PMI Classic ropes
PMI polyester ropes
PMI speciality ropes
Static rope product range
Rope and gear bags
Rope accessories| Dynamic ropes | Accessory cords | Aspiring home page |
PMI Classic ropes
PMI polyester ropes
PMI speciality ropes
Static rope product range
Rope and gear bags
Rope accessories
In the United States PMI - Pigeon Mountain Industries - is renowned for its low-stretch ("static") rope throughout the caving and rescue fraternities. From their base in North America's caving heartland, PMI set out 24 years ago to make superior ropes for caving - and succeeded. They then extended their range from "sport" ropes for caving to cater for every use of static rope, including height safety, tactical, and rescue. PMI also manufactures a full range of specialised ropes, which we can supply for special orders. For tactical purposes there is a black option and various camouflage patterns. For night-time rescue a reflective rescue rope - "Vis-Mat" - is available to order.
| "Three Sigma" strength rating |
|---|
| PMI uses the "three-sigma" method of rating rope strength. This is a statistical method in which a figure three standard deviations below the average result in a standard laboratory test is taken as the rating. This ensures that 99% of ropes will have a higher strength than the rating. In actual use lower figures are obtained because of weakening caused by the knot. PMI 11mm rope breaks at 22.2kN on a bowline knot - remarkably this is over 80% of the rated strength. |
The basis of PMI's ropes is the very tight weave of the sheath. This prevents the sheath from slipping and bunching on the core with repeated use of descenders or ascenders, and more importantly, it gives the rope great abrasion resistance.
American cavers have very informal rigging techniques, compared to those used in Europe and elsewhere. Because of this American static ropes are generally made very tough, while European ropes are much softer, with looser sheaths and more stretch. Among American caving ropes, PMI seem to achieve the best balance of stiffness and handling.
"Classic" ropes are the original PMI low-stretch design, available
in various sizes, two sheath types, and classification under two different
certification regimes.
Sizes available are 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm , and 12.5 mm.
Classifications are Professional (formerly called "Rescue") and Sport.
Sheath types are the stiffer "Max-Wear" option or the softer "EZ-Bend".
PMI produces ropes which generally have a tight sheath construction. The downside of a tight sheath construction is a stiffer rope. To suit those who prefer a softer rope, PMI makes two versions of their ropes. The original stiffer ropes are called Max-Wear (to emphasize their greater durability), and have the greatest possible abrasion resistance, but are very stiff to handle. They are ideal for caving, but most people find them too stiff for general use. The alternative is a softer handling rope called EZ-Bend, which is nicer to use, but is not as tough as Max-Wear.
PMI Classic ropes are supplied in two different versions.
Sport ropes are certified by the Cordage Institute (USA) to their standard 1801 for life-safety ropes.
Professional ropes (formerly called "Rescue" ropes) are also certified by the National Fire Protection Association (USA) to their life-safety standard., as well as to the European standard EN 1891 for low-stretch ropes.
Both are exactly the same, except that because of the NFPA and EN 1891 certification, Professional ropes cost somewhat more.
There is no New Zealand standard for life-safety ropes, so the Australian-New
Zealand standard for rope access work on structures (AS/NZS 4488.1) specifies that ropes
used for rope access in New Zealand meet either the Australian rescue rope
standard, CE standard, or the NFPA standard. (See Product standards).
All PMI Professional ropes can be supplied with NFPA certification. We stock
11mm and 12.5mm sizes of Professional rope.
* NFPA = National Fire Protection Association (USA)
Although all low-stretch or static ropes have relatively low elongation, there is a wide range in the amount of stretch such ropes can have. Low elongation under low loads is a vitally important feature of caving ropes, to minimise "bounce" when prusiking. Because PMI Classic rope was designed for caving originally, PMI ropes have always had low elongation.
"Static" versus "low-stretch" ropes
The Cordage Institute in the USA has defined the terms "static" and "low-stretch" as follows:
Static: less than 6% stretch at 10% of break strength;
Low-stretch: 6-10% stretch at 10% of break strength.
In the case of 11mm PMI Classic rope the minimum break strength is 29 kN,
so therefore stretch is measured with a load of 2.9 kN - approximately 290
kg. This is approximately 3%. The elongation figures shown in the table below are for a 136 kg load.
| Rope size | Percent elongation | Strength rating |
Weight per metre |
| 9 mm | 2.5 % | 19.3 kN |
53 grams |
| 10 mm | 1.6 % | 25.4 kN |
74 grams |
| 11 mm | 1.2 % | 29.1 kN |
82 grams |
| 12.5 mm | 0.8 % | 41.8 kN |
104 grams |
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The latest additions to the PMI range are designed to give extremely low stretch - less than 1% under 100 kgs load. The Talon range has a standard PMI nylon sheath over a polyester core to minimise elongation. Talon ropes are available only in 10 mm and 11 mm sizes.
PMI also manufactures 100% polyester ropes, the Isostatic range, with both sheath and core made from polyester, for super low elongation. These are available in 11 mm and 13 mm sizes.
A recent addition to our PMI rope range is 11mm Impact P6 rope. PMI introduced Impact as an low-stretch alternative rope for the rescue industry, particularly for use in belaying, to reduce peak loads in the event of a shock-loading. We stock Impact P6 in the 11mm size, although it is also available in a 12.5 mm size. In addition to its application in the rescue industry, Impact P6 can also be used for top-roping in outdoor centres and climbing gyms, or wherever a durable rope is required and a moderate level of stretch is desirable.
Impact P6 is a composite rope, which uses a polyester sheath for durability, and a nylon core for strength. The static elongation under a load of 140 kgs is 4%, compared with less than 2% for the standard PMI ropes. (By comparison, dynamic climbing ropes stretch 6-8% under a load of 80kg).
Caharcteristics of PMI polyester ropes
| Rope type and size | Percent elongation | Strength rating |
| Impact, 11 mm | 4.0 % | 27.3 kN |
| Impact, 13 mm | 4.0 % | 41.8 kN |
| Talon, 10 mm | 0.8 % | 22.2 kN |
| Talon, 11 mm | 0.8 % | 27.1 kN |
| Isostatic, 11 mm |
0.8 % |
27.1 kN |
| Isostatic, 13 mm |
0.6% |
42.2 kN |
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We supply PMI Water Rescue rope in the 7 mm size, for use in kayak throw
bags. PMI Water Rescue rope is a specially designed floating rope, comprising
a nylon sheath and polypropylene core. The nylon sheath provides abrasion
resistance far greater than that of an all-polypropylene rope, as well as
greater strength. The core contains sufficient polypropylene (with specific
gravity less than that of water) to provide flotation to the rope.
Water Rescue rope has a minimum breaking strength of 8.4 kN and weighs 34 grams per metre.
PMI 11mm and 12.5mm rescue ropes can be supplied with swaged loops at the ends, to provide a fixed eye without the need for knots. PMI claims a strength of 97% of the normal test strength of the rope for these swaged eyes.
These swages can only be fitted to new ropes before they leave the factory. It is not possible to have old ropes retro-fitted. Because these ropes are obviously not a stock item, there can be a considerable lead time before these are delivered.
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We stock PMI static rope in a range of sizes and lengths as shown in the table below. Other options are available to order. Note that the uses recommended below are a guide only. Purchasers should evaluate their requirements carefully.
| Size | Type | Classification | Sheath | Uses |
| 7.5 mm | P.E.R. | Emergency rope. | ||
| 9 mm | Classic | Sport | Max-Wear |
Lightweight caving, lightweight safety lines. |
| 10 mm | Classic |
Sport | EZ-Bend |
Outdoor education - abseiling, top roping |
| 10 mm | Classic | Sport | Max-Wear |
Caving |
| 11 mm | Classic | Rescue | EZ-Bend |
Rescue teams, rope access, height safety |
| 11mm | Classic | Sport | EZ-Bend |
Adventure operations, outdoor education |
| 11mm | Impact | Outdoor centres, climbing gyms (top-roping) | ||
| 12.5mm | Classic | Rescue |
EZ-Bend |
Fire Service, height safety (horizontal life-lines) |
We will cut any lengths to order according to customer requirements.
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Aspiring Enterprises manufactures a range of durable bags for carrying
and storing ropes and equipment. There are four different styles to accommodate
different rope lengths and to suit different uses. All have a haul loop on
each side so that they can be used for rope deployment or hauling. Reinforcing
rands around the base increase the durability of the bags. 
Our Small rope bag fits a standard 50m rope to perfection and has a 38mm adjustable strap enabling it to be carried on one shoulder, which is helpful when carrying a pack also. It has an internal loop for attaching the lower end of the rope, and is an ideal rope deployment bag. These have previously been produced in gold nad red, but in future the colour will be black.
The Medium rope bag is a mid-sized bag which can accommodate up to 100 metres of rope (depending somewhat on thickness and stiffness). It is made from blue PVC and is fitted with two basic shoulder straps for carrying.
The Standard rope bag is a basic pack, with comfy padded shoulder straps as well as a waist strap for increased stability. The bag has an outside pocket so that hardware - karabiners, descenders, etc - can be separated from the rope or bulky gear in the main compartment, which can hold 160 metres of 11mm rope. The Standard Rope Bag has a clear plastic pocket with a white card so that a record of the bag’s contents can be seen. Made from durable red cordura.
The Large Rope Bag is made of white PVC and is quite simply... large! It will hold 200m of rope, or helmets, harnesses, buoyancy vests, wetsuits, whatever. An excellent gear management tool for outdoor instructors, river guides, etc. The Large Rope Bag comes with a heavy duty rubber base as used on our caving packs, and has padded shoulder straps to ease the burden on the shoulders.
| Size | Material | Colour | Volume |
| Small | 420D Oxford | black | 25 litres |
| Medium | PVC | blue | 40litres |
| Standard | Cordura | red | 55 litres |
| Large | PVC | white | 75 litres |
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Often it’s necessary to protect ropes from sharp edges and rough surfaces. Enter the Aspiring rope protectors. The standard rope protector is a velcro-fastening sleeve of white PVC, 60cm long, with a double ended tie cord.
If an extremely gnarly edge has to be run, you may need our super protector. These incorporate a strip of the same tough rubber used on our cave pack bases to ensure maximum protection of the rope.
Often it's only the knot that touches the wall. Recent British research shows that old ropes always break at the knot, stressing the need to reduce abrasion there. Therefore, we make a wider knot protector that will take knots in even 12mm ropes.
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Copyright Aspiring Enterprises, revised 5 July 2005.
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