prEN 12572-2

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2025
Umetne plezalne stene - 2. del: Varnostne zahteve in preskusne metode za
balvanske stene
Artificial climbing structures - Part 2: Safety requirements and test methods for
bouldering walls
Künstliche Kletteranlagen - Teil 2: Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
Prüfverfahren für Boulderwände
Structures artificielles d'escalade - Partie 2 : Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai
relatives aux pans et blocs d'escalade
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12572-2
ICS:
97.220.10 Športni objekti Sports facilities
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2025
ICS 97.220.10 Will supersede EN 12572-2:2017
English Version
Artificial climbing structures - Part 2: Safety requirements
and test methods for bouldering walls
Structures artificielles d'escalade - Partie 2 : Exigences Künstliche Kletteranlagen - Teil 2:
de sécurité et méthodes d'essai relatives aux pans et Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
blocs d'escalade Prüfverfahren für Boulderwände
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 136.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12572-2:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Safety requirements and test methods . 5
4.1 Maximum height for boulder walls . 5
4.2 Impact absorbing material . 5
4.2.1 General. 5
4.2.2 Impact attenuation . 6
4.3 Impact area . 6
4.3.1 Size of the impact area . 6
4.3.2 Position of foam safety mats . 8
4.4 Connection of modular foam safety mat elements . 8
4.5 Structural integrity . 8
4.6 Impact resistance and deflection of surface elements . 9
4.7 Panel insert resistance. 9
4.8 Falling space . 9
4.9 Climbing surfaces . 9
5 Marking . 9
6 Instruction manual . 10
7 Technical documentation of ACS . 10
8 Technical documentation of the impact area . 10
9 Inspection and maintenance for ACS and/or impact area . 11
9.1 General. 11
9.2 Instructions . 11
9.2.1 General. 11
9.2.2 Routine visual inspection . 11
9.2.3 Operational inspection . 11
9.2.4 Main inspection . 11
9.3 Further instructions . 12
Annex A (normative) Effects . 13
Annex B (normative) Method of calculation of structural integrity and stability . 15
Annex C (normative) Testing of shock absorbing surfaces. 17
Annex D (normative) Test of surface elements . 18
Annex E (normative) Panel insert resistance test . 21
Annex F (normative) Testing of the impact area connecting system . 23
Bibliography . 25

European foreword
This document (prEN 12572-2:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 136 “Sports,
playground and other recreational facilities and equipment”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 12572-2:2017.
The EN 12572 series, Artificial climbing structures, consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Safety requirements and test methods for ACS with protection points
— Part 2: Safety requirements and test methods for bouldering walls
— Part 3: Safety requirements and test methods for climbing holds
EN 12572-2 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 12572-2:2017:
a) added a new Introduction;
b) added definitions: hold, volume, panel, panel insert;
c) added new reference in bibliography;
d) modified Table 2;
e) modified Figure 1;
f) modified technical specifications in Clause 5, 6, 7;
g) added Clause 8, Technical documentation of the impact area;
h) added Clause 9, Inspection and maintenance;
i) added additional loads per squares meters on the climbing surface in Annex A, A.2.8;
j) modified Figure C.1 in Annex C.
1 Scope
This document specifies the safety requirements and calculation methods for boulder walls, including
impact area.
This document is applicable for an ACS in normal use for sport climbing. This document is not applicable
to ice climbing, dry tooling, playground equipment and deep water soloing.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1991-1-3, Eurocode 1 - Actions on structures - Part 1-3: Snow loads
EN 1991-1-4, Eurocode 1 - Actions on structures - Part 1-4: General actions - Wind actions
EN 1991-1-5, Eurocode 1 - Actions on structures - Part 1-5: Thermal actions
EN 1998-1-1, Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance - Part 1: General rules and seismic
action
EN 12503-4:2016, Sports mats - Part 4: Determination of shock absorption
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
artificial climbing structure
ACS
sports equipment consisting of a purpose-built climbing structure, which exhibits various construction
characteristics, and is designed for various uses in climbing objectives and is not reserved for a particular
group
3.2
boulder wall
artificial climbing structure allowing climbing without protection points including a falling space and
impact area
3.3
characteristic load
maximum load that can be generated in normal use
Note 1 to entry: See EN 12572-1.
3.4
falling space
space around the ACS that can be occupied by the user during a fall
3.5
impact area
surface on which a user lands after falling
3.6
boulder wall height
vertical height measured between the highest possible point a climber can hold and the top of the impact
area
3.7
impact absorbing material
material beneath a boulder wall filling the impact area designed to absorb the energy of a fall
Note 1 to entry: For example, water, air cushion, shingle and foam safety mats.
3.8
hold
removable climbing component used for progression on an ACS or bouldering wall including bigger
three-dimensional, structural attachment without additional panel insert or other means of hold fixation
3.9
volume
removable three-dimensional, structural attachment with means of hold fixation, for example panel
insert or wood screws designed for temporary extension of the climbing surface
3.10
panel
surface element according to EN 12572-1
3.11
panel insert
point into which a climbing hold is attached
4 Safety requirements and test methods
4.1 Maximum height for boulder walls
The maximum height for boulder wall shall be 4 500 mm. It shall be up to 4 000 mm high, where it is
possible to stand on the top.
4.2 Impact absorbing material
4.2.1 General
The impact absorbing material shall be adapted to accept a fall from at least the maximum height of the
boulder wall at the bottom of which it is installed.
4.2.2 Impact attenuation
4.2.2.1 Impact attenuating capacity for foam safety mats
The most common indoor impact absorbing materials are foam safety mats.
When tested according to Annex C, the boulder mat shall comply with the values of Table 1.
Table 1 — Shock absorption
Peak deceleration Deflection Resilience
-2 % %
g (1 g = 9,81 ms )
≥ 15 and ≤ 25 ≤ 80 ≤ 15
4.2.2.2 Impact attenuating capacity for shingle
One of the most common outdoor impact absorbing materials is shingle.
When shingle is used it shall be washed, rounded and be between 8 mm and 16 mm in diameter and have
a minimum depth of 400 mm.
For boulder wall heights greater than 3 000 mm, as the impact attenuating capacity of shingle might not
be sufficient to safely absorb all falls, a notice shall be erected at the boulder wall site warning climbers
that the use of this boulder wall is more like climbing at a natural site, and therefore they should use other
regular techniques for protecting each other such as: hand spotting, use of crash pads (individual
protection mats) etc.
This information shall be visible and accessible to all.
4.2.2.3 Impact attenuating capacity for other types of impact absorbing material
For other types of material such as water, air cushion, net, rubber, bark etc. relevant standards for the
selected material should be followed where applicable.
4.3 Impact area
4.3.1 Size of the impact area
Extent of the impact area L:
— if the boulder wall height is equal to or less than 3 000 mm, the ground projection of the boulder wall
shall be extended by L1 ≥ 2 000 mm;
— if the height of the boulder wall is greater than 3 000 mm, the ground projection of the boulder wall
shall be extended by L1 ≥ 2 500 mm, see Figure 1.
— if the boulder wall is vertical or less than 10° overhanging with no holds on the side walls, the impact
area either side of the boulder wall L2 can be reduced to 50 % of the boulder wall height or 1 500 mm.
Table 2 — Size of the impact area
Height of the wall Size of the impact area in Size of the side Size of the side
front of the climbing wall impact area for impact area for
walls ≤ 10° and no walls > 10°
holds on the side
H L1 L2 L2
0 to ≤ 3 000 mm 2 000 mm 1 500 mm 50 % of the height

> 3 000 mm 2 500 mm 50 % of the height
to ≤ 4 500 mm
NOTE 1 Holds in the area A given in Figure 1 are considered as a part of the front wall.
NOTE 2 Macros and volumes are considered to be part of the climbing surface and are to be taken into account
for the length (L1) of the impact area.

Key
1 top of the impact area
2 projection of the boulder wall
H height of the highest possible holding point
L length added to the ground projection of the boulder wall in front of the boulder wall
L additional width of the impact area (under special circumstances)
A lateral surface where climbing is possible considered as a part of the front wall
B If boulder wall is ≤ 10° overhanging, then the impact flooring shall fill any space to keep a continuous
impact area up to 500mm.
Figure 1 — Example of the dimensions of the impact area at the base of a boulder wall
If a boulder wall constructor can prevent through considered design the possibility of a climber falling to
the side of the boulder wall, the extent of the impact area may be reduced accordingly.
4.3.2 Position of foam safety mats
Foam safety mats shall stay in contact with the boulder wall and shall be prevented from moving while
in use, see Figure 2a).
For steeply overhanging boulder walls it is acceptable to use a thin or sloping mat installed between the
base of a boulder wall and the main foam safety mat to prevent injuries according to Figure 2b).
Dimensions in millimetres
a) Position of foam safety mat b) Optional foam safety mat position for
“steeply overhanging boulder walls”
Key
1 main foam safety mat
2 thin or sloping mat
Figure 2 — Position of the impact area
4.4 Connection of modular foam safety mat elements
If the impact absorbing materials consist of modular elements, the sections shall be securely connected
together, or the gaps shall be covered so that it is impossible for the climber to enter into the gaps
between modular elements. If the impact absorbing materials are beneath a continuous surface cover,
the cover shall be in sufficient tension to hold the foam safety mats closely together.
Annex F describes one possible method of testing modular foam safety mat element connections
4.5 Structural integrity
The structural integrity, including stability, of a boulder wall shall be justified by calculation using the
characteristic loads given in Table A.1 in accordance with Annexes A and B.
Panels shall not overly deflect (see D.5).
In all cases where a boulder wall transmits loads to an existing structure (building, concrete platforms,
ground) it shall be ensured that the structure can safely accommodate the loads imposed by the boulder
wall.
4.6 Impact resistance and deflection of surface elements
When tested in accordance with Annex D there shall be no breaking or splitting of the surface element.
The deflection of the panels shall be calculated by using the load 0,8 kN (see Annex A) or be tested in
accordance with Annex D, D.5.
When fixed according
...