The new EN 17235 standard and future amendments to EN 795.

 

Anchor devices

In January of this year, the standard DIN EN 17235:2025 was published for permanent anchor devices and safety roof hooks that are permanently connected to structures. Originally, permanent anchor devices were included in the standard DIN EN 795:2012. This standard is currently being revised. In future, the DIN EN 795 standard will only regulate mobile, temporary anchor devices (PPE), while the DIN EN 17235 standard will apply to permanent anchor devices (No PPE). What does the newly published standard EN 17235:2025 contain and what does the current draft prEN 795:2024 contain?

Overview EN 17235:2025 for permanent anchor devices and safety roof hooks

DIN EN 17235:2025 regulates permanent anchor devices that are structurally connected to a building or structure. They can be used for anchoring fall protection systems and, if necessary, for attaching aids (e.g. roof ladders).

Categories (kits):

  • Kit A: fixed single anchor device for up to 2 persons
  • Kit B: Safety roof hook (for ladder safety and PPE) for up to 2 people
  • Kit C: Flexible, horizontal wire rope guide (FAL) for up to 4 users
  • Kit D: Rigid, horizontal rail guide (RAL) for up to 4 users

Testing requirements:

  • Static load capacity: 12-15 kN (depending on material)
  • Dynamic load capacity: no failure in drop test with 100 kg drop mass, 2 m free fall
  • Minimum fall arrest force: 1 person 9 kN (6 kN x 1.5 safety factor)
  • 2 persons 10.5 kN; 3 persons 12.0 kN; 4 persons 13.5 kN

Labelling

  • Name or brand of the manufacturer
  • Product name / Identification number
  • Type designation (e.g. Kit A, B, C, D)
  • Maximum number of simultaneous users
  • Year of manufacture
  • Reference to the standard (EN 17235:2025)

  • Breaking load or static test values

Overview prEN 795:2024 on Personal fall protection equipment - Anchor devices

DIN EN 795 applies to temporary anchor devices for persons who are not permanently connected to the structure.

Types:

  • Type I: Attached directly to the structure (e.g. slings, tripods, beam clamps)
  • Type II: Free-standing, holds by mass/friction on inclined surfaces ≤ 5°
  • Type I or II + FAL: Flexible horizontal cable systems
  • Type I or II + RAL: Rigid rail systems

Examples of temporary anchor systems type 1(currently type B):

Testing Requirements:

Static load capacity:

  • Metallic: 12 kN
  • Non-metallic (e.g. textile): 15 kN

Dynamic load capacity:

  • No failure in drop test with 100 kg drop mass, 2 m free fall
  • Minimum fall arrest force: 1 person 9 kN (6 kN x 1.5 safety factor)

 

Labelling:

  • Name or brand of the manufacturer
  • Product name / Identification number
  • Reference to the standard (‘EN 795:2024’)
  • maximum 1 person
  • Type designation (type I or II)
  • For type I breaking load or static test values
  • For FAL, the required minimum strength of the anchor devices and/or the structure
  • Reference to the standard (e.g. ‘EN 17235:2025’)
  • Breaking load or static test values

Anchor options

Anchor options are parts of buildings or structures to which temporary anchor devices in accordance with EN 795 type I are attached for fastening personal fall protection systems.

Suitable anchor options are e.g:

  • Concrete, wooden beams
  • Beams or tubes of steel structures

Such anchor options are suitable, for example, if the attached fall arrest system cannot detach from the anchor device and the load-bearing capacity for one person for a force of 6 kN introduced into the structure by the fall arrest process, including the loads to be applied for the rescue (e.g. weight of the person to be rescued), has been verified in accordance with the technical building regulations. For each additional person, the force must be increased by 1 kN or the loads must be increased accordingly.

Attention!
If anchor devices or options are used for workplace positioning, they must be able to absorb a corresponding working load (WLL) without deforming permanently. This is sometimes not the case, particularly with fixed single anchor devices with protrusions.