Static Ropes Static ropes are not to be used for technical climbing. They are designed for rescue work and rappeling. They have no appreciable stretch and would cause serious injury or death if they were employed to catch a leader fall. EMS sells only U.I.A.A. certified ropes. A single strand of a half rope or a twin rope should never be used alone, as total rope failure could occur.
Any rope can fail if it has been damaged, or if it is cut over an edge.
Rope damage can be caused by many factors, including, but not limited to, chemical contamination, dirt, exposure to heat, exposure to ultra-violet radiation and improper storage. It is up to each climber to make constant inspections of his or her rope to insure it is undamaged. Proper storage of your rope will prolong its life as well as yours. An accurate rope log can be of tremendous use when assessing the life of your rope. Modern ropes are far superior to their predecessors, but if they are used improperly, they can fail.