Rope Snaps used for life support

Phil

Phil

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Oak Lawn, IL
I normally have used the aluminum rope snaps only for my lanyard and have noticed in the new sherrill catalog that they have a new triple action opening one. This got me to thinking...I know a lot of climbers that use the double action snaps where the climb line terminates at the saddle instead of a triple action crab so my question is this: Is a dbl action snap ok to use as a life support element in a climb system according to ansi standards?
 
two deliberate, separate actions to open the carabiner or snap.... and honestly sometimes its a pain in the arse, but i always stay within the regulations for safety...safety first and foremost........



pray for a good crop but keep hoeing
laugh.gif
 
I thought it was two deliberate actions to allow the gate to be opened according to ansi(actually pushing the gate open is a third action)...the rope snaps are only 1 action to allow the gate to be opened (actually opening the gate is the second action).

Triple action crabs are required for life support. 1. Lift up on the gate 2. Twist the gate 3. push the gate in to open the crab

Rope snaps are 1. push in back 2. push open gate

Im just curious to know if rope snaps can be used for life support when only 2 actions to be opened are necessary while crab require 3 actions to be used for life support?
 
I dont have my standards in front of me,so i cannot cite the specific page, but the rule is: Your connector must have two distinct actions to prepare the gate for opening. But currently there is an acception to the rule specifically for rope snaps. I'm sure Tom sleeps with his ansi copy under his pillow, so he might be able to post something up.
 
From a practical perspective, snaps are limited as lifeline attachments. The eye is captive making split tails virtually useless and aluminum snaps are kinda bulky... why bother?
 
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Is a dbl action snap ok to use as a life support element in a climb system according to ansi standards?

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Yes.

Snaps have to be self closing, automatic locking.

Krabs have to be self closing, automatic locking, with two (2) separate motions to prepare the gate before opening.
 
Cuz somebody on the standards committee still likes to tie-in with a snap and a tautline.

The triple action ISC snap seems like a similar boondoggle. Some of this hyper safety stuff seems like a good way to keep the market for safety gear fresh.

Anybody ever had a typical double action snap open accidentally and cause an injury? I can certainly MAKE UP a scenario where that would happen but not while using the snap as intended. Maybe it has happened but I've never heard of it. It certainly isn't a frequent (or even periodic) widespread problem.

I think safety is crucial and don't take it lightly at all but gear doesn't make one safe, attitude and goods habits do.
 
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Anybody ever had a typical double action snap open accidentally and cause an injury?

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On that note, I never even recall a screw gate opening accidentally when proprly used.
 
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Anybody ever had a typical double action snap open accidentally and cause an injury

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I have had a snap open accidentally. The only thing that kept me from being injured was the huge pile of luck I stepped in that morning.

I only use snaps in comps. At work I use all carabiners.
 
There is way to much inconsistency in these rules.
Double action snap = good
Double action biner = bad
Screw gate pear link/ maillon rapide = good
Screw pin shackles on a harness = good
Screw gate biner = bad

What's going on with all that?
 
With the screw gate links and shackle, they must be tightened down with a tool, to be considered exceptable to use. Can you do the same with a biner?
 
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With the screw gate links and shackle, they must be tightened down with a tool, to be considered exceptable to use. Can you do the same with a biner?

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Pipe wrench.
 
I've had a steel screwlock come unscrewed but it didn't open. I know I'm a bad person for it but I frequently use that same biner as my termination because it throws really well. One day I'll replace it with a steel triple action but I trust it as much as any gear in my kit.
 
After my incident with a Williams auto-locker, I went back to screw locks. I took that Williams apart BTW and I couldn't see any reason it should have behaved the way it did (jammed hard; not quite closed or locked). Nothing bent, scored, or damaged in any way that I could see.
 
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