In the last few decades, several rock mass classification systems have been proposed to identify rock slope stability conditions, having high probability of failure and accordingly prioritize preventive measures. This paper reviews the various classification systems, highlighting their differences and similarities with regard to the factors involved and the mode of their failures. The advantages and limitations of each classification have also been compared. However, many of these existing systems fail to classify slope cuttings according to their actual vulnerability of failure, as they ignore important triggering factors such as earthquakes or precipitation. For example groundwater is considered as an instability causing factor with limited effect, rather than a triggering factor for failure. It is observed that rock slope should be classified according to their potential of failure, taking into account both their condition and the influence of triggering factors upon stability. It is also observed that it is important to analyse each type of failure separately, since each one is influenced by unique factors of instability. Finally, it provides suggestion for the improvement of existing classifications through incorporation of all the critical factors like slope aspect, mode of excavation, earthquake, and rainfall that would have caused slope instability.

在过去的几十年里，已经提出了几种岩体分类系统来识别岩质边坡的稳定性条件，破坏的可能性很高，并相应地优先考虑预防措施。本文回顾了各种分类系统，强调了它们在所涉及的因素及其失效模式方面的差异和相似之处。还比较了每种分类的优点和局限性。然而，许多现有系统未能根据实际的破坏脆弱性对路堑进行分类，因为它们忽略了地震或降水等重要的触发因素。例如，地下水被认为是影响有限的不稳定因素，而不是故障的触发因素。据观察，岩质边坡应根据其破坏的可能性进行分类，同时考虑其状况和触发因素对稳定性的影响。还发现，单独分析每种类型的故障非常重要，因为每种类型的故障都受到独特的不稳定因素的影响。最后，通过纳入所有可能导致边坡失稳的关键因素，如坡向、开挖方式、地震和降雨等，为改进现有分类提供建议。