Terms and Conditions

BMC participation statement
“The BMC recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions.”

Climbing in its simplest form is movement at height; therefore there is a risk of a fall from a height. Any fall may result in injury despite the safety systems in place to avoid it. You must make your own assessment of the risks whenever you climb.

Our Duty of Care- The rules laid out by the climbing centre are not intended to limit users enjoyment; they are part of a duty of care that ROF 59, as operators, owe to you, the customer, by law. As such, the rules are non negotiable and if users are not prepared to abide by them then staff may ask offending users to leave.

Users Duty of Care – Users have a duty of care to act responsibly towards the other users of the centre, follow best practise and abide by the rules set out by the centre and instructors. Users have a duty to use accepted methods of use of equipment and climbing areas.

Unsupervised Climbing – Before any user can use the roped climbing areas without supervision the centre expects them to be competent in the use of a climbing harness, a suitable knot to attach the rope to the harness and a belay device to secure a falling climber or lower a climber from the wall using a rope.
Before a user can use the bouldering walls without supervision, users must be aware of the rules of bouldering and know how to use the bouldering walls safely. Any user that is not competent to climb unsupervised must be supervised by a competent person.

Supervised Climbing – An adult who has registered at the centre may supervise up to two novice climbers, as long as they are prepared to take full responsibility for the safety of the novice climbers. Groups of three or more novices must only be supervised by an instructor holding qualifications and insurance approved by the centre. All children in the centre must be supervised by an adult.

Children – (Under 16’s) All Children in the centre must be supervised by an adult or under the instruction of a trained climbing instructor, Unless they have been assessed by the centre and registered for unsupervised climbing.

RULES

General Safety

• Report to reception on each visit before you climb.
• You must exercise care, common sense and self preservation at all times.
• Report any problems with the walls, equipment or other’s behaviour to a member of staff immediately.
• Be aware of other climbers around you and how your actions will affect them.
• Do not distract people while they are climbers or belaying.
• Stand back from the climbing walls unless you are belaying or spotting a climber.
• Never stand directly underneath someone who is climbing
• Please make yourself aware of the location of emergency exits and the assembly point in the car park.
• Jewellery should be removed or made safe due to risk of injury or loss.
• Climbers take responsibility for any personal equipment.
• All equipment should be used within manufacturers guidelines.
• No running in the climbing area.
• Users are advised loose clothing may become caught or damaged while climbing

Bouldering

• Whenever possible down climb, if this is not possible use a controlled fall.
• It is the climbers responsibility you ensure they can climb down or land safely.
• Never climb directly above or below another climber.
• Always remove all equipment from harnesses before entering the bouldering area.
• No topping out
• Remove anything from pockets
• Always be aware of other climbers around you.
• We would prefer people to keep their shirts on

Auto Belays

• If you are uncertain about the auto belays in anyway, or have never used one before, pleases ask a member of staff for assistance prior to using it.
• Descend in a controlled manor when using the auto belays, landing as close to the start point as possible.
• Ensure the karabiner is properly closed before starting to climb.

Bottom Rope Climbing

• Solo climbing is not permitted on any walls.
• Always use a climbing harness to attach yourself to the rope.
• Always tie the rope directly into the harness using a figure of 8 knot with a stopper or a bowline with a stopper.
• Clipping in with a karabiner is only permitted on the Auto-belay or if authorised by a staff member.
• Ropes should not be removed unless the climber can replace it.
• Ropes should not be moved from one wall to another.

Belaying

• A locking karabiner and manufactured belay device must be used for belaying. Traditional or body belaying is not acceptable.
• The sand bags provided are for support to the belayer and are not to be used to belay directly from.
• Belayers are responsible for the climbers safety so must pay attention to the climber.
• Belayers must stand whilst belaying.

Lead Climbing

• Climbers should only participate in lead climbing if trained or under supervision of a competent person.
• When using lead walls, you must supply or rent your own appropriate dynamic rope.
• Where ROF 59 Climbing Centre Equipment is already in place it is to be used and not replaced for personal equipment.
• Climbers take responsibility for using their own equipment to lead climb.
• Clips are only to be used with engineered anchor points.
• Climbers must not skip clips.
• All clips must be clipped in order.
• Both snap gate and screw gate must be attached at the top of a climb.