Certified and Tested Ropes for Ascenders

[PassionForTrees]

Im starting to get into the SRT world, for access into those certain trees. I am hearing all sorts of different conflicting answers like yeah it's ok to use ascenders on your Vortex climbing line and your Blues Streak climbing line, Ive been doing it for a long time and I have no problems. Then you talk to someone else and they say NO their not rated for that if you ever sustained a fall it would tear through and your going DOWN! So a back up w prusik. Ive also heard that you should back up with another ascender cam type not a prusik. Then Ive heard the testing that was done they never dressed the prusik so it slipped and didnt hold during testing. uhgggg! So I was just directed to a climbing line supposedly certified for both ascenders and knot climbing. why waste the $$ to just climb up and only access but then have to use a different rope all the time. The rope is callsed TECH11 from Sterling. Anyone have knowledge on what should be certified for mechanical and knots, CE , EN NFTA?? ive seen a few but now I need more knowledge! please help Knowledge is SAFETY! Rich

 

[bootboy]

I believe that New England says you can use their Fly ropes for both. That's from the manufacturer. It's what I climb on and I think it's an outstanding rope. It's worked well for me using both hardware and hitches.

Some people tend to run their mouths about safety a whole lot more than they actually know or understand. Their way or the hi way. They learn or hear it one way and that's the end-all be-all for them, and they can't even tell you why. You can use 2 mech ascenders with no issue. If you sustain a fall that is significant enough to compromise the rope on your way up, your doing something wrong already.

Check the websites of the various manufacturers, you may even have to make a few phone calls but I'm sure the info is out there. Good luck.

 

[imagineero]

The carry on is about most climbing ropes being double braid - the load being sharef by the sheath and core, whereas kernmantle (what is generally used with the ascender) is a rope where the sheath is mainly for protection and most of the load is carried by the core. Theoretically if you were to damage the sheath on a tree rope then the rope could brake.

The nitty gritty of it, is that plenty of tree ropes are suitable for SRT. So long as they are not too large (11.7~12.5mm is a good size) and have a tight weave on the sheath (think 16 or 24 strand rather than 12) you'll be fine. A rope with less stretch is preferred, and be aware that ascenders are not designed to be shock loaded - so never climb above your TIP. A fall from above shock loading an ascender can easily cause the rope or ascender to fail. For what it's worth, most prusiks fail at a higher load than most ascenders, even if the load is applied gradually. When prusiks fail, they tend to fail more gracefully also.


Poison Ivy/Poison HiVee/Blue moon is a good all purpose rope for SRT and DdRT.

Shaun

 

[PassionForTrees]

After some more research im finding that there isnt a so called Certified standard for rope use with ascenders?? Kind of blows my mind, it's like WY NOT weve been using them for quite a while now, there should be rated / tested approved ropes for ascender use, not just what the manufacturer says, I mean significant testing to be certified for the use. I was understanding a bit now of the Ansi standard and the CE standard which are similar but CE is sometimes a more strict standard from England and sometimes less. CE ropes in England need to be retired after 1 year from purchase. So Wow that's premature in most cases if you care for your gear, but at least there is a standard. But from my snooping around a bit, there is nothing yet on Ascenders / Ropes just manufacturers recommendations. So I was told about a rope from Sterling called the TECH11 and went with a 200 footer. says it can be used for both hardware and hitches.

 

[gorman]

If you are using it for ascent then you should have it backed up anyway. Either with a prussik above the device or with a hitch on your bridge or chest.
If it slips you'll have something there anyway to grab you. I can't see anyone shootin up the tree on just an ascender.
I have a kong toothed ascender and in seven years has never failed.