ASTM F3412-20

Standard Terminology Relating to Treestands

SCOPE
1.1 This terminology covers terms related to treestands, climbing sticks, tripods or tower stands.  
1.2 This terminology is appropriate for use by treestand development professionals, owners and institutions, testing firms, users and other practitioners in matters concerning treestand test methods, practices and specifications which fall under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities.  
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2020
• ICS: 01.040.65 - Agriculture (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 65.145 - Hunting
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.18 - Treestands

Overview

ASTM F3412-20: Standard Terminology Relating to Treestands establishes authoritative definitions and terminology for treestands, climbing sticks, tripods, and tower stands. Developed by ASTM International’s Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities, this standard is geared towards improving communication and consistency in the design, testing, regulation, and use of these products. Its goal is to support treestand development professionals, manufacturers, owners, testing agencies, and end users by providing clear, unified language for treestand safety, component features, and technical specifications.

The standard aligns with internationally recognized principles and fulfills requirements set by the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee, ensuring international relevance and compatibility.

Key Topics

ASTM F3412-20 covers a comprehensive set of terms related to the design, testing, and safe use of treestands and their associated equipment. Key terminology areas include:

• Treestand Types:
  • Climbing treestands, ladder treestands, tripod or tower stands, non-climbing (fixed position) stands
• Component Definitions:
  • Anchorage, backbar (V-bar), climbing stick, platform, seat (integral and non-integral), handclimber, foot platform
• Safety and Fall Arrest System Terms:
  • Full body harness (FBH), fall arrest system (FAS), tether, deceleration device, connecting hardware, connector, suspension relief device, treestand safety rope, rope grab
• Performance and Capacity:
  • Maximum arrest force (MAF), single user rated capacity (SUR), multiple user rated capacity (MUR), total fall distance, corner stability, side stability, self-recovery point
• Use and Compliance Features:
  • Product safety signs/labels, safety symbols, engineered products, equivalent methods or materials
• Operational Terms:
  • Climbing belt, flexible stretch tether, thigh/leg straps, free fall, user definitions

Applications

The terminology defined in ASTM F3412-20 is crucial for a variety of practical applications in the treestand and fall protection equipment industry:

• Product Design and Manufacturing: Ensures designers and manufacturers use consistent terms to specify features, test procedures, and safety systems for treestands and climbing aids.
• Testing and Certification: Provides a common language for third-party testing agencies to evaluate products for compliance with established safety benchmarks.
• Field Use and Instructions: Helps end users, hunters, field workers, and institutions recognize important safety details, component functions, and proper usage guidelines.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assists institutions and organizations in drafting policies, procurement requirements, and training materials on treestand safety.
• International Trade: Promotes standardization, facilitating smoother import/export procedures and regulatory alignment between countries in the outdoor, sports, and leisure product sectors.

Related Standards

Understanding ASTM F3412-20 is enhanced by awareness of related standards and references:

• ASTM Committee F08: Focuses on sports equipment, playing surfaces, and facilities, including specific subcommittees on treestands.
• ASTM Standards on Treestand Test Methods and Performance: Address testing procedures for structural integrity, fall arrest systems, and user safety.
• International Standards on Fall Protection: Standards related to full body harnesses, lanyards, and vertical climbing systems.
• Product Labeling and Safety Information Standards: Define requirements for safety signage, warning labels, and graphic symbols.

By ensuring clarity in terminology, ASTM F3412-20 supports product safety, user training, and regulatory adherence across the treestand industry. It is an essential reference for anyone involved in the development, certification, or use of treestands and associated fall protection equipment.

Keywords: treestand safety, climbing treestand, fall arrest system, hunting safety equipment, ASTM treestand standard, full body harness, tripod stand, tower stand.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3412 − 20
Standard Terminology Relating to
Treestands
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3412; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope climbing treestand, n—treestand that provides both the means
to ascend the tree, and allow the user to remain at a desired
1.1 This terminology covers terms related to treestands,
elevation.
climbing sticks, tripods or tower stands.
connecting hardware, n—any locking hardware that connects
1.2 This terminology is appropriate for use by treestand
the FAS components in series, thus creating a linear linkage
development professionals, owners and institutions, testing
along which the maximum arrest force (MAF) acts.
firms, users and other practitioners in matters concerning
DISCUSSION—Includes snap hooks, links, anchorage hardware, and
treestand test methods, practices and specifications which fall
buckles.
under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports
Equipment and Facilities.
connector, n—a device that is used to connect components of
a full body harness, fall restraint.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
DISCUSSION—Connectors include but are not limited to tethers,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
locking snap hooks, carabiners, deceleration devices, and specialty
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
systems such as self-retracting treestand safety ropes, ladder climbing
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
systems, vertical and treestand safety ropes.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. corner stability, n—the ability of a treestand to resist
eccentricity, twisting, or sudden movement when load is
2. Terminology applied separately to each of the four corners of a foot
platform.
anchorage, n—a component or structure, or both, to which a
deceleration device, n—any mechanism, such as a rope grab,
full body harness (FBH) is attached to the tree trunk.
rip stitch tether, specially woven tether, tearing or deforming
backbar or V-bar, n—adjustable component of a climbing
tether, automatic self-retracting treestand safety ropes, etc.
treestand that engages the tree to provide support.
which serves to dissipate energy during fall arrest or other-
DISCUSSION—The backbar may be rigid or flexible.
wise limit the maximum arrest force (MAF) on a user during
a fall arrest.
climbing belt, n—a strap/belt or similar device which is
fastened about the person in a manner so as to contain the
deceleration distance, n—the additional vertical distance a
torso and stabilize the users horizontal load while either
falling user travels, excluding treestand safety rope elonga-
working from a vertical position to attach treestands, climb-
tion and free-fall distance before stopping, from the point at
ing devices, and so forth, or during ascent/descent of tree or
which the deceleration device begins to operate.
ladder.
engineered products, n—strategically designed products by a
DISCUSSION—A FBH may be constructed to additionally serve this
function. professional to meet a specific need.
climbing stick, n—a device to assist climbing a tree primarily
equivalent, adj, n—alternative designs, methods or materials
to a fixed position treestand.Astructure that is secured to the
used to protect against a hazard which the manufacturer can
tree and allows the user to support his weight and climb to
demonstrate will provide an equal or greater degree of safety
the desired height on the tree.
for the user than the methods, materials or designs specified
in the standard.
fall arrest system (FAS), n—system that is assembled for the
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports
purpose of arresting an accidental fall of its user.
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
DISCUSSION—AFAS consists of a full body harness, tether, anchorage
Subcommittee F08.18 on Treestands.
means, connecting hardware, climbing belt (for fixed position stands),
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2020. Published February 2020. DOI: 10.1520/
F3412-20. and suspension relief device.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3412 − 20
free fall, v—the act of falling before a fall arrest system (FAS) self-recovery point, n—the maximum distance a user can fall
begins to apply force to arrest the fall. to minimize the risk of the user not having the ability to
recover so that they are no longer suspended in a harness
flexible stretch tether, n—a full body harness tether that
after a fall has been arrested.
expands and contracts following the user’s movement.
side stability, n—the ability of a climbing treestand (top
foot platform, n—horizontal structural area of a treestand on
section – Type II/III) to resist eccentricity, twisting, or
which the user stands or places his feet, or both.
sudden movement when load is applied to the left and right
full body harness (FBH), n—a component with a design of
front corners of the section.
straps which is fastened about the person in a manner so as DISCUSSION—In terms of tripod and tower stands the ability to resist
toppling w
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