The Importance of Ropes in Climbing:

     Along with carabiners, ropes also are a key part to climbing and vary in different physical aspects depending on the type of climb being approached. These physical differences are everywhere from rope length to the stretchiness of the rope.

Rope Construction and Intended Use:

    Since there are different types of climbing, there are different types of rope. With each type of climb being done, there comes many factors to consider when obtaining the right rope. Any rope that is sold from a licensed dealer is inspected by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA). Some of the more important and prevalent factors tested by the UIAA include, but are not limited to: dynamic and static elongation of the rope, the impact force rating of the rope, and the number of falls the rope can withstand before failing.

Factors explained:

• If the climber faces an increased fall factor (like lead climbing), then the rope should be constructed with more dynamic elongation so the rope absorbs a higher percentage of the force due to impact when the climber does fall. The UIAA rates this based on the amount of stretch in the rope after the first test fall they conduct.
  
• If the climber is attempting a top rope climb or hauling gear, the preferred rope should have more static elongation to it so there is less bounce in the rope. The UIAA rates this based on the amount of stretch in the rope when they attach a 176-lb. weight to the end of the rope.
  
• The impact force rating of the rope is how much force a falling object exerts on the rope. The smaller the impact force rating, the less impact that is exerted on the climber and the belayer which extends the life of the rope and ensures a safer ascent. This is the amount of force in kiloNewtons that is exerted on the rope when the UIAA performs a fall test with an object at the end of the rope.
  
• The UIAA performs fall tests on each rope. These fall tests are done using much more force than what the typical climber would exert during a climb. This ensures that the number of falls the rope is able to withstand before failing is greater than what the rope is rated for. 
  

How the UIAA evaluates energy absorbtion in a rope:
     Integrated from time zero to the moment when the rope begins to stretch: