What is a key sign to check in a rope's condition that would indicate retirement from service?

• A. Only color change.
• B. Only age.
• C. Cuts, frays, glazing, core matting, stiffness, and sheath damage.
• D. Only dirt.

Answer: (C)

Rope retirement hinges on signs of damage that actually weaken the rope’s strength, affecting both the sheath and the core. The best indicator is a combination of deteriorations such as cuts and frays that expose or weaken fibers, glazing from heat and friction that makes fibers stiff and less able to absorb shock, core matting where inner fibers are crushed or displaced, overall stiffness that reduces flexibility and load distribution, and sheath damage that undermines protection and can expose the core to further wear. When you see these indicators together, the rope is no longer reliable for life-safety use and should be retired from service.

Color change, age, or dirt alone aren’t reliable signs of retirement because they don’t necessarily reflect a loss of strength or reliability. A rope can show these cosmetic or superficial factors without actually being unsafe, which is why the combination of the listed wear signs is the proper signal to retire.