AusLeisure

Standards Australia has advised that its standard for artificial climbing structures has been revised, with the new AS 2316.1 series providing greater detail for the safety requirements and test methods for artificial climbing walls and challenge courses.

The revision separates the original standard into three parts, covering belayed climbing and abseiling structures, bouldering structures, and climbing holds

Once a niche activity, sport climbing in Australia is growing fast in popularity, spanning from professional indoor and outdoor climbers to corporate team building days.

With its inclusion in the Olympic Games, sport climbing is now a highly diverse community of people looking for a fun and exciting hobby.

Technical Committee SF-047, Artificial Climbing Structures, has recently revised AS 2316.1:2009, Artificial climbing structures and challenge courses - fixed and mobile artificial climbing and abseiling walls, and has released three standards in its place which better articulate test methods for artificial climbing walls, non-belayed climbing walls and climbing holds to provide guidance to designers, manufacturers and facility operators to avoid injuries to climbers.

The primary aim of the Committee was to refine wording and include further detail so that the standards can cover any questions manufacturers or operators may have without being misinterpreted.

Introducing the revisions, David Eager, Professor of Risk Management and Injury Prevention at the University of Technology Sydney, and Committee Chair of SF-047, Artificial Climbing Structures, stated “the original standard was published at a time when there had been a number of serious accidents. Since the publication of this standard the number of serious accidents has dropped significantly. This is strong evidence of one of the net benefits to Australia of the artificial climbing structures standard.

“Working with professional engineers, regulators, facility operators and community stakeholders allowed us to separate the standard into three parts, and in doing so, include more detail to specifically set out a minimum safety requirement for climbers, boulderers, belayers and abseilers when using an artificial structure, of all skill levels.”

AS 2316.1.1 and AS 2316.1.2 are revisions of the former standard and have been separated to specifically cover belayed and non-belayed structures, while AS 2316.1.3 is an identical adoption of European Standard EN 12572-3:2017 which covers climbing holds. The identical adoption of the European Standard for climbing holds allows Australia to capitalise on the research and testing that has already been completed in Europe.  

A key change to part two of the standard series covering bouldering includes a hybrid test method for how bouldering wall impact attenuating mats are tested. With extensive testing already having been completed in Europe, the committee went one step further, factoring in a minimum height of fall, with additional tests on mats to be performed annually.

Roland Terry-Lloyd, Head of Standards Development at Standards Australia, added “with interest in climbing, bouldering and abseiling on the rise in Australia, the AS 2316.1 series of standards shows how experts and stakeholders can work together to create positive change for the climbing industry, providing the guidance needed to assist in building and operating artificial climbing structures.

“This includes looking to international examples to learn and build from and adopt if the benefit for Australians can be seen.”

The recently published standards are:

• AS 2316.1.1, Artificial climbing structures and challenge courses, Part 1.1: Safety requirements and test methods for belayed climbing and abseiling structures
• AS 2316.1.2, Artificial climbing structures and challenge courses, Part 1.2: Safety requirements and test methods for bouldering structures
• AS 2316.1.3, Artificial climbing structures and challenge courses, Part 1.3: Safety requirements and test methods for climbing holds

Related Articles

11th August 2021 - Increased climbing access could enable more New Zealanders to enjoy the Olympic sport

10th April 2021 - Walltopia announces new equipment lease financing program

8th April 2021 - Clip ‘n climb launches its Champion’s series

18th March 2021 - New Sunshine Coast bouldering gym welcomes all levels of climbers

8th March 2021 - Second edition of Adventure Travel Guide Standards published

8th February 2021 - Standards Australia adopts amendments to AS 4685 Playground equipment and surfacing

12th January 2021 - Sportscover partners with Sport Climbing Australia to offer insurance for climbers

2nd December 2020 - Speed climbing wall brings benefits to Bay of Plenty

19th August 2020 - ISO advises of update to adventure tourism standards

17th March 2020 - New national outdoor standards will support Queensland’s adventure tourism sector

12th March 2020 - New national guidelines for guided outdoor adventure activities

7th January 2020 - World’s tallest indoor climbing wall opens in Abu Dhabi

13th November 2019 - Sydney venues host Australian National Climbing Championships

24th August 2019 - Global Climbing Day to be celebrated in climbing gyms across New Zealand

15th August 2019 - Indoor climbing supplier marks 10 years of operations

26th March 2019 - Climb Fit Kirrawee a community hub for climbing and fitness

10th December 2018 - Australian shopping centres Climbing New Heights

30th October 2018 - Standards Australia releases new international guidance on risk management

18th May 2018 - Record entries participate at Australian Youth Sport Climbing Championships

1st May 2018 - New Perth bouldering facility owner predicts rock climbing about to break into mainstream

16th April 2018 - Indoor bouldering innovation caters for all levels of climber

24th February 2018 - Research suggests bouldering can help combat mental health issues

28th May 2017 - Rock climbing adapts to growing popularity in advance of Tokyo Olympics

2nd May 2017 - World’s biggest rock climbing wall manufacturer gains a hold in Australia

4th April 2017 - Southern hemisphere’s largest bouldering gym opens in Sydney

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.