Guidance for Climbers & Supervising Adults

What is the ABC Accreditation Programme?

The ABC Accreditation Programme is a new initiative from the Association of British Climbing Walls (ABC) designed to ensure high standards across indoor climbing walls in England and Wales. Our goal is for all climbers, from beginners to advanced, to have access to well-managed and well-maintained facilities where they can enjoy the brilliant activity of climbing.

You can be reassured that an ABC Accredited climbing wall will have undergone evaluation across key areas of operations including safety procedures, staff training, equipment maintenance, safeguarding and the overall climbing environment.

The ABC Accreditation is a mark of excellence that helps climbers identify venues where they can enjoy the sport confidently.

For a climbing wall to be Accredited, it must demonstrate that it has:

• Comprehensive Safety Procedures: including regular inspections of climbing surfaces and equipment, emergency procedures, and clear safety instructions for climbers.
• Qualified and Experienced Staff: properly trained, knowledgeable, and able to provide guidance and support to climbers of all levels.
• Well-Maintained Equipment: equipment, including ropes, harnesses, and belay devices, must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure it is in safe working order.
• Positive Climbing Environment: the facility should promote a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, encouraging safe climbing practices and respect among all users.

What areas of a walls operations are covered by the Accreditation Programme

The ABC Accreditation Programme focuses on assessing an operator’s management of common climbing-related activities. This includes bouldering, top-roping, lead climbing, and the use of auto-belays and training boards. These are the core climbing activities typically offered by indoor climbing walls, and the programme ensures that the facility has effective systems in place to manage them professionally.

The programme does not cover other forms of climbing which are less common in indoor climbing centres, such as high ropes courses, multipitch climbing and outdoor climbing.

Additionally, it does not extend to other areas of a business’s operations, such as a shop, cafés, or other leisure facilities within the venue. This means that while an ABC Accredited wall can give you confidence in the quality of the climbing experience, it does not serve as an endorsement of non-climbing-related services.

Does Accreditation mean climbing is safe?

Climbing is an exciting and rewarding sport that offers both physical and mental challenges. However, like any sport, it carries some inherent risks, and while the Accreditation Programme aims to promote high standards, it cannot remove these risks, only assess that appropriate steps have been taken by climbing wall operators to minimise them, where possible.

Please remember that as a climber you also play a role in promoting and maintaining safety. Always follow the guidelines and instructions provided by the facility, use the equipment correctly, be aware of your own limits, and report concerns to appropriate staff members. By doing so, you help to make climbing safer and help to create an enjoyable climbing experience for yourself and others.