Design and calculation of test stand for testing personal fall protection equipment according to EN 364

Abstract

This paper presents the design and calculation of a test stand intended for testing personal fall protection equipment in accordance with the requirements of the international standard EN 364. The objective of the study was to develop a reliable, safe, and structurally adequate test stand capable of performing both static and dynamic tests on components of fall arrest systems, including different types of personal fall protection systems, fall-arresters, anchor lines, safety harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers, and connecting elements. The paper analyzes the requirements of EN 364 and defines the functional and structural characteristics of the test stand. Particular emphasis was placed on the static strength of the supporting structure, which was designed to withstand the maximum prescribed test forces without permanent deformation or structural failure, ensuring an adequate safety factor under the most unfavorable loading conditions. Furthermore, the dynamic performance of the test stand was analyzed through the evaluation of its natural frequencies, in accordance with standard requirements. The obtained calculation results confirm that the designed test stand fully complies with the requirements of EN 364 and enables accurate, reliable, and safe testing of personal fall protection equipment, thereby contributing to improved occupational safety and compliance with relevant standards.