In reply to hsv:
> (In reply to jayjackson)
I agree there is a lot of knowledge out there on UKC - was just trying to be helpful by suggesting other places I would look for information too.
I would also visit lots of other venues - pick the brains of other Technical Advisors for their thoughts on this - I'm sure you could find walls that you are not directly competing with for custom would be more than happy to share thoughts on this. Are there any climbing qualifications for Tech Advisors that may supplement your Civil & Structural Engineer expereince?
re - belay standing
Would have thought the increased difficulty in locking off belay plates, reduced ability to give a dynamic belay were equally important reasons to belay from standing - just seemed odd this was the only reason given.
re - clipping both krabs/one krab on shared lead top rope lines.
"Manufacturers specify this! Unfortunately some climbing walls are oblivious to this and tell you to clip in to both karabiners. -rtfm.
> Hangfast have just replaced damaged belay chains because people have done this. -got photos."
Did not know this, something I will look into. Could you post the photos?
I always thought the issue was clipping into a krab where the moving lead rope was against the stationary toprope (possible friction issue) and irritation when pulling the lead rope brings the toprope down with it.
re spinning holds etc
Reads to me that the bolt hangers should not be relied upon - maybe just the way I'm reading it - fully agree that holds cannot be totally relied upon.
re - practice falling
Seems a strange rule for insitu topropes - surely correct belaying would mean that repeated falling on topropes would cause very little injury or damage to equipment? Clip drop practice obviously a different matter - but assuming this not what you mean since you state "using the ropes" to mean the wall's top ropes.
>
...hmmm, have just written the above and now had to google "-rtfm".
You ask on a public forum for opinion, you seem to discount or ignore any opinions that don't agree with your own. I offer some thoughts and query some parts of your guidelines that seem odd (I guess I should have put in further explanations as to why I found them so, my appologies) and you can't keep the responce civil.
Was just trying to highlight that the belay plate ban is at odds with the general practice of UK walls; some of your guidelines also seem to be, not at odds, but a maybe a little different to many other UK walls - I guess I was just trying to make the point that you could look into the indoor wall industry as well - there's lots of knowledge out there that may be of use to your wall (if you listen to it, rather than just discounting any evidence that disproves your hypothesis of course).