A recent administrative amendment by CEN, the European standards body, means several parts of the EN 131 ladder standard (published in the UK as BS EN 131) will now appear with new document numbers.
Before anyone panics or assumes products have changed, here is the key point:
👉 There are NO technical changes to the requirements for ladders.
The update simply removes advisory wording that related to Sweden’s national legal requirements. This information previously sat in the “A-Deviations” section of the documents.
Because CEN’s rules require any amendment to trigger a republication, the standards now carry new suffixes and dates for document control purposes.
What has actually changed?
Only the numbering.
For example:
- EN 131-1 was EN 131-1:2015+A1:2019
- It is now EN 131-1:2015+A2:2025
The ladder you buy, hire or use is exactly the same if it meets the amended version.
However, standards databases will list the earlier editions as withdrawn, even though the practical content remains unchanged apart from the removal of the Swedish note.
This clarification mirrors advice issued by the Ladder Association to prevent confusion across the industry.
What happens next?
Manufacturers and certification bodies will move through a transition period. During this time, expect updates to:
- Certificates
- Product labels
- Declarations of conformity
- Instruction manuals
- Purchasing specifications
Again, none of this reflects a product redesign or new testing criteria.
Are existing ladders still legal to use?
Yes.
Standards are not retrospective. If your ladder met the previous version, it remains compliant and safe to continue using.
A ladder built to the new edition is no different from one built to the earlier issue.
Who needs to take action?
Manufacturers
Speak with your certification provider to arrange the paperwork updates.
Suppliers & hire companies
Update purchasing specifications so they reference the latest published numbers.
Buyers & specifiers
Make sure tender documents and procurement systems quote the new revisions.
Regulators
Review internal references and amend documents where necessary.
Old and new references
| Withdrawn edition | Current edition | Title |
|---|---|---|
| EN 131-1:2015+A1:2019 | EN 131-1:2015+A2:2025 | Terms, types, functional sizes |
| EN 131-2:2010+A2:2017 | EN 131-2:2010+A3:2025 | Requirements, testing, marking |
| EN 131-3:2018 | EN 131-3:2018+A1:2025 | Marking and user instructions |
| EN 131-4:2020 | EN 131-4:2020+A1:2025 | Single or multiple hinge-joint ladders |
| EN 131-6:2019 | EN 131-6:2019+A1:2025 | Telescopic ladders |
Parts not affected
- EN 131-7 (mobile ladders with platform / warehouse steps) is unchanged because it contains no Swedish A-deviations. It remains EN 131-7:2013.
- There is currently no EN 131-5, as that part is still under development.
If you work in manufacturing, supply, hire or safety management, the main takeaway is simple:
✅ Update your paperwork
✅ Continue using existing compliant ladders
✅ Don’t assume new numbers mean new performance requirements