GB 38230-2025 Fall protection—Descender devices English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
1 Scope
This document specifies the classification, grading and labeling, technical requirements, inspection rules, identification, and information provided by the manufacturer of the descender devices, and describes the corresponding test methods.
This document is applicable to vertically used automatic descender devices and manually-operated descender devices.
This document does not apply to descender devices used in building fire escape and explosive environments.
2 Normative references
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions 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.
GB/T 10125 Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres - Salt spray tests
GB 23469 Fall protection - Connector
GB 24544 Fall protection - Retractable type fall arrester
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
descender devices
devices that allow users to slowly descend from a height to the working reference surface (or ground) at a certain speed by themselves or with the assistance of others
Note 1: They are classified into automatic descender devices and manually-operated descender devices.
Note 2: The descender devices consist of a descent line and a speed limiting component, etc.
3.2
automatic descender devices
descender devices that do not require the user to manually interfere with the speed limiting components during the descent process
3.3
manually-operated descender devices
descender devices that the user needs to manually control the speed limiting component to achieve the control speed during the descent process
3.4
panic locking element
emergency braking device integrated with descender device, used in the event of loss of speed or the need to terminate the descent
3.5
descent line
component connected to the speed limiting component of the descent device, cooperating with the speed limiting component to adjust the descent speed and bear the descent load during the descent process
Note: It is made of fiber line, webbing, or steel wire line.
3.6
descent energy
product of the descent load, gravitational acceleration, single descent height, and descent times of the descender device
Note: It is an indicator for measuring the number of falls and the ability to reuse the descender device, which is calculated using Equation (1):
W=m×g×h×n (1)
where,
W — the descent energy, J;
m —the descent load (including the total mass of personnel, tools, and equipment carried), kg;
g — the gravitational acceleration, 9.81, m/s2;
h — the single descent height, m;
n — the number of descents.
3.7
minimum rated load
minimum mass that a descender device provided by the manufacturer can start under normal operating conditions
Note: The mass of personnel or equipment is expressed in kilograms (kg).
3.8
maximum rated load
maximum mass that can be carried by the descender device provided by the manufacturer under normal working conditions
Note: It includes the total mass of personnel, tools, and equipment carried, expressed in kilograms (kg).
3.9
minimum breaking strength; MBS
calculated value obtained by subtracting three times the standard deviation from the average value of the breaking strength test of the descent line
Note: It is expressed in kilonewtons (kN).
3.10
elongation
percentage of the elongation value of the descent line compared to its original length when tested under specified conditions
3.11
mandatory expired period
longest period from the date of production of the product until it meets the manufacturer's specified criteria for rejection
Note: The recommended maximum mandatory expired period is 10 years.
4 Classification, grading and marking
4.1 Classification of descender devices
The automatic and manually-operated descender devices are classified as Types I and II, respectively.
4.2 Classification of descender devices
The descender devices are classified into the following grades according to the descent energy:
— Class A: Descent energy - W ≥ 7.5 × 106 J;
Contents
Foreword i
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Classification, grading and marking
5 Technical requirements
6 Test methods
7 Inspection rules
8 Marking
9 Information supplied by the manufacturer
Annex A (Normative) Requirements for samples under test
Annex B (Informational) Preventive inspection records
Bibliography
GB 38230-2025 Fall protection—Descender devices English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
1 Scope
This document specifies the classification, grading and labeling, technical requirements, inspection rules, identification, and information provided by the manufacturer of the descender devices, and describes the corresponding test methods.
This document is applicable to vertically used automatic descender devices and manually-operated descender devices.
This document does not apply to descender devices used in building fire escape and explosive environments.
2 Normative references
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions 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.
GB/T 10125 Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres - Salt spray tests
GB 23469 Fall protection - Connector
GB 24544 Fall protection - Retractable type fall arrester
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
descender devices
devices that allow users to slowly descend from a height to the working reference surface (or ground) at a certain speed by themselves or with the assistance of others
Note 1: They are classified into automatic descender devices and manually-operated descender devices.
Note 2: The descender devices consist of a descent line and a speed limiting component, etc.
3.2
automatic descender devices
descender devices that do not require the user to manually interfere with the speed limiting components during the descent process
3.3
manually-operated descender devices
descender devices that the user needs to manually control the speed limiting component to achieve the control speed during the descent process
3.4
panic locking element
emergency braking device integrated with descender device, used in the event of loss of speed or the need to terminate the descent
3.5
descent line
component connected to the speed limiting component of the descent device, cooperating with the speed limiting component to adjust the descent speed and bear the descent load during the descent process
Note: It is made of fiber line, webbing, or steel wire line.
3.6
descent energy
product of the descent load, gravitational acceleration, single descent height, and descent times of the descender device
Note: It is an indicator for measuring the number of falls and the ability to reuse the descender device, which is calculated using Equation (1):
W=m×g×h×n (1)
where,
W — the descent energy, J;
m —the descent load (including the total mass of personnel, tools, and equipment carried), kg;
g — the gravitational acceleration, 9.81, m/s2;
h — the single descent height, m;
n — the number of descents.
3.7
minimum rated load
minimum mass that a descender device provided by the manufacturer can start under normal operating conditions
Note: The mass of personnel or equipment is expressed in kilograms (kg).
3.8
maximum rated load
maximum mass that can be carried by the descender device provided by the manufacturer under normal working conditions
Note: It includes the total mass of personnel, tools, and equipment carried, expressed in kilograms (kg).
3.9
minimum breaking strength; MBS
calculated value obtained by subtracting three times the standard deviation from the average value of the breaking strength test of the descent line
Note: It is expressed in kilonewtons (kN).
3.10
elongation
percentage of the elongation value of the descent line compared to its original length when tested under specified conditions
3.11
mandatory expired period
longest period from the date of production of the product until it meets the manufacturer's specified criteria for rejection
Note: The recommended maximum mandatory expired period is 10 years.
4 Classification, grading and marking
4.1 Classification of descender devices
The automatic and manually-operated descender devices are classified as Types I and II, respectively.
4.2 Classification of descender devices
The descender devices are classified into the following grades according to the descent energy:
— Class A: Descent energy - W ≥ 7.5 × 106 J;
Contents of GB 38230-2025
Contents
Foreword i
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Classification, grading and marking
5 Technical requirements
6 Test methods
7 Inspection rules
8 Marking
9 Information supplied by the manufacturer
Annex A (Normative) Requirements for samples under test
Annex B (Informational) Preventive inspection records
Bibliography
