ASTM F1956-20 PDF Download

The specifications for rescue carabiners used by rescue professionals during practice sessions and actual rescue operations are outlined in ASTM F1956-20, a standard specification. To ensure the effectiveness and longevity of the carabiners, the standard includes six mechanical tests and one corrosion resistance test.

Different facets of the carabiner's strength and usefulness are tested mechanically. These tests comprise the minor axis gate closed ultimate strength test, the minor axis gate open ultimate strength test, the major axis gate closed ultimate strength test, the gate function test, the gate locking mechanism function load test, and the major axis gate closed ultimate strength test. These tests are designed to assess the carabiner's capacity to open and lock correctly, support various loads, and maintain its strength in both major and minor axes. It is encouraged to take safety precautions during testing, such as using a safety screen and donning safety glasses.

The standard also makes a distinction between the two types of rescue carabiners: heavy-duty and light-duty. It clearly states that the tests outlined in the standard are harmful in nature; hence, carabiners that have undergone testing shouldn't be used again afterward besides to assess the test findings. It is crucial to remember that the standard does not imply endorsement of any particular technique for employing rescue carabiners, and the laboratory tests were not conducted under situations that would be found in the field.

The standard also emphasizes that the specification does not cover quality control, which is the responsibility of the producer or buyer. Additionally, it makes it clear that the test load values listed in the standard shouldn't be taken to represent the forces that rescue carabiners would encounter in actual use.