EN 362 sets the requirements for connectors — the components joining the harness, the lanyard and the anchor. They get the least attention and are frequently the cause of accidents.
Classes
- Class B
- Basic connector — a general-purpose karabiner
- Class M
- Multi-use — may be loaded along two or more axes
- Class T
- Termination — designed to load in a predetermined direction
- Class A
- Anchor — for attaching directly to a specific type of anchor
- Class Q
- Screwlink (maillon) — for permanent or rarely-opened connections
The mandatory requirement: a locking gate
Every EN 362 connector must have a locking gate that cannot open accidentally. Minimum strength along the major axis is 20 kN; with the gate open, or loaded across the minor axis, strength falls sharply — often to around 7 kN.
Two common and dangerous mistakes
- Cross-loading — the karabiner is loaded across its minor axis, where it is around three times weaker. A captive-eye or gate-capture connector prevents it.
- Roll-out — the gate presses against an obstruction and levers open. This is a particular risk on wide anchor points.
Check every connector before use: the gate must close freely, the spring must work, and the body must be free of cracks and deformation.