Rope is an indispensable attribute in rock climbing, mountaineering, high-altitude work, speleology, arboretics, rescue and military operations, sailing, etc. Everything related to height is somehow connected with the use of a rope.
There are many types of ropes. Depending on the scope of their application and the characteristics required to perform the assigned tasks, the ropes differ in diameter, degree of stretching, breaking load, surface treatment of the braid and core, material, weaving technology.
We will single out several main types of ropes presented by our company under the Tendon, Singing Rock, Black Diamond brands:
Dynamic ropes - with a high degree of stretching. They are used in rock climbing and mountaineering for the organization of athlete insurance. They are used both on climbing stands and in the mountains. When the rope breaks, it stretches, cushioning the fall and distributing the load from the jerk along the entire length, thereby reducing the load on the safety equipment. The stretch of a dynamic rope varies from 20% to 35% of its length. In this way, it is possible to avoid serious injuries from a jerk when a rock climber falls or breaks.
Dynamic ropes can be treated with various impregnations to protect against water and abrasive microparticles. This treatment is necessary when used outdoors, where there is a high probability of getting wet from rain or snow. The diameters of the dynamic ropes are from 7.0 mm to 11.5 mm.
Static ropes - with a low degree of stretching. They are used under constant, static load, without jerks and disruptions. First of all, they are intended for industrial mountaineering, rescue work, arboriculture (crowned trees), speleology and canyoning, sports tourism. The diameter of the static ropes used in these activities is from 8 mm to 12 mm. Diameters of 14 and 16 mm are less often used for special work.
In the main mass, ropes with a diameter of 10-11 mm are used, they meet 90% of the requirements for performing any tasks. They are elastic, easily knotted and have a breaking load of 2300-3100 kg, depending on the manufacturer, the class of weaving of the braid threads, the structure of the core, and the materials used in the shell and core.
A distinctive feature of the ropes of European manufacturers from Ukrainian is:
- used materials and their initial chemical treatment
- after long-term use do not have significant linear deformation (compression or as they say "drying")
- remain elastic after prolonged use
- have ultrasonic sealing of the ends
- twist less when using trigger friction devices due to core weaving structures (ratio of threads with left-handed and right-handed weaving)
The construction of the rope has a braid and a multi-core core. Depending on the weaving, material and impregnation, it has a different degree of resistance to abrasion, ingress of abrasive particles and moisture. The most common material for making a static rope is polyamide.
Ropes with a diameter of 2 mm to 8 mm are used as auxiliary ropes and are called ropes. Such ropes cannot be used for belaying a person, organizing traffic, guardrails, crossings, lifting heavy loads, etc., as they have a minimum safety margin.
They are used for lifting tools, hanging equipment and other auxiliary work where large breaking loads are not required.
Service life of static rope:
- If the manufacturer's requirements are met, storage - up to 10 years
- when used - from 1 to 7 years, depending on the intensity of use and damage.
- mandatory regular visual inspection before starting work for abrasions, damage to the braid or core
All static ropes used for height and rescue work are certified and have test protocols.
Lanex yacht ropes are used as auxiliary ropes in sailing, windsurfing, yachts, and shipbuilding. They are made of polypropylene, aramid and other special materials.
These ropes have minimal or zero linear stretching, do not absorb water, and are resistant to ultraviolet rays.
Specialized ropes of different diameters are used for various elements of mooring or running rigging.
A special place in this large list is occupied by special ropes for rescuers, military targets with additional metal braiding, firefighters (aramid ropes do not burn), ropes for evacuation from helicopters.
We will tell you more about ropes in the blog section. Useful articles about how to properly care for and operate a particular rope, subtleties of production, how to choose the right rope for your tasks, hoist systems and features of working with climbing equipment, and a lot of everything that we have collected over more than twenty years of experience.
We are a team of professional climbers, yachtsmen with extensive experience working as industrial climbers and mountain rescuers.
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