On Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:02:13 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

With climbing rope you should remember that it is designed to save you
in a fall but it will only do this once. As the energy absorbed it
damages the rope and the rope gets longer. The rope will have its
length marked at the ends. measure it and check the length matches
the labels. if it has been stretched then bin it.

There are two types of climbing rope IIUC - static and dynamic. The
former does not stretch and is designed for belaying etc but not
designed for fall arrest.

We used polypropylene ropes for caving as they don't stretch much and they
float. IIRC they came from a hauliers' merchant, were 11mm and had a rating
of about 300 - 350kg. No good for climbing but OK where there's little or no
shock loading.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway