Husqvarna Friction Saver Rope Climbing Gear Instruction Manual

Husqvarna Friction Saver Rope Climbing Gear

Introduction

Product description and intended use
The product Husqvarna Friction Saver is an anchor device. It consists of 2 parts: one rope with aluminum rings at each end connection and the ring loop Prusik Loop 8 mm R with both end connections attached to a single aluminum ring. The ropes are made of synthetic fiber.

• The product is a personal protective equipment intended for use in work positioning systems for arborists.
• Do not use the product for fall arrest systems.
• Do not use the product as lifting equipment as specified in EU directive 2006/42/EC.

Symbols and markings

protection against falls from a height.
ANSI Z133-2017| Standard for arboricultural operations, prusik loop.
AS/NZS 5532:2013| Rating: single person/limited free-fall. Australian/New Zealand standard for anchor devices, class: single person/work positioning/restraint system.
L| Length in m.
Ser. Nr.| Serial number: Year/month of manufacture.
| The CE mark certifies compliance with the requirements of regulation (EU) 2016/425. The number identifies the testing institute. Refer to Compliance and ap- provals on page 8.
“single user only”| The product must only be used by a single (1) user.
“personnel attachment only”| The product must only be used for personal fall protection purposes.
| Manufacturer.
| Read the operator’s manual before you use the product.
The European standard symbols for textile care and washing of textiles are used.

Product liability
The manufacturer is not responsible for damages that occur during or after the use of the product if:

• the product is incorrectly used.
• the work positioning system is incorrectly assembled.

Safety definitions
Warnings, cautions and notes are used to point out specially important parts of the manual.

CAUTION: Used if there is a risk of damage to the product, other materials or the adjacent area if the instructions in the manual are not obeyed.
WARNING: Used if there is a risk of injury or death for the operator or bystanders if the instructions in the manual are not obeyed.
Note: Used to give more information that is necessary in a given situation.

General safety instructions

WARNING: Read the warning instructions that follow before you use the product.

• This product can be dangerous if you are not careful or if you use the product incorrectly. Before you use the product, you must read and understand the contents of this operator’s manual.
• You must obey all instructions in this operator’s manual. The risk of serious injury or death increases if the instructions are not obeyed.
• The operator must have necessary knowledge and experience. The operator must be trained in the safe use of the product and in the applicable safety precautions.
• The equipment should if possible be used personally by one operator only.
• Only use the product for the specified intended use and in the specified limited scope.
• The operator must have good medical health.
• The product can cause damage if incorrectly used, stored, cleaned or if it is used with too much load.
• Do the product inspections as given in this operator’s manual.
• Obey local requirements and national regulations for personal protective equipment for arborists.
• Keep this operator’s manual and inspection report together with the product.
• If the product is given to a new operator, make sure that the operator’s manual goes with the product.
• If the product is moved to a different country, it is the responsibility of the previous operator to make sure that the operator’s manual is in the correct language for that country.

Safety instructions before operation

WARNING: Read the warning instructions that follow before you use the product.

• All components in the work positioning system must be compatible and correctly configured. You must comply with the recommendations for use of the product together with other components:
• Ropes must comply with EN 1891.
• Carabiners must comply with EN 362.
• Other PPE components must comply with the harmonized standards under the regulation EU 2016/425.
• Do a visual inspection of the product before operation. If you are not fully sure that the product is safe to use, take it out of service. Refer to To take the product out of service on page 8.
• Prepare a risk assessment (RA) that includes emergency procedures for all possible emergencies. Make sure that emergency and rescue procedures can be done quickly and safely if an emergency occurs.

Safety instructions for operation

WARNING: Read the warning instructions that follow before you use the product.

• The product must be used by 1 person only.
• Do not use the product for fall arrest systems. The potential fall distance must never be more than 500 mm.
• Keep the product vertically above the operator. Pendulum swings can occur. Always be prepared for the consequences of pendulum swings.
• Do not put the product across sharp edges.
• To prevent damage to the product and other components of the work positioning system, obey these instructions:
• Keep all components away from surfaces that can damage the components.
• Put applicable and sufficient protection between the components and the surface that can damage the components.
• Do rappelling operations slowly to prevent high temperatures in the product.
• Sunlight and chemicals can damage the product and cause it to lose its strength. Keep the product away from UV radiation.
• Do not expose the product to temperatures higher than 100°C.
• The metal rings are made of aluminum. Do not use the product in corrosive conditions.
• Snow, ice and moisture have a negative effect on the handling of the product.
• Make sure that there are no knots. Knots decrease the breaking load.
• Do a check of the structure that the product is attached to. Make sure that the structure has sufficient strength for the operation, including the additional load that an emergency situation can cause.
• The product can be used as a belay for the rescuer after a single fall. Select an applicable tree, branch or other structural anchor that is resistant to a minimum of 12 kN.
• Make sure that the length of the product is sufficient for the object that it is looped around. Refer to To operate the product on page 6.
• Prevent rope slack between the anchor point and the operator. Always keep the work positioning system in tension.
• If the product is subject to a fall, take it out of service immediately. Refer to To take the product out of service on page 8.

Operation

Introduction

WARNING: Read and understand the safety chapter before you use the product.

To attach the Prusik Loop 8 mm R
1. (Fig. 3)

WARNING: Make sure that the ropes are parallel.

To operate the product

1. Put the product around a support structure, such as a branch, in one of these configurations:

   • a) With Prusik Loop 8 mm R. Refer to To attach the Prusik Loop 8 mm R on page 6. (Fig. 7)
   • b) Without Prusik Loop 8 mm R. (Fig. 8)
     Note: The rope through the metal rings illustrates a climbing rope and is not included with the product.

2. Make sure that the length of the rope (A) is a minimum 3 times longer than the circumference of the support structure (B). This puts the rope in a position that is in the direction of the pull. (Fig. 9)
   Note: The avilable length of the rope becomes shorter if the Prusik Loop 8 mm R is used.
   The shorter length must also be a minimum 3 times longer than the circumference of the support structure.

3. After the operation, remove the product, clean it and put it into storage. Refer to To clean the product on page 7 and Transportation and storage on page 8.

Product inspection

WARNING: Do the product inspections at the intervals given below. There is a risk of serious injury or death if defects are not identified.
Note: Refer to national regulations for other product inspection intervals.

Product inspections must always be done before and after each use. The operator can do these inspections.
If the product is used for equipment in occupational health and safety according to EN 365, a product inspection must be done at least each 12 months. This inspection must be done by a competent person or the manufacturer. The detailed instructions must be obeyed and the findings written on the inspection sheets. Refer to Product inspection record sheet on page 7 and
Written inspection record sheet on page 7.

To do a product inspection before each use

• Do a visual inspection of the product.
• If defects are found or if you are not sure that the product is safe to use, take the product out of service. Refer to To take the product out of service on page 8.

To do a product inspection after each use

• Examine the product for abrasion and cuts.
• Make sure that the product label is clearly visible and easy to read.
• If defects are found or if you are not sure that the product is safe to use, take the product out of service. Refer to To take the product out of service on page 8.

To do a product inspection each 12 months
WARNING: This product inspection must only be done by a competent person or the manufacturer.

The product inspection must be documented. Refer to Product inspection record sheet on page 7 and Written inspection record sheet on page 7.

• Do a check of the general product condition:
  • a) Do a check of the product age.
  • b) Do a check of the completeness of the product.
  • c) Make sure that the product is not dirty.
  • d) Make sure that the product is correctly
• • Examine the product label:
  • a) Make sure that the product label is clearly visible and easy to read.
  • b) Make sure that the product label has a CE marking and specifies the year and month of manufacture.
• • Examine all individual parts for these types of mechanical damage:
  • a) Cuts and cracks
  • b) Indentations
  • c ) Fibrillation and abrasion of fiber parts
  • d) Formation of ribs
  • e) Kinks
  • f) Crush damages
• Examine all individual parts for thermal or chemical damages, such as fusing or hardening.
• Make sure that there is no discoloration of the product.
• Examine all metal components for corrosion and deformations.
• Do a check of the condition and completeness of the end connections:
  • a) Make sure that there are no damages to the stitching, such as abrasion of the sewing thread.
  • b) Make sure that there is no slippage of the splices.
  • c) Examine the knots.

After the product inspection, mark the product with the date of inspection or with the next date for inspection.

Product inspection record sheet

Manufacturer:              1

Husqvarna AB

SE-561 82 Huskvarna Sweden

Tel: +46-36-146500

| Model                                  2| Retailer 3
---|---|---
Batch number              4| Serial number                       5| Name of user                                                  6
Date of production        7| Purchase date                      8| Date of first use       9| Date of taking out of     10

service

Compatible components within harness based work at height systems 11
Comments 12

(Fig. 1)

1. Manufacturer: Husqvarna AB, SE-561 82 Huskvarna, Sweden, tel: +46-36-146500
2. Model
3. Retailer
4. Batch number
5. Serial number
6. Name of user
7. Date of production
8. Purchase date
9. Date of first use
10. Date of retirement
11. Compatible components within harness based work at height systems
12. Comments

Written inspection record sheet

Date 1| Inspection 2

type

| Findings and actions: 3

defects, repairs, etc.

| Accept, Reject 4

or Correct

| Next           5

inspection date

| Name and signature 6

of competent person

---|---|---|---|---|---

(Fig. 2)

1. Date
2. Inspection type: Pre-use check, Weekly inspection, Thorough inspection or Exceptional circumstances
3. Findings and actions: defects, repairs, etc.
4. Accept, Reject or Correct
5. Next inspection date
6. Name and signature of competent person

Maintenance

To repair the product

• Only let the manufacturer do repairs.

To clean the product

1. Clean the product with warm water and a rope detergent. Obey the instructions on the package of the rope detergent.
   WARNING: Do not use a textile detergent.

2. Flush the product with a large quantity of clear water.

3. Let the product become fully dry, away from sunlight, fires or other heat sources.

WARNING: Do not use the product or put it in storage before it is fully dry.

To disinfect the product

WARNING: Do not disinfect the product more often than absolutely necessary. Only use disinfectants that do not damage the synthetic material of the product. We recommend isopropyl alcohol, 70%. Obey the safety instructions for the disinfectant.

1. Apply the disinfectant to the product surface.
2. Let the product become fully dry.

Service life of the product
The service life of the product is a maximum of 5 years from the day the product is removed from the package. This is valid if the package is not damaged and the product is removed from the package at the time of the purchase. The product must be discarded after a maximum of 5 years of use.
If the product is not removed from the package at the time of purchase and kept in storage correctly, the possible service life is 8 years from the date of manufacture.
The actual service life depends fully on the condition of the product. The condition of the product is affected by these factors:

• V radiation
• ype and frequency of use
• roduct handling and storage
• limatic influences such as ice or snow
• perational environments such as salt or sand
• hemical influences such as battery acid
• eat contamination
• Mechanical deformation or distortion

Extreme conditions during operation can shorten the service life to a single use only. If the product is damaged before its first use, for example during transportation, it must be discarded immediately and not used.
Mechanical wear and sunlight decrease the service life considerably. Bleached or abraded fibers, discoloration, and hardened spots are signs that show that the product must be discarded.
The lifetime of an installed product depends also on the condition of the tree and on how the product is attached. After use, the product must be removed. It is not designed for permanent installation in a tree.

To take the product out of service
If the product is subject to a fall or shows signs of wear or damage, it must be taken out of service.

1. If you are sure that the product is damaged, discard it.
2.  If you think that the product can be damaged, do these steps:
   • a) Put a clearly visible label or marking on the product to prevent accidental use.
   • b) Let a competent person or the manufacturer do the required tests and inspections.

If the competent person gives a written approval, the product can be used again.

Transportation, storage and disposal

Transportation and storage

• Before transportation and storage, make sure that the product is clean and dry.
• Put the product in a bag that gives protection from moisture, light and dirt.
• Make sure that the storage space meets these requirements:
  • The temperature is 15–25°C.
  • The air flow is sufficient.
  • There is no sunlight, UV radiation or light from welding equipment.
  • There are no chemicals or other aggressive environments.
  • There are no objects with sharp edges.

Disposal

• Obey national regulations.
• Use the local recycling system.

Compliance and approvals

The following standards are applied:

• EN 795B:2012
• AS/NZS 5532:2013
• ANSI Z133-2017

The product accompanied by this set of instructions
is type-examined, CE-marked to state conformity with the European regulation (EU) 2016/425 on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and meets the European standards given on the product label. The product does however not comply with any other standards unless explicitly stated. Notified body 0408: TÜV Austria Services GmbH, Deutschstrasse 10, A-1230 Vienna, Austria.

This product was tested to EN 795, Class B, for use by a single person using Personal Protective Equipment.
Pursuant to EN 795, this product for Personal Protective Equipment must be capable of withstanding a force of 18 kN in every described mode of use when new.

Declaration of Conformity is available on
www.husqvarna.com. Use the search function and search for the product.
Responsible manufacturer: Husqvarna AB, SE-561 82 Huskvarna, Sweden, tel: +46-36-146500

References

• Husqvarna Forest & Garden

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