Types of Wall
Inside or Outside we can custom build you any type of Climbing Wall from low level unroped traverse climbing walls to full size roped walls and abseil towers.
TRAVERSE WALLS
This is the type of wall where climbers travel horizontally along a wall in either direction, staying only a short distance from the ground. There is no complicated fall protection required supervision or qualifications required to operate them. They are low cost and easy to fit, remove and change. They are as effective for training and learning to climb as full size walls, because with no time lost to tying knots and ensuring safety at height, climbers can climb almost continually.
FREE STANDING TRAVERSE WALLS
We build superb traverse walls that can go anywhere on a concreted or tarred area in a playground where a suitable building wall does not exist due to windows or possible damage to listed property. These freestanding pillars or ‘A’ Frame walls are simple to fit and are identical to conventional Traverse walls except that you can climb right around them without having to step off them and return to the start.
FALL SURFACES - new for 2008
Due to a high demand for some kind of impact absorbing surface for added protection we are very pleased to be able to offer a rubber crumb fall surface option on all our installations. On most of our walls it is not a legal requirement (according to ROSPA, as long as the feet are no higher than 600mm from ground level) but we can now lay these surfaces for added ‘peace of mind’.
This exciting step has also enabled us to design new versions of our Freestanding Traverse Walls with holds now able to be fitted to any point of the panels, giving much more diverse routes and greater choice of hold placement.
The surfaces can be laid in either black or coloured crumb (coloured is more expensive). The surface can also be laid to three depths to give three levels of impact absorption – 20mm, 50mm & 80mm. On all our walls we will lay this surface half a metre beyond the wall length and one and a half metres back from the wall. We have expertise to lay these surfaces within Extreme Dream Ltd so there is no third-party contractor.
We can also offer laying of fall surfaces in other areas of your playground – just contact us for a separate quote.
BOULDERING WALLS
These are similar to Traverse walls in that no ropes are required. However, because of the shape of the structures either free standing or attached to walls having slight overhangs or roofs and being higher with the possibility of being a body height above the ground then fall protection of either matting inside or a soft impact surface such as bark or sprung rubber outside.
CLIMBING WALLS
With the advent of Special Belaying and fall protection devices at the top of climbs, climbing walls can now easily be installed into schools without the need for extra staff qualifications, but with some easy site specific training which we can provide. These devices allow the climber to simply ‘clip and climb’ with the fall protection covered by yearly maintained machines. They are suitable for walls of any height and shape. These walls include a variety of climbs dictated by coloured holds where the climber ascends upwards away from the floor.
Climbing Walls can be easily fitted directly to Gymnasium walls either on Plywood Panelling on steel or wood or fitted directly onto a suitable surface if it exists (see types of wall below for suitable surfaces). They are superb as they give the adventurous ‘exposure’ element and a ‘fear’ factor from being off the ground requiring commitment and courage to reach the top, ultimately developing a higher level of self confidence and achievement that the other walls due to height lack.
CHOOSING AND BUILDING
We can provide guidance and consultancy from start to finish of your project. We deliver a fantastic, long lasting and educational product no matter what you choose. The only limits are your budget and space available which we can advise on and build the best possible climbing wall to suit your needs.
ROSPA Recommendations
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents provides recommendations and information for the construction, installation and usage of Playground Equipment. Below you will find their sheet referring to Fall Surfaces in full.
ROSPA Fall Surface Information Sheet 23 
Rospa Sheet 23 Key Points
- It is not a legal requirement to have fall surface protection under Play Equipment
- However Rospa and other organisations strongly recommend its use for safety.
- They recommend that Under 600mm on new equipment this need not be a protective surface, but should have some attenuation.
- They then go on to say that surfacing is only of limited significance to accidents and its provision should be viewed in perspective.
Traverse Climbing Walls from a Technical Experts opinion
The following information is given in perspective of the activity of Traverse Climbing and the health and safety recommendations made in their safe use from Extreme Dream. Traverse Climbing Walls are different from Playground Adventure Activity Equipment provision because of the way they are constructed and used.
- Climbers face into the wall and therefore always have a supportive surface in front of them including many hand holds.
- Children cannot fall through, round or over the wall – their feet can only slip down the exterior surface.
- The footholds are no more than 600mm from the ground so a slip and not a fall from footholds is the outcome of a mistake. Feet track down the wall surface – there is no uncontrolled falls or jumps.
- Specific holds are used that will not trap or hold feet in the process of a slip.
- Teachers or specific signage should direct children to care for each other and therefore have a ‘spotter’ track the person climbing who guides the climber to the ground in the event of a slip.
- Children on School Traverse Climbing Walls wear shoes that have soft shock absorbent soles. More so than in the indoor climbing wall environment where using rock shoes without shock absorbion is the norm.
- The most likely accident when using a traverse wall is to the ankle. These injuries may occur regardless of the type of landing surface.
Recommendations on the safer use of Climbing Traverse Walls
- Whenever possible a spotter should be selected to track the climber with hands hovering near shoulder blades in anticipation of a slip.
- Children should have footwear tied securely to feet at all times – this is the greatest cause of poor footwork and a slip. Landing or taking part in any physical activity with poorly tied footwear will eventually lead to ankle injuries.
- Footwear should be clean and the holds dry when climbing
- The size and type of Foot and Hand Holds should be placed carefully on the wall with consideration to the age and height of the users.
A Full Risk Assessment is provided with all new walls