Buying new climbing gear: markings, instructions and what TCI Magazine, the ICoP and GOV.UK say to look for

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It does not cover import or sale rules, warranty or returns law, and it names no makers. Gear that has already been owned by someone else is on the guide to buying used gear.

What the ICoP says about identification and instructions

The Industry Code of Practice for Arboriculture: Tree Work at Height, Edition 2 (May 2020), is an industry code and not a law. Three of its clauses bear on a new purchase.

Clause 3.10.6.1 says each item of a personal fall protection system is clearly identifiable. It carries enough information to trace it back to the maker, the product name, its construction and its thorough examination records. The same clause says components are made against validated performance criteria and, where it applies, checked by an independent notified or approved body.
Clause 3.10.5 says makers are required to supply instructions on the intended purpose, applications and limits of the equipment, and that users are expected to read and understand them. It adds that this covers later versions where the maker has changed the equipment.
Clause 3.11.6 says all equipment should be marked so it can be identified and traced. It lists what a marking may include: a unique mark such as a serial number, the maker, model, type or class, a reference to documents on conformity or safe use, whether the item is for PPE or rigging, and a load rating.

The seven questions in TCI Magazine

TCI Magazine, the magazine of the Tree Care Industry Association, ran a two-part series in May and July 2023. The authors say the questions are not hard and fast rules and that they do not tell readers what to buy. Their seven questions are in the table. This page reports them and does not endorse them.

Question	What the series says under it
1. Do the features match the intended use?	Asks whether the item is for climbing or rigging, whether it prevents a fall or only adds comfort, and what lifetime is expected. It says a maker may state an expected lifetime in the instructions.
2. Would the result of failure be beyond what the buyer tolerates?	Compares a failed carabiner with a failed throwline cube, and says the weight given to confirming quality rises with the consequence of failure.
3. Does the item meet safety or industry standards?	Says ANSI Z133 does not set strict requirements for climbing equipment and that the United States has no government PPE rules like Europe's. It describes markings from the plate on a rigging item to the EN number, the CE mark and a four-digit notified body number.
4. Are the instructions comprehensive?	Says printed instructions are disappearing and that a QR code or a web address to them is expected. Its list of contents is in the next section.
5. Is the maker reputable?	Looks at how easy the maker is to contact, whether it states the standards it meets, and whether it issues recalls or safety notices, which the series reads as a sign of accountability. It says a maker that uses serial numbers likely has a way to recall a batch.
6. Is the seller reputable?	Says sellers that serve several at-height trades make it more important that an item is approved for tree care, and that a screw-gate carabiner may suit rock climbing but not trees.
7. Is the price in line with similar items from reputable makers?	Says a much lower price can mean an item was copied from another maker's design or not tested to the same standards. It says counterfeits are not widespread in the trade but that look-alike items have been seen.

What the series lists for the instructions

Part 2 lists what instructions may contain: the maker's name and address, a serial number and markings decoder that gives the date of manufacture, the standards the product meets, the size range, the life expectancy, compatibility with other gear, how and how not to use it, maintenance, retirement criteria, a space for inspection notes, accessories, and the guarantee. The authors note that a booklet of 25 pages may hold one page in the reader's language, because makers must supply instructions in each language of sale.

The same magazine's article on inspecting PPE says copycat equipment is on the rise and easy to order online, and that an item with no information found on it is not to be used.

What the government pages say the marks mean

Mark	Who applies it, and where	What the official source says
CE	The maker, after its own conformity assessment, technical file and declaration of conformity. It applies in the European Economic Area to products made anywhere, and GOV.UK says Great Britain also recognises it.	The European Commission says affixing it declares that the product meets all the legal requirements for the mark. It says the mark does not mean the EU or any other authority approved the product as safe, and does not show where the product was made.
UKCA	The maker, or an authorised representative the maker names in writing. It applies in Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales.	GOV.UK says UKCA and CE marks show the maker believes the product meets the relevant requirements. It says UKCA may go on a label or an accompanying document until December 31, 2027, and that makers and importers also give a name and postal address.
ANSI standard named on a product	The maker states it. It is a voluntary standard in the United States.	OSHA calls the ANSI standards for tree care voluntary and says compliance with them does not ensure compliance with OSHA policy. TCI Magazine says Z133 is not a testing standard and that anyone can put it on a product.

GOV.UK adds that a product can carry more than one marking, such as UKCA and CE, if the markings are clearly visible, and that instructions must be in easily understandable English for Great Britain. The Commission page says the CE mark is compulsory for most products under the New Approach Directives and forbidden on others.

Where this page stops

The longer register of standards by country is on the guide to PPE standards compared. Rating figures for hardware are on the guide to connectors and hardware ratings. Recalls of tree and climbing gear are on the climbing gear recalls register.