ISO 10333-5:2001

Personal fall-arrest systems - Part 5: Connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates

This part of ISO 10333 specifies requirements, test methods, instructions for use and maintenance, marking, labelling and packaging, as appropriate, for connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates made from metallic materials. Connectors are used in personal fall-arrest systems (PFAS), which will be specified in a future International Standard (see ISO 10333-6 in the Bibliography), such that, if an arrest takes place, the arresting force will not exceed 6kN.. This part of ISO 10333 is applicable only to connectors limited to single person use of a total mass not exceeding 100kg. . NOTE Users of fall protection equipment whose total mass (including tools and equipment) exceeds 100 kg are advised to seek advice from the equipment manufacturer regarding the suitability of this equipment, which may need additional testing. The scope of this part of ISO 10333 does not extend to: a) attachment elements, fastening buckles, adjusting buckles and other metallic fittings used in the manufacture of full-body harnesses, which are specified in ISO 10333-6; b) connectors used for material-lifting purposes; c) connectors used in special techniques or situations, e.g. rescue, or rope access. This part of ISO 10333 does not specify those additional requirements that would apply when connectors are subjected to special conditions of use (where, for example, there exist unusual limitations concerning access to the place of work and/or particular environmental factors). Thus, treatments to ensure the durability of the materials of construction (such as heat treatment, anti-corrosion treatment, protection against physical and chemical hazards) are not specified in this part of ISO 10333, but should comply with appropriate International Standards or, failing that, with national standards and other specifications dealing with relevant physical characteristics and/or the safety of users. In particular, when it is considered necessary to test the corrosion resistance of metallic parts of the equipment, reference should be made to ISO 9227.

Systèmes individuels d'arrêt de chute — Partie 5: Connecteurs à portail autofermant et autoverrouillant

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Nov-2001
• ICS: 13.340.60 - Protection against falling and slipping
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 94/SC 4 - Personal equipment for protection against falls
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 94/SC 4 - Personal equipment for protection against falls
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 19-Feb-2024
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 10333-5:2001 specifies safety, performance and testing requirements for metallic connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates used in personal fall-arrest systems (PFAS). The standard covers design, test methods, marking, instructions for use, maintenance and packaging for connectors intended for single-person use (total mass ≤ 100 kg). It aims to ensure that connectors (karabiners, snap hooks, anchor and system connectors) perform reliably in fall-arrest situations so that arrest forces do not exceed 6 kN when used as part of a PFAS.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Connector design: Smoothly finished metal construction; no sharp edges or burrs that could damage harnesses, webbing or rope.
• Gate function: Connectors must be self-closing and self-locking, and openable only by at least two deliberate actions to reduce accidental opening.
• Gate resistance tests:
  • Gate-face resistance: withstand 1.0 kN for 60 s without gate separating from the latch by >3 mm.
  • Gate side-load resistance: withstand 1.5 kN for 60 s; no partial fractures and permanent deformation ≤ 3.0 mm.
• Static strength: Connector must resist a minimum tensile force of 20 kN for 60 s (no partial fractures or inadvertent opening). Higher strengths may be required in special cases.
• Corrosion resistance: Salt-spray conditioning per ISO 9227 (initial 24 h, 1 h drying, additional 24 h) with gate functionality preserved and no base-metal corrosion (tarnish/white scale acceptable).
• Documentation & marking: Clear instructions in the national language, manufacturer ID, intended use and limitations, warnings, inspection and maintenance guidance, and traceability information.
• Scope limits: Not applicable to lifting connectors, special rescue/rope-access connectors, or harness hardware covered in ISO 10333-6.

Applications and who uses this standard

ISO 10333-5 is essential for:

• Manufacturers and designers of carabiners, snap hooks and metallic connectors to guide product development, testing and certification.
• Third-party testers and certification bodies performing compliance and type testing.
• Safety managers, procurement teams and specifiers who select fall-protection components for construction, utilities, roofing, and industrial maintenance.
• Trainers and competent persons who assess equipment suitability and advise users about safe combinations and inspections.

Practical uses include component selection for PFAS assemblies, specifying test criteria in purchase contracts, and setting inspection/maintenance procedures.

Related standards

• ISO 10333 series (Parts 1–6) - PFAS components (Part 1: full-body harnesses; Part 2: lanyards/energy absorbers; Part 3: SRLs; Part 4: vertical systems; Part 6: system performance)
• ISO 9227 - Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres (salt spray)
• ISO 9000 - Quality management guidance (recommended for manufacturers)

Keywords: ISO 10333-5, personal fall-arrest systems, connectors, self-closing self-locking gate, karabiner, gate resistance, static strength, corrosion resistance, PFAS testing.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 10333-5
First edition
2001-12-01
Personal fall-arrest systems —
Part 5:
Connectors with self-closing and
self-locking gates
Systèmes individuels d'arrêt de chute —
Partie 5: Connecteurs à portail autofermant et autoverrouillant
Reference number
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ii ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Requirements . 5
5 Test methods . 6
6 Instructions for general use, marking, packaging and maintenance . 9
Bibliography. 11
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ISO 2001 – All rights reserved iii

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 3.
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 part of ISO 10333 may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 10333-5 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Protective
clothing and equipment, Subcommittee SC 4, Personal equipment for protection against falls.
ISO 10333 consists of the following parts, under the general title Personal fall-arrest systems:
— Part 1: Full-body harnesses
— Part 2: Lanyards and energy absorbers
— Part 3: Self-retracting lifelines
— Part 4: Vertical rails and vertical lifelines incorporating a sliding-type fall arrester
— Part 5: Connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates
The system performance tests will be the subject of a future part 6 to ISO 10333.
©
iv ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

Introduction
In cases where the hazard of falling from a height exists and where, for technical reasons or for work of very short
duration, safe access cannot be otherwise provided, it is necessary to consider the use of personal fall-arrest
systems (PFAS). Such use should never be improvised and its adoption should be specifically provided for in the
appropriate formal provisions for safety in the work place.
PFAS complying with this part of ISO 10333 should satisfy ergonomic requirements and should only be used if the
work allows means of connection to a suitable anchor device of demonstrated strength and if it can be implemented
without compromising the safety of the user. Personnel should be trained and instructed in the safe use of the
equipment and be observant of such training and instruction.
This part of ISO 10333 is based on current knowledge and practice concerning the use of PFAS that incorporate a
full body harness.
This part of ISO 10333 presumes that the manufacturer of the PFAS, subsystems or components will, for the sake of
consistency and traceability, operate a quality management system which will comply with national and regional
regulations in force at the time. Guidance on the form this quality management system may take can be found in
ISO 9000 (all parts), Quality management and quality assurance standards.
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ISO 2001 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 10333-5:2001(E)
Personal fall-arrest systems —
Part 5:
Connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates
1 Scope
This part of ISO 10333 specifies requirements, test methods, instructions for use and maintenance, marking,
labelling and packaging, as appropriate, for connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates made from metallic
materials.
Connectors are used in personal fall-arrest systems (PFAS), which will be specified in a future International Standard
(see ISO 10333-6 in the Bibliography), such that, if an arrest takes place, the arresting force will not exceed 6kN.
This part of ISO 10333 is applicable only to connectors limited to single person use of a total mass not exceeding
100 kg.
NOTE Users of fall protection equipment whose total mass (including tools and equipment) exceeds 100 kg are advised to seek
advice from the equipment manufacturer regarding the suitability of this equipment, which may need additional testing.
The scope of this part of ISO 10333 does not extend to:
a) attachment elements, fastening buckles, adjusting buckles and other metallic fittings used in the manufacture of
full-body harnesses, which are specified in ISO 10333-6;
b) connectors used for material-lifting purposes;
c) connectors used in special techniques or situations, e.g. rescue, or rope access.
This part of ISO 10333 does not specify those additional requirements that would apply when connectors are
subjected to special conditions of use (where, for example, there exist unusual limitations concerning access to the
place of work and/or particular environmental factors). Thus, treatments to ensure the durability of the materials of
construction (such as heat treatment, anti-corrosion treatment, protection against physical and chemical hazards)
are not specified in this part of ISO 10333, but should comply with appropriate International Standards or, failing that,
with national standards and other specifications dealing with relevant physical characteristics and/or the safety of
users. In particular, when it is considered necessary to test the corrosion resistance of metallic parts of the
equipment, reference should be made to ISO 9227.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this part of ISO 10333. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications
do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO 10333 are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated references,
the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC maintain registers of
currently valid International Standards.
ISO 9227:1990, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests
ISO 10333-1, Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 1: Full-body harnesses
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ISO 2001 – All rights reserved 1

3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10333, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1 Connectors
3.1.1
connector
device, which is used to assemble a PFAS by enabling two other components or subsystems to be physically
connected
SeeFigure1.
NOTE A connector has an opening guarded by a self-closing gate with a self-locking feature.
a) Karabiner and small snap hook
b) Large hooks
Figure 1 — Examples of connectors
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2 ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

c) Anchor connector d) System assembly connector
Figure 1 — Examples of connectors (continued)
3.1.2
gate
self-closing, sliding or hinged mechanism which, when opened, allows passage of the components or sub-systems
to be coupled into the connector
SeeFigure2.
NOTE When closed and with the locking feature engaged it is designed to prevent the unintentional separation of the coupled
components or subsystems.
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ISO 2001 – All rights reserved 3

3.1.3
self-locking feature
mechanism which operates automatically upon closure of the gate and is opened by at least two consecutive,
deliberate actions
3.1.4
opening
maximum gap for the passage of a component or subsystem into the connector with a fully opened gate
SeeFigure2.
Key
1 Opening
2Gate
Figure 2 — Example of opening dimension
3.1.5
retention pin
pin, which when inserted across one end of a connector, maintains the position of a lanyard termination, so that the
termination is constrained to bear on a part of the connector which has been designed to sustain a fall-arrest force
3.1.6
retention eye
eye or hole which is similar in function to a retention pin, but which becomes integral to the connector during
manufacture
3.1.7
latch
that part of the connector which engages with the free end of the gate
3.1.8
total mass
sum of the user's mass plus the mass of all attached clothing and equipment
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4 ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

3.2 General terms and definitions
3.2.1
personal fall-arrest system
PFAS
assembly of interconnected components and subsystems, including a full-body harness worn by the user, that when
connected to a suitable anchor device will arrest a fall from a height
NOTE A PFAS minimizes the fall-arrest forces, controls the total fall distance as to prevent collision with the ground or other
relevant obstruction and maintains the faller in a suitable post fall-arrest attitude for rescue purposes.
3.2.2
component
constituent part of a PFAS or subsystem that has completed the manufa
...