Ropes Course Inspections

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Experiential Systems as an ISO 9001 Certified Company provides annual ropes course inspection services for indoor and outdoor ropes courses, challenge courses, zip lines, canopy tours, adventure parks, obstacle courses, ninja courses, playgrounds, tree-houses, climbing walls and climbing towers an dis certified against all relevant industry standards to offer such services.  

The annual inspection entails a hands-on inspection of all low and high challenge course elements/components installed. This includes but is not limited to an inspection of the following:

• Trees – If trees are used in the construction of your course ESI will note tree size and species, look for damage caused by insects and weather and check for dead fall, and work with certified arborists.
• Utility Poles– If utility poles are used in the construction of the course, they will be inspected for appropriate classification, size, age and damage caused by animals and/or weather.
• Structures – If building or structures are used in the design of your course, ESI will inspect the connections to the structure, monitor for metal fatigue, inspect for broken or cracked welds, etc.
• Wire Rope – All wire rope used for belay lines, zip lines, guy lines and foot lines will be inspected for appropriate terminations, proper drape, tension, defects and rusting.
• Ropes – All ropes will be inspected for appropriate use, storage and record keeping.
• Bolts – If through bolts are used in the design of your course, all bolts will be inspected for wear, rusting and growth into trees.
• Lumber – All lumber will be inspected for aging and protruding nails or screws. Additionally all lumber used for structural elements like a platform will be inspected for proper attachment technique.
• Programming Equipment – All programming equipment will be inspected for age, wear, and storage and to ensure that proper retirement schedules are kept.
• Training Manuals and Policies – ESI will inspect all training and policy manuals as they relate to the maintenance, use, facilitation, training and record keeping of the high and low ropes course.

Upon Completion of the inspection a verbal report will be provided before leaving the site and a written report will be mailed in most cases within 10 days of the inspection. Both the verbal and written report will use one of three findings to respond to each element of your challenge course. 

The scope of the inspection service outlined above is limited to a visual and tactile inspection of the challenge course structures, systems and components that are readily accessible to the inspector(s). The inspection will be performed in accordance with the relevant standards and practices (ACCT, ASTM, BSA, CWA, PRCA, ISO, etc.) for challenge course inspections (other standards available). The scope of the inspection is limited to the items listed within the inspection report as seen and evaluated on the date of the inspection. The inspection and report are but a snapshot of the course as it was seen during a specific moment in time, and it is beyond the scope of an inspection or the associated report to attest to any future usability or condition of an entire course, system or component(s) that may be subject to environmental damage, normal wear and tear, abnormal or unauthorized use,  intentional or accidental modification by others, or are simply inaccessible to the inspector without altering or modifying a component, system or subsystem. The inspector is a challenge course generalist and is not acting as an licensed engineer or expert in any other specific craft or trade. If the inspector recommends that the Client consult with specialized experts (ex. arborist, engineer, etc., or conduct any maintenance, repairs, replacement or testing the Client must do so at the Clients expense 

NOT INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF INSPECTION SERVICES

Any area which is not exposed to view, is concealed, or is generally inaccessible because of soil, walls, fixed of immovable barriers, high tensions, general lack of access, or any other activity, system or component that is not included in the inspection report.  The inspection does not include any destructive testing or dismantling of components or systems. Client agrees to assume all risks for any and all conditions which are concealed from view at the time of the inspection.  The inspection is not a challenge course warranty, guarantee, or insurance policy. Some specific items not included in the scope of  inspection services include, but  are not limited to: Soil or geological inspection; arboricultural inspection; building code or zoning ordinance violations; engineering analysis of any system; efficiency of any installed components or systems; or mold, fungi, pests, termites, or other wood destroying organisms 

Additional Services

In addition to general inspection services ESI is able to provide testing and maintenance services, and schedule any additional consultants to be present at the time of your inspection for an additional fee, and advance notice of these requirements. If your organization is interested in or requires any of these services, please read more about them below.

Maintenance Services

Sometimes minor repairs are necessary in order to keep a challenge course in passing condition. If Client chooses, Experiential Systems can provide some simple repairs at the time of inspection if we have the available time and materials. Scheduling this in advance, if known can save time and effort and could make the difference in an element being usable or not usable for your program between the time that an inspection is done and the repairs can be accomplished.  Unfortunately, major repairs will not be able to be addressed during inspections typically due to lack of time, labor and materials,  unless previously arranged, scheduled and contracted.

Common Minor Repairs May Include (if time and material allows):

• Adding staples or steps to gain access to something that needs to be inspected.
• Loosening or replacing tight backup cables on courses in trees
• Replacing overgrown cables
• Retrofitting a backup system
• Replacing missing serving sleeves
• Replacing rusted belay cables, cable clamps or rapid links
• Adding missing cable clamps, or adjusting improperly installed clamps
• Tightening guy lines or tension cables
• Adjusting zip line tensions

Common Major Repairs Include: 

• Replacing belay cables
• Replacing zip line cables
• Installing utility poles
• Replacing platforms
• Replacing or installing guy anchors
• Installing a new element

Testing Services

Some installations, manufacturers, organizations and Jurisdictions Having Authority (JHA) may also require testing of systems or components periodically. If your organization believes it will require any testing services, please notify us in advance of the inspection so that we can plan for the proper time and resources to complete the requested testing services, and provide your organization a proper quote for those services. All testing services are in addition to standard inspection services and fees. 

Some of the testing services we provide include:

• Speed Testing
• Drop Testing
• Proof Testing
• Break Testing
• Anchor Testing

Consultancy Services

If desired ESI can provide consultancy with industry experts in conjunction with your inspection. These third-party professional consultations can be coordinated to occur simultaneously to the on-site inspection if required and pre-arranged in advance of the inspection. 

Some Consultancy Services we Provide Include:

• Licensed Arborists
• Tree Removal or Pruning
• Structural Engineering Analysis or Consulting
• Architectural Analysis or Consulting
• Mechanical Analysis of Dynamic Components or Systems
• Soils or Geotechnical Analysis
• Surveying or Civil Engineering Consulting
• Legal Analysis or Consulting
• Insurance Analysis or Consulting
• State or Jurisdictional Inspections or Reviews

Required Documentation (Needs To Be Verified At Time Of Inspection):
ESI  generally performs inspections to the ANSI/ACCT and ISO 17020 standards, and depending on the structures installed and/or your jurisdiction we may also inspect to other standards such as The Climbing Wall Association (CWA); The Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA); and ASTM Amusement and/or playground standards. These standards require in addition to inspecting certain structures, that we also make sure certain documentation, policies and/or manuals are in place and being followed. A Pre-Inspection checklist is attached, and while most items should be familiar or clear, please feel free to reach out with any questions. Your inspector will not be reading every one of these documents, but will need to at least briefly review them. You can put them in a file share service ahead of time (drop box, google docs, etc.) and send your inspector access, they can review physical documents on site, or they can review documents on a computer on site as well. Expect this process to take approximately 1-2 hours the first time through, and 20-30 minutes in subsequent years. 

 
Programming Equipment:
All pieces of relevant equipment should be made available for inspection. This would include any life supporting gear or equipment used by staff for operations, but not tools and equipment used solely for maintenance purposes. Based on the age, condition, and type of equipment, the inspector may or may not inspect each piece of gear individually. Equipment should be clean and well organized for the inspection. Visibly soiled or tangled equipment will not be inspected. 

As much as possible, similar types of equipment should be grouped together and laid out indoors in easy view & access. Folding tables, benches, or even a clean patch of the floor can work well for this purpose.

This is a great time to update (or start!) an equipment inventory spreadsheet for your purposes. Equipment inspection can take from 30 minutes for a small course and up to 4 hours or more for a large site with equipment for 100+ participants. Your assistance with this part of the inspection process helps us to keep your costs low by allowing for inspector efficiency.

Specialty Devices:
If your course uses any manufactured belay or brake devices, please check to see that they have been sent in for their annual service and returned to the course before the inspection date. Your inspector may be able to assist with their removal or installation, but this will be an additional charge and needs to be discussed ahead of time. You should compile a document with serial numbers and dates of service for each device, especially if the devices are hard to reach to verify their data on the course. Examples of this type of devices would include Headrush True Blues and Zipstops, Perfect Descent belay devices, DEUS rope lowering systems, Hackwell Zipkea's, hydraulic belay cylinders, etc.

Course Inspection
Staffing & Element Operation
Your inspector will need at least one staff person to be on site in case of emergency. If possible, this should be a person knowledgeable with course operations and maintenance. Zipline tour inspections work best with at least 2 staff so that the inspector can watch both the sending and receiving ends of the lines, along with riding the lines. When possible, staff should be prepared to operate elements so the inspector can watch at least one operational cycle (e.g.: giant swing by choice) Staff should have radios, phones, or otherwise be able to communicate readily if needed.
Transportation
If your course is spread over a large area, your inspector may appreciate being able to drive their car, golf cart, ATV, UTV, etc. as appropriate. 

Access Methods
The inspector will attempt to access all parts of the course at height to inspect all components and anchorages. Please insure any needed doors are unlocked and ladders or other entry methods are available. Access by rope ascending or other methods of high physical exertion are discouraged when possible to insure the inspector can maintain focus and safety for the duration of the inspection. Belay by trained staff members may be an option for course access at the discretion of the inspector. Access by scissor or boom lift is at the discretion of the inspector depending on the condition of the equipment and ability of the inspector or staff to safely operate the equipment. Indoor inspection areas should be well lit, or adequate lighting should be arranged- inspectors may or may not have a headlamp or penlight.

Maintenance
Your inspector may choose to perform limited minor maintenance as part of the inspection at their discretion. (Tightening bolts, hammering in nails, etc.) If time and needed materials allow, larger maintenance projects up to $500 can be automatically added at your request to your invoice based on your existing contract. Projects outside this scope will need a new contract and may or may not be able to be completed on the same visit. Note that some jurisdictions do not allow for maintenance to be performed by the inspection company. ESI recognizes the potential for, and strives to avoid, conflict of interest with regards to maintenance during inspection and will never require you to use our services to complete any repair. 

Additional Notes
Your inspector is a generalist and while trained and/or certified to do such, there are some things that may require additional sets of eyes or inspection. Examples include: Courses built in trees require an annual arborist inspection, and older utility poles may require a third party pole certification.  Additionally, our inspection is limited to what we can see, and touch and does not include inspection of any hidden elements.

CONTACT US TODAY TO BOOK AN INSPECTION! 877-206-8967