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Standards & laws: Authorities and organisations

Standards & laws Standards and laws can differ from country to country and even from location to location. The organisations mentioned below can provide a lot of useful information regarding construction, operation, insurance and similar matters. Each organisation provides information specific to ropes courses and associated products worldwide.

ERCA This organisation has laid down standards for construction, inspection, maintenance, training and use of ropes courses, climbing walls and similar facilities. As an experienced expert Exponent participates actively in developing and improving standards that assure the safety and sustainability of ropes courses and associated products.

Exponent is ERCA's representative in Belgium. If you have specific questions about Belgian standards for ropes courses, please feel free to contact us. To visit the ERCA website click this link.

ACCT Like ERCA this organisation sets down standards specifically for the construction, inspection and operation of ropes courses. The organisation is based in the United States and is active principally in the US market. However, membership is not confined to North America. ACCT is a trading organisation for challenge course professionals and holds accreditation from the American National Standards Institute.

ACCT regularly organises forums, incentives and workshops for educational and professional development in addition to providing legal assistance for the ropes course industry. Exponent is accredited with ACCT as a level 3 PVM (Professional Vendor Member). Level 3 is a degree of experience based on the number of hours active in construction, inspection, etc. Visit the ACCT website.

VeBON This is the association of outdoor sports companies in the Netherlands. It is the organisation that represents outdoor sports companies with activities in the Netherlands and Belgium.

VeBON advises and supports its members in organising activities and in the conduct of their business.

VeBON is also the organisation that protects the interests of companies in the outdoor sports sector. Among other things VeBON is the official partner in talks with authorities, safety institutes, sports associations and educational institutions. Visit the VeBON website.