Ch7 Ropes and Knots

Question 1

CFD approved knots…

Answer 1

Inline butterfly knot
Handcuff knot
Overhand safety
Figure 8 stopper 
Figure 8 on a bight
Figure 8 follow through
Figure 8 running loop
3 wrap prussick
Modified truckers

Question 2

CFD approved bends…

Answer 2

Ring bend (water knot)
Double fisherman's

Question 3

CFD approved hitches

Answer 3

Clove hitch
Half hitch
Munter hitch

Question 4

Life safety rope is made from…

Answer 4

Block creel construction - made from a continuous filament virgin fiber for load bearing elements suitable for life safety applications.

Question 5

What type of equipment must never be hoisted?

Answer 5

Pressurized cylinders

Question 6

A bight, loop, and round turn are all parts of what?

Answer 6

Bends in a knot. Knots and hitches are a combination bights, loops, and round turns. Combine these forms so the tight part of the rope bears weight on the working end and holds it in place.

Question 7

What is a safety guideline for hoisting tools and equipment?

Answer 7

When hoisting tools and equipment, your primary consideration is safety. Avoid hoisting tools and equipment if it is safer to hand carry them up stairs, a ladder, or an aerial device.

Question 8

Life safety rope should be removed from service if it… p278

Answer 8

has been subjected to an impact load, fails inspection, has been used only as utility rope, or is marked for destruction.

Question 9

A FIGURE 8 BEND is…

Answer 9

The figure 8 bend is used primarily on life safety rope to tie ropes of equal diameters together.

Question 10

How is life safety rope identified? p287

Answer 10

The ends of the ropes are marked with a unit number.

Question 11

What is the difference between braid on braid and kermantle rope… p281

Answer 11

Kernmantle rope resists abrasion better than braid on braid rope.

Kernmantle has a jacketed synthetic rope composed of a braided covering or sheath over a core of the main load bearing strands.

Braid on braid consists of a braided core enclosed in a braided sheath.

Question 12

What is the advantage of rope constructed from materials such as manila, hemp, or cotton? p279

Answer 12

More resistant to sunlight than synthetic ropes

Chars rather than melts when exposed to heat

Question 13

Maintaining Rope

What is a general consideration for maintaining rope in good, working condition? p283

Answer 13

Avoid abrasion and unnecessary wear - rope can be weakened from constant vibration against apparatus surfaces, compression when stored in tight spaces, and surface damage due to chafing or dragging over splintered, rough, or gritty surfaces.

Avoid sharp angles, bends, and knots - Sharp angles, bends, and knots can reduce strength by as much as 50%.

Protect ends from damage - Whip or tape cut ends to prevent unravelling.

Avoid sustained loads - Natural fiber ropes have less ability to hold sustained loads for long periods of time. Never exceed the load limit of any rope or subject it to sustained loads for more than two days.

Question 14

Maintaining a Rope Log

p285

Answer 14

Product label, identification label, and manufacturer’s instructions.
Information regarding purchase date, use, maintenance, and inspection.
Incidents resulting in impact load.

Question 15

Braid on braid rope

When inspecting braid on braid rope, what action should be taken if the sheath slides on the core? p283

Answer 15

Cut the end of the rope, pull off the excess material, and then seal the end.

Question 16

Kernmantle rope

In what type of situation would a dynamic (high stretch) kernmantle rope be used? p279

Answer 16

Is a jacketed synthetic rope composed of a braided covering or a sheath over a core of the main load bearing strands.

Dynamic ropes are used when there is a possibility of a long fall. To reduce the shock of an impact fall, dynamic ropes are designed to stretch without breaking.

Question 17

Static rope and its uses… p279

Answer 17

Static rope is used for most rescue operations. It is designed for low stretch without breaking. Static rope is used for rappelling, and hoisting and where falls are not likely to occur or when very short falls are a possibility.

Question 18

Care for natural fibre ropes p285

Answer 18

Wipe or gently brush the rope to remove as much of the dirt and grit as possible. Do not use water, as this will damage the rope.

Question 19

Hoisting an axe… p294

Answer 19

The procedure for attaching and hoisting is the same for a fire axe or a sledge axe. The hoisting rope can be used as a tag line.

Question 20

What is a clove hitch and when is it used… p288

Answer 20

A clove hitch is principally used to attach a rope to an object. It is not appropriate for life safety applications because repeated loading and unloading will cause it to fail. It can be formed on the ends or in the middle of the rope.

Question 21

What are the three sections of rope usage in regards to hauling up an object… p287

Answer 21

These only apply to the person doing the work hauling the item up to where they are. The person down on ground is using the tag line.

The working end is used to tie the knot or hitch

The running part is the free end that is used for hoisting or pulling

The standing part is the section between the working end and running part

Question 22

Inspection, Maintenance, and Storage of Webbing… p287
Care, cleaning, and maintenance of webbing follow the same guidelines used for synthetic rope. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially for life safety harnesses and ladder belts.

Answer 22

Personnel should inspect all ropes after each use and inspect unused rope at least once a year… p282

Question 23

Hoisting a pike pole… p294

Answer 23

Raise a pike pole with the pike up. Tie a clove near the butt end of the handle, followed by a half hitch in the middle and a half hitch around the head.

Question 24

What material is the work rope bag constructed of and what lengths of rope are in each bag?

Answer 24

The rope bag is constructed of canvas material.

There are two rope bags for two different sizes: 12m and 30m.

Question 25

True or False.

If you make a tighter bend in the rope, it loses more strength?

Answer 25

True. Tighter bends and knots in rope can reduce strength by 30%.

Question 26

What is the water rescue throw rope constructed of and how long is the rope?

Answer 26

The rope is constructed of polypropylene and is considered a static line. The rope is 22m long.

Question 27

It is composed of a braided covering over a core of the main load bearing strands…

Answer 27

kernmantle rope

Question 28

The best method for storing rope is to place it into a nylon or canvas storage bag….

Answer 28

The bag makes the rope easy to transport and protects it from abrasion and contamination. Ropes stored in bag can be deployed quickly by holding the end of the rope and throwing or dropping the bag.

Question 29

When inspecting braid on braid rope, what action should be taken if the sheath slides over the core?

Answer 29

Cut the end of the rope, pull off excess material, and then seal the end.

Question 30

This hitch can be formed in the middle or the ends of a rope…

Answer 30

A clove hitch. It is used to attach a rope to an object such as a pole, post, or hoseline. If a clove hitch is used for utility applications and will be subjected to repeated loading and unloading, an overhand safety knot should be tied.

Question 31

If a life safety rope has been used as utility rope, what should be done?

Answer 31

It should be removed from service and downgraded from life safety rope.