Climbing hardware carries a simple responsibility: it must not fail.
At VERTA, testing is not a box to tick. It is the foundation of every product we make and every claim we publish.
Proof-Load Testing
Every VERTA product is proof load tested in-house before it leaves the workshop. We operate our own tensile and proof load test equipment, capable of applying and measuring loads that meet or exceed the requirements of EN 959.
Passivation to ASTM B600-11
All VERTA products are 100% inspected and passivated in accordance with ASTM B600-11 before dispatch. Passivation removes iron contamination from the titanium surface, contamination that can occur during machining and handling, and restores the stable oxide layer that gives titanium its corrosion resistance.
Material Composition Testing
VERTA products are verified through two stages of elemental testing. Handheld XRF screening gives a rapid composition check. This is followed by full quantitative OES testing at an independent accredited laboratory, which reports precise values for all key elements against ASTM B265 Grade 2 limits.
What the numbers mean
Load ratings in climbing hardware are expressed in kilonewtons (kN). One kilonewton is approximately 102 kg-force.
Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS) is the load at which a component is tested to failure. It represents the lower bound of destructive test results across a sample set, not an average.
Working Load Limit (WLL) is the maximum load a component should be subjected to in normal use. It is derived from MBS with a safety factor applied — typically 3:1 or higher for life-safety applications.
Proof load is an intermediate value — a non-destructive load applied to verify that a component meets minimum strength requirements without being taken to failure. Proof loading every unit is how VERTA verifies batch consistency.