The other half of a rope climbing system. Where the handled ascender is what you pull against, the ventral clamp sits at the chest and holds your position on the rope while you advance the handle above it. Without it, every time you moved the handle you would slide back down. The two devices together are what make climbing a fixed rope possible.
The opening mechanism works with one hand, which sounds like a convenience and is actually a necessity: threading a rope through a chest mounted device while hanging from it needs to be done one handed, because the other hand is holding on.
Key Features
- Holds position between handle movements: The function that makes rope climbing possible. It grips as you weight it and slides up as you advance.
- Ergonomic one handed opening: Thread and release the rope with one hand while suspended, which is the only way it can practically be done.
- Attachment eye positioned for the harness: Sits correctly against the ventral point rather than needing to be persuaded into position.
- 10–12 mm kernmantle compatibility: Matching the ascender handles and descender.
- EN 567 certified: The rope clamp standard.
- Black anodised aluminium: Light, and hard anodised against rope wear.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
FA 70 015 00 |
| Mounting |
Ventral, chest |
| Rope Compatibility |
10 – 12 mm kernmantle |
| Operation |
One handed opening mechanism |
| Material |
Aluminium, black anodised |
| Conformity |
EN 567 |
| PPE Category |
Category III |
Note the supplier description quotes 8–12 mm where the source copy says 10–12 mm. Confirm before use with rope below 10 mm.
EN 567 Rope Clamp | Category III PPE
Conforms to EN 567 for rope clamps. Category III personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. A rope clamp is not a fall arrest device and must be used within a rope access system with an independent back-up on a separate safety line. Requires inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Suitable Applications
Used with a handled ascender and foot loop for climbing fixed ropes in industrial rope access, rescue and confined space work. It connects to the ventral attachment point of an EN 813 harness, so the same harness that takes a descender for going down takes this for coming up. On a job involving both ascent and descent, the harness stays the same and only the device on the rope changes.
More About This Product
The anchorage is the part of a fall protection system people think about last and should think about first. Most sites can produce a harness and a lanyard within minutes; producing a certified, assessed anchor point is a different matter, and it is what genuinely determines whether the system works.
The forces involved are the reason. Arresting a fall is a dynamic event, and the load a falling person imposes on an anchor is many times their body weight — which is why BS EN 795 exists as a standard in its own right, and why the structure the anchor attaches to has to be assessed separately by someone competent to do it. The anchor may be certified; the beam, the tube, the roof purlin almost certainly is not.
Anchor Position, Fall Factor and Swing
Where the anchor sits changes the severity of a fall more than any other single decision.
Fall factor is the ratio of fall distance to the length of lanyard available to absorb it. An anchor above the head gives the lowest factor and the gentlest arrest. An anchor at foot level gives a factor 2 fall — the worst case, generating forces a shock absorber may struggle to control, and it is what happens when someone clips onto something convenient at their feet rather than something suitable above them.
Pendulum swing is the second consideration and the one that catches people out. An anchor directly overhead means a fall goes straight down. An anchor off to one side means the faller swings, and the swing can be more dangerous than the drop — into structure, into plant, or across a surface at speed. A swing that ends against a steel column is not survivable simply because the harness held.
The practical rule is to position the anchor as high as practicable and as close to directly overhead as the work allows, and to reassess it every time the work position moves.
How to Use the Ventral Clamp
- Connect to the ventral EN 813 point: It must sit at the chest, oriented as the manual shows.
- Thread the rope correctly: The cam must engage in the direction that grips downward movement. Check before weighting.
- Pair with a handled ascender and foot loop: The three components together are what allow progression.
- Maintain an independent back-up: On a separate safety line, at all times.
- Keep the cam clean: Grit, mud and ice prevent it gripping.
- Do not shock load: Withdraw the device after any sudden loading.
Warning: A rope clamp is not a fall arrest device and can damage or sever a rope under shock loading. Rope access requires an independent back-up system on a separate safety line, plus specific training and certification.
Safety Information
- For use only by trained and certified rope access technicians.
- Not a fall arrest device.
- Use only with the specified kernmantle rope diameter.
- An independent back-up on a separate safety line is required at all times.
- Confirm correct threading and cam engagement before weighting.
- Keep the cam free of mud, ice and grit.
- Withdraw after any shock loading.
- Inspection by a competent person required at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Inspection and Maintenance
As with any rope clamp, the cam teeth are the working surface. Inspect for rounding, chipping and clogging, and clean with a brush. Check the cam spring returns firmly, the pivot moves freely without play, and the opening mechanism operates cleanly one handed as designed, since a mechanism that has stiffened cannot be used as intended while suspended. Examine the frame for cracking around the attachment eye and the rope channel for wear grooving. Withdraw any device that has taken a shock load, and inspect the rope that was in it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do I need a ventral clamp as well as a handle?
Because the handle alone cannot hold you between movements. The ventral clamp grips while you advance the handle, then you stand in the foot loop and the ventral clamp takes up the slack. That cycle is rope climbing, and it needs both.
Q: Which rope diameter is correct?
The source specification says 10 to 12 mm; the supplier description says 8 to 12 mm. We are confirming with the manufacturer. If you are working with rope below 10 mm, contact us before ordering.
Q: Does it work with the descender?
They are not used simultaneously on the same line, but both connect to the same EN 813 ventral point on your harness. Ascend with the clamp and handle, swap to the descender to come down. Same harness throughout.
Q: What is the complete ascent kit?
Ventral clamp, one handled ascender, a foot loop such as the FA 70 013 00, an EN 813 harness, and a back-up device on a separate safety line. Roughly £80 of hardware plus the harness and back-up.
