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Helmet EN numbers (rope access folks) (Read 1362 times)

miso soup

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Helmet EN numbers (rope access folks)
March 07, 2014, 08:08:20 pm
Those of you that do rope access and trad climbing, do you use the same helmet for both?  Their seems to a range of different EN numbers now, is any one of them okay in terms of red tape or will some of them come with the risk of some jobsworth throwing you off site at some point?  What is the difference, if any, between a climbing helmet and rigging/rope access helmet?

Johnny Brown

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Three standards you need to worry about. Can't be arsed to check the numbers, sorry.

1. The industrial one. A crap standard, which forbids the decent chinstraps (for trapped miners' sake) essential for work at height, and only requires a couple of cursory drop tests right on the centre top. This is the reason most cheap site hats have a central ridge. If it misses that, you're fucked. Other requirements are for protection against live wires and spatter - i.e. ventilation holes not allowed.

2. The mountaineering standard. Decent chinstrap required. More drop tests, from greater heights and varied angles. A decent standard, but aimed at protection from falling objects, not so much head protection in a fall.

3. The cycling standard, which is all about head protection in a fall.

Decent lightweight climbing helmets will meet 2 and 3. Old school lids just 2. Most rope access lids meet a combination of 1 and 2 (e.g. strong chinstrap, no holes, less drop tests), though you can justify using 2 and 3 in your risk assessment as appropriate - i.e ventilation more of an issue than hot works or electrical cables. Jobsworth safety officers who don't like chinstraps = undo it when on floor.

 

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