National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 131‑6:2019+A1:2025. It supersedes BS EN 131‑6:2019, which is withdrawn.

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags. Tags indicating changes to CEN text carry the number of the CEN amendment. For example, text altered by CEN amendment A1 is indicated by .

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee B/512, Ladders.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 March 2019.

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 26 November 2018 and includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 11 June 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

European foreword

This document (EN 131‑6:2019+A1:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 93 “Ladders”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2026.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 2025-06-11.

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags .

This document supersedes EN 131‑6:2019.

Deleted text

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association.

This European Standard is one of a series about ladders. The other standards of this series are listed in Clause 2 and in the Bibliography.

Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

1 Scope

This document specifies the general design features, requirements and test methods and defines terms for leaning and standing telescopic ladders.

Ladders with extension elements are not covered by this part of EN 131.

This part of the standard is intended to be used in conjunction with EN 131‑1, EN 131‑2, EN 131‑3 and if applicable EN 131‑4.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Functional dimensions

4.1 General dimensions

4.2 Specific dimensions

4.3 Top rung clearance l₆

4.4 Outside width b₄

5 Requirements

5.1 General requirements

5.2 Distance between rungs/steps

5.3 Additional requirements for the top of leaning ladders

5.4 Locking of the rung/step sections

5.5 Design

5.6 Base width b₂

6 Testing

6.1 General

6.2 Ladder preconditioning

6.3 Strength test of stiles

6.4 Bending test of stiles

6.5 Lateral deflection test of the ladder

6.6 Bottom stile ends test

6.7 Vertical load on rungs, steps and platforms

6.8 Test of opening restraints and hinges of standing telescopic ladders

6.9 Base slip test for leaning ladders

6.10 Test of locking mechanism

6.11 Feet/End cap pull test

6.12 Asymmetrical bending test

6.13 Test methods for plastic ladders

6.14 Test methods for plastic rung/step brackets

6.15 Durability

6.16 Opening and closing cycle test

7 Marking and user instructions

7.1 General

7.2 Marking

7.3 User instruction

7.4 List of items to be inspected

7.5 Storage

Bibliography

BS EN 131-6:2019+A1:2025

Ladders - Telescopic ladders

Current

Published:

31 Aug 2025