Climbing Wall Safety & Equipment Flashcards

What is the minimum recommended diameter for a dynamic climbing rope used in indoor top-rope climbing?

Answer: 9mm

A minimum 9mm diameter is generally recommended for indoor top-rope use to provide adequate durability and handling.

A carabiner gate that opens inward toward the spine of the carabiner is described as:

Answer: Bent gate

A bent gate carabiner has an inward-curving gate designed to make clipping ropes easier, commonly used on the rope-end bolt.

During a pre-use inspection, an instructor notices a soft spot in the core of a climbing rope. The correct action is to:

Answer: Retire the rope immediately

A soft spot indicates core damage, which compromises the rope's structural integrity and requires immediate retirement.

What does the UIAA label on climbing equipment signify?

Answer: The equipment meets international mountaineering safety standards

UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme) certification indicates the equipment meets internationally recognized safety standards.

A quickdraw consists of two carabiners connected by:

Answer: A sewn nylon or Dyneema dogbone sling

Quickdraws use a sewn dogbone sling (typically nylon or Dyneema) to connect two non-locking carabiners for clipping bolts.

When inspecting harnesses, which condition would NOT necessarily require immediate retirement?

Answer: Fading of color on the outer shell

Color fading from UV exposure or washing is a cosmetic issue and does not alone indicate structural compromise, though the harness should still be inspected thoroughly.

The term 'fall factor' in climbing refers to:

Answer: The ratio of fall length to the length of rope in the system

Fall factor is calculated by dividing the distance fallen by the total rope length out, with a maximum value of 2.