Climbing Wall Rules of Use

Where used throughout this form, the term "climbing" also refers to bouldering and other related activities.

General:

• You must report to reception and sign in on each visit to the centre.
• You must exercise care and common sense at all times.
• You must report any problems witth the equipment or walls (or other users behaviour) to a member of staff ASAP.
• You must stand well back from the walls when not climbing, unless you are spotting or belaying a climber.
• You must be aware of other climbers around you and how your actions may affect them.
• You should not distract people when climbing or belaying.
• Additional care should be taken when climbing above large volumes.

Top Roping:

• Many of the climbs in the centre have top ropes already in-situ. You must not take them down to use on other routes.

Lead Climbing:

• When using the lead walls, you must supply your own appropriate dynamic rope.
• Centre top ropes should not be used for lead climbing.
• You must clip onto all runners on the route you are climbing.

Climbing:

• Solo climbing is not acceptable in the main climbing arena.
• You must always use a harness to attach yourself to a rope.
• you must always tie the rope directly into the harness using a suitable climbing knot.
• Clipping onto a rope with a karabiner is not acceptable at the Adur Centre.

Belaying:

• You must always use a belay device attached to your harness with a locking karabiner. "Body belaying" is not acceptable at the Adur Centre.
• Floor attachment points are only provided to give support to belayers who are belaying heavier people.
• You must always pay attention to the actions of the climber.
• You must always stand as close to the wall as is practicable.
• Sitting or lying down whilst belaying is not acceptable.

Bouldering:

• You must never climb directly above or below another climber.
• You must always climb within your capabilities.
• You should not jump down onto the mats.

Autobelays:

• If using autobelays (mobile wall only), users must follow the instructions provided.

Our Duty of Care:

Our rules are not intended to limit your enjoyment of the Adur Centre. They are part of our duty of care that we owe to you by law. As such they are non-negotiable and if you are not prepared to abide by them, you will be asked to leave the premises.

Your Duty of Care:

You also have a duty of care to act responsibly towards other users of the centre. Statements of good practice are posted around the centre. These describe the accepted methods of use and how users of the centre would normally be expected to behave.

Unsupervised Climbing:

Before you are allowed to climb with ropes (without supervision), the Adur Centre expects you to be competent in the use of a safety harness, a suitable knot(s) and belay device. If you are competent in the use of this equipment, you will be registered to climb & boulder unsupervised. If you are not confident in the use of any wall, equipment or technique then do not attempt to use them, without the supervision of someone who is competent to do so.

Unsupervised Bouldering:

If you are not able to climb with ropes but are competent to boulder, you will be registered at the Adur Centre to boulder only. You will only be allowed to use the bouldering facilities and may not use the roped walls either as a climber or belayer. If you do climb with ropes and someone is injured as a result, it is you and not the Adur Centre who will be held legally liable. If competent to do so, you may request to change your registration to allow you to use the roped walls unsupervised at any time.

Novice:

Anyone who has not registered for unsupervised climbing and/or bouldering will be classified as a novice and not allowed to climb at the centre without supervision.

Personal Property:

The Adur Centre accepts no responsibility for any loss /damage to customers personal property whether in lockers or not. This also applies to customers cars.

Children:

All children in the Adur Centre (even when not climbing) must be supervised by an adult (with the exception of experienced children who have passed an unsupervised access test). Children on the ground are at particular risk of being seriously injured by falling climbers. Please advice a member of staff if you think children are not properly supervised.

Fitness:

If you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition that could make it more likely to be involved in an accident, please talk to our staff in confidence.