Clean and lightly oil.
- Do not force it: If it will not open with the correct sequence, something is fouled. Investigate rather than forcing.
Warning: Category III PPE for use by trained, competent persons only. Class B only, load along the major axis. 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.
- Class B only. Load along the major axis. Not rated for cross loading.
- Confirm the mechanism has locked after every connection.
- Never load the gate.
- Withdraw if the mechanism fails to lock automatically or requires force to operate.
- 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
A triple action mechanism has more to go wrong than a screw collar, and the failure mode to watch for is a mechanism that becomes easier rather than harder to open. Operate it repeatedly at each inspection: it must lock automatically every time and require the full three-part sequence to release. A mechanism that can be opened with two movements, or that occasionally fails to lock, has failed regardless of how the connector otherwise looks. Keep it clean and lightly oiled. Beyond the mechanism, inspect the body for distortion, cracking and wear grooves, and confirm the marking remains legible.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is triple action locking?
Three separate deliberate movements to open, typically push down, twist, then lift. Each on its own does nothing. It cannot be opened by snagging, by pressure against a surface, or by being knocked, which is the point.
Q: Why is it 40 kN when other steel karabiners are 25 kN?
It is a heavier connector, built for applications where the margin matters. Rope access and rescue work in particular often use a single connector as the sole attachment, and the extra strength buys headroom that a redundant system would otherwise provide.
Q: Is it worth the extra over a screw gate?
Where inadvertent opening would be serious, comfortably. Where you clip and unclip constantly through a shift, three movements every time becomes a genuine irritation and people find ways around irritations. Match the mechanism to how the connector will actually be used.
Q: Steel or aluminium triple action?
Steel at 40 kN, aluminium at 23 kN. If strength is why you are buying triple action, steel. If weight is the concern and 23 kN is sufficient, the aluminium FA 50 302 22 is considerably lighter and additionally UIAA certified for rope access work.
