ASTM F1956-99
(Specification)Standard Specification for Rescue Carabiners
Standard Specification for Rescue Carabiners
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers six mechanical tests, one corrosion resistance test, and the minimum performance requirements for these tests. This specification applies to carbiners designed specifically for use by rescue personnel during both training exercises and actual rescue operations. This specification does not apply to recreational use carabiners.
1.2 Two different types of carbiners are defined in this specification, a heavy-duty rescue carabiner and a light-duty rescue carabiner.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.4 Tests contained herein are destructive in nature. Carabiners subjected to any of these tests shall not be used in any way after testing except in evaluation results of such testing.
1.5 This specification does not imply approval of any method of use of rescue carabiners. In addition, the tests described are laboratory tests and do not duplicate field conditions. Furthermore, the test load values contained herein are not to be interpreted as the forces which a rescue carabiner may be subjected to, or may be expected to sustain, in actual field use.
1.6 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: F 1956 – 99
Standard Specification for
Rescue Carabiners
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1956; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 carabiner—a load-bearing, connective device with a
self-closing gate.
1.1 This specification covers six mechanical tests, one
3.1.2 heavy-duty rescue carabiner—a carabiner that meets
corrosion resistance test, and the minimum performance re-
the specifications for a heavy-duty rescue carabiner as defined
quirements for these tests. This specification applies to cara-
in Section 8.
biners designed specifically for use by rescue personnel during
3.1.3 light-duty rescue carabiner—a carabiner that meets
both training exercises and actual rescue operations. This
the specifications for a light-duty rescue carabiner as defined in
specification does not apply to recreational use carabiners.
Section 8.
1.2 Two different types of carabiners are defined in this
3.1.4 locking carabiner—a carabiner with a locking mecha-
specification, a heavy-duty rescue carabiner and a light-duty
nism which reduces the possibility of a gate being opened
rescue carabiner.
inadvertently. A locking mechanism requires at least two
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
different consecutive manual actions to open the gate (see
standard.
appendix).
1.4 Tests contained herein are destructive in nature. Cara-
3.1.5 non-locking carabiner—any carabiner that does not
biners subjected to any of these tests shall not be used in any
have a locking mechanism that reduces the possibility of a gate
way after testing except in evaluation the results of such
being opened inadvertently.
testing.
3.1.6 rescue carabiner—a carabiner intended for life sup-
1.5 This specification does not imply approval of any
port in rescue systems. It may be classified as heavy-type or
method of use of rescue carabiners. In addition, the tests
light duty.
described are laboratory tests and do not duplicate field
3.1.7 ultimate strength—the maximum force sustained by a
conditions. Furthermore, the test load values contained herein
carabiner during an ultimate force test, prior to failure.
are not to be interpreted as the forces which a rescue carabiner
3.1.7.1 failure—the point at which some part of the cara-
may be subjected to, or may be expected to sustain, in actual
biner physically breaks or distorts to an extent that the test
field use.
members are released.
1.6 This standard may involve hazardous materials, opera-
tions, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
4. Significance and Use
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
4.1 Gate Function Load Test—Thistestverifiesthatthegate
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
can be opened (with the gate locking mechanism in the
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
unlocked position) and that the gate can not be opened (with
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the gate locking mechanism in the locked position) while
2. Referenced Documents loaded with Function Test Force #1 along the major axis.
4.2 Gate Locking Mechanism Function Load Test—Thistest
2.1 ASTM Standards:
verifies that the gate locking mechanism can be unlocked, after
B 117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
Function Test Force #2 has been applied along the major axis
E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
and released.
3. Terminology 4.3 Major Axis Gate Closed Function Load Test—This test
verifies that the gate functions as originally intended, after
3.1 Definitions:
Function Test Force #3 has been applied and released.
4.4 Major Axis Gate Closed Ultimate Strength Test—This
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F32 on Search
test is intended to show the ultimate strength of the carabiner
and Rescue , and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.01 on Equipment,
in the major axis with the gate closed.
Testing, and Maintenance.
Current edition approved March 10, 1999. Published June 10, 1999.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 03.02.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1956–99
4.5 MajorAxis Gate Open Ultimate Strength Test—Thistest
is intended to show the ultimate strength of the carabiner in the
major axis with the gate open.
4.6 Minor Axis Gate Closed Ultimate Strength Test—This
test is intended to show the ultimate strength of the carabiner
in the minor axis with the gate closed.
4.7 Corrosion Test—This test is intended to verify that the
carabiner is produced from a corrosion-resistant material, or
adequately covered with a protective coating.
5. Apparatus and Conditions
5.1 Tensile Test Machine—The tension testing machine
shall be maintained in good operation condition, used only in
the proper loading range, and calibrated periodically in accor-
dance with the latest revision of Practices E 4.
5.2 Test Fixtures and Supplies:
5.2.1 There are four test pins required, two test pins with 6
6 0.05-mm radii and two test pins with 5 6 0.05-mm radii.
Test pins must be AISI SAE Type 01 Tool Steel (commonly
purchased as 01 Drill Rod) heat treated to a minimum FIG. 2 Test Fixture
Rockwell hardness, C scale 60. The mean surface roughness,
Ra must not exceed 0.8 µm and the peak to valley height.
5.2.2 Molybdenum-Based Grease.
Rmax, must not exceed 6.3 µm. The fixture must be designed
5.3 Test Conditions:
to prevent the test pins from rotating and so that the carabiner
5.3.1 The ambient temperature, test samples, test fixture,
isfreetolocateitselfonthetestpinswhenforceisapplied.See
and supplies shall be between 15 and 23°C (59 and 73°F).
Figs. 1 and 2.
5.3.2 All six mechanical tests must be conducted with the
NOTE 1—Test pin cross section is not required to be round. Any cross
force applied parallel to the gravitational pull of the earth.
section necessary to prevent test pin failure or any design to prevent test
pin rotation is acceptable, as long as the contact point (between test pin
6. Hazards
and carabiner) of the test pin has the specified radius, material type,
Carabiners may disengage or eject parts from the test fixture.
hardness, and surface roughness.
Use a safety screen and wear safety glasses while testing. Do
not perform these tests alone.
7. Sampling
7.1 Sample Selection—Randomly select the carabiners in
accordance with 7.2.2. Each user of this test method may
specify the lot size from which the carabiners are to be
selected.
7.2 Number of Samples:
7.2.1 The same number of carabiners must be used for each
of the tests in this specification.
7.2.2 A minimum of five carabiners will be used, in se-
quence, for the Gate Function Load Test, Gate Locking
Mechanism Function Load Test, Major Axis Gate Closed
Function Load Test, and Major Axis Gate Closed Ultimate
Strength Test. A minimum of five carabiners will be used for
the MajorAxis Gate Open Ultimate Strength Test.Aminimum
of five carabiners will be used for the MinorAxis Gate Closed
Ultimate Strength Test. A minimum of five carabiners will be
used for the Corrosion Test.
7.2.3 Label the randomly selected carabiners 1 through X
(X being the total number of carabiners selected).
8. Performance Specifications
8.1 Gate Function Load Test:
8.1.1 With the gate locking mechanism in the unlocked
position and Function Test Force #1 applied along the major
FIG. 1 Major Axis Test Setup axis, each carabiner gate shall open and close as designed and
F1956–99
with the same quality and performance as before the test. The 9.1.3 Unlock the gate locking mechanism and position the
use of tools or any device other than finger pressure is not carabiner on the 6-mm radius test pins, as shown in Fig. 1.
allowed. Position the spine of the carabiner against the test pins.
8.1.2 With the gate locking mechanism in the locked posi- 9.1.4 Load the carabiner along the major axis at a rate of 5
tion and Function Test Force #1 applied along the major axis, 6 1 mm/min until Function Test Force #1 is reached.
the gate must not open. (The use of tools or any device other
9.1.5 While maintaining the force, open and close the gate
than finger pressure is not allowed.)
and check that the gate functions as it did prior to the
8.2 Gate Locking Mechanism Function Load Test—When a application of Test Force #1 (The use of tools or any device
locking carabiner’s gate locking mechanism is advanced to other than finger pressure is not allowed). Record whether the
its’s fully locked position, while the Function Test Force #2 is gate opens or close, or both, and the actual test force applied to
applied along the major axis. The gate locking mechanism the carabiner in the report.
must be able to be returned to it’s unlocked position after the
9.1.6 While maintaining the force, lock the gate locking
force is removed. (The use of tools or any device other than
mechanism. (The use of tools or any device other than finger
finger pressure is not allowed.) pressure is not allowed.) Verify that with the gate locking
8.3 Major Axis Gate Closed Function Load Test—Each of mechanism in the locked position, the gate does not open. (The
use of tools or any device other than finger pressure is not
the carabiners subjected to Function Test Force #3 shall show
no evidence of distortion that impairs the designed function allowed.) Record whether the gate opens in the report.
after the test is conducted. 9.1.7 Release the test force at a rate of 120 mm/min
8.4 Major Axis Gate Closed Ultimate Strength Test—Each maximum,asnecessary,soasnottocauseshockloadingonthe
carabiner.
of the carabiners subjected to this test shall have an ultimate
strength equal to or greater than the major axis gate closed
9.2 Gate Locking Mechanism Function Load Test:
minimum ultimate strength listed in Table 1.
9.2.1 Using the same carabiners as used in 9.1. Apply
8.5 Major Axis Gate Open Ultimate Strength Test—Each of
molybdenum-based grease to the test pins at the point of
the carabiners subjected to this test shall have an ultimate
contact between the test pins and the carabiner.
strength equal to or greater than the major axis gate open
9.2.2 Unlock the gate locking mechanism and position the
minimum ultimate strength listed in Table 1.
carabiner on the 6-mm radius test pins, as shown in Fig. 1.
8.6 Minor Axis Gate Closed Ultimate Strength—Each of the
Position the spine of the carabiner against the test pins.
carabiners subjected to this test shall have an ultimate strength
9.2.3 Load the carabiner along the major axis at a rate of 10
equal t
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