New standard EN 131 part 4
Summary of the current revisions for single-hinged and multi-hinged ladders
DIN EN 131 is the current industry standard for portable ladders in Europe. The standard provides the regulation governing ladder construction and design, load testing, labeling and operating instructions in order to guarantee a uniform safety standard throughout Europe.
The standard, which is divided into six sections, undergoes regular revisions and adaptations to ensure the high level of occupational safety.
As early as 1 January 2018, extensive changes to the standard DIN EN 131-1 already came into effect for all ladders that are designated for use as leaning ladders and correspond to a height measurement exceeding 3 m. Since then, these leaning ladders must have a stabiliser corresponding to the total length of the ladder.
Section 131-2 relates to new test specifications for ladders. This section divides all ladders into two classes and also came into effect on 1 January 2018.
The third section of DIN 131-3 stipulates the regulation governing the requirements for user information as well as the instructions for use and operation. In conjunction with the entry into force of the standard, additional safety pictograms will be added to the labeling of the ladders. In addition to the new pictograms, user and operating instructions corres-ponding to the ladder type must also be supplied with the ladder.
Changes to the standard DIN EN 131-4 pertain to KRAUSE multipurpose hinged ladders, which can also be used as a working platform
Recently, changes to the fourth section of the standard also came into effect and relate to single-hinged and multi-hinged ladders. Since 2018, our multipurpose hinged ladders feature standard-compliant stabilisers as well as labeling for professional use and corresponding user and operating instructions. Due to the changes in the revised standard, all of our multipurpose hinged ladders
with 4 x 3 rungs, which can also be set up as a working platform, must always be supplied by the manufacturer with a suitable platform for such models. This is required for all multipurpose hinged ladders of our three product lines STABILO, MONTO and CORDA.
Retrofitting of existing ladders
For all of our existing single-hinged or multi-hinged ladders, which can be set up as a working platform, we also provide you with the appropriate platform to be retrofitted. The retrofit platform kits are available to suit the multipurpose hinged ladders of our product lines STABILO, MONTO and CORDA.
Selling ladders in stock
Dealers are allowed to sell multipurpose hinged ladders, which were produced according to the old standard and are now in stock, even after the revised standard DIN EN 131-4 comes into force. Since the change of the standard is due to a regular revision and not due to an increased danger for users, the legislator assumes that a product complying to the old standard is not automatically unsafe and may therefore be resold.
From 1 October 2020, manufacturers will have to comply with the requirements of the new standard and from that date may only produce or supply multipurpose hinged ladders which comply with the new standard.