What is the primary purpose of a stopper knot?

The primary purpose of a stopper knot is to prevent abseiling off the end of the rope. This knot is tied near the end of a rope to act as a physical barrier that cannot pass through a device or anchor point, thereby reducing the risk of accidents during activities such as abseiling or rappelling. By having a stopper knot in place, technicians ensure that they remain securely on the rope, preventing any unintended falls caused by reaching the end of the rope while descending.

In the context of rope access work, safety is paramount, and utilizing a stopper knot properly adds an important layer of security to the rope system. It is a standard practice among rope access technicians to incorporate this knot as a precautionary measure.

While other options may pertain to rope management and safety, they do not address the core function of a stopper knot directly. For instance, additional friction (first choice) relates more to knot types used for control rather than stopping travel, connecting ropes (third choice) pertains to different knot uses entirely, and facilitating quicker descent (fourth choice) does not align with the function a stopper knot serves in ensuring safety during operations.