prEN ISO 12401
(Main)Small craft - Deck safety harness and safety line - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
Small craft - Deck safety harness and safety line - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
ISO 12401:2009 specifies the requirements for performance, sizing, marking and test methods for deck safety harnesses and safety lines on recreational craft.
It is applicable to harnesses and lines in the following sizes of body mass (multisizing is permitted):
size 1: > 50 kg ;
size 2: > 20 kg ≤ 50 kg;
size 3: ≤ 20 kg;
which are intended to be worn by all persons when in the exposed cockpit or on the working deck of a craft afloat.
It is not applicable to dinghy 'trapeze' harnesses, windsurfing harnesses, seat harnesses for fast motor boats, and harnesses intended to protect against falls from a height.
Kleine Wasserfahrzeuge - Sicherheitsgurt und Sicherheitsleine - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
Petits navires - Harnais de sécurité de pont et sauvegardes de harnais - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
L'ISO 12401:2009 spécifie les exigences de performances, de tailles, de marquage et de méthodes d'essai relatives aux harnais de sécurité de pont et à leurs sauvegardes utilisés sur les bateaux de plaisance.
Elle est applicable aux harnais et à leurs sauvegardes, correspondant aux tailles et masses corporelles suivantes (multitaille autorisée):
taille 1: > 50 kg;
taille 2: > 20 kg ≤ 50 kg;
taille 3: ≤ 20 kg;
qui sont destinés à être portés par toutes les personnes lorsqu'elles sont dans un cockpit exposé ou sur le pont d'un bateau à flot.
Elle n'est pas applicable aux harnais de «trapèze» des dériveurs légers, aux harnais de planches à voile, aux harnais de sièges des bateaux à moteur rapides et aux harnais contre les chutes verticales.
Mala plovila - Varnostni pasovi in varnostne vrvi - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne metode (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2026
Mala plovila - Varnostni pasovi in varnostne vrvi - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne
metode (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
Small craft - Deck safety harness and safety line - Safety requirements and test methods
(ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
Kleine Wasserfahrzeuge - Sicherheitsgurt und Sicherheitsleine - Sicherheitstechnische
Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
Petits navires - Harnais de sécurité de pont et sauvegardes de harnais - Exigences de
sécurité et méthodes d'essai (ISO/DIS 12401:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 12401
ICS:
13.340.60 Zaščita pred padci in zdrsi Protection against falling and
slipping
47.080 Čolni Small craft
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 12401
ISO/TC 188/SC 1
Small craft — Deck safety
Secretariat: AFNOR
harness and safety line — Safety
Voting begins on:
requirements and test methods
2025-11-04
Petits navires — Harnais de sécurité de pont et sauvegardes de
Voting terminates on:
harnais — Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai
2026-01-27
ICS: 47.080
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Reference number
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
DRAFT
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 12401
ISO/TC 188/SC 1
Small craft — Deck safety
Secretariat: AFNOR
harness and safety line — Safety
Voting begins on:
requirements and test methods
Petits navires — Harnais de sécurité de pont et sauvegardes de
Voting terminates on:
harnais — Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai
ICS: 47.080
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2025
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
ii
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements for safety . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Materials and construction .3
4.3 General performance .3
4.3.1 Donning .3
4.3.2 Attachment point .3
4.3.3 Comfortable wear .3
4.3.4 Detachability of safety lines .4
4.3.5 Hooks .4
4.3.6 Holding down device .4
4.3.7 Integrated combinations .4
4.4 Inspection requirements for deck safety harness sizes 1 and 2 and safety line .4
4.5 Static loading of deck safety harness size 3.5
5 Test methods . 5
5.1 Magnetic properties testing .5
5.2 Dynamic testing .5
5.2.1 Principle .5
5.2.2 Apparatus .5
5.2.3 Reference deck safety harness .10
5.2.4 Conditioning .10
5.2.5 Harness testing .10
5.2.6 Safety line testing . 12
5.2.7 Integrated deck safety harness and safety line testing . 12
5.3 Static testing of deck safety harnesses of size 3 only . 12
5.4 Accidental hook opening testing . 13
5.5 User’s tests .14
5.5.1 Principle .14
5.5.2 Test subjects .14
5.5.3 Assessment panel .14
5.5.4 Procedure .14
6 Marking . .15
7 Information supplied by the manufacturer .16
iii
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 12401 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 188, Small craft.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12401:2004), which has been technically
revised.
iv
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
Introduction
This International Standard has been prepared to meet the needs of persons afloat on recreational craft.
Deck safety harnesses and safety lines manufactured according to this International Standard will give
reasonable assurance that the wearer will remain attached to the craft.
A deck safety harness and safety line does not provide protection against falls from a height. This
International Standard does not cover the requirements of a dinghy “trapeze” harness, a windsurfing
harness, or a seat harness for fast motor boats.
This International Standard is intended to serve as a guide to manufacturers, purchasers and users of such
safety equipment by ensuring that the equipment provides an effective standard of performance in use.
Equally essential is the need for the designer to encourage the wearing of the equipment by making it
comfortable and attractive for continuous wear while afloat, rather than for it to be stowed in a locker for
emergency use. The principal reason for the existence of this International Standard is the recognition that
comfort and mobility are important factors in determining whether deck safety harnesses are worn.
The primary aims in wearing a deck safety harness are:
a) to prevent the wearer from falling into the water, and
b) to assist in recovering the wearer onto the working deck.
Preventing the wearer from actually falling into the water is dependent on the location of the attachment
to the craft and the length of the safety line. Because a correctly worn deck safety harness and safety line
will, in normal circumstances, prevent the wearer from entering the water, no consideration is given to
the towing position after a fall. The importance of ensuring a firm fit cannot be overstressed. Unless the
harness is fitted with an automatic tensioner, it remains the responsibility of the wearer to correctly adjust
the harness to achieve a firm fit.
v
DRAFT International Standard ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
Small craft — Deck safety harness and safety line — Safety
requirements and test methods
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the requirements for performance, sizing, marking and test methods
for deck safety harnesses and safety lines on recreational craft.
It is applicable to harnesses and lines in the following sizes of body mass:
1)
a) size 1: > 50 kg ;
1)
b) size 2: > 20 kg ⩽ 50 kg ;
1)
c) size 3: ⩽ 20 kg ;
which are intended to be worn by all persons when in the exposed cockpit or on the working deck of a craft afloat.
It is not applicable to dinghy “trapeze” harnesses, windsurfing harnesses, seat harnesses for fast motor
boats, and harnesses intended to protect against falls from a height.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 892:2023, Mountaineering equipment — Dynamic mountaineering rope — Safety requirements and test methods
ISO 139, Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ISO 9227, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests
ISO 12402-7, Personal flotation devices — Part 7: Materials and components — Safety requirements and test methods
ISO 12402-8, Personal flotation devices — Part 8: Accessories — Safety requirements and test methods
ISO 12402-9:2006, Personal flotation devices — Part 9: Test methods
ISO 15027-1, Immersion suits — Part 1: Constant wear suits, requirements including safety
ISO 15027-2, Immersion suits — Part 2: Abandonment suits, requirements including safety
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
deck safety harness
device securely fitted to the user and which provides suitable strong point(s) of attachment for the safety line
1) Multisizing permitted.
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
3.2
safety line
link between the point of attachment on the deck safety harness and a strong point of attachment on the craft
3.3
hook
self-closing means of attachment between the safety line and the strong points on the deck safety harness
and the craft on non-integrated safety lines, and between the safety line and the strong points on the deck of
the craft on integrated safety lines
3.4
automatic tensioner
device which allows the harness to be worn looser than desirable for safe operation but which automatically
tensions the harness to a safe firm fit when strain is placed on the safety line
Note 1 to entry: The deliberate movement of such a device when tensioning the harness is not considered to be slippage
of an adjustment device.
3.5
reference deck safety harness
device used to test a separate safety line
Note 1 to entry: This is represented in tests by the attachment link between the test mass and the safety line under test.
3.6
reference safety line
device used to test a separate deck safety harness
3.7
integrated deck safety harness and safety line
combination of deck safety harness and safety line that cannot be separated without destruction
3.8
assessment panel
panel consisting of experienced users, responsible for assessing the results of the test
3.9
holding-down device
crotch and thigh straps, integrated or attached to clothing worn between the legs
3.10
integrated combination of deck safety harness and clothing
combination of deck safety harness and clothing that cannot be separated without destruction nor worn
without the holding-down device in its intended position
4 Requirements for safety
4.1 General
The original effective maximum length of a safety line, measured with a measuring tape between the
attachment points, under a load of 10 kg, shall not exceed 2 m including the length of the hooks. The
measurement shall be made from the inside of the hook (s).
Where the safety line incorporates more than two hooks or loops, the length of 2 m shall not be exceeded in
any combination of hook or loop attachment.
NOTE If a safety lines has a break out indicator that expands the length after being subject to load, the maximum
length of 2 m might be exceeded after the breakout indicator being on the load.
ISO/DIS 12401:2025(en)
Design of the safety line and its attachments to the wearer shall preclude accidental incorrect attachment
resulting in more than 2 m between the strong point on the craft and the strong point on the deck safety
harness.
4.2 Materials and construction
4.2.1 Materials and components shall comply with the relevant requirements in ISO 12402-7. Sewing
threads shall be of a contrasting shade or colour in order to facilitate visual inspection.
4.2.2 All machining shall have been carried out on a lockstitching machine and securely finished off by
back-sewing for at least 13 mm, except where sewn by an automatic lockstitching machine when the first
and last stitches shall have been sewn in such a way as not to provide a natural starting point for a break
in the stitching. Sewing shall not have been carried out within 2 mm of any edge of the material. However,
ends may be oversewn if not heat-sealed. Sacrificial elements are not required to comply with this method of
stitching.
4.2.3 The system of deck safety harness and/or safety line, including all metal components attached at the
intended attachment points, shall not deflect a magnetic compass by more than 1°. Testing shall be carried
out in accordance with ISO 12402-9:2006, 5.4.
4.2.4 The webbing or equivalent primary elements designed to transfer the shock load to the wearer's
body shall have a minimum width of
a) 45 mm for size 1,
b) 35 mm for size 2 and
c) 25 mm for size 3.
NOTE For a definition of sizes, see Clause 1.
4.3 General performance
4.3.1 Donning
Donning of a deck safety harness shall be obvious and simple on the briefest of instructions. This shall be
tested in accordance with 5.5.
4.3.2 Attachment point
The point of attachment of a safety line to a deck safety harness shall be positioned within 50 mm of the
central axis of the body, front or back, above the lowest point of the ribcage.
If a deck safety harness incorporates more than one point to which the safety line can be attached, it shall
either be demonstrated, using the test in 5.2, that attachment to each single
...
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