FRIDAY FORUM: BiColor Rope

Why have one when you can have two? Try BiColor ropes. BiColors have a sheath tracer pattern that changes at the midpoint, while the base color remains the same. This color change creates two distinct rope halves, enabling the operator to use both ends of the rope for different tasks while being able to distinguish between the ends they are working with. Or, if you just need it to be one rope, it's still simply the “Blue” or the “Red” rope, depending on the base color.

BiColor is not a new concept in rope construction. It has been in use for years by climbers and mountaineers who frequently perform double rope retrievable rappels to descend.  They pull the rope through their anchor until the colors change (midpoint), then rappel on both strands. When they get to the bottom of that rappel, they pull one side and viola’, they have their rope back.

The use of BiColors IS new to the Rope Access and Rescue service, however.  Seeing the benefits of BiColor, ARS has developed a custom line of BiColor static ropes with @sterlingrope company. While using both ends of your rope for differing tasks is a common practice with some teams, this operation is profoundly improved and the work area streamlined when you can tell the ends of the rope apart.  Some common uses are:

-Rig with one end, work with the other

-Main/Safety or Duel Mains with one rope

-Multiple fixed access lines with easily identifiable midpoint

-Multiple distinguishable safety lines for Confined Space with one rope

And at the end of the day, it is still the red, blue, or yellow rope.  The question really isn’t why BiColor. It's why not???