Inspection, maintenance & repairs for rope-based recreational facilities operated or built by any provider

The growing demand for expert services at existing ropes courses is a real indicator of the importance of annual facility maintenance. As well as offering our annual inspection service, we focus on providing personal support and quick, effective and efficient “in-house” solutions for all our clients’ individual concerns!

faszinatour Service PLUS

Every time we perform a faszinatour inspection, we do more than just check the current state of your facilities as prescribed by the standard. We are also happy to give you free advice on the kinds of repairs and maintenance you can expect in the future, how to increase the capacity of your facilities and clue you in on the ways in which you could optimize your operations and incorporate useful modifications or extensions.

When it comes to minor repairs, we will let you know how these can be carried out by your on-site technician. You can purchase any standard spare parts you might need from our inspection team on the spot.

Inspection according to the standard DIN EN 15567

We are constantly subject to quality controls and have a proven track record of delivering excellent results. Our partner Thomas Gradl is an IAPA CERT approved expert and a member of SISKA (Sicherheitskreis Seilkletteranlagen – an organization concerned with the safety of rope climbing facilities).

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Modification inspection according to DIN EN 15567 

The 2015 revision of the ropes course standard also included provisions regarding the approval procedure in the event of modifications to critical applications. We will be happy to perform a modification inspection in the event of changes to “critical applications” in your facilities.

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Inspection according to DIN EN 79161 (standard for playground inspection)

As one of the first verified “qualified playground inspectors” according to DIN 79161, we can also take care of inspecting your playground for you. We will be more than happy to give you an according quote.

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PPE inspection

According to the DIN EN 15567 standard, all PPE products and accompanying documentation must be inspected on an annual basis. So your company doesn’t have a PPE specialist yet? Don’t worry: our partner Thomas Gradl is on hand to visit your site and inspect your personal protective equipment for you, including all the necessary documentation.
Duration: depends on the type and volume of equipment to be inspected.
Price: approx. €20–25 plus VAT per set of equipment (belt, connecting elements, helmet) including documentation

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Smart Belay® partnership – master service

Our partner Thomas Gradl is a Smart Belay® – master service provider. Thanks to this cooperation, you can take advantage of the following customer services during the required maintenance and annual inspection of your equipment:

  • Smart Belay® – maintenance and inspection of defective individual pieces of equipment during the annual inspection of your facilities
  • Smart Belay® – maintenance and annual inspection of all equipment by arrangement

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Our quality promise

Inspectors should be able to produce a certificate attesting to their professional competence. Our inspection specialist Thomas Gradl is an IAPA-accredited expert.

All our inspectors are specialists who have been trained in the use of personal fall protection equipment according to BGG 906 and can provide extensive on-site advice regarding equipment.

Our employees are trained and have been certified by a wide range of associations, including FISAT, IRATA and the IFMGA, the international federation of mountain guide associations.

We are adequately insured for all our activities, as well as for inspection and training.

We give our customers detailed documentation that clearly describes everything we have inspected, right down to the individual components. Generalized, unreliable inspection reports aren’t our thing.

As part of your duty to exercise due care, YOU are responsible and liable for ensuring that the inspection is carried out properly and competently.

The main aim of inspections is to identify safety deficiencies and room for improvement. But what’s the point of all this if you don’t get sound advice on the subject of technical implementation or support during the modification processes taking place in your facilities?

We have carried out hundreds of inspections of all sorts of facilities, plus we have been involved in the exchange of expert information for years as part of various committees (such as the ERCA Expert Group for Training & Inspection, IAPA CERT, and at international level, the Committee for Standardization). Clearly, this incredible wealth of experience in the industry can only mean the very best for your ropes course.

Selection criteria for inspection bodies

1. Certification:

  • A distinction is made between “Type A” and “Type C” to describe the degree of independence of the inspection bodies and is by no means indicative of their respective inspection expertise.
  • Does the inspection body have the relevant training and certifications (e.g. from associations)?
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  • What lengths does the inspection body go to in order to stay on top of the latest developments (e.g. further training and participation in expert committees)?
  • What proof of certification and training can the inspection body produce (e.g. certificate, badge)?
  • Can the inspection body issue an “Inspection Certificate” – for example, from associations such as the ERCA/IAPA – to enhance the client’s public image?

2. Liability

Ultimately, the operator of the ropes course is responsible for ensuring that the inspections required according to the ropes course standard are carried out in the proper manner by a qualified person. Inspection bodies must be experts in the specific field covered by the inspection.

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According to the revised version of the standard, a functional test must be carried out at height by an inspector both for the inspection required before the site is operational and for periodical inspections. This means that inspections performed exclusively from ground level are no longer permissible.

3. Training of inspectors

According to DIN EN 17020 (“Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection”) the inspection body must define and keep a record of the kind of competence it requires from employees, including the requirements for education, training, technical expertise, skills and experience.

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The training procedure outlined in the documentation must include information regarding the introductory period, the period to be spent working under supervision with experienced inspectors and any forms of continuous training (e.g. wire ropes seminar regarding the revised version of the ropes course standard).

The inspection body must be knowledgeable about the kinds of technology used in the production process, including the way in which the products are used and the potential errors that can occur when using the product.

4. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

From now on, the inspection body must check whether a PPE report is available when carrying out periodical inspections. For that reason alone, the inspector should be an expert in personal fall protection equipment and be able to prove that this is the case.

 

5. Assessment

  • Is there only a mention of deficiencies in the report? Or are wear-intensive areas also noted?
  • Are defects and corrective action divided up into categories?
  • What deadline has been set for rectifying the problem areas?
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  • Is there any assessment of the kinds of issues to be anticipated in the future?
  • Is the inspection carried out exclusively according to part 1 of the ropes course standard, or do aspects of part 2 also play a part in the inspection?
  • Are the findings from the “visual routine inspections” and the “operational inspections” taken into account?

6. Documentation

  • Is a comparison made between the existing facilities and the plans and documentation available?
  • Is there a precise record of everything that has been inspected in the facility (e.g. steel ropes, end connections, platforms, signage and supporting structures)?
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  • Will there be a inspection report that clearly shows what issues are going to be rectified, the corrective action to be taken and the deadline for doing so? General statements along the lines of “there is a kink in the rope” are not very helpful in a park with over 70 elements.
  • Other general points that an inspection report must include are set out under section 7.1.5 of the ropes course standard. It is important to keep a log of any issues: All safety deficiencies identified must be rectified to the satisfaction of the inspection body before the ropes course can be used.
  • Details of anything that has been removed from the original area of application covered by the inspection.

7. Advice

  • Is there a detailed final discussion?
  • Are alternative courses of action indicated in order to minimize future wear and tear?
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  • Is attention drawn to any changes and developments in the industry that are relevant to the facilities in question?
  • Can the inspection body also provide advice and information about part 2 of the ropes course standard (“operational requirements”)?
  • If necessary, can advice be given on “referencing standards”, e.g. “end connections for wire ropes” or “playgrounds”?

8. Rope access

The inspection body or the inspector must be able to prove that they have undergone the necessary rope training to enable them to safely climb all the points to be inspected along a ropes course.

 

9. Expertise

It is difficult to assess the level of expertise within an inspection body. A great degree of experience is required in order to perform successful inspection, particularly for periodical inspections. Below are some of the decisions that influence the assessment of the inspection body’s expertise:

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  • Is the inspection body integrated into the industry?
  • What is the reputation of the inspection body?
  • What spectrum of experience does the inspection body have?
  • How many inspections does the inspection body conduct?
  • How much time does the inspection body spend on these inspections?
  • What information and documents is the inspection body able to provide before the inspection takes place?
  • What does the inspection report look like?

10. Insurance

The inspection body is under an obligation to provide adequate business insurance or professional liability experience.


Training for staff
Stay on top of all the latest developments in facility safety and safety technology with our faszinatour training courses, always with first-rate supporting documents.
Supplies & replacement parts
faszinatour is closely involved in the development of safety equipment. Benefit from our partnerships and our wealth of experience when you purchase your supplies.
Safety systems for recreational facilities
There can be no compromises when it comes to safety. That’s why choosing the right safety system is crucial for the success of your ropes course.

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