What is an energy absorber
An energy absorber is personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used in work at height in order to reduce the impact of a fall.
What material is an energy absorber made of?
An energy absorber consists of a tape made of a web of synthetic fibres sewn together in a zigzag pattern (tearing tape).
This tape is designed so that, above a certain force, it gradually unravels, absorbing the incoming load. In other words, the greater the impact, the greater the opening of the tape. Its limits are in accordance with EN 355:
- The impact force may not exceed 6kN.
- The fall distance may not exceed 2 Lt + 1.75 m, where Lt is the initial length of the absorber.
Once one of these tapes is unravelled, the absorber must be thrown away and replaced by a new one.
How to use an energy absorber
The energy absorber is connected to the harness at one end and to the anchorage device at the other end. In the event of a fall, the seams of the energy absorbing webbing break to slow the fall and absorb the energy generated.
The energy absorber is integrated into the safety harness and has the function of dissipating the kinetic energy generated by a fall. In other words, it reduces the impact and speed and the consequences of a fall in the absence of safety elements.
This is achieved by decelerating the fall and suspending the worker at a certain height to avoid contact with the ground.
From what distance should an energy absorber be used?
According to the Prevention technical note NTP 1170, in its point nº2: “Work involving a risk of falling from a height of more than 2 metres requires the use of protection against falls from a height”.
As described in standard EN 363, a fall protection system must include an element that limits the impact (forces on the body) in the event of a fall to a maximum of 6kN.
Working without an energy absorber is dangerous and puts the worker’s life at risk. The fall will be at high speed without the energy absorber, which will have serious consequences for the worker, even death.
Types of energy absorbers
Absorbers without built-in lanyard
This is a device that only includes the energy absorber, and which allows its use with an independent lanyard, and can be put on and taken off depending on the situation of use. This absorber includes only the tear-off strap and two lanyards.
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Energy Absorber 32A |
Absorbers with built-in lanyard
In contrast to the previous case, this absorber has an integral lanyard. The lanyard may be made of braided rope (37-A), semi-static rope (37 SEMI), webbing (31-A) or elastic webbing (50).
This lanyard may be single or double:
Single lanyard:
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| See Absorber 37 A | See Absorber 37 semi | See Absorber 31 A 30/30 | See Absorber 50 |
Double lanyard:
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| See Absorber 35 A | See Absorber 35 semi | See Absorber 34 A | See Absorber 51 |
Absorbers with EN 795 anchor possibility (model 54)
There are situations where it is desirable to have an EN 795 anchor point or to be able to install one after having climbed using a progression technique with an energy absorber with a built-in lanyard.
The model 54 absorber has been designed by incorporating a metal ring in the middle of the lanyard, which allows it to embrace a structure and connect to itself. This metal ring is certified to EN 795 class B and can be used by up to two users.
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Energy Absorber 54D |
Absorbers without tear-off absorber tape
There is a type of shock absorber which differs from the usual shock absorbers in that it is not made of a typical rip-tape. The construction of this absorber is based on elastic bands with a specific elasticity to absorb the energy developed in a fall. Therefore, these absorbers will always be elastic.
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| See Absorber 47 Doble | See Absorber 47 A |