{"id":3559,"date":"2019-08-06T04:54:41","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T11:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slacklineinternational.org\/?page_id=3559"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:49:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T14:49:59","slug":"isa-gear-standards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.slacklineinternational.org\/isa-gear-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear Standards"},"content":{"rendered":"

ISA Gear Standards<\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

The Safety Commission has developed gear standards for slacklining equipment. The standards are a description of tests the equipment has to pass to get the Label. The Label is printed on the manual, manufacturer’s website and the product itself.<\/p>\n

This is what the ISA Safety Label looks like:<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a><\/p>\n

What does it mean?<\/h3>\n

The ISA Safety Label shows that every batch of equipment has successfully passed a series of tests designed to ensure the product’s safety and longevity. These tests check if the product is suitable for highlining.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/h3>\n

The Label ensures a minimum safety standard for slackline equipment. It supports the manufacturers who guarantee the safety of their gear and give them an opportunity to advertise this in a transparent way. Standardized tests let slackliners make informed decisions by allowing them to compare across brands (before the numbers didn\u2019t mean the same thing for different manufacturers).<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Database – Approved Gear<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
Equipment Warning<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

How is equipment tested?<\/h1>\n

Testing facilities<\/h3>\n

Equipment is sent to an ISA approved, independent<\/b> testing facility<\/b>. This means not the ISA tests the gear, but seperate facilities. Gear manufacturers therefore have to pay these facilities and NOT the ISA to get their gear tested.<\/p>\n

The ISA Safety Commission is currently looking for more independent inspection bodies across the world to lower shipping time and costs.<\/p>\n

In addition to this one-time certification, the Safety Commission will regularly perform their own secret tests of certified and uncertified gear at their own cost as a form of quality control for the slackline market.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
\"Siebert<\/span><\/div>
\"Block<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Webbing Lockers<\/h3>\n

Weblocks have to pass 4<\/span> different tests<\/b>. The first one checks the overall quality – edges, pins and markings. The second checks if you have working way of tieing of your weblock against slippage<\/span>. The third test checks the weblock’s ability to <\/span>retain webbing strength<\/b>. Finally – a break test, to check the weblock’s ultimate strength with a seewn hightech webbing loop. Only weblocks with an <\/span>MBS of 48 kN<\/b> or more can pass.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Webbing<\/h3>\n

Webbing is categorized into 4 different types<\/b> with different MBS, abrasion resistance and lifetime<\/b>. Lifetime is counted as days exposed to the elements. Leaving your line rigged for a week costs 7 days of lifetime (regardless of use, because UV is the main culprit). Webbing will come with a small tag to help you keep track of how many days of highlining it has seen. Webbing lifetime is finite – once the days run out it is no longer safe for highlining. Webbing can become unsafe much earlier for other reasons – abrasion, excessive use and harsh conditions can all lead to an early retirement (consider making a slack rag).<\/p>\n

Type A+<\/b> is the super webbing with more than 40 kN MBS and a very long lifetime. Recommended for permarigs.<\/p>\n

Type A<\/b> webbing can be used in all kinds of highline situations. It has an MBS of 30 kN or more.<\/p>\n

Type B<\/b> webbing is for alpine missions and those of you who don\u2019t like heavy backpacks. With a 26 kN MBS it can be used (with caution) on most highlines.<\/p>\n

Type C<\/b> has significantly shorter lifetime and abrasion resistance. With an even lower MBS of 22 kN, it should only be used by experienced riggers and in controlled circumstances (competitions, shows, birthday parties, etc.).<\/p>\n

All types of sewn loops are also tested. They have to retain 80% of the MBS of their category<\/b>. (E.g. Type A: 30kN minimum \u2192 All Type A loops have min. 80% x 30kN = 24kN)<\/p>\n

Every webbing will have a standardized stretch curve, measured at the same speed, and the stretch % at 5 kN<\/b> has to be stated in the manual. Why 5 kN? Because the traditional 10 kN does not reflect the forces in real life usage.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/i><\/span>Maximum permissable lifetime of highline webbings exposed to the outdoors. With an average of 3000 J\/m2 dose per day over the course of one year.<\/span><\/div>