EN 12491:2001
(Main)Paragliding equipment - Emergency parachutes - Safety requirements and test methods
Paragliding equipment - Emergency parachutes - Safety requirements and test methods
This European Standard is applicable to emergency parachutes intended for use in single-seater or two-seater paragliders. The aim of this standard is to define a method of testing the resistance to dynamic stresses of an emergency parachute and to fix from that a minimum strength level and acceptable rate of descent.
Ausrüstung für das Gleitschirmfliegen - Rettungsfallschirme - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren
Diese Europäische Norm gilt für Rettungsfallschirme, die durch den Piloten ohne jede andere Unterstützung (mechanisch oder pyrotechnisch) ausgelöst werden und die zur Verwendung in einsitzigen und zweisitzigen Gleitschirmen vorgesehen sind.
Equipement pour le parapente - Parachute de secours - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai
La présente Norme européenne est applicable aux parachutes de secours déployés sous l'action du pilote sans aucune autre assistance (mécanique ou pyrotechnique), et qui sont prévus pour être utilisés avec des parapentes monoplaces ou biplaces.
Jadralno padalstvo - Varnostna padala - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne metode
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Paragliding equipment - Emergency parachutes - Safety requirements and test methodsJadralno padalstvo - Varnostna padala - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne metodeEquipement pour le parapente - Parachute de secours - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essaiAusrüstung für das Gleitschirmfliegen - Rettungsfallschirme - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und PrüfverfahrenTa slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12491:2001SIST EN 12491:2002en97.220.40ICS:SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 12491:200201-september-2002
EUROPEAN STANDARDNORME EUROPÉENNEEUROPÄISCHE NORMEN 12491March 2001ICS 97.220.40English versionParagliding equipment - Emergency parachutes - Safetyrequirements and test methodsEquipement pour le parapente - Parachute de secours -Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essaiAusrüstung für das Gleitschirmfliegen - Rettungsfallschirme- Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und PrüfverfahrenThis European Standard was approved by CEN on 4 February 2001.CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this EuropeanStandard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such nationalstandards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translationunder the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the officialversions.CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATIONCOMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIONEUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNGManagement Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels© 2001 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reservedworldwide for CEN national Members.Ref. No. EN 12491:2001 E
Page 2EN 12491:2001ContentsForeword.3Introduction.41Scope.52Normative references.53Terms and definitions.54Safety requirements.64.1Deployment system.64.2Speed of opening.64.3Descent rate and stability.64.4Strength.64.5Interaction and stability (piloted).65Test methods.75.1Test apparatus.75.2Test conditions.75.3Procedure.75.3.1General.75.3.2Deployment system strength test.75.3.3Speed of opening test.75.3.4Descent rate and stability test.85.3.5Strength test.85.3.6Interaction and stability test (piloted).96Test report.97Manufacturing record.98User's manual.109Marking.10Annex A (informative)
Example of marking label.11Annex B (normative)
Formula
to be used for correcting the test mass for differences from ICAOstandard atmosphere.12Annex C (informative)
Example drop test devices.13Annex D (informative)
Development tests for steerable emergency parachutes.15
Page 3EN 12491:2001ForewordThis European Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 136 "Sports, playground and otherrecreational equipment", the secretariat of which is held by DIN.This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text orby endorsement, at the latest by September 2001, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the lat-est by September 2001.This standard is one of a package of standards on equipment for paragliding as follows:EN 926-1,
Paragliding equipment – Paragliders – Part 1: Requirements and test methods for structural strength.ENV 926-2,
Paragliding equipment — Paragliders — Part 2: Requirements and flight tests.EN 1651,
Paragliding equipment — Harnesses — Safety requirements and strength tests.EN 12491,
Paragliding equipment — Emergency parachutes — Safety requirements and test methods.The annexes A, C and D are informative, annex B is normative.According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following coun-tries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Page 4EN 12491:2001IntroductionThe aim of this standard is to enhance paraglider pilots' safety by testing to confirm that emergency parachutes arelikely to be able to perform their intended function.As it is essential that the complete system of harness and emergency parachute should have no untested compo-nents, it has been determined that the interface shall be the two attachment points required to be fitted to anyEN 1651 Paragliding harness. Emergency parachutes are supplied by the manufacturer for testing complete withattachments suitable for connection to such a harness, and parachutes will be tested as if they were so connected.These connections are made in such a way, and/or using resistant material, so that they are not subject to frictionor heat failure due to the tightening or slipping possible under shock loads. Any metal link is installed in such a wayas to minimise any risk of injury to the pilot in an emergency deployment, and to ensure that it will be loaded in thedirection of its maximum strength.
Page 5EN 12491:20011 ScopeThis European Standard is applicable to emergency parachutes deployed by the action of the pilot without anyother assistance (mechanical or pyrotechnic), intended for use with single-seater or two-seater paragliders.2 Normative referencesThis European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications. Thesenormative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. Fordated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this EuropeanStandard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of thepublication referred to applies (including amendments).EN 926-1,
Paragliding equipment – Paragliders – Part 1: Requirements and test methods for structural strength.EN 1651,
Paragliding equipment — Harnesses — Safety requirements and strength tests.3 Terms and definitionsFor the purposes of this European Standard, the following terms and definitions apply:3.1paragliderultralight glider with no primary rigid structure, for with take-off and landing are on foot, the pilot is supported in aharness connected to the wing [EN 926-1]3.2emergency parachutean emergency device intended to slow the descent of a paraglider pilot in the event of an incident in flight, which isdeployed by the pilot by an intentional manual action. This may be unsteered or steerable3.3riversthe lowest part of the parachute system, which is connected to the harness3.4inverted "V" riserstwo risers joined by a fixed loop at the apex for attachment to a bridle, or directly to the suspension lines3.5bridlea webbing or other rope or cord connecting inverted "V" risers to suspension lines3.6suspension linesthe multiple cords connecting the emergency parachute canopy to the bridle or risers3.7parachute pack or outer containerthe external protective container, either supplied as part of the harness, or by the parachute manufacturer for per-manent attachment to a harness3.8inner container or deployment bagthe inner container which is initially deployed with the parachute, attached to the deployment handle, and containsthe folded canopy and suspension lines
Page 6EN 12491:20013.9special elements to reduce shock loadsany special component fitted within the parachute system to reduce the opening shock forces on the pilot andparachute in high speed deployments. If fitted they shall be clearly identified, by label and colour, and maintenance(and replacement) instructions included in the user's manual3.10drop test devicea rigid test object, of variable mass, with two rigid attachment points for the emergency parachute 30 cm apart.4 Safety requirements4.1 Deployment systemWhen tested in accordance with 5.3.2, there shall be no failure of any component of the deployment system.4.2 Speed of openingWhen tested in accordance with 5.3.3, in both tests the time interval shall be no more than 5 s.4.3 Descent rate and stabilityWhen tested in accordance with 5.3.4,a) in each test the average rate of descent (corrected to ICAO standard atmosphere, see annex B) shall be notmore than 5,5 m/s,b) in each test the average horizontal airspeed (corrected to ICAO standard atmosphere, see annex B) shall benot more than 5 m/s. This requirement is not applicable to parachutes fitted with controls,c) in each test any oscillations shall reduce,d) the emergency parachute system shall not suffer any permanent deformation (except in the case of any spe-cial elements to reduce shock loads which are intended to be replaced after any deployment).4.4 StrengthWhen tested in accordance with 5.3.5.1 or 5.3.5.2 (at the discretion of the manufacturer),a) in both tests the emergency parachute shall open fully, absorb the opening shock, and achieve normal descentrate and stability before the test mass reaches the ground,b) in both tests the emergency parachute system shall not suffer any significant failure of the primary structure(except in the case of any special elements to reduce shock loads which are intended to be replaced after anydeployment),c) in neither test shall the shock acceleration suffered by the drop test device during the parachute opening ex-ceed 15 g (= 15
9,81 m/s2). This could be confirmed by the inclusion of a suitable weak link. Availability ofsuitable weak links may govern the payloads that emergency parachutes can be tested at. It is expected thattest houses will initially select commercially available weak links that allow a suitable range of weights to betested.For example: By combining 2, 3 and 4 weak links of 6000 N, a test house could conduct tests at maximumpayloads of 800 N, 1200 N, 1600 N, etc. As and when alternative weak links or other suitable shock measuringdevices become available, test houses will be able to expand the range of tests offered.4.5 Interaction and stability (piloted)When emergency parachutes fitted with controls for steering and landing flare are tested in accordance with 5.3.6,
Page 7EN 12491:2001a) the parachute shall deploy satisfactorly, and a normal descent and landing shall be made without requiring theuse of the parachute's controls or influencing the paraglider,b) any oscillation shall reduce,c) when using the emergency parachute's controls as described in the user's manual, the parachute shall not ex-hibit any abnormal flying characteristics.5 Test methods5.1 Test apparatusa) meteorological measuring equipment to check wind speed, temperature, pressure and humidity;b) zoom lens video camera and video recorder capable of timed single frame analysis;c) drop test device (see annex C for example design);d) equipment to measure p
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