Understanding the IRATA Syllabus: Knots and Rope Handling

Knots are integral to rope access work, and have a wide variety of uses. Even though sewn terminations are now available it’s a skill that will never become obsolete. It’s an important one. Among other things, knots give techs a lot of flexibility when rigging ropes to anchors, and can help reduce impact loads in the case of a fall.

Rope handling is another basic and core technique. Coiling and bagging can prevent tangles from being created in the rope system, and can also be used to help transport equipment while in suspension.

During your IRATA Assessment, all levels will be asked to demonstrate competence carrying out basic rope handling skills (such as coiling and bagging), as well as with tying, dressing, and setting the following knots:

1. Figure-of-eight on a bight

2. Double figure-of-eight on a bight (‘bunny’ knot)

3. Figure-of-nine on a bight

4. Alpine butterfly

5. Scaffold or ‘barrel’ knot

6. Stopper knot

(This list represent IRATA’s minimum requirement for the knots a L1 tech should know. There’s quite a few more knots to learn as you progress in your rope access career, and although L1 techs can only use the above 6 knots, we believe more knowledge is always better. Some additional knots you’ll be learning include___).

L2 and L3 certifying techs will also be asked to demonstrate competence with the choking of ropes and slings, and with tying, dressing, and setting appropriate rope joining knots. To save time, the ‘Knots and Rope Handling’ unit will likely be blended with another portion of your assessment (like rigging). You are free to use a knot that’s not listed as part of the 6 above, when appropriate.

On Assessment day, your IRATA assessor will be watching to make sure that you:

• Tie, dress, and set the above knots correctly.
• Are able to identify the knots you’re using by name.
• Are aware of the main applications, strengths, and limitations of each knot or rope handling technique.
• Can rethread appropriate knots.

We’ll go into further detail on all of the above (this is definitely more hands-on learning material) during your training week.

Additional resources to check out:

TACS 6.4.3 for the source material for this blog.

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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: