Standard Specifications for All Designs

Engineered Designs -- ATI uses several engineering firms to perform design evaluations. As necessary, engineered plans and drawings are provided to help secure building permits or a special use permit. All ATI designs meet and/or exceed specifications established by the Association of Challenge Course Technology and the Climbing Wall Industry Group. ATI construction teams participate in several internal trainings every year to insure the highest building standards and adherence to best industry practices.

Turnkey Construction -- We have a saying at ATI:  "We do everything but mow the grass." We have learned that good leadership on our part will mean your experience in the development phase will be smooth and efficient. We handle almost all aspects of installation, including design, engineering, resource procurement, installation, staff training, operational equipment and instructors manuals. The only items we do not regularly provide are site preparation prior to installation, and finish landscaping after installation. We will provide all the information you need to prepare for the installation and eventual operation of your course. A "Welcome Kit" is provided prior to starting all new projects. This collection of information outlines the construction process and serves as a vehicle for gathering additional information about your program. During preparation for construction, we normally need about half a day's time by a program person to inventory material delivered before the construction crew arrives.

Pricing -- Our pricing is based on turnkey construction, inclusive of all aspects of the project. We want you to know exactly what you are getting, and will be very clear through the selection and contract phase. On rare occasions, site conditions and weather may require additional equipment expense, which we require the program to cover at cost.

Materials

Poles -- ATI normally uses southern yellow pine poles, which are incredibly durable and strong for challenge courses and outdoor climbing walls. Pole treatments are primarily CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate), often with an additional treatment that conditions the pole for longevity and fewer cracks. ATI continuously researches available pole treatments, and makes a conscious decision on treatment types that insure longevity and safety to participants.

Hardware -- All steel hardware such as eyebolts and timberbolts are 3/4" diameter, hot-dip galvanized. Typical tensile strengths exceed 18,000 lbs. Most structures use 7x19 lay Galvanized Aircraft Cable. Some locations are recommended to select stainless steel. Most cable terminations are swaged. Other typical hardware items include strandvises, cable clamps, ground screw anchors, thimbles, and stainless steel belay bars.

Lumber -- As we are with our poles, we are very selective about the lumber used in our climbing wall designs. Outdoor climbing walls are exposed to an extreme range of environmental conditions, and can reflect this in the quality of the material after a few seasons. To maintain quality, appearance, longevity and safety, ATI uses a CCA treated, double-kiln-dried tongue and groove lumber, made of southern yellow pine. The double drying reduces shrinkage after installation, minimizing both checks (cracks) and separation. This lumber is professionally fitted, and uses fasteners that will keep it looking and performing great for years.

Lashing Ropes -- All designs use lashing ropes as an additional hardware backup and for enhancing the aesthetics of the structures. These are the very bright and large white ropes that are seen at most pole junctions on ATI designs.

Nets -- All of our nets are produced internally, specifically for each design.

Lightning protection -- One of the most respected lightning firms in the country designed ATI's lightning protection system, which is used on every outdoor design. While no lightning system may be able to provide safety during a direct, unimpeded strike, we believe that our lightning systems may provide significant protection for your challenge course investment. All challenge courses and climbing walls should be evacuated at the first sign of a potential lightning storm.

Handholds -- ATI uses a great variety of handhold types and styles. Specific sets are used for specific designs. Most Access Prevention systems use a removable handhold, a uniquely designed hold that slips on easily during setup, minimizing time required for staff to prepare the course for use.

Access Prevention -- All designs are evaluated for effective access prevention. Items aiding unauthorized users in accessing the structures are removed and locked away at the completion of a program. No Trespassing Signs (specific to challenge courses) are placed prominently in several places on each structure. While no access prevention system can be completely foil-proof, ATI has a superb safety record for minimizing unwanted access. Mitigating unauthorized access is the role of everyone involved. ATI will help you select a site that best provides secure access. While most programs choose no additional access prevention, some programs do elect to erect a fence, security lights, or even a fake surveillance camera in and around the structure(s).

Canopies -- Several designs use a vinyl cloth system to create a roof over decks and platforms. This vinyl cloth is a urethane-coated nylon, specifically deigned and sewn for use in our structures. The canopies are typically provided in a green or blue, and will last for many years. They are designed to remain on the structure year-round.

Program Management

Staff Training -- A rigorous and complete staff training program accompanies every installation. Several structures also receive a staff training program on universal facilitation and working with individuals with disabilities. Length of staff training varies depending on the type of structure installed. (See staff training information specific for each design) ATI's staff training program is a train-the-trainer program, allowing and even encouraging programs to conduct their own internal staff trainings as the seasons and staffing roster change. We recommend hosting an ATI training if there has been a large staff turnover, if it's been four or more years since the last training from ATI, if senior leadership of a program has changed, or if the program has infrequently used the structure for some time. Properly training and supporting your facilitators is the best risk management system available. Programs should embrace opportunities to continually increase the skill level and competency of all adventure program staff.

Facilitator Manuals / Manager Manuals -- We normally provide 14 copies of an operation manual for each design installed. ATI maintains and updates these manuals on a regular basis with supplemental information made available through newsletters and our web site. Staff training outlines and curriculums are the core of these manuals, and programs are encouraged to use these as basis for their own internal staff trainings. In addition to facilitator manuals, a program manager's manual is also provided, containing information specific to overall management of the adventure facility.

Safety Systems -- ATI designs use a variety of systems for safeguarding participants. The Alpine Tower series was specifically created to use a dynamic belay system referred to as a "top-rope belay system". A belay rope is tied directly to the participant's harness. The participant remains on belay until back safely on the ground . Several other designs use this same system, including the Carolina Climbing Wall Series and Diamond Courses. Other ATI designs use a static system, which is created by attaching a participant into an overhead safety cable via one or more tethers - often referred to as "lobster claws." As participants move horizontally through the course, they sequentially reconnects their tethers to new overhead safety cables. Many ATI courses use a combination of both the dynamic and static system.

Operational Equipment -- All operational equipment is provided with installation. A full complement of equipment allows for a full group to participate without trading harnesses. Different designs require different amounts of equipment, based on their layout and anticipated user groups. This equipment will be shipped to the your program prior to installation and will be used during the staff training component. We believe that we use the highest quality gear in our industry. We continually evaluate the equipment that we use to make sure it is consistent with our quality goals and safety benchmarks. All facilities that have installed an ATI design are entitled to a special pricing through our equipment retail partner - Adventure Hardware.

Longevity -- ATI is committed to developing and installing structures that last twenty-plus years. We believe that with proper care, such as routine maintenance, annual inspections, and annual treatment with wood preservative - that every ATI facility should easily last this long and quite possibility much longer.

Annual Budgeting -- Yearly costs will include annual inspections, equipment resupply, annual maintenance, insurance, and refresher staff training (as necessary). Most programs plan annual budgets of 2 to 3% of the initial cost.

Optional Packages and Equipment -- Several products and services are available as add-ons to the standard installation package, such as shade canopies, curriculum models, facilitation training, etc. If your program requires a specific need or resource not found here, please contact our office to find out more about our custom services.

Ongoing Service and Support for all ATI Designs

The following information outlines our commitment to making sure that once you are operating, you are fully supported in providing the most successful and safest experiences possible. Achieving this goal is a mutual responsibility and the following services underscore our commitment to this.

Annual Inspections -- We are required by industry standards (ACCT Standards for Challenge Course Programs) to provide annual safety inspections. We provide two levels of safety inspection - a Structural Inspection, that examines primarily structural components, but identifies gross management concerns; and, a comprehensive Program Review, that focuses on program management, as well as the structural components. These inspections are arranged and contracted on an annual basis. ATI recommends that a Program Review be conducted the year following installation, to help identify any issues before they become a concern, and then every third year thereafter. Structural Inspections are recommended in the intervening two years. Pricing varies depending on which of these is selected, as well as the number of structures being inspected.

Customer Service and Support -- ATI maintains full-time facility support specialists that are available to help with all programming and technical issues throughout the year. We welcome calls at anytime about aspects of operating/managing your challenge course facility.

Quarterly Newsletters -- ATI produces a quarterly newsletter that provides valuable information to our operating facilities. This self-published piece provides information on programming techniques, facilitation methodology, safety alerts and ideas, new designs, and other helpful and important information. We encourage our facility coordinators to submit articles for publication. Past issues of this publication are available on our website.

Support via the Internet -- ATI maintains a web site for operating facilities. Features of this site include down-loadable manuals, past issues of ATI's newsletter, links to other helpful sites, an employment page for individuals and programs, and access to other documents - such as medical screening forms, liability forms, etc. From this site, program managers can contact our customer support specialists, or directly email our regional coordinators, who are assigned to specific areas of the country for conducting inspections and reviews.

Regional Trainings -- ATI offers refresher staff trainings at Alpine Tower facilities throughout the United States on an annual basis. Often, programs wish to send the program coordinator or a new staff member to these trainings to continue developing expertise on the challenge course or climbing wall. A schedule of these regional trainings is released in early spring, allowing plenty of time for a program to assign staff to attend.

National Conferences -- ATI hosts a national training conference (four days duration) every eighteen months. This is the best opportunity to network and receive additional training on the use of Alpine Tower challenge courses and climbing walls. These are typically held at a conference/resort facility that has numerous ATI designs.

Equipment Supply -- As an ATI facility, your program will be able to participate in a preferred discount program. This program typically offers a 20% retail discount to all Alpine Tower programs for resupplying retired equipment. Ropes, harnesses, and certain hardware have a limited life span, and will need to be replaced on a planned cycle.

Warranty -- ATI provides a two-year warranty on all material and workmanship under normal use and conditions.

Maintenance/Service Packages -- ATI routinely offers maintenance/service packages to programs if requested. While annual maintenance is routine and straightforward, programs that install large facilities often seek a greater peace of mind by having an ATI representative perform these duties on a timely and prescheduled basis. These maintenance plans are customized for each facility, and based on the level of service requested. Packages typically include annual inspections, refresher staff training and application of annual wood preservative.

Insurance -- ATI has a great safety record, which stems from its dedication to developing safe practices and policies. As such, most of our programs have had little trouble in securing insurance. Currently, a national insurance firm has offered a package program to ATI facilities. This package is offered at reduced premium levels because of ATI's safety record. If your organization is interested in this opportunity, please contact the ATI office directly for more information.

Access to TAG -- ATI is a member of The Adventure Group, a collaboration of companies that have partnered to provide you with a full range of construction, equipment, management, and marketing services. Whether your needs include design and installation of a challenge course facility, selection and purchase of equipment, staff training, or marketing and business development, The Adventure Group can enable your success.