Climbing Wall Inspections

We provide a variety of inspection services for climbing walls and ropes courses.  Our inspection services primarily utilize the current standards as published by the ANSI Accredited Standards Developer the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), the Climbing Wall Association (CWA) and the ASTM International set of standards published by the F24 Amusement Ride and Devices Committee. 

The standards used to assess and inspect your climbing wall, gym or tower will be decided by: the design used for the sub-structure, the manufacturer of the wall and or components (brackets, pulleys, etc.); Federal, State, Provincial or Local Law or Codes and or type of operation (comercial, educationa, military, etc.). Below is a more complete list of the relevant standards, manuals and/or codes that may be referenced within your final report. 

• Challenge Course and Canopy Zip Line Tour Standards (Current Printed Edition); Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT)
• General Specification for the Design and Engineering of Artificial Climbing Structures (1^st Edition); Climbing Wall Association (CWA)
• Sourcebook for the Operation of Manufactured Climbing Walls (3^rd Edition ) Climbing Wall Association (CWA)
• Union Internationale Des Associations d’Alpinisme UIAA Equipment Safety Standards; Union International Des Association d’Alpinisme (UIAA)
• Safe Practices for Rope Access Work; Society for Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT)
• Fall Protection Code; Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components; ANSI /ASSE z359.1-2007; American National Standards Association (ANSI) and American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
• Standard Practice for Design and Manufacture of Patron Directed, Artificial Climbing Walls, Dry Slide, Coin Operated and Purposeful Water Immersion Amusement Rides and Devices and Air Supported Structures F-1159-03A; American Society of Testing and Materials International (ASTM)
• Current Manufacturers Printed or Posted Standard or Operating Instructions and Manuals:
• American Camp Association's Accreditation Process Guide (2007 Edition); American Camp Association (ACA)
• Manual of Accreditation Standards for Adventure Programs, Fifth Edition; Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
• 2010 National Standards for Project COPE Courses; Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
• EN 15567-1 Sports and recreational Facilities – Ropes Courses-Part 1: Construction and Safety Requirements; European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
• EN-15567-2 Sports and recreational Facilities – Ropes Courses – Part 2: Operational Requirements; European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
• Wire Rope Users Guide (4^th edition);Wire Rope Technical Board (WRTB)
• Wire Rope Inspection Guidelines (1^st Edition) ; Wire Rope Technical Board (WRTB)

• Artificial climbing structures and challenge courses - Fixed and mobile artificial climbing and abseiling walls; Australian Standard 2316.1-2009 

Our hands on inspection may include proof testing of welds, anchors or structural components, putting a torque wrench on crital bolts and terminations and or static or dynamic testing of belay anchors. The decision as to what test will be performed is done at teh discretion of ESI based on your location, presence or lack of engineering drawings, questionable materials or applications, and  local regulations of your wall if the state deems your structure an amusement ride.

View A Sample Inspection Report