Testing / Standards For Dynamic Ropes
UIAA 101 is the standard to which all dynamic ropes are tested. There are five areas of testing;
Construction, Sheath Slippage, Static Elongation, Impact Force on first fall, and Number of falls
held. UIAA breaks up dynamic ropes into three categories; Single Ropes, Twin Ropes and Half
Ropes.
Single Ropes: One rope used independently and clipped into every piece of protection.
Mainly found in diameters from 9.5mm to 11mm.
Twin Ropes: Two ropes used in tandem where each rope must be clipped into every protection
similarly to single ropes. These are generally smaller diameters from 7.5mm to 8.5mm. They
have the added safety factor of a two-rope system and can be useful when doing long rappels
Half Ropes: Two ropes used together, clipped through gear individually. Generally smaller
diameters from 8mm to 9mm, this system reduces rope drag, allows for longer rappels, offers better
safety for the “second” and greater versatility in the field.
The basics of UIAA 101 testing requirements:
Construction: Kernmantle with core having a greater mass than the sheath
Sheath Slippage: Must be less than 20mm over a 200mm sample or no more than 10%
Static Elongation: Tested using an 80kg weight for single and twin ropes and a 55kg weight for
half ropes
Single and Twin Ropes (using both strands): Must be less than 8%.
Half Ropes: Must be less than 10%
Impact Force: Tested during the first factor 1.739 fall (4meter fall on 2.3meters of rope).
Single Ropes: Impact must be less 12 kilonewtons (kN) using an 80kilogram mass.
Twin Ropes: Same as Single ropes, but using both strands during the test.
Half Ropes: Impact must be less than 8kN, tested using a 55 kilogram mass.
Falls Held: Number of falls rope holds before breaking.
Single Ropes: Must hold 5 falls of an 80kg mass.
Twin: Must hold 12 falls of an 80kg mass.
Half: Must hold 5 falls of a 55kg mass.