Tom Dunlap
Addicted to ArboristSite
This will, I hope, begin to clear up any misunderstanding about the Buttefly saddle issues. Mark @ Workware in the UK sent me this note today. The last three lines are very important.
Komet is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bacou Dalloz, the world's largest manufacturer of harnesses for all industrial applications. As such, logic would suggest that their technical departments are fully aware of all world-wide legislation and standards and that all products conform to relevant standards.
The confusion regarding the Komet Butterfly harness and the standards it conforms to stems from the following.
The standards in question are EN358 and EN813. Generally, EN358 is a positioning standard and EN813 is a sit standard. The main difference was that EN358 required in its first version, two anchorage points for positioning or suspension, where EN813 required only one. Arborist harnesses generally have two D's on the sides and one central. This is why some harnesses have been tested to both standards. As EN358 has now changed and now allows for one D for positioning, EN358 now includes EN813, as basically all the tests are the same. So, EN813 now has no relevance. For further information, EN813 was created under pressure from Petzl, so that their Navaho Vario harness could be sold in the industrial sector.
With regard to the sliding D strap, since the introduction of sliding D style harnesses, for the first time a wear part was introduces into a harness, naturally this applies to all brands. The life of this strap varies considerably dependant on the method of fixing and general care of the harness. As with all harnesses, regular visual checking is essential. Should a decision be made that the strap is worn and may become dangerous then it should be replaced. In the UK, we have Troll who again is a member of the Bacou Dalloz group who are now certified to carry out replacements which are CE approved. I am not sure of other country's arrangements. However, I am aware of many users who replace the strap themselves by tying in a strop. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with this as long as the user knows what he is doing and has confidence in his own skills. It is also worth mentioning that the sliding D style came from climbers tying a strop across their positioning D's in the first place.
I think it is also worth pointing out, that here in the UK we are probably policed more than any other country. We have the department of trade and industry, the department of trading standards and the health and safety executive all ensuring that we conform to all relevant and correct standards. The Komet Butterfly has been among the country's top selling harnesses for over 3 years. If for any reason this harness did not meet standards, every harness would have to be withdrawn. This simply is not the case.
Komet is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bacou Dalloz, the world's largest manufacturer of harnesses for all industrial applications. As such, logic would suggest that their technical departments are fully aware of all world-wide legislation and standards and that all products conform to relevant standards.
The confusion regarding the Komet Butterfly harness and the standards it conforms to stems from the following.
The standards in question are EN358 and EN813. Generally, EN358 is a positioning standard and EN813 is a sit standard. The main difference was that EN358 required in its first version, two anchorage points for positioning or suspension, where EN813 required only one. Arborist harnesses generally have two D's on the sides and one central. This is why some harnesses have been tested to both standards. As EN358 has now changed and now allows for one D for positioning, EN358 now includes EN813, as basically all the tests are the same. So, EN813 now has no relevance. For further information, EN813 was created under pressure from Petzl, so that their Navaho Vario harness could be sold in the industrial sector.
With regard to the sliding D strap, since the introduction of sliding D style harnesses, for the first time a wear part was introduces into a harness, naturally this applies to all brands. The life of this strap varies considerably dependant on the method of fixing and general care of the harness. As with all harnesses, regular visual checking is essential. Should a decision be made that the strap is worn and may become dangerous then it should be replaced. In the UK, we have Troll who again is a member of the Bacou Dalloz group who are now certified to carry out replacements which are CE approved. I am not sure of other country's arrangements. However, I am aware of many users who replace the strap themselves by tying in a strop. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with this as long as the user knows what he is doing and has confidence in his own skills. It is also worth mentioning that the sliding D style came from climbers tying a strop across their positioning D's in the first place.
I think it is also worth pointing out, that here in the UK we are probably policed more than any other country. We have the department of trade and industry, the department of trading standards and the health and safety executive all ensuring that we conform to all relevant and correct standards. The Komet Butterfly has been among the country's top selling harnesses for over 3 years. If for any reason this harness did not meet standards, every harness would have to be withdrawn. This simply is not the case.
