Kratos HELIXON-S Wire Rope Retractable Fall Arrester 10m - 140kg Vertical and Horizontal

Kratos HELIXON-S Wire Rope Retractable Fall Arrester 10m

The Kratos HELIXON-S is a 10m wire rope retractable fall arrester designed for professionals working at height where freedom of movement is critical. Unlike standard retractable fall arresters rated for vertical use only, the HELIXON-S is certified for both vertical and horizontal use at up to 140kg, making it the correct specification for roofing, facade, terrace, scaffolding, and aerial lift applications where the user moves laterally as well as vertically.

The device houses a 4.8mm galvanised steel wire rope in a robust polyamide and fibreglass polymer casing. An internal braking mechanism limits fall arrest force to under 6kN, and an external energy absorber provides a secondary deceleration stage. Both the top and bottom connectors are steel, with a swivel at the anchorage end and a load indicator connector at the attachment end that gives the user immediate visual confirmation of whether the device has been subjected to a fall arrest load.

Certified to EN 360:2002 and UKCA marked, the HELIXON-S carries a repairability index of 8.8 out of 10, reflecting Kratos Safety's design approach: a fall arrester that can be inspected, serviced, and repaired rather than discarded after a single incident.

Why Choose the Kratos HELIXON-S Wire Rope Retractable Fall Arrester

• Vertical and horizontal certification at 140kg: most retractable fall arresters are rated for vertical use only. The HELIXON-S is tested and certified for horizontal applications, covering roofing, terraces, facades, and scaffolding work where the user moves laterally across a surface. The 140kg rating covers user bodyweight plus tools and equipment.

• Sharp edge approval to 0.50mm radius: the 4.8mm galvanised steel wire rope and casing design are tested for use near sharp edges down to a 0.50mm radius. This is a critical specification for structural steel work, roofing installations, and any application where the lanyard may contact a metal edge during use or a fall event.

• External energy absorber: the absorber mounted below the casing provides a second stage of deceleration on top of the internal braking mechanism, ensuring fall arrest force remains below 6kN regardless of the fall scenario within the device's rated parameters.

• Removable inspection window: the casing window can be removed without fully opening the unit, allowing the internal braking mechanism to be visually inspected as part of a pre-use check or periodic inspection without requiring full disassembly or return to a service centre.

• Load indicator connector: the FA 50 203 20 connector at the attachment end incorporates a visual load indicator. After any fall event or significant shock load, the indicator gives immediate confirmation of whether the device requires retirement or inspection before being returned to service.

• Repairability index 8.8 out of 10: Kratos designed the HELIXON-S to be serviced and repaired. For PPE fleet managers and safety procurement teams managing multiple units across several sites, a repairable fall arrester has a significantly lower total cost of ownership than a disposable equivalent.

• UKCA marked: confirmed for use on UK construction sites under UK conformity assessment requirements, in addition to CE marking for European deployments.

What's Included

One Kratos HELIXON-S 10m wire rope retractable fall arrester with steel karabiner at anchorage end, FA 50 225 23B swivel connector, FA 50 203 20 load indicator snap hook at attachment end, external energy absorber, gripping handle, and winding cord FA 20 904 10 for guided wire rope retraction.

 Specifications

 Compatibility

Who Is This For?

The Kratos HELIXON-S is specified by site managers, safety officers, and PPE procurement teams for workers operating at height in applications requiring significant freedom of movement. It is the correct device for roofers, facade workers, scaffolders, aerial lift operators, maintenance engineers, and contractors working on terraces or inclined surfaces where a standard vertical-only fall arrester cannot be safely deployed. It is also used by rope access technicians, window cleaners, and telecommunications engineers who require a certified retractable device for mixed vertical and horizontal movement.

Typical Applications

• Flat and pitched roofing installation and maintenance where the operative moves laterally across the roof surface

• Facade and cladding installation from scaffolding or aerial work platforms

• Terrace and structural slab edge work where horizontal movement is required

• Scaffolding erection and dismantling at height

• Aerial lift and MEWP operations where the operative leaves the platform

• Building maintenance on facades, plant rooms, and roof plant areas

• Structural steel installation and inspection at height

• Telecommunications mast and pylon work requiring extended reach

How to Use

1. Inspect the device before every use. Check the casing for cracks or damage, confirm the wire rope is free of kinks, fraying, and corrosion, verify the load indicator on the bottom connector has not been activated, and confirm the swivel and both connectors operate correctly.

2. Connect the top karabiner to a certified anchorage point rated for fall arrest loads. The anchor must be positioned above the user wherever possible. For horizontal applications, ensure the anchor is positioned to minimise swing fall risk.

3. Connect the bottom snap hook to the dorsal attachment point of a certified full body harness. Never connect to a belt or work positioning harness.

4. Allow the wire rope to pay out as you move. The internal spring keeps the rope in constant tension. Do not allow the rope to go slack as this increases the free fall distance before braking engages.

5. In the event of a fall, the braking mechanism engages automatically as the rope pays out at speed. The external energy absorber provides secondary deceleration. Do not attempt to grab the wire rope during a fall.

6. After any fall event, take the device out of service immediately. The load indicator on the bottom connector will confirm whether the device has been subjected to a fall arrest load. Do not return the device to service until it has been inspected by a competent person or returned to a Kratos authorised service centre.

7. To retract the wire rope after use, use the winding cord supplied to guide the rope back onto the internal reel smoothly and evenly.

Safety and Maintenance

Before every use:

• Confirm the device has a valid inspection record and has not exceeded its service life

• Check the wire rope along its full extended length for kinks, broken strands, corrosion, and deformation

• Verify the load indicator has not been activated

• Check both connectors open, close, and lock correctly

• Use the inspection window to visually check the internal mechanism without disassembly

During use:

• Always connect to a full body harness at the dorsal attachment point

• Never use as a work positioning or restraint device

• Maintain awareness of the swing fall risk when working horizontally away from the anchor point

• Never exceed the 140kg maximum user weight including clothing, tools, and equipment

After use and periodic maintenance:

• Clean the wire rope and casing after use in dirty, wet, or chemically contaminated environments

• Store in a dry location away from UV exposure, chemicals, and sharp objects

• Annual inspection by a competent person is required as a minimum under PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations 2005

• After any fall arrest event, the device must be withdrawn from service and inspected before reuse

• Repairs and servicing must only be carried out by Kratos Safety or an authorised service centre

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is EN 360:2002 and why does it matter on a UK construction site?

 A: EN 360:2002 is the European standard for retractable fall arresters. It specifies the performance requirements a device must meet to be certified as a fall arrest system, including minimum breaking strength above 12kN for wire rope devices, maximum fall arrest force of 6kN on the human body, and braking performance under defined test conditions. On a UK construction site, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that all fall arrest equipment is suitable for the intended use and conforms to relevant standards. UKCA marking confirms the HELIXON-S has been assessed against UK conformity requirements, which is the post-Brexit equivalent of CE marking for products placed on the UK market.

Q: What is the difference between a retractable fall arrester and a fall arrester on an anchor line?

 A: A fall arrester on an anchor line travels along a fixed rigid or flexible line installed on the structure. It is best suited to purely vertical movement, such as climbing a fixed ladder or access route. A retractable fall arrester like the HELIXON-S is a self-contained device that pays out and retracts wire rope as the user moves, following them in any direction. It is the correct choice wherever the user needs significant freedom of movement horizontally as well as vertically, such as on a roof, terrace, facade, or scaffolding. The HELIXON-S is specifically certified for horizontal use, which most retractable fall arresters are not.

Q: Why is the 140kg rating for both vertical and horizontal use important?

 A: Most retractable fall arresters are tested and rated for vertical use only. The forces acting on the braking mechanism, the wire rope, and the anchorage are different in a horizontal fall compared to a vertical one. A device rated only for vertical use may not brake reliably in a horizontal fall scenario, or may transmit unsafe forces to the harness and anchorage. The HELIXON-S has been specifically tested and certified for horizontal use at 140kg, which means it can be legally and safely deployed for roofing, terrace, and facade work where horizontal movement is part of the task.

Q: What does the load indicator on the bottom connector show?

 A: The FA 50 203 20 connector at the attachment end incorporates a visual load indicator that changes appearance when the device has been subjected to a fall arrest load. Before each use, the indicator should be checked to confirm the device has not previously arrested a fall. If the indicator has been activated, the device must be taken out of service immediately and inspected by a competent person before any further use. It is not safe to return a fall arrest device to service after a fall event without a full inspection, regardless of how minor the event appeared.

Q: What does sharp edge approval mean in practice?

 A: Sharp edge approval means the HELIXON-S wire rope and device have been tested for use in environments where the wire rope may contact a sharp edge during normal use or during a fall event. The certification covers edges down to a 0.50mm radius. Without this approval, contact between a wire rope lanyard and a sharp metal edge during a fall could sever or weaken the rope before the braking mechanism arrests the fall. On structural steel, roofing, and cladding applications where metal edges are common, sharp edge approval is a critical specification that must be confirmed before selecting a fall arrest device.

Q: How often does the HELIXON-S need to be inspected?

 A: A pre-use visual check is required before every deployment. A formal inspection by a competent person is required at least annually under PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations 2005, or more frequently if the manufacturer's instructions or site risk assessment require it. The inspection window on the HELIXON-S casing allows the internal mechanism to be checked visually without full disassembly, which simplifies the pre-use and periodic inspection process. After any fall arrest event, the device must be withdrawn from service immediately and inspected before reuse, regardless of when the last formal inspection took place.

Q: What does the repairability index of 8.8 mean?

 A: The repairability index is a voluntary scoring system that rates how easily a product can be repaired rather than replaced. The HELIXON-S scores 8.8 out of 10, which reflects Kratos Safety's design approach: accessible components, available spare parts, and a casing that can be opened and serviced without specialist tooling. For PPE fleet managers and procurement teams managing multiple fall arrest devices across several sites, a high repairability index means lower total cost of ownership. A device that can be serviced and returned to service after an incident costs significantly less over its service life than one that must be replaced in full.

Q: Why order the Kratos HELIXON-S from CMT Group?

 A: CMT Group has supplied PPE and height safety equipment to UK construction sites since 2010, operating a fleet of over 100 FORS Silver accredited vehicles covering 90% of the UK mainland. The Kratos HELIXON-S is available for next working day delivery on orders placed by 7pm online. For urgent site requirements, CMT's VIP dedicated delivery service dispatches within 30 minutes on a dedicated vehicle. Trade accounts, volume pricing, and EDGE procurement portal access are available for contractors and safety procurement teams managing height safety equipment across multiple projects.