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Silva Prusik: EN564 and EN795(B) Certified Polyester Prusik Cord for Friction Hitches
Silva Prusik is a 9mm high-tenacity polyester prusik cord manufactured by English Braids in Malvern, Worcestershire, certified to EN564 and EN795(B):2012. It is designed specifically for use as a prusik loop and other friction hitch configurations in arborist climbing and height safety applications.
The cord combines a 12-strand polyester core with a 24-plait polyester cover. The 24-plait cover provides the surface texture and construction consistency that friction hitches rely on for controlled grip and release. The anti-kink construction ensures the cord runs cleanly through hardware and dresses correctly around carabiners and pulleys, which is essential for hitch configurations that must be set accurately before loading.
Arborists climbing with friction hitches depend on cord that combines reliable grip under load with the ability to release and reposition smoothly when unweighted. The Silva Prusik is engineered to deliver both. Average breaking load is 18.1 kN, with a minimum breaking load of 12.8 kN to EN564. Available in blue and yellow (004/) on 200m reels.
- Prusik loops and friction hitch systems in arborist climbing
- Backup safety hitches on arborist climbing systems
- Redirect and progress capture in arborist rigging
- Height safety and fall arrest friction hitch applications
- EN795(B) certified anchor applications
- Arborist gear connection and rigging support
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Technical Overview
| EN564 and EN795(B):2012 certified 9mm polyester prusik cord |
| 12-strand polyester core with 24-plait polyester cover |
| Anti-kink construction for consistent hitch dressing and hardware compatibility |
| Reliable grip under load with smooth release when unweighted |
| High-tenacity polyester for durability in demanding environments |
| Blue and yellow colourway for on-site identification |
EN564 and EN795(B) Certification: Standards for Prusik Cord in Arborist and Height Safety Applications
EN564 is the European standard for accessory cords used in mountaineering and height safety equipment. It defines minimum breaking load requirements, elongation characteristics, and knotted breaking strength for supplementary cords used within personal protective equipment systems. For a prusik cord, EN564 certification establishes the baseline mechanical performance the cord must achieve before it can be specified for use in certified climbing and fall arrest configurations.
EN795(B):2012 covers anchor devices for personal fall protection, specifically Type B flexible horizontal lifeline systems. Silva Prusik carries both certifications, which reflects its suitability across the range of applications where a friction hitch cord is used: from arborist climbing systems where the prusik functions as a progress capture or backup hitch, through to height safety setups where the cord forms part of an anchored fall arrest configuration.
For arborist climbing specifically, the combination of EN564 and EN795(B) certification means the cord meets the requirements of both the accessory cord standard and the anchor device standard relevant to professional tree work conducted under height safety regulations. For the full English Braids arborist range see the arboriculture range, and for height safety and rope access applications see the rope access range.
Friction Hitch Cord Selection: Construction, Anti-Kink Properties and the English Braids Arborist Range
Friction hitch performance depends heavily on cord construction. The hitch must grip consistently under load, release cleanly when unweighted, and dress correctly around the supporting hardware before each use. Cord that kinks, twists or runs unevenly through a carabiner makes hitch configuration slower and less predictable. The anti-kink construction of Silva Prusik addresses this directly: the 24-plait polyester cover produces a round, stable cord profile that runs without distortion through rigging hardware and allows the hitch to be dressed accurately into position.
Many friction hitch configurations used in professional arborist climbing, including the Valdotain Tresse, Distel and Blake’s hitch, require the cord to wrap consistently around the climbing line and contact the carabiner at a defined point. The surface texture of a 24-plait polyester cover provides the friction interface these hitches rely on, while the 12-strand polyester core maintains the cord’s structural integrity and breaking load across the working diameter. Breaking load is 18.1 kN average and 12.8 kN minimum to EN564 at 9mm.
Silva Prusik sits alongside the English Braids EN1891 certified arborist climbing ropes: the Silva-Tex 16, a 16-strand polyester kernmantle climbing rope, and the Silva-Tex 24, a braided nylon core and 24-plait polyester sheath climbing rope. For arborist rigging lines, the Rig-Tex 12 and Rig-Tex 24 cover lowering and load management applications. For the full polyester rope range see the polyester rope range.
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