Chapter 10 Ground Ladders Flashcards
What is a Beam ?
Main structural member of a ladder supporting the rungs or rung blocks
Bed Section ( base section )
Lowest and widest section of an extension ladder; while the ladder is being raised or lowered, this section always maintains contact with the ground or other supporting surface
Butt ( heel or base )
Bottom end of the ladder; the end that is placed on the ground or other supporting surface when the ladder is positioned
Butt spurs
Metal plates , spikes or cleats attached to the butt end of ground ladder beams to prevent slippage
Dogs (pawls/ladder locks)
Devices attached to the inside of the beams on fly sections used to hold the fly section in place after it has been extended
Fly Section
Upper sections of extension or some sombination ladders : the section that moves
Foot pads
swivel plates attached to the butt of the ladder ; usually have rubber or neoprene bottom surfaces
Guides
Wood or metal strips, sometimes in the form of slots or channels, on an extension ladder that guide the fly section while being raised
Halyard
Rope or cable used for hoisting and lowering the fly sections of an extension ladder : also called fly rope
Heat-sensor label
Label affixed to the inside of each beam of each ladder section ; a color change indicates that the ladder has been exposed to a sufficient degree of heat that it should be tested before further use
Heel ( butt )
Bottom end of the ladder ; the end that is placed on the ground or other supporting surface when the ladder is positioned
Hooks
Curved metal devices installed near the top end of roof ladders to secure the ladder to the highest point on a peaked roof of a building
Locks ( pawls )
Devices attached to the inside of the beams on fly sections used to hold the fly section in place after it has been extended
Main section ( also called bed or base section)
Bottom section of an extension ladder
Pawls ( also called dogs or ladder locks )
Devices attached to the inside of the beams on fly sections used to hold the fly section in place after it has been extended
Protection Plates
strips of metal attached to the ladders at chafing points, such as the tip, or at areas where they come in contact with the apparatus mounting brackets
Pulley
small, grooved wheel through which the halyard is drawn on an extension ladder ( helps pull the fly up )
Rails
the two lengthwise members of a trussed ladder beam that are separated by truss or separation blocks
Rungs
Cross members that provide the foothold for climbing; the rungs extended from one beam to the other except on a pompier ladder where the rungs pierce the single beam
Shoes
swivel plates attached to the butt of the ladder ; usually have rubber or neoprene bottom surfaces
Stops
Wooden or metal pieces that prevent the fly section from being extended too far
Tie rods
Metal rods extending from one beam to another
Tip ( top
Extreme top of a ladder
Truss Block
Spacers set between the rails of a trussed ladder ; sometimes used to support rungs
Fire service ground ladders are ladders that are not ____1___ mounted on a piece of apparatus and are __2______ from the apparatus to the point of application by one or more firefighters. Ground ladders must then be ____3____ into position by hand.
(1)permanently , (2)carried, and (3) raised
What are two things ground ladders are most often used for in the fire service ?
To climb to elevated locations and providing a means for firefighters to move victims down from elevated locations. ( this includes helping the firefighter escape from life-threatening situations )
True or False
Fire service ladders are similar to any other ladder in shape and design ; however, they tend to be built more substantially and are capable of withstanding heavier loads than those manufactured for use by the private industry or the general public
True - their use under adverse conditions requires that fire service ground ladders provide a margin of safety not usually expected of other ladders . NFPA 1931, and 1932.
What are the two main parts of a ladder ??
Beams and Rungs
Stops are used on extension and pole ladders to prevent _________ ?
overextension of the fly sections
True or False
Also called wall ladders or straight ladders, single ladders consist of only one section of a fixed length. They are identified by the overall length of the beams. Most commonly ranging from 12-24 feet
True
What are roof ladders used for ??
Are they extension ladders or single ladders ?
Roof ladders are single ladders equipped with folding hooks that provide a means of anchoring the ladder over the ridge of a pitched roof or some other roof part.
The ladder generally lie flat on the roof surface so that a firefighter may stand on the ladder for roof work, helps prevent slipping and distributes a firefighters weight.
True or False
Roof ladders can NOT be used as single wall ladders
False
Roof ladders are single ladders, they just have folding hooks near the tip to attach to roofs.
What type of ladder is used for interior attic access ?
Folding ladders or Attic Ladders
What is the difference between Extension Ladders and Pole Ladders(Bangor Ladder) ??
They both are adjustable in length, and consist of a bed section as well as one or more fly sections.
However NFPA 1931 requires all extension ladders that are 40 feet or longer to be equipped with staypoles for added leverage and stability.
What type of ladder can be used as a self-supporting step ladder ( A-Frame ) and as a single or extension ladder ?
Combination Ladders , they also must be equipped with a positive locking device to hold the ladder in the open position
Are Staypole/Pompier ladders single beamed or double beamed ??
Staypole/Pompier ladders are single beam ladders with rungs projecting from both sides of the beam.
What are Staypole/Pompier ladders used for ?
Staypole/Pompier ladders are used to climb from floor to floor , via exterior windows
Ground ladders are service tested __________ ?
Annually
True or False
Metal ladders can suddenly fail when exposed to heat or flame and are Good conductors of heat, cold and electricity. However they are easy to repair and widest range in size.
True
True or False
Wood ladders are not very durable and do not retain strength when exposed to heat or flame, they are also the lightest of the ladders
False
Woods ladders are very durable
They do retain strength when exposed to heat or flame
They are the most expensive and the strongest
What are the disadvantages and Advantages of using Fiberglass ladders ??
Advantages = not good at conducting electricity Disadvantages = suddenly crack and fail when overloaded , can burn when exposed to flame
The only place you can paint ladders for purposes of identification or visibility are ???
The top and bottom 18 inches
What is maintenance ?? What is repair ??
Maintenance means keeping ladders in a state of usefulness or readiness . Repair means to either restore or replace that which is damaged or worn out.
True or False
Accumulated dirt or debris from a fire may collect and harden to the point where ladder sections cannot function as designed
True , therefore it is recommended that ladders be inspected regularly and cleaned after every use
True or False
NFPA 1932 requires ladders to be inspected after each use and on a monthly basis .
True, they are required to be service tested annually.
Ladders that cannot be safely repaired must be ________ or _______ for parts.
Destroyed or scrapped for parts
At a minimum a pumper must contain 3 types of ladders , which are they ?
- straight ladder equipped with roof hooks
- extension ladder ( normally 35 foot or above)
- One attic ladder
What is the proper angle for ladder placement ?
75 degree angle
What is a Belay ?
A climbers term for safety line
Do not raise ladders to within _____ feet of electrical wires
10 feet
When working from a ladder , it is vital to secure yourself with either a _______ or _________.
Ladder belt or leg lock
What is the minimum distance the firefighters should be spaced to not overload a ladder ?
One firefighter every 10 feet or one every section ( base , fly etc.. )
How many rungs should the ladder be extended beyond the roof edge ? And why ??
3 to 5 rungs beyond the roof edge, to provide both a footing and a handhold for anyone stepping on and off the ladder.
When do you place the tip of the ladder even with the top of the window and to the windward ( upwind) side of it ??
To gain access to a narrow window or for ventilation
Place the tip of the ladder just below the windowsill when ??
Rescuing from a window opening is to be performed
Is the designated reach of a ladder ( its maxiumum extended length ) the same as a ladders reach ?
NO, because ladders are set at angles of 75 degrees for climbing, the reach will be LESS than the designated length.
In some cases, an extension ladder may even have an additional maximum extended length 6 inches less than the designated length
Why should you carry the forward end of the ladder slightly lowered ?
To provide better balance , it also allows the firefighter better visibility up ahead, and if it does strike someone , the butt spurs will make contact with the body and not the head
In the two-firefighter low-shoulder carry which end of the ladder is advancing toward the building ?
The butt end will be advancing towards the building
True or False
The roof ladder may be carried with the tip forward and hooks already opened turned outward
True
Ideally, the ladder should be at ______ different points of the building
Two separate points
True or False
An easy way to determine the proper distance between the heel of the ladder and the building is to divide the working length ( length actually used) of the ladder by 4.
True , however there are other ways as well, such as standing on the buttom rung and reaching directly for the rung at shoulder level
In general, the fly should be inside or outside, when using modern metal or fiberglass ladders ??
The fly should be outside, away from the building. The only exception is Wooden Ladders
What knot is used for tying the halyard ??
Clove hitch with an overhand safety knot
True or False
Normally an officer designates the general location where the ladder is to be positioned and the task to be performed, but personnel carrying the ladder frequently decide on the exact spot where the butt is to be placed.
True
Are corners a good place to put ladders ??
Yes they are considered strong points in building construction.
True or False
You can place ladders in front of any door or path , i you need too.
False
Avoid placing ladders in front of doors or other paths of travel that firefighters or evacuees will need to use.
