Inspection and retirement
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.
