SAFETY RULES AND REGULATIONS AT KIIPEILYAREENA
The safety of our customers is at the core of what we do and we strive to develop it continuously. Please remember, however, that climbing always carries a risk of serious injury and even death. Make sure you have sufficient knowledge, skills and equipment for safe climbing. Always follow the instructions concerning equipment and safety and practice belaying and climbing techniques in safe conditions. Please note that teaching another person rope belaying or other safety skills on KiipeilyAreena’s facilities is prohibited.
KiipeilyAreena’s facilities are always used at your own risk. KiipeilyAreena is not responsible for accidents caused by customers’ incorrect actions or for the loss/damage of personal property.
Registration
We register all our customers for safety reasons. We take our customers’ safety very seriously and therefore every first-timer must watch the climbing safety videos when registering or at the latest on-site at the gym.
Age limits for children
All children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian on KiipeilyAreena’s facilities for the entire duration of the climbing session.
Preschool-age children (4–6 years):
- Climbing with auto belay devices if the minimum weight limit of 15 kg is met
- Top rope climbing with someone skilled in belaying
- Bouldering in areas suitable for children, accompanied by a supervisor.
School-age children (7–13 years):
- Must always be accompanied by an adult guardian who has completed the registration
- Climbing in Salmisaari and Ristikko with auto belay devices under adult supervision. A 12-year-old may use auto belay devices independently. For younger children, attaching and detaching must always be done by an adult guardian.
- Top rope climbing with someone skilled in belaying
- Bouldering under a guardian’s supervision
Children and youth aged 14 and over:
- Climbing is allowed without a guardian present
- Possibility to complete a belaying card
- Guardian’s consent is required for independent climbing. Consent can be sent to the destination gym’s email. We may also, if necessary, call the guardian.
Rope climbing
Belaying top rope is possible with national (Finnish) top rope card. Lead climbing and belaying is possible with a national (Finnish) lead card. If you do not have a Finnish belaying card, you must either take part in a climbing course or pass a belaying test. Beginners may also climb accompanied by a top rope card holder in which case the belayer belays the beginner in top rope.
Belaying test (Ristikko and Salmisaari)
If you do not have a Finnish belaying card, you must either take part in a climbing course or pass a belaying test. In the belaying test, we check that you have the required skills to belay a climber and to lead climb. The test can be done with the following devices: Petzl Grigri / Grigri+ / Neox, Beal Birdie, Wild Country Revo, Black Diamond ATC Pilot, Edelrid Jul / Megajul / Gigajul, Mammut Smart, CT Click Up / Click Up+ and Singing Rock Rama. From 1st of September 2026, KiipeilyAreena will use only locking, assisted-braking belay devices, as listed above, for all rope climbing. The belay test can be done with passive belay devices (including for example Black Diamond ATC and Petzl Reverso) until 31 August 2026. The content of the belaying test has been prepared by Suomen Urheilukiipeily ry.
You can ask our customer service about the content of the belaying tests. We do not teach skills before or during the test. There is no need to book the test separately. We conduct belaying tests at the gym whenever possible. During busy times (weekends and weekday evenings), please be prepared for a short wait.
If you take the lead climbing test alone, you must be accompanied by a holder of a lead belaying card, who takes part in the test by belaying and climbing.
We grant a national belaying card to those who pass the test. The price of the card is €13. For those living abroad, we check the appropriate skills, and they have the option of purchasing a belaying card for themselves.
The belaying card must always hang visibly on the harness. If the belaying card is not visible, staff have the right to ask for the card and request that it be placed visibly on the harness.
Teaching belaying
Teaching belaying is strictly prohibited at our facilities. Only KiipeilyAreena’s authorized instructors are allowed to teach belaying on our facilities. If you notice deficient belaying practice or similar, please mention it to our staff immediately. If you want your friend to learn belaying skills, you can direct them to a top rope or lead course.
Rope climbing safety rules
Staff will intervene in belaying or situations that could potentially lead to a climber’s injury. In these situations, the belayer must correct their belaying so that it does not pose a danger to the climber.
On a lead route, all quickdraws must be clipped.
If you want to top rope on a lead line, the climber must clip both carabiners of the anchor. In addition, the top rope climber climbs on the wall side so that they unclip the quickdraws as they climb.
Please note that holds can rotate or even break. Always inform staff if you notice even slight rotation in a hold.
It is the climber’s responsibility to check that the length of the lead rope is sufficient. Ask staff for the required rope length.
Belaying while sitting or lying down is prohibited.
Solo climbing is prohibited.
Bouldering safety rules
Never stand under a climber.
Always make sure before climbing that there are no other person or objects, such as chalk bags or hold brushes, beneath you.
Get used to the mattresses before climbing and practice safe falling carefully before you climb all the way to the last hold of the route. We always recommend climbing down a few moves before jumping onto the mattresses. Avoid stopping your fall with your hand.
Avoid taking unnecessary risks while climbing.
After topping a route, we always recommend climbing down a few moves before jumping onto the mattresses.
Harnesses must be removed before bouldering. Also leave your personal belongings, such as water bottles, backpacks, etc., off the climbing mattresses so that they do not pose a danger to yourself or others.
Please note that holds can rotate or even break. Always inform staff if you notice even slight rotation in a hold.
Auto belays
A 12-year-old may use auto belay devices independently. For younger children, attaching and detaching must always be done by an adult guardian. Always ask staff for guidance before climbing.
Adults must take care of children’s safety. When a child is attached to the devices, the climber must not move sideways or far from the wall.
Standing near the wall is prohibited, as a climber may also descend to the ground far from the starting point of their own line.
Other safety rules
Always empty your pockets before climbing. Keeping a phone in your pocket and taking pictures while climbing is a serious safety risk and strictly prohibited.
All customers have the right to intervene in dangerous activity at our facilities.
Only climbing shoes intended for the purpose are used for climbing. If you do not own your own, you can rent climbing shoes from our gyms.
Climbing while intoxicated is prohibited.
You may have fun at the hall without forgetting safety. Running and kicking up chalk dust are strictly prohibited.