Inspección y retirada
Regular inspection and retiring your rope in time are the foundation of safety. We'll tell you when to inspect your rope and how long to keep using it.
A damaged rope that should have been retired can cause an accident — and the manufacturer isn't liable for it. Regular inspection after every day of climbing is the foundation of safety.
Navaž se! 4 — How to shorten a rope and when to replace it
When and how to inspect your rope?
Inspect your rope visually and by feel:
- after every day of climbing,
- after every serious fall,
- after every mountaineering activity where you use crampons and an ice axe.
Professional inspection: If you use dynamic ropes for construction work at height or in rescue, you must have the rope inspected at least every twelve months by a person authorised by the manufacturer.
When should you retire a rope?
Don't keep using a damaged rope that should have been retired. Mark or destroy a retired rope so that it can't be used again.
The manufacturer is not liable for an accident caused by using a damaged rope that should have been retired. A retired rope must be marked or destroyed so that it can't be used again.
What affects a rope's lifespan?
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Rappelling and lowering. They reduce the rope's dynamic performance and shrink its safety margin.
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Abrasion. It gradually weakens the integrity of the sheath — you'll recognise it by visible fuzzy fibres. It reduces the rope's load-bearing capacity and its protective effect.
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Dirt. Particles of rock and slate act like abrasive sand, especially during repeated rappelling.
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Dynamic loading. It reduces the rope's ability to absorb impact energy; this depends on how hard the fall is and on the fall factor.
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External factors. Intense UV radiation and harsh climatic conditions.
How long can you use a rope?
Recommended service life of dynamic ropes by intensity of use:
- Intensive daily use — less than 1 year
- Regular weekend use (year-round) — 1–2 years
- Regular weekend use (seasonal) — 2–3 years
- Occasional use — 3–5 years
- Sporadic use — 5–7 years
- Unused rope — 5–10 years
With proper handling, an undamaged sheath and only falls with a fall factor below 0.5, long-term use of the rope does not pose a safety risk.
