Well, it seems pretty self explanatory... But there are a few details about Technical Notices that can help you out.  All of the stuff in the technical notices is GOOD, but some of it, in my opinion, is hard to remember without the document.

Every once in a while, you have to "re-learn" how to read these things.  Let me break one of them down...

I'm looking at the ASAP Lock Technical Notice right now, and will just start from the top and work my way down:

It seems that there are about 5 pages that I would need to understand... The rest is different languages and I can disregard them...

So, out of 17 pages, I'll narrow it down to 5.

Page 1:

Company Name

Product Name

Description:

Warning in ORANGE

Icons with meanings:

-Latest Version

-Other Languages

-Technical Tips

-PPE Checking

Warning Symbols:

1,2,3,4

Info? Phone Number?

Recycling data?

To the right... This part is kind of tricky to understand... Due to it being on the same page but in the second column (sort of)... I think its, its own thing, though...

That would be the Tracibility and Markings diagram.

*This is described later in the last part of page 5.

Moving on...  Next, we got pictures and words...

1. Field of Application (This is shown more on page 5)

2. Nomenclature

3. Inspection, points to verify

4. Compatibility

5. Working Principle

6. Installation and function test

7. Precautions for use

8. Clearance

9. Cleaning

10. Additional Information
    
    

So, if you spend a little time looking at each number, you really do learn a lot... 

Some of the pictures are kind of hard to understand... Similar to that one bathroom picure on the hand dryer that looks like its saying, "place hands under here for bacon."

Let me try to decipher this even more...

So, one...

1. Field of Application

This part you have to jump to the 5th page and read that part.

Basically, a short blurb of what it is...

Then, some warning stuff...

------------

Now, two...

2. Nomenclature

Now, for this to make sense... You kind of have to do some flipping around... Its like reading a big fold out map, turning it over, then folding it, and trying to fold it right again, and trying to remember what you were looking at... Its kind of confusing... On the computer, you'll be doing a lot of scrolling... I'm gonna try to make my own cheat sheet and have the "text" part right next to the diagram... Less flipping, less confusion...

Or, on the computer, opening the .pdf twice so you don't have to keep scrolling up and down...

I had to duplicate the .pdf and open it a second time...

On a Mac, having the two documents open and (Command + ~) flipping between them seems to work... Doing this, reiterates the fact that they should just be laid out more easily and delete the unnecessary stuff..

So, also looking at this, I had to (Command +) to blow up the diagram to be able to actually see it better...

Theres a part that I've never seen... STRING?  Don't know what that is... Will need to look at it, and look it up.

Moving on... We're at #3. Inspection, points to verify

So, its got a little picture... Kind of makes sense, but theres more to it...

You pretty much have to go back to the Petzl.com website (in my case, the page that I got this specific notice from...) and look at the other downloadable documents... In this case, the PPE Inspection Procedure document.

So, this in its self is about a 5 page document.

Might be handy to print it...?

We'll get into the link above it... PPE Inspection Application, later...

In this case, its about 10 steps...

1. Product History

2. Preliminary Observations

3. Preparation

4. Inspecting the frame

5. Inspecting the wheel

6. Inspecting the arm and the safety catches

7. Checking the clevis

8. Function test: sliding on the rope

9. Function test: locking and unlocking

10. Function test: locking function

Theres a little more than just "yanking down on it when its connected to a rope..."

Read the whole thing... It makes total sense... You are basically just checking each part... I don't know if I'd take out the screw from the clevis, each time... Maybe for the yearly inspection... (Just my personal opinion).

There's a separate form to check the energy absorber... So, that will need to be done as well.

Record the results on the form (PPE Checklist), also on the same site.

So, all those links do mean something... 

Okay, moving on...

There is also a part about:

-Before each use

and

-During use

------

To the right of this, is some more markings... UL Stamp and other stuff... We'll break that down later...

-----

We're at #4!

Okay, heres where the pictures start... 

Kind of like trying to figure out what hieroglyphics mean...

I've never been awesome at these, but sometimes get what they mean.

For this one, I'm gonna need some "AZIZ, LIGHT!"

Okay, so Compatibility...

So, it shows the ASAP and two ropes... (I think...)

Then, we have:

ASAP + String? + Energy Absorber + Carabiner + Rope...

Okay, that makes sense... Its like the chain of what you need to have it be compatible.  Or, I guess what works with what...

If you look at #4 in the reading part (Page 5), it talks more about this...

Don't know what RAY means for the rope... Let me get back to you on that.

*Update: So RAY is a kind of rope, I'm gathering... and this is making sense to #8 Clearance... The "E" stands for elongation.  Which the RAY rope has a lower elongation compared to AXIS rope.

#5 Working Principle

Okay, this makes about the most sense out of this document, so far...

#6 Installation and Function Test

I think when I got this, it was part of a kit... I don't remember having to take the screw out to install it, but it makes sense if you didn't get it pre-installed...

Phew... Theres a death symbol!  Very common sense, but I could see how this could happen.

Now, this is new to me... I don't know what a Nm is... But theres a 3 by it... 

*Update: So that stands for Newton Meter.    You can set a torque wrench to that spec.

This is where it said earlier you should thread lock that screw... You definetly don't want this falling out....

In a class the other day... They mentioned compatible carabiners with the energy absorber...

I thought I was all good, but turned out, I didn't have a CAPTIV... (got some coming in the mail).

So, the preparation part seems good... Hope they put thread lock on it...

Next, is installation... (On the rope).

The death symbol is this... If the yellow safety latches are still open, its no good...

Reading the part for #6, it says if it locks under suspension, it can't be unlocked... Thats where the "rig for lower" comes in... (Discussed in another post).

-----

Keepin' movin' ... #7

#7 - Precautions for use

More pictures... Makes sense if you look at them long enough... Whats the text say?

Okay, the picture and the text are hard to relate to one another...

It kind of says:

-Tie a knot in the end of the rope, or somewhere to prevent falling off...

-As you progress, check that the ASAP is following... don't go past the MAX. fall distance... (If you've seen the ascending videos... They have a frog method, where you go up two, then move your backup, go up two, then move your backup... This most likely so that your ASAP is not past your MAX. fall distance.

Lots of little tips in the text...

I like the part about using on an incline... It says to tie a knot, because it might not engage right away... This will help you from slamming into something you don't want to.

--------

#8 Clearance

Now, this was new to me during the Crane Rescue class...

Its kind of like, what is the clearance if you were to deck?

If you did fall... What do you need to know, so that you don't hit whatevers below you.  Theres a little more to take into account, than you'd think...

So, that brings up a thought... Maybe you do this as a Level 3...?

If you know there is a potential for a fall and something below that point that you don't want the person to hit... Should you tie some kind of stopper knot (alpine butterfly) into the rope at a point where "clearance" will be in the good range?

Theres videos on the site... (NEED TO PUT LINK IN HERE).

*Look at ASAP Lock Technical Tips

So, looking back on the picture part of #8... That would have made ZERO sense to me without the explanation from the class... I'll try to pick apart the pictures, but it looks pretty technical.

Don't know what the "E" stands for... But looks like it breaks it down into two scenarios... If you are above the device, and if you are below the device, then fall...

Then, of course, there are different styles of energy absorbers shown...

*Update: So turns out, the "E" must be elongation.  Oh, whoops, must be "elasticity."

Well, the plot thickens... Turns out that weird little velcro on the harness accomodates holding the ASAP energy abrosber above your arm.  I'll have to play around with it.

Still don't know what the 1,75 m + E means in the pictures...  Will take some research...

-------------------------------

What do we have left?

I'm just coming back to this post after a few days...

So, #9.

Cleaning...

Lets check page 5.

Seems pretty basic... I like the part about don't use a solvent... unless you use a brush.  Haha, yeah, yeah, yeah...

Moving on. #10

Additional Information.

a. Lifetime = Unlimited

b. Acceptable temps. 

c. Precautions for use

d. Cleaning

e. Drying

f. Storage

g. Maintenance

h. Modifications

i. FAQ / Contact

Then, on page 5, it talks about when to retire this piece of gear.  The 3 year warranty and traceability markings.