The UIAA Safety Committee received its first test lab in North America at its most recent annual meeting as part of its 50th anniversary celebration: the ACT Laboratory in Long Beach, California.
The ACT Laboratory joins a network of 21 UIAA-accredited laboratories in 9 countries and three continents. A complete list of labs and UIAA safety standards they tested clicks here.
“After a rigorous and intense application process, it is great to be recognized for its first laboratory in North America. UIAA proves that using the UIAA tag on a mountaineering or rock climbing equipment is the highest standard of international standards for safety, which has met the requirements of the relevant UIAA standards to test the equipment and grant UIAA safety tags. For existing safety tag holders, we look forward to working with ACT labs in the coming years.”
UIAA Safety Committee (American Alpine Club) Stephen Gladieux
About ACT Laboratory
ACT Laboratory ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory and 17065 accredited agency, providing mechanical, chemical and electrical safety testing, consulting, auditing and inspection services that can be provided to a wide range of consumer products and industries. They focus on safety and compliance with outdoor sports goods, bicycles, helmets, electronic bikes, toys and more. Its mission is to become a global trusted leader in consumer product testing in an active world.
“ACT Lab is proud to be the first UIAA approved and accredited testing laboratory in North America. The UIAA label represents the highest international standard for safety in climbing and mountaineering equipment. This approval provides an expanded solution for UIAA validation and will further assist brands to complete all the necessary safety testing with increased efficiency. We're excited to provide mountaineering product manufacturers with exceptionally qualified testing services in North America.”
Devin Walton, Director of Business Development, ACT Labs
The ACT plans to test the equipment according to the following UIAA standards:
- EN 564 (UIAA 102) Mountaineering Equipment – Accessories – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 565 (UIAA 103) Mountaineering Equipment – Cassettes – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 566 (UIAA 104) Mountaineering Equipment – Slings – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 567 (UIAA 126) Mountaineering Equipment – Rope Clips – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 569 (UIAA 122) Mountaineering Equipment – Pitons – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- UIAA 109 mountaineering equipment – Dynamic mountaineering rope – Safety requirements and testing methods
- EN 893 (UIAA 153) Mountaineering Equipment – Glaciers – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 12270 (UIAA 124) Mountaineering Equipment – Seats – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 12275 (UIAA 121) Mountaineering Equipment – Connectors – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 12492 (UIAA 106) Mountaineering Equipment – Climber's Helmets – Safety Requirements and Test Methods
- EN 13089 (UIAA 152) Mountaineering Equipment – Ice Terrace – Safety requirements and testing methods.
