EN 15151-1 sets the requirements for braking devices that lock a rope by friction. These are the devices used for belaying and controlled descent.
The two types
- Type 1
- Assisted braking — the mechanism grips the rope itself under load (a camming device, for example)
- Type 2
- Manual braking — locking depends entirely on the user's brake hand
Industrial use
In an industrial context these devices appear in rope access, rescue, arboriculture and theatrical rigging. Bear in mind that EN 15151-1 is a mountaineering standard — for industrial descent the relevant certification is EN 12841 type C or EN 341.
Even an assisted-braking device requires a hand on the brake rope at all times. Automatic locking is never guaranteed — rope diameter, wetness, dirt and wear all affect how the mechanism behaves.