How Do You Climb With An Ascender?
Ascenders are devices used to make ascending a rope easier and safer. Ascenders can also hold people and tools in place so they can complete work at heights.
Unsurprisingly, ascenders, particularly power ascenders, are essential to working on a wind turbine. These pieces of equipment help technicians get to hard-to-reach areas so they can complete the inspections, maintenance, and repairs needed to keep the wind turbine operating at its best.
Ascenders are generally used to facilitate steep climbing areas like ropes. Most ascenders come with an automatic braking system and prevent people and objects from potential falls. They are instrumental in regards to safety and ease of use.
Using ascenders to descend
Despite the name, ascenders are not only used to climb up. Ascenders can also allow climbers to rappel down to the ground safely and without having to change the equipment, they are using.
It would be impractical, not to mention potentially unsafe, for people to swap their tools to descend from height.
Most ascenders have two parts attached to the rope, with one for each hand. Generally, climbers will move these ascenders up or down in a gentle sliding motion, one after the other. It may sound easy, but it is a very physically demanding task. Therefore, ascenders often come with soft-grip handles to make climbing more comfortable.
Ascenders are typically mechanical devices that come in various shapes and sizes. Manual ascenders are primarily used in leisure and sporting activities rather than wind turbines.
A manual ascender is not the best choice for wind turbine technicians who need to climb for long hours several days a week. Manual ascenders require a lot of physical exertion from the climber, and this is not something that would be sustainable for extended periods.
Power ascenders
Power ascenders are the star choice of the wind industry since they provide the same practicality and safety benefits as manual ascenders while demanding far less physically from the climber. And that is not the only benefit of using a power ascender.
Power ascenders also significantly speed up the process of ascending and descending for wind turbine technicians. This means that techs can get to various places in far less time without sacrificing their safety.
Like manual ascenders, technicians can also use power ascenders to secure tools so they can complete tasks at height while having the equipment they need to hand. In addition, most power ascenders are equipped with an automatic braking system that prevents any tools or people from falling.
Skylotec power ascenders
Skylotec is one of the top manufacturers of equipment for working at heights. They produce a range of harnesses, lanyards, power ascenders, and more.
Skylotec is one of the most well-renowned businesses within the wind industry. In fact, wind industry specialists Altitec, who focus on wind turbine blade repairs and technician training, are dedicated Skylotec distributors.
