Petzl SCORPIO VERTIGO - Manual (Page 3)

L60 GAMME SCORPIO L60502-C (090507)
(EN) ENGLISH
SCORPIO
Energy-absorbing Y-lanyard for via ferrata
VERTIGO WL version: Carabiner with simple auto-locking system.
EASHOOK version: Auto-locking directional carabiner.
Working principle
The energy of the fall is absorbed by the tearing of certain fibers in the weave of
the webbing.
Nomenclature of parts
SCORPIO energy-absorbing lanyard
(1) STRING, (2) Long ends, (3) Short end, (4) Protective sleeve, (5) Tearing
energy absorber, (6) Attachment loop.
VERTIGO WL carabiner
(7) Frame, (8) Gate, (9) Hinge, (10) Locking system, (11) Keylock, (12) Keylock
slot.
EASHOOK carabiner
(7) Frame, (8) Gate, (9) Hinge, (10 bis) Locking system.
Principal materials
Energy-absorbing lanyard: nylon, polyester, steel.
Carabiners: aluminum alloy (frame, gate), nylon (locking sleeve), stainless steel
(VERTIGO wire, EASHOOK locking system).
1. Field of application
Personal protective equipment (PPE), the SCORPIO is an energy-absorbing
lanyard for self-belaying on via ferrata cables (EN 958 standard).
This absorber is designed for a fall of factor 5 maximum (5 m maximum fall
height).
This product must not be loaded beyond its strength rating, nor be used for any
purpose other than that for which it is designed.
WARNING
Activities involving the use of this equipment are inherently
dangerous.
You are responsible for your own actions and decisions.
Before using this equipment, you must:
- Read and understand all instructions for use.
- Get specific training in its proper use.
- Become acquainted with its capabilities and limitations.
- Understand and accept the risks involved.
Failure to heed any of these warnings may result in severe injury
or death.
Responsibility
WARNING, specific training is essential before use.
This product must only be used by competent and responsible persons, or those
placed under the direct and visual control of a competent and responsible person.
Gaining an adequate apprenticeship in appropriate techniques and methods of
protection is your own responsibility.
You personally assume all risks and responsibilities for all damage, injury or death
which may occur during or following incorrect use of our products in any manner
whatsoever. If you are not able, or not in a position to assume this responsibility or
to take this risk, do not use this equipment.
You must also be familiar with rescue techniques so that a rescue may be
immediately carried out in case of difficulties encountered while using this
product. This implies an adequate training in the necessary rescue techniques.
Only the techniques shown in the diagrams that are not crossed out and/or do not
display a skull and crossbones symbol are authorized. Check our Web site www.
petzl.com regularly to find the latest versions of these documents.
Contact PETZL if you have any doubt or difficulty understanding these documents.
2. Inspection, points to verify
Consult the details of the inspection procedure to be carried out for each item of
PPE on the Web at www.petzl.com/ppe or on the PETZL PPE CD-ROM. Contact
PETZL if there is any doubt about the condition of this product. Retire the
equipment if it shows any sign of reduced strength or impaired function. Destroy
retired equipment to prevent further use.
Before each use
Energy-absorbing lanyard
Before each use, check the condition of the webbing and the stitching. Look
for cuts, wear and damage due to use, exposure to heat and/or chemical
products, etc. Open the protective sleeve and verify that the energy-absorbing
webbing isn’t torn.
VERTIGO WL, EASHOOK
Make sure the frame, hinge and locking sleeve or system are free of any cracks,
deformation, corrosion, etc. Open the gate and verify that it closes and locks itself
automatically when released.
For the VERTIGO WL, the Keylock slot (gate) must not be blocked by any foreign
matter (dirt, pebble, etc.).
During each use
It is important to regularly inspect the condition of the product. Check its
connections with the other equipment in the system and make sure that the
various pieces of equipment in the system are correctly positioned with respect
to each other.
3. Compatibility
Type K via ferrata carabiner
The carabiner must be compatible with the equipment to which it is attached
(shape, size, etc.). An incompatible connection can cause accidental disconnection,
breakage, or affect the safety function of another piece of equipment.
WARNING if the connector is attached to an element of the system that is too large
(e.g. wide webbing, large bars, etc.) the connector’s strength can be reduced.
Contact Petzl if you are uncertain about the compatibility of your equipment.
We advise the use of automatically locking carabiners, marked type K (EN 12275).
Type of via ferrata
The SCORPIO meets the requirements of the EN 958 standard.
Used alone, the SCORPIO is compatible with via ferrata having a maximum vertical
fall potential of 5 m.
3a. When the spacing between two anchor points on a vertical cable is more than
3 m, the potential fall height can be greater than 5 m.
ATTENTION, a fall greater than 5 m generates too much shock force and can cause
the absorber to break.
3b. On via ferrata lacking loops of cable, the carabiner strikes the anchor directly.
ATTENTION, in case of a fall, improper loading of the lanyard carabiners can cause
the carabiner(s) to break.
In these two cases, use a dynamic rope with climbing belay
techniques as part of your safety system.
4. SCORPIO energy-absorbing lanyard
Preparation
Insert a STRING onto each end of the lanyard. Clip a type K auto-locking carabiner
through the STRING and the webbing loop on each end. The STRING allows the
carabiner to be held in position for correct loading (along the major axis) and
protects the webbing from wear.
Installation on the harness
The SCORPIO is connected to the harness with the linking loop, using a lark’s
foot knot.
Suspension test
Before use, make sure the SCORPIO is correctly installed on your harness. Do a
suspension test while self-belayed or in a safe environment.
Major fall
WARNING DANGER OF DEATH, the SCORPIO must not be reused
after a fall that causes the energy absorber to tear. It must be
retired, including the carabiners.
Short falls and repetitive sudden loading
ATTENTION, short falls and repetitive sudden loading prematurely age the
absorber by causing small tears in it. Retire the lanyard if the energy absorber
has begun to tear.
User weight
We recommend that users weighing less than 45 kg or more than 100 kg use this
equipment in conjunction with a roped belay to avoid taking a major fall.
Reasons: In case of a major fall, there is a risk of serious injury or death due to
the very high deceleration for those weighing less than 45 kg, and the risk of
significant shock loading and/or breaking the absorber for those over 100 kg.
If you do not know how to provide a roped belay, consult an experienced person.
Self-belaying on cable
Always keep the 2 ends of the lanyard clipped to the cable
when progressing.
Your safety depends on a single carabiner (you have no redundancy).
Use the short end of the lanyard for resting or to stay closer to the cable.
WARNING DANGER OF DEATH, the short, unused end of the lanyard must remain
free. Do not clip it to anything (for example the harness) as this prevents the
energy absorber from functioning.
Tip: you can keep your system tidy by clipping the short end to one
of the long ends (see drawing).
CAUTION, when a long (elasticized) end of the lanyard is extended and suddenly
released, injury may result from the recoil causing a carabiner to strike the head
or body.
5. Carabiners
You must always clip both of the double lanyard’s carabiners into
the lifeline or via ferrata cable. Systematically check that the gate
is securely locked.
Contaminants such as mud, sand, paint, ice, dirty water, etc. can prevent the
automatic locking system from working.
The carabiner must always be used with the gate closed and locked. The strength
of a carabiner is greatly reduced when the gate is open.
The carabiner is strongest when closed and loaded on its major axis. Any other
position reduces its strength.
Use a STRING or other system that holds the carabiner in correct loading position,
along the major axis (diagram 1).
Nothing must obstruct the connector. Any constraint or external pressure will
reduce its strength.
WARNING DANGER OF DEATH
Any external pressure on the gate is dangerous. The locking sleeve
can break and the gate can open itself. The device, rope or cable
may detach itself from the carabiner.
Remember: For your safety, get into the habit of always doubling-up
your systems, especially carabiners.
Maintenance
ATTENTION, for intensive use, be sure to regularly lubricate the hinge and the
spring with a drop of oil.
VERTIGO WL: Carabiner with simple auto-locking system.
EN 12275: 1998 Type K (Via ferrata), B (Base).
The carabiner is designed to unlock easily in order to facilitate frequent clipping
and unclipping. WARNING, the easy unlocking increases the risk of accidental
unclipping of the carabiner.
Always use this carabiner in pairs.
EASHOOK: Auto-locking directional carabiner. EN 12275:
1998 Type K (Via ferrata), D (Directional).
This carabiner is a component of the energy-absorbing Y-lanyard for via ferrata
and is sewn into the lanyard. Do not remove it or use it separately.
6. General information
Lifetime
ATTENTION, in extreme cases, the lifetime of the product can be reduced to one
single use through exposure to for example any of the following: chemicals,
extreme temperatures, sharp edges, major fall or load, etc.
The potential lifetime of Petzl products is as follows: up to 10 years from the date
of manufacture for plastic and textile products. It is indefinite for metallic products.
The actual lifetime of a product ends when it meets one of the retirement criteria
listed below (see “When to retire your equipment”), or when in its system use it
is judged obsolete.
The actual lifetime is influenced by a variety of factors such as: the intensity,
frequency, and environment of use, the competence of the user, how well the
product is stored and maintained, etc.
Inspect equipment periodically for damage and/or
deterioration.
In addition to the inspection before and during use, a periodic in-depth inspection
must be carried out by a competent inspector at least once every 12 months. This
inspection must be performed at least once every 12 months. The frequency of the
in-depth inspection must be governed by the type and the intensity of use. To keep
better track of your equipment, it is preferable to assign each piece of equipment
to a unique user so that he will know its history. The results of inspections should
be documented in an “inspection record”. This document must allow recording
of the following details: type of equipment, model, name and contact information
of the manufacturer or distributor, means of identification (serial or individual
number), year of manufacture, date of purchase, date of first use, name of user,
all other pertinent information for example maintenance and frequency of use, the
history of periodic inspections (date / comments and noted problems / name and
signature of the competent person who performed the inspection / anticipated
date of next inspection). See example of detailed inspection record and other
informational tools available at www.petzl.com/ppe
When to retire your equipment
Immediately retire any equipment if:
- it fails to pass inspection (inspection before and during use and the periodic
in-depth inspection),
- it has been subjected to a major fall or load,
- you do not know its full usage history,
- it is at least 10 years old and made of plastics or textiles,
- you have any doubt as to its integrity.
Destroy retired equipment to prevent further use.
Product obsolescence
There are many reasons why a product may be judged obsolete and thus
retired before the end of its actual lifetime. Examples include: changes in
applicable standards, regulations, or legislation; development of new techniques,
incompatibility with other equipment, etc.
Modifications, repairs
Any modification, addition to, or repair of the equipment other than that authorized
by Petzl is prohibited: due to the risk of reducing the effectiveness of the
equipment.
Storage, transport
Keep your harness in a bag or other container to protect it from exposure to UV,
moisture, chemical products, etc.
Traceability
Do not cut labels with markings. You must check to ensure that the product
markings remain legible during the entire lifetime of the product.
Guarantee
This product is guaranteed for 3 years against any faults in materials or
manufacture. Exclusions from the guarantee: normal wear and tear, oxidation,
modifications or alterations, incorrect storage, poor maintenance, damage due to
accidents, to negligence, or to improper or incorrect usage.
PETZL is not responsible for the consequences, direct, indirect or accidental, or
any other type of damage befalling or resulting from the use of its products.