Climbing Wall Safety Code

Responsibility of Climbers

All open climbing times are unsupervised. All users must accept full personal responsibility for climbing within the limits of their own capabilities and knowledge.

All users must have and display the appropriate wristband.

The Outdoor Centre reserves the right to ask users to re-take the belay test, suspend or remove access to the facility if a user is observed violating any of these safety points or behaving in a way that puts themselves and/or others at risk of injury.


General

• Access to the climbing wall is through the climbing office on the basement level (KNB80). The steel ladders may only be used in an emergency. 

• No bouldering is permitted in the climbing wall. 

• Personal climbing equipment must be in good condition and meet current UIAA standards.

• The instruction of belay and technical skills by non-staff is prohibited. Climbing wall users are highly encouraged to seek qualified instruction to learn any new skills.

• Please keep your shoes and shirts on.

• Any injuries, incidents, or equipment issues must be reported to the Outdoor Centre staff immediately.

• The Outdoor Centre is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

• All non-climbing visitors must check in with the Outdoor Centre Manager and complete Visitor Health and Safety Orientation.

Climbing Classroom (KNB80)

• The climbing classroom (KNB80) is the main access point and emergency exit for the main floor of the climbing gym.

• Do not change in this room.

• Keep hallway door shut at all times.

• There must be a clear path between doorways at all times. Please report any conditions that could obstruct movement through this room to Outdoor Centre staff immediately. 

Upper Deck

• Upper deck is a restricted zone.

• Anyone climbing the ladders to the upper deck must be a member of the Outdoor Centre climbing staff or under instruction by an ACMG Guide.

• No person under the age of 18 is to climbing the ladders unless authorized by the Outdoor Centre Manager.

• Any person in the red perimeter zone must be secured to an anchor.

Top Rope Climbing

• All users must have passed a belay test.

• Users are responsible for continuing to perform belay skills to the standard at which they were tested.

• To avoid the possibility of serious injury, do not top rope beside
a lead climber.

Lead Climbing and Advanced Techniques

• All users must have passed a lead belay test.

• It is the climber’s responsibility to ensure they have sought qualified instruction before attempting these types of lead and other advanced climbing techniques 

• Do not lead climb beside a top rope climber.

• Semi-static ropes are for top rope climbing only. Lead ropes are available on request, but users must provide their own draws.

• Lead climbing may only be done on walls with provided bolts.
The use of longer slings may be required on some bolt lines.

Youth Climbing

• 4–6 years: A parent or legal guardian must sign a youth consent form and the child must have direct supervision at all times while climbing (adult must have current climbing card). The use of a body harness is encouraged for youth 6 years old and younger. 

• 7–13 years: Youth 7 and older are permitted to belay. A parent or legal guardian must sign a youth consent form and the child must have direct supervision while climbing and belaying (adult must have current climbing belay test).

• 14–17 years: Youth 14–17 are permitted to use the climbing room without adult supervision after successfully completing the orientation and belay test. A parent or legal guardian must sign a youth consent form and be present when the youth completes the orientation and belay test.