Structural Inspections

The Association for Challenge Course Technology has identified annual professional inspections as a minimum standard for challenge course programs. ATI supports this minimum standard requirement.

ATI offers two types of safety inspections.

1. The Structural Inspection focuses primarily on the structural integrity of the Alpine Tower or other course design. The inspector spends the majority of the time inspecting the nuts, bolts, poles, and cables of the structure. In addition, the inspector also evaluates monthly inspection sheets, any history of accidents/incidents, and inspects all climbing and safety equipment.
2. A Program Review (formerly known as a Comprehensive Safety Review) is a more intensive inspection that focuses on programming attributes as well as the structural integrity of the course. The review includes interviewing the Tower Coordinator, evaluating staff training, assessing emergency action plans, evaluating facility documentation and distribution of information, and many other important aspects for operating a safe program. A sub-portion of this review is to perform a structural inspection of the Tower and all related safety and climbing equipment. To help prepare an inspector for a Program Review, ATI will send a pre-visit questionnaire for the Tower Coordinator to complete and submit back to the inspector prior to the visit.

ATI recommends that programs schedule a Program Review in the year following installation and then every third year. In the interim two years, programs are recommended to schedule a Structural Inspection.

Regional Reviewers

Call to set up your Annual Review today.

	Ty Chalmers Regions covered: Florida Region email:
	John Mordhorst Regions covered: Great Lakes Region IN IL WI MI IA MN email:
	Jeep Barrett Regions covered: Ohio River Region TN, KY, OH email:
	Skip Sickler, Facilities Manager Regions covered: North Carolina and Southeast Region NC SC GA AL MS email:
	Stephen Streufert Regions covered: Western Region West of Mississippi River email:
	Lisa Carter Regions covered: Western Region West of Mississippi River email:
	Bill Irving Regions covered: New England Region PA up email: