Being able to control your speed and stop as required while descending the ropes is a core technique you’ll use nearly every day as a rope tech. All levels are required to demonstrate competence while completing this rope maneuver. We know that wording is a little vague, so let’s get into what ‘demonstrating competence’ actually means.
On your IRATA assessment day, while performing this rope maneuver your assessor will be watching that you:
Something else to keep in mind, is the weather. Rain and other harsh weather conditions could have an impact on your descent by affecting the properties of the ropes in your system. We’ll go into further detail on this during your training week.
In summary, the main things your assessor will be watching for are that you correctly attach the descending device and back up to the rope system, that your descent is controlled, and that your backup is correctly managed.
Demonstrating Competence of Descending Using an Ascending Device
It is also possible to descend the rope system on an ascending device while in suspension. This maneuver uses a very specific re-positioning technique that is only used for very short descents (generally no more than a few meters), and is done without ever removing the ascending device from the rope system.
To demonstrate competence with this maneuver, follow through on all of the points listed above, and also make sure that the ascending device is never removed from the ropes during the entirety of the maneuver. That’s it for this one.
Additional resources to check out
ICOP Part 3, Annex K – Typical method of descending and ascending using IRATA International rope access.
TACS 6.6.3 and 6.6.6. for the source material for this blog.
This is part of an ongoing series, where we’re breaking down IRATA’s syllabus and clarifying exactly what ‘demonstrating competence’ and ‘demonstrating awareness’ means, and what will be expected of you on assessment day. To access the IRATA study guides, click below: