Silva-Tex 16: EN 1891 Type A Certified Polyester Kernmantle Arborist Climbing Rope

16-Strand Kernmantle Construction and EN 1891 Type A Certification for Arborist Climbing

EN 1891 Type A is the certification standard for low-extension kernmantle ropes used in height safety and professional climbing. For arborist climbing, it defines minimum static strength, elongation limits, fall arrest performance and sheath slippage requirements that a rope must pass before it can be specified as a certified climbing line for professional tree work. Silva-Tex 16 meets EN 1891 Type A requirements across all these parameters, with witness testing conducted by SGS.

The 16-strand kernmantle cover construction is heavier duty than the 32-plait cover used in lighter-weight rope access ropes. In arborist climbing environments, the rope is in regular contact with bark surfaces, branch crotches, friction hitches and rigging hardware. The 16-strand construction distributes this contact load across a coarser, more durable braid structure, extending cover life in conditions that would wear a lighter cover more rapidly.

The core is a torque-balanced high elongation polyester twist construction. Torque balancing means the core does not impart rotational forces into the rope under load, which prevents the rope from spinning or twisting during climbing. The high elongation characteristic allows the core to absorb energy progressively in a fall event, which is why elongation at 10% ABL (maximum climbing load) is 7.7% and at 20% ABL (maximum rigging load) is 13.1%. For the full English Braids arborist range see the arboriculture range.

Silva-Tex 16 Configurations and the English Braids Arborist Climbing Range

Silva-Tex 16 is available in two configurations to suit different deployment methods. The sewn eye configuration (reference 86A10) provides a pre-terminated climbing rope with factory-sewn eyes in 25m, 35m, 45m and 60m lengths, ready for direct connection to saddle, anchor and friction hitch systems without field termination. The plain reel configuration (reference 8610) provides 200m of rope for custom length cutting and on-site spliced termination.

For rigging operations involving lowering cut sections and load management, English Braids manufactures the Rig-Tex 12 and Rig-Tex 24 polyester rigging ropes in the same arborist range. For a 24-plait double braid arborist climbing rope alternative, the Silva-Tex 24 provides a different construction and handling characteristic. For the full polyester rope range see the polyester rope range.