Choosing the Right Carabiner

As technology in the rescue field advances so does our options for choosing carabiners. Today there is such a wide variety of different styles of carabiners available that it makes it difficult to select the right one for your team. 

• Basically, carabiners are either manual locking or self locking.  Most teams have a preference on where to use these basic carabiners.
• The next option available is material: Steel, Stainless Steel, or Aluminum. Each material has its pro and cons in terms of strength and weight.
• There are different shapes to choose from: D shaped, Oval shaped, or Pear (HMS) shaped.
• There are two gate styles to choose from: Pin Lock vs Key Lock.
• And the last option is the rating: NFPA, CSA, ANSI, or CE.

LOCKING STYLES

First we will look at locking styles. Self locking or auto locking carabiners are mandatory for use in fall protection environments, and frequently used in external confined space rescue systems, and tower rescue systems.  These systems have a dual guard lock which consists of two movements to open the gate or a triguard lock which consists of three movements to open the gate. Once the gate is releasedthe carabiner is locked and cannot open until the movements are made. The pros of this style are that the carabineer can be locked from a distance (e.g.: using a reach stick inside a confined space), and it also helps eliminate human error in forgetting to lock the carabiner. The con is that it can make for difficult rigging in advance systems having to always unlock the carabineer with each clip.

 Screw Lock or Manual lock carabiners are most often used by technical rescue teams when more complex rigging is required. Having the gate unlocked until all the rigging is finished takes less time and is more efficient. The con is that theses carabiners can accidentally be left unlocked, creating the possibility of carabiner roll out.  Some of the new styles have visual indicators alerting the team member that the carabiner is unlocked, which is an added value.
 

MATERIAL

The material that carabiners are made out of basically makes up a strength to weight ratio. Typically the stronger carabiners have been made of steel but do weigh more.  Until recently the lighter aluminum carabiners were typically not as strong. Manufactures like CMC offer aluminium carabiners that meet the same standards as steel. It is important to match the carabiner to the team. Mountain rescue teams need to consider light weight aluminum carabiners as equipment has to be carried overdistances. Industrial teams can use steel because the distance the equipment travels is drastically reduced. Another thing to consider in industry is how the metal will react with the chemicals that are used in your industrial environment.
 

  

SHAPE

Carabiners are shaped for their intended function:
·       Oval Shaped carabiners are used for rigging a device that has a wide spacing side plate over the carabiner.
·       D Shaped carabiners allow for easy connection and good positioning of the rigged devices along the major axis of the carabiner.
·       Pear shaped have a wider opening on one end to increase the carabiner’s capacity.
 

GATES

The Pin Lock design carabiner has been around for a long time and is used by many Fire Rescue Departments around the country. New technology has designed a Key Lock system that progressive technical rescue teams are switching to. The key lock systems prevents snagging of cordage, rope, webbing or anchor sling while rigging.
 

RATING

Last we need to discuss the rating. Carabiners are vital pieces of our systems, our lives and our patient’s lives depend on them. This is why the value of the rating is so important. We need to ensure that these pieces of equipment are manufactured to a standard because of the value we put on them. Every industry has different requirements.  Most Fire Service agencies are mandated to use equipment that meets the NFPA 1983 standard. NFPA 1983 has two ratings: Light Use (L) or General Use (G). Light use carabineers are suitable for one person only. General use carabiners are suitable for rescue size loads or two people.  For industrial teams, fall protection systems, etc, equipment may also meet the NFPA standard but may also need to meet standards within CSA or ANSI (e.g. Standard on Fall Protection ANSI Z359 or CSA Z259).

We hope this article raises the awareness of purchasing the right piece of equipment for your industry or team. For more information or to discuss your site specific needs please contact our sales team by phone 1-888-965-5220, email sales@dynamicrescue.com or web www.dynamicrescue.com