Need To Know - Bouldering

Background information Bouldering – Climbing without belay

The item „bouldering“ comes from the american english and means „small rock“. Bouldering is climbing without belay, but only to height in which it is still safe to jump down. A bouldering wall therefore is a climbing wall without any form of belaying device. Climbing is done horizontically, parallel to the floor. The aim is to climb by only using a certain sequence of holds (marked by different colours), without touching the floor.

 

 

This special form of climbing is suited for all ages, from playschool children to adults, from beginner to advanced climber. Bouldering walls help to improve eye-hand-koordination, perception, sense of balance and certain climbing-moves and techniques.

 

 

 


In the meantime bouldering has become an independent competition discipline.
Not only classical movements and climbing techniques, but puzzling on complicated complex movement problems is the main idea of bouldering.


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The following aspects have to be taken in consideration when concepting a bouldering facility for public use or for school and club sport (Germany):

  • For school sport purposes, stairs shouldn’t be higher than 2m above ground. This means the highest hold on a bouldering wall should not be higher than 3m.
  • Bouldering walls should be built in a way that it is not possible to climb over the top.
  • Bouldering walls shouldn’t be located in highly frequented passage ways or in small lounges.
  • The floor in front of the wall should be even and free of any obstructions.
  • The hight of the stairs affects the requirements for the texture of the floor in front of the wall:
    • height of stairs < 0,60 m: subsurface without cushioning effect (e.g. tarmac, stone)
    • height of stairs > 0,60 m to < 1,50 m: unattached subsurface (e.g. gras)
    • height of stairs > 1,50 m to < 2,00 m: shock-absorbing (e.g. sand, gravel, synthetic material)
  • The size of the area in front of the wall must be ut least 2 m to the back and to the edgeway
  • No electrical wires or similar must be within reach of the bouldering wall to prevent the misuse of holding on to them.
  •  An inspection of the bouldering wall must be undertaken regularly (holds, stairs, floor in front of the wall)


Bouldering walls in commercial climbing halls can be varied accordingly to the announced target group. Size and structure of the bouldering wall still should harmonise with the concept of the whole climbing facility.

Basically the same aspects as for the public bouldering walls (noted above) have to taken under consideration. In addition other general regulations can be arranged with the respective insurance. Wall heights of 4 to 4.5 meters are realisable!

For the assembly of bouldering walls, climbing holds can be either adjusted directly on to a suitable wall, or a panel system is installed, on which climbing holds can be fixed flexibly and easily.

Ask us. We make a conception together with you for your needs fitted bouldering wall!
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