5 Ground Ladders Flashcards
Nfpa standard on use maintenance and service testing of in service FD ground ladders
Nfpa 1932
Unless situation dictates otherwise which ground ladder should be deployed first
The longest first followed by next longest and so on
Prior to selecting and deploying ladders a number of critical factors should be considered they are
Primary objective (rescue, window, roof)
Fire size and location
Current and expected fire behavior
Effective length of ground ladder is always shorter than actual length because
Safe climbing angle
Idea, climbing angle for ground ladders
75 degrees
Lower ladder angle increases
Stress on ladder and increases change of Spurs kicking out
Position people on ladder farther apart
On steeper climbing angles the ladder becomes
Less stable and prone to falling, pulling away from building tipping
Proper distance of the butt of the ladder from the building can be determined by
Dividing the used length (vertical distance above where ladder contacts building) by four
Keys to safe and effective ladder handling
Fitness, technique, and practice, individually and as a team
If a department chooses to use non standard ladder techniques it should first be
Tested under controlled circumstances before use on fire ground
Stay poles are aka
Tormentor poles
Number of firefighters for a pole ladder
Minimum of 4
5-6 preference
Pole ladders should be raised in what method referencing the building
Perpendicular, to eliminate a 90 degree pivot of the ladder
Nfpa requires the poles on all new ladders to be attached now
Permanently
Positioning of a ground ladder is usually, But not always the responsibility of
The officer
For breaking windows a ladder should be placed
Also for entering narrow windows or directing in hose streams
Tip even with upper portion of window, along side the window, on the windward side.
Ladder placement for rescue
Tip midline, slightly below sill. If sill projects out, tip can be wedged under for stability
For rescue a ladder can be placed two or three rungs into the window only if
The window is wide enough to accommodate the ladder off to the side and allow rescue.
Ladder placement guidelines include
Ladder at least two points on different sides of a building for roof egress
Avoid placing ladder over door or window openings where heat or flames may expose it
Place ladders at building strong points when possible (corners)
Avoid overhead obstructions, lines, trees
Avoid uneven or soft spots
Avoid placing in front of path of travel
Avoid placing on ice or trapdoors
Don’t place on unstable walls or surfaces
Ladder locations should be communicated to interior crews so that
They can be used for emergency egress if needed
Placement of ladder for smoke ejector
Tip on wall above window opening, in front of window
Ways to get over fence
A frame
Two straight ladders, one on each side, lashed together where they intersect over the fence or wall.
Other reasons for laddering roof
Rescue from roof tops
Checking for spot fires from carried embers
Protect structure from fire in adjacent building
Gain height advantage to apply water to adjacent building
Most common situation ground ladders used for in rescue
Above grade
Below grade ladder rescues can be dangerous because
Of added dangers of possible IDLH atmospheres
Oxygen deficiencies
Toxic gas accumulation that’s heavier than air
In absence of an aerial device what is the preferred method of gaining roof access in buildings up to four stories high
Ground ladders
Safest way to mitigate backdraft and may prevent flashover
Vertical ventilation
Non standard use of ladders are those which do not involve firefighters doing what
Climbing up or down them
Some non standard ladder uses
Mechanical advantage systems
Positioning intake or suction strainers
Water removal
Bridging
Most common application for mechanical advantage us of ground ladder
Lowering victim from above grade
A suction water strainer must be at least how far from the bottom
24”
How to remove water from building using water chute
Positioned in floor below one with water
Place A frame ladder
Roll ends of salvage cover up with pike poles until poles are 3’ apart
Hook poles and cover over step of ladder, direct out window
Cut hole in floor or ceiling above chute
A ladder can be used the bridge between two buildings provided the span between buildings is no greater than
1/3rd the ,adder length
If span between buildings is greater than 1/3 ladder length how can it be spanned
With ladder using guide ropes tied to the top rung and lowered into position with heel Spurs close to edge. Ff crossing must crawl and have belay line
Most common types of ground ladders
Single, straight, ladders Roof ladders Folding, attic, ladders Extension ladders Combination ladders
