History of permanent anchorage devices – ‘The journey from PPE to construction product’

Speaker: Thomas Reykers, ABS Safety GmbH
Saturday 11/22/2025
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Hall A6 Stage
German
English

A few years ago, a landmark European ruling turned the world of fall protection upside down: parts of the EN 795 standard were no longer harmonised, as permanently installed anchorage devices were no longer classified as personal protective equipment (PPE) but as construction products. This meant that they moved from the world of PPE standards to the complex world of construction product regulation — a step with far-reaching consequences.

But what did this change mean in concrete terms for manufacturers, planners and users? During the transition period, EU member states had to develop their own solutions. Germany took a particularly careful approach here and set new standards.

In this presentation, we will examine the exciting transition from PPE to construction product: What changes did this bring about in practice? What are the immediate and often overlooked consequences of this paradigm shift? And what role does trust in standards and norms play?

An outlook: Perhaps we will be able to report on the new, harmonised EN 17235 for permanent anchorage devices at the trade fair — a milestone that many have been waiting for.

Presentation, Industrial climbing

You might also be interested in

WOMEN AT HEIGHT breakfast
The perfect start to the day for female rope access technicians. Registration required!
When your mind is blocked: ways to overcome the fear of falling
Understanding fear of falling in (sport) climbing and transform fear into growth and safety. Speaker: Marvin Weinhold – ‘Klettern - einfach festhalten’
Subjective grades – objective problems: Why ratings in climbing gyms are more than just numbers
Presentation by Christopher Igel, Alexandra Schweikart, Routenbauzentrale