Construction + Civil Engineering

In June this year, the climbing garden on the Mägdeberg, which rises to a height of 654.2m, was renovated using fischer’s heavy-duty chemical fastenings, FIS V Plus, to anchor the safety hooks in the rock faces.

The first hooks here were drilled around 1980 and were glued into the rock with a quick-setting cement. However, this cement is not weatherproof. As a result, after around 45 years, individual hooks have now come loose. In order to restore safety, the JDAV group of youth climbers carried out a major operation to renovate the entire area with over 300 intermediate hooks and 50 redirectors, all made of stainless steel.

One challenge was the different nature of the anchoring ground – meaning hooks for the intermediate anchors are 80mm long, while the redirector hooks are 120mm long. In the rock, which is poorer at the top of the rock, the greater anchoring depth is safer. The redirectors serve as chain stands with a ring or even a carabiner at the end of the route to redirect the rope and lower the climber again.

"When climbing, every single hook and attachment point determines people's safety," emphasises Fynn Renner, head of training for youth leaders at the Youth of the German Alpine Association (JDAV) in Konstanz. "We at the JDAV therefore trust in the quality and reliability of proven fischer fastening products."

When renovating the Mägdeberg climbing garden, the climbers used composite hooks, which together with the fischer two component injection mortar FIS V Plus form a form and material connection with the rock. "The fastening method guarantees a secure hold," says Fynn. "Because the composite system is firmly connected to the rock face."

Particularly safe when fixing under extreme conditions, such as securing climbing hooks in high and steep mountains, the fischer injection mortar FIS V Plus is quick and easy to use.

The JDAV climbers injected the universal mortar quickly and effortlessly from the bottom of the drill hole using the associated fischer dispensing device, screwed the hooks into it and spread out any remaining mortar that swelled out. When dispensing in the static mixer, the resin and hardener components stored in two separate chambers were mixed and activated. After its hardening time, the composite system was fully resilient and now achieves permanently high load-bearing capacities. 

The fischer SDS Plus Quattric II hammer drill was used when creating the drill holes in the very hard rock. "We have already used the fischer Quattric II drill to secure numerous climbing routes. The tool once again impressed us with its low wear and higher drilling performance in the current renovation project compared to alternative solutions," adds Fynn. The solid carbide head, solid main cutting edges and the two-part drill spiral accelerate work progress and increase the service life. The reinforced core also ensures stability when drilling.