CLIMBING ROPES

The use of climbing ropes has inherent safety risks which are subject to highly variable conditions and which may change over time. Climbing ropes secure personal life and warrant thorough inspection. As a general practice, climbing rope should be inspected prior to use. Compliance with guidelines of Miami Cordage does not guarantee safe use under all circumstances, and Miami Cordage disclaims any responsibility for accidents which may occur. If the user has any questions or uncertainties about the proper use of rope or safety practices, please contact Miami Cordage or a professional engineer.

In certain applications and conditions, rope may degrade. Those applications and conditions include, but are not limited to, extreme temperature, heat, humidity, friction, contamination by foreign substances, misuse, being left outdoors in the elements, UV damage, use over time.

Manilla climbing ropes are made from natural fiber and are more prone to degradation when stored and/or used outside. When not in use, we recommend storing manila climbing ropes indoors in a clean and dry area.

Direct sunlight may cause the strands of manila rope to degrade, weaken and break. Discoloration and broken strands may be observed. Sunlight degradation can also occur in PolyDac climbing ropes and will cause brittle and weak outer rope strands. UV degradation is difficult to inspect visually. In some cases, discoloration and brittleness in the filaments may be observed. When broken stand(s) are observed, it is recommended that use of the climbing rope cease immediately and the rope discarded.

Climbing ropes must be anchored to a smooth, round surface. Failure to do so may result in the rope becoming frayed and/or torn, that can be extremely dangerous to the user. If you are anchoring the rope to a non-round surface, we recommend the use of a short length of chain and carabiner to secure the climbing rope.

Damage can occur at splices or underneath the chafe gear. This area should always be examined closely. Examine chafe protection gear for signs of wear. If possible, examine under the chafe protection gear for rope abrasion, flatness, unevenness or hardening. If unevenness is felt, this may be an indication that there is damage to one or more strands of the rope. If the eye splice is damaged or strands are broken, it is recommended that use of the climbing rope cease immediately and the rope discarded.

A visual inspection should be performed along the entire length of the rope for detectable damage and deterioration.

If inspection reveals broken strands, it is recommended to remove the climbing rope from service immediately. If the rope is contaminated with oil or chemical products, use of the climbing rope should cease immediately and the rope discarded unless it can be confirmed that this contamination is not detrimental to the specific rope material.