Petzl ZIGZAG Quick Start Manual

Safety Alert

Stop use Petzl ZIGZAG mechanical Prusik
Sku. D22
This information is complementary to the Safety Information issued April 15, 2013
On Friday, April 12, Petzl was informed of an accidental fall in a training center in Germany. The injured person was
moving at height using a Petzl ZIGZAG mechanical Prusik. The initial observations have shown that the fall was due to a
failure of the rope end attachment hole. Our investigation and further testing lead us to conclude that this failure was the
result of a particular configuration of a cantilevered and off axis loaded upper carabiner.

Petzl test Results:

1/3 - Breaking strength of the ZIGZAG's
rope end attachment hole
With this carabiner configuration, the breaking
strength of the rope end attachment hole is greater
than 15 kN.
15 kN
15 kN
2/3 - ZIGZAG with a cantilevered upper
carabiner
This is an incorrect configuration.
Note: most of the carabiners tested this way pivot and
correct themselves to be loaded on the major axis
starting at 2 kN of force. Some carabiners pivoted and
corrected themselves at 10 kN, without damaging the
upper attachment hole.
19/04/2013
2 - 10 kN
1 / 2