ISO 22159:2007

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22159
First edition
2007-05-15
Personal equipment for protection
against falls — Descending devices
Équipement personnel de protection contre les chutes — Dispositifs de
descente
Reference number
©
ISO 2007
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©  ISO 2007
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ii © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and classifications. 1
3.1 Terms and definitions. 1
3.2 Classifications. 3
4 Requirements . 8
4.1 General. 8
4.2 Descent lines: basic requirements . 8
4.3 Descent line stopper. 9
4.4 Descent line residual static strength. 10
4.5 Rated loads. 10
4.6 Holding load . 11
4.7 Static strength. 11
4.8 Dynamic performance . 12
4.9 Descent energy . 12
4.10 Descent velocity. 13
4.11 Temperature rise. 13
4.12 Special requirements for descending devices class D. 14
4.13 Function. 14
4.14 Corrosion resistance. 14
4.15 Conditioning. 15
4.16 Marking and information. 15
5 Test methods. 15
5.1 Test apparatus . 15
5.2 General. 17
5.3 Conditioning. 18
5.4 Examination of design. 18
5.5 Static tests. 19
5.6 Dynamic performance . 24
5.7 Descent energy, descent velocity, temperature rise. 31
5.8 Function tests . 34
5.9 Corrosion resistance. 41
6 Marking . 41
7 Information supplied by the manufacturer . 42
7.1 General. 42
7.2 Instructions for use . 42
7.3 Instructions for maintenance . 45
7.4 Instructions for periodic detailed inspections. 45
7.5 Instructions for repair. 46
7.6 Records. 46
Annex A (informative) Packaging . 47
Annex B (informative) Functional recommendations for the use of descending devices in the
workplace . 48
Bibliography . 50

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 22159 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Protective clothing and
equipment, Subcommittee SC 4, Personal equipment for protection against falls.
iv © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Descending devices conforming to this International Standard are intended to be used in conjunction with an
appropriate descent line and other equipment, e.g. an appropriate harness or rescue loop and a reliable
anchor, to enable a person to descend from one position to another, either on their own or assisted by another
person. Typical uses are emergency egress and work positioning. In addition to their primary function of
allowing access to a lower point, descending devices and descent lines have a fall protection function.
Descending devices in this International Standard have been divided into six types. Types 1 and 2 are further
divided into four classes.
Type 1 descending devices have an integrated descent line and are intended for multiple evacuations to a
safe lower place when users do not need to control their descent speed. The descent speed is automatically
controlled, i.e. without the need for intervention by the user.
Type 2 descending devices have an integrated descent line and are manually controlled. They are generally
more suitable for single person evacuations to a safe lower place when users may need to control their
descent speed and may need to stop somewhere on the descent line.
Types 3 and 4 descending devices are not required to have an integrated descent line. The descent line can
be fitted to the descending device on site. These types of descending device are equipped with a manually
operated descent control device which, when it is let go, will automatically lock to the descent line and stop the
descent (hands-free locking element). In addition, type 3 descending devices will “fail to the locked position”
and the descent will stop if the descent control device is moved beyond its descent control parameters, e.g. in
a panic situation when the user squeezes the descent control device too far (panic locking element).
Types 5 and 6 descending devices do not have a hands-free automatic locking element or a panic locking
element. These descending devices rely on the user to stop the descent manually and to lock off manually,
too, typically by wrapping the descent line around the descending device to create enough friction to stop
movement. These types are also not required to have an integrated descent line: the descent line can be fitted
to the descending device on site.
Descending devices types 1 and 2, which are typically intended primarily for emergency egress, have been
classified further by performance. A value, called descent energy, is calculated based on the product of the
mass of the user, the maximum descent height for the descending device and the number of descents for
which the descending device is designed. In practice, descending devices are subjected to different loads, e.g.
a descending device for descending 100 passengers from a cable car at a height of 100 m needs to conform
to more stringent requirements than a descending device used by a crane driver to descend from a height of
20 m. The descent energy provides an indication of the appropriateness of a descending device and its
descent line for a given application. The descent energy may be used to calculate the maximum combination
of descent height and number of descents for a particular use. The classes are A, B, C and D, which are
explained in more detail within this International Standard.
Type 2 class D descending devices deserve special mention because they are intended for a specific purpose,
i.e. for single use emergency egress only, by trained and competent personnel who, as part of their training,
have experienced a descent using this type of descending device.
Descent lines are a necessary component in a descending system and need to meet some basic
requirements to ensure that they are suitable for use with relevant descending devices. This International
Standard therefore includes such basic requirements for descent lines.
This International Standard recognizes that a descending device could not only travel with the user (normal in
rope access, for example) but could also in some circumstances be designed to operate from a fixed position
(e.g. at the top of the descent). The test methods reflect this. Operating from a fixed position is normal for
type 1 descending devices. It is perhaps not so normal for other types, but is possible.
...