ASTM F887-20 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM F887-20 — Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment. This specification defines design, construction and qualification testing requirements for personal climbing and positioning equipment used by workers who climb poles, trees, towers and similar structures, and includes minimum performance criteria for harnesses and energy-absorbing lanyards after exposure to electric arcs.

Abstract

ASTM F887-20 sets performance and test requirements for a broad family of personal climbing equipment: climbers (gaffs), climber straps, climber pads, climber footplates, body belts, work‑positioning devices (with locking snaphooks/carabiners), wood pole fall restriction devices (WPFRD), arborist saddles, harnesses and energy‑absorbing lanyards. The standard includes qualification testing protocols, including electric‑arc exposure followed immediately by load/drop testing for harnesses and certain lanyards to assess thermal and mechanical integrity.

General information

• Status: Superseded — originally published as F887-20 (current edition replaced by ASTM F887-23, published 2023).
• Publication date: February 15, 2020 (F887-20 edition).
• Publisher: ASTM International (ASTM).
• ICS / categories: ICS 97.220.40 — Outdoor and water sports equipment / equipment for climbing and related PPE.
• Edition / version: ASTM F887-20 (2020 edition).
• Number of pages: 33 pages (F887-20).

Scope

Applies to personal climbing and positioning equipment used by workers climbing poles, trees, towers and similar structures. Equipment classes covered include climbers and associated components (gaffs, straps, pads, footplates), body belts, positioning devices (several types), wood pole fall restriction devices (WPFRD), arborist saddles, harnesses (Types A and B) and energy‑absorbing lanyards (Types A and B). The standard specifies category definitions (restraint, positioning, fall arrest, suspension, fall restriction), construction, marking, sizing/ordering information, and qualification testing — including electric‑arc exposure tests followed by mechanical load/drop tests for selected items.

Key topics and requirements

• Equipment categories and definitions: fall (travel) restraint, work positioning, fall arrest (6 ft typical, with conditions allowing up to 12 ft in specific designs), suspension and fall restriction.
• Detailed requirements for climbers, climber straps, pads and footplates including classification and ordering information.
• Body belts, positioning devices and WPFRD: types, sizing, marking and construction details.
• Arborist saddle specification for work positioning and suspension applications.
• Harnesses: classification (Types A and B), sizing, marking, and post‑arc mechanical performance requirements.
• Energy‑absorbing lanyards: classification, performance and testing (including post‑arc drop tests where applicable).
• Electric‑arc exposure testing: includes thermal/arc assault (commonly referenced at ~40 ± 5 cal/cm² in practice discussions) followed immediately by mechanical load/drop tests to verify that load‑bearing elements show no catastrophic failure. (Note: the standard defines the test sequence and pass/fail criteria.)
• Hardware requirements, test equipment descriptions, instructions, guarantee and rejection criteria, and manufacturer marking/labeling expectations.

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers, test laboratories, product designers, technical buyers and safety/standards personnel in utilities, arboriculture (tree care), telecommunications, tower work, and any industry where workers climb poles, trees or structures. Employers, safety managers and procurement teams use the standard to specify compliant harnesses, lanyards, saddles and related climbing equipment; test labs and manufacturers use it to qualify products and to perform the specified arc and mechanical testing.

Related standards

Commonly referenced companion and related standards include the ANSI/ASSP Z359 series (fall protection and energy absorber requirements), ANSI Z133 (arboricultural operations), relevant EN standards for harnesses and fall protection (for international product comparisons), and applicable CSA documents. ASTM F887 also cross‑references specific test and hardware standards used in qualification testing.

Keywords

personal climbing equipment; climber; climber straps; gaffs; body belts; positioning devices; WPFRD; arborist saddle; harness; energy‑absorbing lanyard; arc testing; fall arrest; fall restraint; positioning lanyard; locking snaphook; dee‑ring; ICS 97.220.40.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM F887-20 is the 2020 edition of the ASTM specification that defines minimum design, marking and qualification test requirements for personal climbing and positioning equipment used by workers climbing poles, trees, towers and similar structures.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers climbers and gaffs, climber straps, pads and footplates, body belts, work‑positioning devices (with locking snaphooks/carabiners), wood pole fall restriction devices (WPFRD), arborist saddles, harnesses and energy‑absorbing lanyards, plus qualification testing (including electric‑arc exposure followed by mechanical tests for certain items).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, test laboratories, procurement and safety professionals in utilities, arboriculture, telecommunications and other industries that perform vertical climbing work use it to design, test, specify and buy compliant climbing equipment.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ASTM F887-20 (published February 15, 2020) has been superseded by ASTM F887-23 (published in 2023). For new specifications and procurement you should reference the current F887-23 edition; F887-20 remains useful for historical reference or for evaluating equipment tested to that edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: F887 is maintained by ASTM Committee F18 (Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers), Subcommittee F18.15 (Worker Personal Equipment). It’s commonly used alongside other fall‑protection and arborist standards (for example, standards in the ANSI/ASSP Z359 family and industry practice documents).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: climber; harness; energy‑absorbing lanyard; positioning device; arborist saddle; WPFRD; arc testing; fall arrest; body belt; locking snaphook; dee‑ring; ICS 97.220.40.