EN 17961:2025

Mountaineering equipment - Load sharing devices - Safety requirements and test methods

This document specifies safety requirements and test methods for all types of load sharing devices commonly used in mountaineering (climbing and associated activities).
This document does not cover the specific requirements of devices intended for use in slackline applications.

Bergsteigerausrüstung - Lastverteiler - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren

Dieses Dokument legt sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren für alle beim Bergsteigen (Klettern und damit verbundene Aktivitäten) verwendete Arten von Lastverteilern fest.
Dieses Dokument behandelt nicht spezifische Anforderungen an Geräte, die für die Verwendung in Slackline-Anwendungen vorgesehen sind.

Équipement d’alpinisme et d’escalade - Dispositifs de répartition de la charge - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d’essai

Le présent document spécifie les exigences de sécurité et les méthodes d’essai relatives à tous les types de dispositifs de répartition de la charge communément utilisés en alpinisme (y compris en escalade et activités connexes).
Le présent document ne traite pas des exigences spécifiques des dispositifs destinés à être utilisés en slackline.

Gorniška oprema - Naprave za delitev bremena - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne metode

Ta dokument določa varnostne zahteve in preskusne metode za vse vrste naprav za delitev bremena, ki se običajno uporabljajo v gorništvu (plezanje in povezane aktivnosti). Ne zajema posebnih zahtev glede naprav, ki se uporabljajo za hojo po vrvi.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-Jul-2025
• ICS: 97.220.40 - Outdoor and water sports equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 136 - Sports, playground and other recreational equipment
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 136/WG 5 - Mountaineering and climbing equipment
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 09-Jul-2025
• Due Date: 01-Dec-2024
• Completion Date: 09-Jul-2025
• Directive: 2016/425 - Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC
• Mandate: M/571 - COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 19.11.2020 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization as regards personal protective equipment in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Mandate: M/571 AMD 1 - Personal Protective Equipement
• Ref Project: SIST EN 17961:2025 - Mountaineering equipment - Load sharing devices - Safety requirements and test methods

Overview

EN 17961:2025 - published by CEN and approved 9 June 2025 - defines safety requirements and test methods for load sharing devices (LSDs) used in mountaineering and climbing. The standard applies to all LSD types commonly used to distribute load (e.g., rigging plates, textile LSDs, daisy chains) but explicitly excludes devices intended for slackline applications. EN 17961:2025 is based on UIAA‑130:2021 and is part of the wider series of mountaineering equipment standards.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & definitions
  • Defines LSD and key terms such as 3‑way loading and weakest load bearing orientation.
• Design and ergonomics
  • LSDs must integrate at least three possible connections.
  • Parts that open/remove must require at least three separate, deliberate manual actions or a tool to prevent unintended detachment.
  • Elements must not appear positively locked when incorrectly assembled.
  • Metallic edges must be free of burrs; internal hole edges must have radius > 0.2 mm or chamfer > 0.2 mm × 45°.
  • Holes for load distribution must accept a pin ≥ 15 mm diameter, unless specified otherwise.
  • Where textile parts are used, stitching must be inspectable and visually contrasted.
• Stability of tape
  • If textile LSD tape does not conform to EN 565:2017, it must pass a weft‑yarn unravel test (mass ~150 g applied for a defined time).
• Static strength
  • Minimum breaking strength in the weakest orientation: ≥ 20 kN for all‑metal LSDs; ≥ 22 kN for LSDs with non‑metallic structural elements.
  • Tensile testing uses specified pin dimensions (10 ± 0.1 mm) and surface roughness limits (Ra ≤ 0.8 μm; Rmax ≤ 6.3 μm). Loading rate for non‑metallic elements is based on free length v = (0.5 ± 0.1) × l (mm/min); metallic elements: 20–50 mm/min.
• Marking & instructions
  • Mandatory marking: manufacturer name/address, EN 17961:2025 reference, model ID, manufacture date for non‑metallic parts, and the single strength value (kN) corresponding to the weakest load bearing orientation.
  • Must include ISO 7000 symbol No.1641 and comprehensive manufacturer instructions (use, load orientations, maintenance, lifespan, environmental effects).

Applications - who uses EN 17961:2025

• Manufacturers and product designers for compliant LSD design and labelling.
• Testing laboratories and conformity assessors performing strength, tape stability and ergonomics tests.
• Distributors, procurement teams and professional guides to verify product safety and suitable use.
• Rescue organizations and technical trainers for equipment selection and risk assessment.
• Standardization and certification bodies referencing EU Regulation alignment (Annex ZA).

Related standards

EN 17961:2025 is part of the mountaineering equipment family - see related standards such as EN 565 (Tape), EN 564 (Accessory cords), EN 12275 (Connectors) and others listed in Annex A for integrated system compliance.

Keywords: EN 17961:2025, mountaineering equipment, load sharing devices, rigging plate, safety requirements, test methods, CEN, mountaineering standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2025
Gorniška oprema - Naprave za delitev bremena - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne
metode
Mountaineering equipment - Load sharing devices - Safety requirements and test
methods
Bergsteigerausrüstung - Lastverteiler - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
Prüfverfahren
Équipement d’alpinisme et d’escalade - Dispositifs de répartition de la charge -
Exigences et méthodes d’essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17961:2025
ICS:
97.220.40 Oprema za športe na Outdoor and water sports
prostem in vodne športe equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 17961
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.220.40
English Version
Mountaineering equipment - Load sharing devices - Safety
requirements and test methods
Équipement d'alpinisme et d'escalade - Dispositifs de Bergsteigerausrüstung - Lastverteiler -
répartition de la charge - Exigences de sécurité et Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
méthodes d'essai Prüfverfahren
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 9 June 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC 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
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17961:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Safety requirements . 6
4.1 Design and ergonomics . 6
4.2 Stability of tape . 7
4.3 Static strength . 7
5 Test methods . 8
5.1 Design and ergonomics . 8
5.2 Stability of tape test . 8
5.3 Static strength test . 8
6 Marking . 9
7 Manufacturer’s instructions and information . 10
Annex A (informative) Standards on mountaineering equipment . 11
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 aimed to be covered . 13
European foreword
This document (EN 17961:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 136 “Sports,
playground and other recreational facilities and 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 or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2026, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
The text of this document is based on the former UIAA-Standard 130:2021 (Union Internationale des
Associations d'Alpinisme / International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation), which was
developed with international participation.
This document is part of a series of standards on mountaineering equipment, see Annex A.
1 Scope
This document specifies safety requirements and test methods for all types of load sharing devices
commonly used in mountaineering (climbing and associated activities).
This document does not cover the specific requirements of devices intended for use in slackline
applications.
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 565:2017, Mountaineering equipment — Tape — Safety requirements and test methods
ISO 7000:2019, Graphical symbols for use on equipment — Registered symbols
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
load sharing device
LSD
apparatus integrating at least 3 possible connections intended to distribute load (see Figure 1)
Note 1 to entry: Some types of LSD are known as “rigging plates”.
3.2
3-way loading
application of loading in three different directions
3.3
weakest load bearing orientation
direction or method of loading which, as defined by the manufacturer, supports the lowest minimum
strength defined by the manufacturer
a) rigging plate b) openable c) 3D rigging d) ring e) LSD with
rigging plate plate swivels
f) textile LSD g) daisy chain h) textile and metallic LSD
Figure 1 — Examples of LSD
4 Safety requirements
4.1 Design and ergonomics
4.1.1 The LSD shall not become detached unintentionally. If any part can be opened or removed, it shall
be designed such that it can only be done after performing at least 3 separate, consecutive, and deliberate
manual actions or by the use of a tool.
4.1.2 Where an LSD includes more than one element and for an LSD with elements that can be adjusted,
the design shall be such that those elements cannot appear to be positively locked together when they
are incorrectly assembled or adjusted.
4.1.3 Where an LSD includes another function (connector, rope clamp, etc.), it shall also comply with
the suitable requirement(s) of the existing standard(s).
4.1.4 Where stitching is used to provide safety and strength (e.g. in joints), it shall be possible to inspect
it and the stitching shall contrast with the textile element in colour or surface appearance.
4.1.5 All metallic edges of an LSD shall be free of burrs and sharp edges.
The internal edges of the hole(s) shall be rounded with a radius larger than 0,2 mm or have a chamfer
larger than 0,2 mm × 45° (see a) in Figure 2).
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 2 — Attachment point eye dimensions
The hole(s) intended to distribute load shall permit the insertion of a pin having a diameter of at least
15 mm (see b) in Figure 2) unless designated for specific connections or purpose.
4.1.6 Where the manufacturer claims the insertion
...