12.2 Strength of components12.2.1 The performance requirements specified for components of personal fall protection systems andequipment (in, for example, BS EN 353-1, BS EN 353-2, BS EN 354, BS EN 355, BS EN 360, BS EN 363and BS EN 795) are based on the need to ensure that the impact force on the user in the arrest of a fall(a dynamic force) does not exceed 6 kN.NOTE As dynamic forces greater than this can be generated in a fall, personal fall protection systems incorporate one or morecomponents with an energy absorbing capacity to ensure the 6 kN limit is not exceeded.12.2.2 Theoretically, therefore, the components of personal fall protection systems and equipment need tobe strong enough to withstand a dynamic force of 6 kN, for single person use. However, while somestandards (for example BS EN 353-1 and -2, which specify guided type fall arresters, and BS EN 360 whichspecifies retractable type fall arresters) specify a maximum braking force of 6 kN in a dynamic test, otherstandards (for example BS EN 354, which specifies lanyards and includes a requirement for the dynamicstrength of adjustable lanyards) specify only that the component shall not fail in a dynamic test. Resistanceof components to a specific dynamic force is not specified as such.12.2.3 Static strength is specified for all components, and a safety factor is included to allow for the factthat the components would be subjected to a dynamic force in the event of a fall being arrested. A safetyfactor of 2.5 is usually adopted, but a factor of 2 or less has sometimes been used. Thus the minimum staticstrength specified for most components of personal fall protection equipment is 15 kN. For example,BS EN 354 specifies a minimum static strength of 15 kN for lanyards made of metallic material. However,for some components a minimum static strength of 12 kN is specified. For example, BS EN 360 specifies aminimum static strength of 12 kN for retractable type fall arresters made of wire rope. For some textilecomponents a higher minimum static strength is specified. This is to take some account of degradation, forexample that caused by abrasion and ultraviolet light. For example, BS EN 354 specifies a minimum staticstrength of 22 kN for lanyards made from textile material.