As a result of a minor administrative change, the EN 131 standard for ladders (published in the UK as BS EN 131) parts: 1,2,3,4 and 6, have been amended by CEN – the European organisation responsible for standards.

This change makes no difference to the actual requirements of the EN 131 standard.

The only change is that the amendment removes some advisory text regarding Sweden’s legal requirements for portable ladders, which were listed in the “A-Deviations” section of the standard.

But, and rather frustratingly, this does mean that in accordance with CEN procedures, parts 1,2,3,4 and 6 of EN 131 will now be re-published with a new date for the purpose of document control. For example:

• EN 131 Part 1 Ladders. Terms, types, functional sizes was previously numbered EN 131-1:2015+A1:2019
• Following the change, EN 131 Part 1 will now have a new number EN 131-1:2015+A2:2025

The previous documents will now be shown by standards bodies and standards suppliers as “Withdrawn” although the only change in the new versions is the removal of the text regarding the Swedish legal requirements. There is nothing different about ladders made to the amended version of the standard!

Next steps:

• There will be a changeover period during which ladder manufacturers/suppliers will update their certification and change their ladder labels and documentation to reflect the amendment and the new versions of the standards.
• Standards are not retrospective so you can continue to use any existing ladders that conformed to the previous and now withdrawn version of the standard. Ladders made to the amended standard are exactly the same as ladders made to the previous version of the standard.

What do you need to do?

• Ladder manufacturers: Contact your product certification bodies regarding the change.
• Ladder suppliers including hire companies: Check your purchasing specifications are updated to reflect the latest versions of the different parts of the standard – see table below.
• Ladder purchasers/specifiers: Check your purchasing specifications are updated to reflect the latest versions of the different parts of the standard – see table below.
• Regulators: Be aware of the change and update any documentation necessary – see table below.

For information:

• EN131 -7 the standard for Mobile ladders with platform (AKA “Warehouse steps”) is not affected by this change as there are no Swedish A deviations in that part of the standard. So, it remains as EN 131-7:2013.
• There is no EN 131-5 as it’s not yet completed.

For a complete list of current and withdrawn standards, visit our Ladder Standards page.