A number of important announcements were made at the UIAA Safety Commission meeting held in Chamonix, France in April. This included the approval of two new Standards: UIAA 110 Static Ropes and UIAA 171 Via Ferrara Construction (further details coming soon) as well as the validation of a new UIAA testing laboratory and the first one in North America – ACT Labs. Another important milestone was the latest revision, version 5, of one of the UIAA’s most important standards – UIAA 123 Rock Anchors.
In recent years, the UIAA has dedicated significant investment, some 200,000 euros and counting, and resources to research related to rock anchors and bolts. Initially, this centred around the subject of corrosion and stress corrosion cracking failure. A significant milestone was reached when the updated UIAA Rock Anchors Standard was released in 2020. However, work in this field remains significant. While new products – certified to Standard 123 – are now available on the Market, the challenge is ensuring both bolters and climbers are aware of the issues related to corrosion and the importance of using certified products. A dedicated website page pools together resources on the subject including important information for climbers and bolters.
What is new in Version 5?
Version 5 is a major revision, introducing key safety concepts for fabrication that UIAA SafeCom project leads Fred Campos (CMBE, Brazil) and Per Forsberg (SKF, Sweden) developed with the support of a Working Group.
- Improved design and layout– easier navigation, clickable links, and a new Scope
- New foreword– rewritten to clearly explain the background, intent, and scope of this major revision.
- New terms and definitions– plus improved acronyms for easier reading and reference.
- Consolidated corrosion classes– maintained from v4, but reaffirmed as a cornerstone for safety: long-term durability cannot rely on material choice alone.
- Stronger welding rules– quality requirements aligned with ISO 3834, ensuring welds are documented, certified, and resistant to hidden defects, with a new dedicated Annex.
- Better material traceability– defined levels of assurance, from supplier declarations up to certified composition reports, balancing safety and cost, with a new dedicated Annex.
- Quality Management System requirement– manufacturers must provide an Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) confirming an ISO 9001–compliant system, supported by a valid certificate.
- Consistent language and structure– harmonized with other UIAA standards for clarity.
- Improved installation guidance– updated instructions for glued-in and torque-controlled anchors.
This video, produced at the 2025 UIAA Safety Commission meeting in Chamonix, offers an overview of the work of SafeCom, the Safety Standards approved in 2025 and the Standards for which revisions have been made.
Further Resources
Download version 5 here.
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