CWI Climbing Wall Safety & Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum recommended diameter for a dynamic climbing rope used in indoor top-rope climbing?
- 7mm
- 9mm (Correct answer)
- 11mm
- 13mm
Correct answer: 9mm
A minimum 9mm diameter is generally recommended for indoor top-rope use to provide adequate durability and handling.
Question 2: A carabiner gate that opens inward toward the spine of the carabiner is described as:
- Straight gate
- Wire gate
- Bent gate (Correct answer)
- Reversed gate
Correct 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.
Question 3: During a pre-use inspection, an instructor notices a soft spot in the core of a climbing rope. The correct action is to:
- Mark the spot and continue using it for top-rope only
- Retire the rope immediately (Correct answer)
- Cut out the damaged section and use the remainder
- Reduce the rope's rated load and continue use
Correct answer: Retire the rope immediately
A soft spot indicates core damage, which compromises the rope's structural integrity and requires immediate retirement.
Question 4: What does the UIAA label on climbing equipment signify?
- The equipment is manufactured in the USA
- The equipment meets international mountaineering safety standards (Correct answer)
- The equipment has been tested by US climbing gyms
- The equipment is approved for commercial use only
Correct answer: The equipment meets international mountaineering safety standards
UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme) certification indicates the equipment meets internationally recognized safety standards.
Question 5: A quickdraw consists of two carabiners connected by:
- A short length of dynamic rope
- A sewn nylon or Dyneema dogbone sling (Correct answer)
- A steel cable rated to ANSI standards
- A locking carabiner with a sleeve
Correct 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.
Question 6: When inspecting harnesses, which condition would NOT necessarily require immediate retirement?
- Cut webbing on the belay loop
- Visible core damage to the belay loop
- Fading of color on the outer shell (Correct answer)
- Frayed stitching on a load-bearing tie-in point
Correct 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.
Question 7: The term 'fall factor' in climbing refers to:
- The probability of a climber falling based on their skill level
- The ratio of fall length to the length of rope in the system (Correct answer)
- The impact force measured in kilonewtons during a fall
- The angle of the climbing wall at the point of a fall
Correct 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.
CWI Climbing Wall Safety & Equipment 2
What is the minimum recommended diameter for a dynamic climbing rope used in indoor top-rope climbing?