The Complete Guide to EN 362 Connectors for Safety Harness Manufacturers (2025 Update)

Introduction

For global safety harness manufacturers, choosing connectors that fully comply with EN 362 is crucial for product certification, international market access, and worker safety. Connectors—including carabiners, snap hooks, D-rings, scaffold hooks, and energy absorption components—are the backbone of every fall protection system.

In 2025, EU buyers, PPE distributors, and OEM harness brands are prioritizing hardware suppliers who demonstrate full EN compliance, documented testing, and reliable production traceability. As a result, understanding EN 362 is no longer optional—it is the minimum requirement for entering the European fall protection market.

This comprehensive guide provides an in-depth explanation of EN 362, key testing parameters, connector categories, common failure points, and how compliant manufacturers like us build hardware that meets or exceeds global safety standards.

1. What EN 362 Covers

EN 362 is the European standard that specifies the safety, design requirements, mechanical strength, testing procedures, and markings for connectors used in fall arrest and work-at-height equipment.

EN 362 applies to:

Carabiners

Snap hooks

D-rings

Scaffold hooks

Energy absorbing connectors

Rescue connectors

Multi-directional connectors

Double-action and triple-action locking mechanisms

Its purpose is to guarantee that every connector in a fall arrest system can withstand extreme loads, dynamic forces, environmental conditions, and repeated cycles of use—without failure.

The 3 Major Objectives of EN 362

Prevent accidental opening under load or movement

Ensure mechanical strength under static and dynamic forces

Protect users during fall arrest, positioning, rescue, and rope access operations

Whether a connector is used in a harness, lanyard, positioning belt, rescue system, or rope access gear, EN 362 is the core reference standard for its safety.

2. Connector Categories According to EN 362

EN 362 classifies connectors into specific categories, each designed for different applications.

A – Anchorage Connectors

Used to connect the system to a fixed anchor point.

Examples: large D-rings, fixed scaffold hooks.

B – Basic Connectors (General Carabiners)

Traditional gate-opening connectors used in most PPE systems.

Examples: oval carabiners, aluminum connectors, steel carabiners.

M – Multi-Directional Connectors

Designed to withstand loads in multiple directions.

Q – Quarter-Turn Connectors

Used where quick, secure attachment is needed.

T – Termination Connectors

Used to terminate a lanyard or rope.

K – Scaffold Hooks

Large-opening hooks used on scaffolding or structures.

Each category has unique strength requirements, gate mechanisms, and load-resistance rules. OEM buyers usually choose connector types based on the harness system layout and mechanical loading path.

3. Mechanical Strength Requirements

EN 362 defines precise minimum strength levels to ensure connectors can endure fall arrest forces.

Typical Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS)

High-strength industrial connectors—especially for rescue or tower climbing—often exceed these minimum values.

Gate Strength Requirements

EN 362 requires connectors to be tested for:

Gate closed strength

Gate open strength

Minor axis strength

Dynamic load performance

The gate-open strength test is especially important because many connector failures occur when the gate is accidentally loaded during use.

4. Gate & Locking Mechanism Requirements

To avoid accidental opening, EN 362 specifies gate design and locking performance.

Accepted Locking Mechanisms

Double-locking (e.g., twist + push)

Triple-locking (e.g., lift + twist + push)

Self-closing / auto-lock gates

Not Accepted

Single-action gates (except very limited categories)

Gates that can open unintentionally by vibration or friction

In practice, most OEM harness manufacturers prefer:

As a factory, we ensure every connector’s locking mechanism passes the EN gate function test cycle before approval.

5. EN 362 Testing Procedures (Explained in Detail)

Reliable testing is central to compliance.

1. Static Strength Test

Connectors are pulled gradually until they reach the required breaking strength.

2. Dynamic Fall Test

Simulates a real fall with a test dummy or drop mass.

3. Gate Open Test

Measures strength while the gate is held open—identifying weaknesses in hinge or nose construction.

4. Minor Axis Strength Test

Ensures connector will not break if loaded sideways accidentally.

5. Corrosion Resistance Test

Salt-spray or humidity chambers evaluate performance in harsh environments.

6. Gate Function & Durability Test

Repeated opening/closing cycles ensure long-term usability.

7. Marking Verification

All required permanent markings must be legible and durable.

Our factory uses tensile testing machines, torque/latch testers, salt-spray chambers, and optical inspection systems to verify each batch.

6. Required Markings on EN 362 Connectors

All connectors must have:

Manufacturer name or logo

Model or batch number

EN 362 reference

Year of manufacture

Pictogram showing connector type

Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS)

Directional load indicators (if applicable)

For OEM customers, we also offer:

Laser-engraved private logos

Unique batch traceability codes

Serial numbers for high-end rescue equipment

7. Common Non-Compliance Issues & How to Avoid Them

Even experienced buyers often encounter problems with connectors that appear acceptable but fail EN tests.

❌ 1. Gate opens during vibration or twisting

Often caused by poor locking mechanism design.

❌ 2. Insufficient gate-open strength

Usually due to weak nose/hinge structure.

❌ 3. Incorrect material hardness

Improper heat treatment leads to deformation under load.

❌ 4. Poor corrosion resistance

Wrong coating or insufficient thickness.

❌ 5. Incomplete markings

Missing EN reference or MBS often results in test rejection.

❌ 6. Dimensional inconsistency

Tolerance issues cause fitment failures in OEM harnesses.

How we prevent all these issues

CNC machining for 0.02mm accuracy

Automated gate locking inspection

Material hardness testing for every batch

100% proof-loading before packing

AI-assisted optical inspection

Strict surface treatment quality control

These processes ensure consistent EN compliance across large production volumes.

8. Best Practices for Safety Harness Manufacturers Selecting EN 362 Connectors

OEM harness brands should consider:

1. Application-Specific Strength Requirements

Construction, rescue, electrical, and rope access gear have very different connector needs.

2. Material Choice

Steel = higher strength

Aluminum = lower weight

Dielectric = zero conductivity

3. Locking Mechanism Reliability

Auto-locking is now the global standard.

4. Surface Treatment

Anodizing, electrophoresis, and zinc plating dramatically improve product life.

5. Supplier Testing Capability

Factories must have tensile testers, salt-spray chambers, hardness testers, etc.

6. Customization Ability

Mold opening, engraving, special colors, or custom strength ratings offer competitive advantages.

9. Why Working With a Compliant Connector Manufacturer Matters

Partnering with a supplier that truly understands EN 362 allows OEM harness manufacturers to:

Reduce certification failures

Shorten go-to-market time

Increase product reliability

Enhance worker safety

Avoid costly redesigns

Maintain consistent quality across large orders

Our factory has 35+ years of experience producing carabiners, connectors, D-rings, buckles, rope grabbers, descenders, and pulleys for global OEM and industrial brands.

All hardware is tested according to EN, ANSI, OSHA, and CE PPE standards.

Conclusion

EN 362 is the foundation of every compliant fall protection system in Europe and many other global markets. Understanding its categories, mechanical requirements, testing procedures, and markings helps safety harness manufacturers avoid compliance issues and design safer products.

By working closely with a certified connector supplier that provides full EN testing, traceability, and OEM customization, your harness products can achieve:

Higher safety

Lower defect rate

Faster certification approvals

Better buyer trust

Stronger global competitiveness

If you are searching for EN 362–compliant carabiners, snap hooks, D-rings, adjustable buckles, or custom hardware, our engineering team can support your product development from design to certification.

📩 Want to get the full EN 362 test report or sample kit?

Contact us to request technical datasheets, real test curves, or OEM customization support.