The UIAA began creating safety standards in 1960 with the testing of ropes. It has since developed standards for over twenty types of safety equipment, including helmets, harnesses and crampons.
The UIAA collaborates with CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, for the harmonization of standards. In some cases, the UIAA asks for additional tests making the standard stricter than the CEN. Thus, the UIAA standards may differ slightly from CEN standards.
UIAA Safety Standards are regularly revised and updated by the UIAA Safety Commission to ensure they meet ever-changing nature and demands of the market and climbing and mountaineering world. The Commission constantly reviews mountaineering and climbing accidents to determine if the standards are at a high enough level. Standards are not only revised, brand new standards are frequently introduced.
Download all UIAA Safety Standards (.zip) – Coming Soon
The UIAA Safety Commission, through DAV Safety Research, has again received information about a broken chain link from a FIXE belay anchor. As a consequence, the UIAA Safety Commission now recommends replacing all FIXE chains made from INOX. They can...
Jean-Franck Charlet was recently recognised for his outstanding thirty-five years of commitment to the UIAA. Charlet joined the federation in 1983, served as Safety Commission Vice President under Pit Schubert for seven years and then became Commissi...
The latest article in the UIAA Summer Skills series focuses on spacing between climbers. Characteristics of the terrain, the conditions for progression and the experience of the members of the party will determine how they rope up. Wide spacing Advan...
EAWS (European Avalanche Warning Services) have introduced a standard for typical avalanche problems and changed the names of avalanche sizes and the wording of the European avalanche danger scale. Full details can be found here. Please also find a...
To ensure the highest standards for safety equipment are in place, the Commission constantly reviews mountaineering and climbing accidents to determine if the standards are at a high enough level. The Commission also accredits the laboratories which test the equipment and shares regular advice to climbers and mountaineers advice how to treat their equipment, and how best to use it to avoid accidents.
Safety label holders are also represented within the Commission as trade members.
Amit CHOWDHURY, (President), India (IMF)
Lionel KIENER, (Vice President) Switzerland (SAC)
Vittorio BEDOGNI, Italy (CAI)
Kevin BROWN, Canada (ACC)
Per FORSBERG, Sweden (SCF)
Rob FOSTER, UK (BMC)
Alan JARVIS, South Africa (MCSA)
Alexis MALLON, France (FFCAM)
Alexandre VELHINHO, Portugal (FPME)
Peter MUIR