TECHNote™

ROPE CARE

WARNING – Improper care and use of your rope can result in serious injury or death.  Never use any rope for something other than its intended use.

Inspect your rope regularly.  It is important to inspect your rope before and after each use.  The rope should be thoroughly inspected visually and manually (with bare hands) along every inch of its length.  It is the USER’S RESPONSIBILITY to know the history of his/her rope and to make the decision as to when the rope should be retired.  The manufacturer cannot guarantee the specifications of a used rope.

Sheath Damage – Take special care to protect your rope from abrasion.  Sheath damage is the most common cause of early rope retirement.  This damage occurs most often when your rope comes into contact with rough or sharp edges on the rock, the inside edges of carabiners gates, or any other similar hazard.  Remember, a rope under tension is more susceptible to damage than one that is not.

Accidental Dynamic Loading – Although Blue Water low elongation rope is designed to help absorb the energy of an accidental dynamic loading, care must be taken to avoid this loading.  If an accidental dynamic loading does occur, retire your rope!!

Always use proper rappelling and belaying techniques.  Fast rappels, bounding or swinging, running rope over a sharp edge, etc. are all things that can potentially damage your rope.  Any belay or rappel device that puts sharp bends in a rope will contribute to the potential abrasion of your rope.  Some belay / rappel devices will abrade a rope more quickly than others.  The sharper the bend, the faster a rope will wear.

Fast rappels create excessive heat from friction that your rappel device cannot always dissipate.  This heat will melt the nylon on the surface of the sheath causing a “glazing” effect, dramatically shortening the life of your rope.  Always take care to rappel and lower loads slowly and in control.

Avoid stepping on your rope.  Besides the potential of cutting, stepping on your rope will grind dirt into the core and increase the possibility of internal abrasion.

Chemicals – Protect your rope from exposure to harsh chemicals.  Do not allow your rope to come in contact with any compounds containing acids or alkalis, oxidizing agents or bleaching compounds.  Be especially careful to avoid contact with battery acid or acid fumes.

To help protect your rope from coming into contact with chemicals, always store and transport your rope bag.

Testing shows that the materials used in BlueWater NFPA Life Safety ropes are NOT appreciably affected by salt water, acetone, benzene, chloroform, Freon, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, mineral oil, paints, and pine oil.

Open Flames and High Temperatures.  Do not expose the rope to flame or high temperatures as it will melt or burn.  Carry and store the rope so it is protected from flame and high temperatures. 

Keep your rope clean.  Dirt will shorten the life of your rope by increasing internal and external abrasion.  Wash your rope occasionally in cold water with small amounts of mild soap only.  Make sure to rinse thoroughly.  Fabric softener may be used to give better flexibility and a softer hand to the rope.  DO NOT USE BLEACH OR BLEACH SUBSTITUTES.  Your rope should always be air dried away from direct sunlight – DO NOT DRY ROPE IN A DRYER.

Text courtesy of Blue Water Ropes & Equipment

TECHNote™

ROPE CARE

WARNING – Improper care and use of your rope can result in serious injury or death.  Never use any rope for something other than its intended use.

Inspect your rope regularly.  It is important to inspect your rope before and after each use.  The rope should be thoroughly inspected visually and manually (with bare hands) along every inch of its length.  It is the USER’S RESPONSIBILITY to know the history of his/her rope and to make the decision as to when the rope should be retired.  The manufacturer cannot guarantee the specifications of a used rope.

Sheath Damage – Take special care to protect your rope from abrasion.  Sheath damage is the most common cause of early rope retirement.  This damage occurs most often when your rope comes into contact with rough or sharp edges on the rock, the inside edges of carabiners gates, or any other similar hazard.  Remember, a rope under tension is more susceptible to damage than one that is not.

Accidental Dynamic Loading – Although Blue Water low elongation rope is designed to help absorb the energy of an accidental dynamic loading, care must be taken to avoid this loading.  If an accidental dynamic loading does occur, retire your rope!!

Always use proper rappelling and belaying techniques.  Fast rappels, bounding or swinging, running rope over a sharp edge, etc. are all things that can potentially damage your rope.  Any belay or rappel device that puts sharp bends in a rope will contribute to the potential abrasion of your rope.  Some belay / rappel devices will abrade a rope more quickly than others.  The sharper the bend, the faster a rope will wear.

Fast rappels create excessive heat from friction that your rappel device cannot always dissipate.  This heat will melt the nylon on the surface of the sheath causing a “glazing” effect, dramatically shortening the life of your rope.  Always take care to rappel and lower loads slowly and in control.

Avoid stepping on your rope.  Besides the potential of cutting, stepping on your rope will grind dirt into the core and increase the possibility of internal abrasion.

Chemicals – Protect your rope from exposure to harsh chemicals.  Do not allow your rope to come in contact with any compounds containing acids or alkalis, oxidizing agents or bleaching compounds.  Be especially careful to avoid contact with battery acid or acid fumes.

To help protect your rope from coming into contact with chemicals, always store and transport your rope bag.

Testing shows that the materials used in BlueWater NFPA Life Safety ropes are NOT appreciably affected by salt water, acetone, benzene, chloroform, Freon, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, mineral oil, paints, and pine oil.

Open Flames and High Temperatures.  Do not expose the rope to flame or high temperatures as it will melt or burn.  Carry and store the rope so it is protected from flame and high temperatures. 

Keep your rope clean.  Dirt will shorten the life of your rope by increasing internal and external abrasion.  Wash your rope occasionally in cold water with small amounts of mild soap only.  Make sure to rinse thoroughly.  Fabric softener may be used to give better flexibility and a softer hand to the rope.  DO NOT USE BLEACH OR BLEACH SUBSTITUTES.  Your rope should always be air dried away from direct sunlight – DO NOT DRY ROPE IN A DRYER.

Text courtesy of Blue Water Ropes & Equipment

TECHNote™

ROPE CARE

WARNING – Improper care and use of your rope can result in serious injury or death.  Never use any rope for something other than its intended use.

Inspect your rope regularly.  It is important to inspect your rope before and after each use.  The rope should be thoroughly inspected visually and manually (with bare hands) along every inch of its length.  It is the USER’S RESPONSIBILITY to know the history of his/her rope and to make the decision as to when the rope should be retired.  The manufacturer cannot guarantee the specifications of a used rope.

Sheath Damage – Take special care to protect your rope from abrasion.  Sheath damage is the most common cause of early rope retirement.  This damage occurs most often when your rope comes into contact with rough or sharp edges on the rock, the inside edges of carabiners gates, or any other similar hazard.  Remember, a rope under tension is more susceptible to damage than one that is not.

Accidental Dynamic Loading – Although Blue Water low elongation rope is designed to help absorb the energy of an accidental dynamic loading, care must be taken to avoid this loading.  If an accidental dynamic loading does occur, retire your rope!!

Always use proper rappelling and belaying techniques.  Fast rappels, bounding or swinging, running rope over a sharp edge, etc. are all things that can potentially damage your rope.  Any belay or rappel device that puts sharp bends in a rope will contribute to the potential abrasion of your rope.  Some belay / rappel devices will abrade a rope more quickly than others.  The sharper the bend, the faster a rope will wear.

Fast rappels create excessive heat from friction that your rappel device cannot always dissipate.  This heat will melt the nylon on the surface of the sheath causing a “glazing” effect, dramatically shortening the life of your rope.  Always take care to rappel and lower loads slowly and in control.

Avoid stepping on your rope.  Besides the potential of cutting, stepping on your rope will grind dirt into the core and increase the possibility of internal abrasion.

Chemicals – Protect your rope from exposure to harsh chemicals.  Do not allow your rope to come in contact with any compounds containing acids or alkalis, oxidizing agents or bleaching compounds.  Be especially careful to avoid contact with battery acid or acid fumes.

To help protect your rope from coming into contact with chemicals, always store and transport your rope bag.

Testing shows that the materials used in BlueWater NFPA Life Safety ropes are NOT appreciably affected by salt water, acetone, benzene, chloroform, Freon, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, mineral oil, paints, and pine oil.

Open Flames and High Temperatures.  Do not expose the rope to flame or high temperatures as it will melt or burn.  Carry and store the rope so it is protected from flame and high temperatures. 

Keep your rope clean.  Dirt will shorten the life of your rope by increasing internal and external abrasion.  Wash your rope occasionally in cold water with small amounts of mild soap only.  Make sure to rinse thoroughly.  Fabric softener may be used to give better flexibility and a softer hand to the rope.  DO NOT USE BLEACH OR BLEACH SUBSTITUTES.  Your rope should always be air dried away from direct sunlight – DO NOT DRY ROPE IN A DRYER.

Text courtesy of Blue Water Ropes & Equipment