Kratos 18mm Steel Screw-Lock Karabiner - 25kN Breaking Strength

Kratos 18mm Steel Screw-Lock Karabiner

A karabiner is only as reliable as its gate. The screw-lock sleeve on this karabiner requires a deliberate manual action to open, which means it cannot open accidentally under load, vibration, or incidental contact with a structure. At 25kN breaking strength along the major axis, it meets the EN362:2004 Class B minimum for connectors used between components in a fall arrest system: harness to lanyard, lanyard to anchor, or any other connection point in a certified height safety system. Steel construction with zinc electroplating makes it the right choice for fixed anchors, structural steel connections, and any environment where an aluminium connector would be at risk from abrasion or impact.

Why Choose the 18mm Steel Screw-Lock Karabiner

• EN362:2004 Class B certified: This karabiner meets the European standard for connectors used as connection elements between fall arrest components. Buyers specifying to a method statement or RAMS document can confirm compliance at a glance.

• Screw-lock gate mechanism: The knurled sleeve must be deliberately unscrewed before the gate can open. This prevents accidental opening during use, which is the primary failure mode for non-locking connectors in dynamic environments.

• 25kN breaking strength: Tested along the major axis to the EN362:2004 Class B minimum. In practical terms, this karabiner will not fail under the forces generated by a fall arrest event when used correctly along its major axis.

• 18mm gate opening: Wide enough to connect to most standard lanyard end loops, harness attachment points, and anchor hardware without requiring force or distorting the connector. Not intended as an anchor connector for large structural sections.

• Steel with zinc electroplating: Significantly more resistant to abrasion, impact, and corrosion than aluminium in heavy site use. The zinc electroplating provides additional corrosion resistance for outdoor and exposed environments.

• Compact oval profile: The oval shape distributes load evenly across both sides of the connector, making it well suited to connections involving two contact points such as pulley systems or double lanyard configurations.

What's Included

• 18mm Steel Screw-Lock Karabiner x 1

 Specifications

Compatibility

Who Is This For?

This karabiner is for site operatives, safety managers, and procurement teams specifying connection hardware for fall arrest and height safety systems. It is suited to scaffolders, roofers, steel erectors, and maintenance operatives who need a reliable, compliant connector for harness-to-lanyard or lanyard-to-anchor connections. It is also the standard replacement or spare connector for fall arrest kits where the original connector has been damaged or withdrawn from service after a fall arrest event.

Typical Applications

• Connecting energy absorbing lanyards to harness attachment points

• Connecting fall arrest lanyards to rated anchor points and eyebolts

• Secondary connection hardware in multi-component fall arrest systems

• Replacement connector for fall arrest kits following a fall arrest event

• Spare connector carried by operatives working on structures with varied anchor hardware

• Connection element in work positioning systems used alongside the lateral D-rings of a positioning harness

How to Use

1. Inspect the karabiner before each use. Check for deformation, cracks, corrosion, or gate defects. Do not use any karabiner that fails inspection.

2. Unscrew the locking sleeve fully before attempting to open the gate. The gate will not open with the sleeve in the locked position.

3. Connect the karabiner to the intended attachment point. Confirm the connection is along the major axis of the karabiner, not the minor axis or across the gate.

4. Close the gate fully and screw the locking sleeve down until it is finger-tight. Do not use tools to over-tighten.

5. Visually confirm the gate is closed and the sleeve is locked before applying any load.

6. Never load the karabiner across its minor axis or against the gate. These orientations significantly reduce the breaking strength and can cause failure.

7. After use, inspect again before storage. If the karabiner has been involved in a fall arrest event, withdraw it from service immediately.

Safety

• Always load the karabiner along its major axis. Loading across the minor axis or against the gate can reduce breaking strength to as little as 10% of the major axis rating.

• Never use a karabiner with a damaged, deformed, or non-functioning gate locking mechanism.

• Screw-lock karabiners are designed for occasional manipulation. For applications requiring frequent connection and disconnection, an automatic locking karabiner should be specified instead.

• Do not use this karabiner on outside support areas or sharp edges that could damage the gate or body.

• Withdraw from service immediately after any fall arrest event. Dynamic loading during an arrest may have stressed the connector beyond what is visible externally.

Maintenance

• Inspect before and after every use for deformation, corrosion, gate damage, and sleeve function.

• Clean with a damp cloth. Remove mud, concrete, chemical contamination, and metal swarf before storage.

• Lubricate the gate hinge and locking sleeve periodically with a light oil if the action becomes stiff.

• Store away from corrosive chemicals, salt, and damp environments.

• Formally inspect by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months with written records kept per PUWER.

• Retire from service if the gate does not close and lock positively, if the body shows any deformation, or if the connector has been involved in a fall arrest event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does EN362:2004 Class B mean for this karabiner?

 A: EN362:2004 is the European standard for connectors used in personal fall protection systems. Class B covers general connectors used as connection elements between components, such as harness to lanyard or lanyard to anchor. It requires a minimum breaking strength of 25kN along the major axis and specifies gate locking and opening force requirements. CE marking to EN362:2004 Class B is the legal confirmation that this karabiner meets the requirements for use in a fall arrest system on a UK site under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.

Q: What is the difference between a screw-lock and an automatic locking karabiner?

 A: A screw-lock karabiner requires the operative to manually unscrew the sleeve before the gate can be opened. This makes it more secure against accidental opening but slower to operate. An automatic locking karabiner, such as a double or triple action type, locks automatically when the gate closes and is better suited to applications where frequent connection and disconnection is required. For occasional use, fixed connections, or anchor points that are set up at the start of a shift and not moved, a screw-lock is the appropriate choice.

Q: Can this karabiner be used as an anchor point on a scaffold tube?

 A: Not directly. The 18mm gate opening is suited to connection elements rather than anchor connections to structural sections. For scaffold tube anchoring, a rebar hook with a 60mm gate opening is the correct product. This karabiner is designed for component-to-component connections within a fall arrest system, not for primary anchorage to large structural members.

Q: What does 25kN breaking strength mean in practical terms?

 A: 25kN is approximately equivalent to 2,500kg of static force along the major axis. This is the laboratory-tested minimum breaking load, not a working load limit. In a fall arrest event, the forces generated are dynamic and significantly lower than the breaking strength when a correctly specified energy absorbing lanyard is in use. The 25kN figure confirms the karabiner meets the EN362:2004 Class B minimum and will not fail under the forces generated by a compliant fall arrest system.

Q: Why is steel specified rather than aluminium for this karabiner?

 A: Steel is the correct material choice for fixed anchors, structural connections, and environments where the connector will be exposed to abrasion, impact, or corrosive conditions. Aluminium karabiners are lighter and better suited to rescue and rope access applications where weight is a priority. On a construction site, where connectors are regularly exposed to concrete, metal swarf, and rough handling, steel with zinc electroplating provides significantly better durability and corrosion resistance.

Q: What should I do if this karabiner has been involved in a fall arrest event?

 A: Withdraw it from service immediately. Dynamic loading during a fall arrest event can stress the connector body and gate mechanism beyond what is visible externally. The karabiner must be quarantined, labelled as withdrawn, and assessed by a competent person before any decision on disposal or return to service. In practice, a karabiner involved in a fall arrest event should be scrapped and replaced.

Q: How often must this karabiner be formally inspected?

 A: Pre-use inspection by the operative before every session, and formal inspection by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months with written records per PUWER. Check the manufacturer's information for any applicable service life.

Q: Where can I order this and how quickly can I get it to site?

A: CMT Group supplies this karabiner from stock with next working day delivery on orders placed by 7pm online or 5pm by phone. Same-day delivery is available. For contractors ordering height safety hardware across multiple projects, the EDGE portal provides agreed contract pricing, bulk ordering, and full delivery visibility in one place.