IFSTA CH 7 ROPES AND KNOTS Flashcards
Life Safety Rope
Is designed to be used only for rescue and other emergency operations
It is also used to raise, lower or support firefighters during training
Life Safety Rope Construction
Only rope of block creel construction using continuous filament virgin fiber for load-bearing elements is suitable for life safety applications
The life safety rope standard also requires that ropes meet the following criteria:
No abrasions or visible damage
No exposure to heat or direct flame
No exposure to any impact load*
No exposure to the liquids, solids, gases, mists or vapors of any chemical or other material that can deteriorate rope
downgraded
Life safety rope that has been converted to utility rope is referred to as downgraded
Utility Rope
Can be used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects or cordon off an area
fire service rope can be constructed from
synthetic or natural fibers
synthetic fibers are used to construct
life safety and utility ropes
natural fibers are only permitted for
utility ropes
synthetic fiber rope disadvantage
They will melt when exposed to heat
synthetic fiber rope advantages
Excellent resistance to water, mildew, mold, rotting and shrinkage
Longer life span than natural fiber rope
Lightweight yet very strong
Easy to maintain
Natural fiber rope disadvantage
being prone to mildew and mold, it also deteriorates when exposed to chemicals and it burns when in contact with embers or open flame
natural fiber rope advantage
More resistant to sunlight than synthetic rope
Chars rather than melts when exposed to heat
Kernmantle Rope
Is a jacketed synthetic rope composed of a braided covering or sheath (mantle) over a core (kern) of the main load-bearing strands
The core is made of high-strength fibers, usually nylon, which accounts for 75 percent of the total strength of the rope
The sheath provides the rest of the ropes overall strength and protects the core from abrasions and contamination
kernmantle rope is used for
life safety rope
Dynamic rope
(high-stretch)
Used when long falls are a possibility
To reduce the shock of impact in falls, dynamic rope is designed to stretch without breaking
Static rope
(low-stretch)
Used for most rope rescue operations
It is designed for low stretch without breaking
Low-stretch rope must not elongate more than 10 percent when tested under a load equal to 10 percent of its breaking strength
Used for rescue, rappelling, and hoisting and where falls are not likely to occur or only very short falls are possible
laid (twisted) rope
Are constructed by twisting fibers together to form strands, then twisting the strands (typically three) together to make the final rope
Are used exclusively as utility ropes
laid (twisted) rope disadvantage
Susceptible to abrasions and other physical damage
Braided Rope
Is constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope together in a diagonally overlapping pattern
Braided Rope most commonly used as
utility rope
Braid-on-braid Rope
Consists of a braided core enclosed in a braided sheath
Also known as a double braided rope
Half of the strength is in the sheath and the other half is in the core
Braid-on-braid Rope disadvantage
Does not resist abrasion as well as kernmantle rope
Sheath may slide along the inner core of the rope
Braid-on-braid Rope most often used as
utility rope
If any of the following damage is found, remove the rope from service and have it destroyed:
Imbedded shards of glass
Metal shavings
Wood splinters
Foreign objects that can damage the fibers
when inspecting kernmantle rope
put a slight tension on the rope while feeling for lumps, depression or soft spots
Soft sports are caused by knots or bends, but they may not be signs of permanent damage to the core because core fibers may only be temporarily misaligned
when inspecting laid rope
Synthetic rope should be untwisted so that all sides of each strand can be inspected
Braid-on-braid rope inspection
Feel for lumps, which indicates core damage
If the ropes diameter has shrunk, this may indicate a break in the core
Maintaining Rope
- Avoid abrasion and unnecessary wear
- Avoid sharp angles, bends and knots
- Protect ends from damage
- Avoid sustained loads
- Avoid rust
- Prevent contact with chemicals
- Reverse ends of the rope periodically
- Do not walk on rope
Cleaning synthetic fiber rope
To loosen imbedded dirt particles, wash synthetic fiber ropes with a mild detergent or fabric softener added in lukewarm to warm water
Cleaning synthetic fiber rope - 3 methods
Wash by hand
Rope-washing device
Washing machine
Cleaning synthetic fiber rope - After you have washed and rinsed the rope you must dry the rope immediately
Never place it near a heat source or use a heated dryer because heat can reduce the ropes tensile strength
cleaning natural fiber ropes
Wipe or gently brush the rope to remove as much or the dirt and grit as possible
Do not use water, as this will damage the rope
Maintaining a Rope Log
Keep a rope log for every life safety rope throughout the ropes working life
rope log must include
Product label, identification label and manufacturers instructions
Information regarding purchase date, use, maintenance and inspection
Incidents that result in impact loading
Rope Storage
Should be stored in a clean, dry, unheated area with freely circulating air currents
what kind of bag to store rope
Best method for storing rope is to place it into a nylon or canvas storage bag
The bag makes the rope easy to transport and protects it from abrasion and contamination
Webbing - Material and Construction
Webbing is constructed from the same materials used to make synthetic rope
flat webbing
Is constructed of a single layer of material that resembles an automobile seat belt
It is stiffer and more difficult to tie into knots
Mainly used for straps and harnesses
tubular webbing
Commonly used for rescue applications
Easier to tie than flat webbing
two types of tubular webbing
edge-stitched
spiral weave
edge-stitched tubular webbing
formed by folding a piece of flat webbing lengthwise and sewing the edges together
spiral weave tubular webbing
preferred for rescue work
knots - Rope is divided into three parts
working end
running part
standing part
working end
used to tie the knot or hitch
Running part
free end that is used for hoisting or pulling
standing part
section between the working end and running part
dressing the knot
after tying all slack should be removed
overhand safety knot
One way to prevent failures is to tie a overhand safety knot in the tail of the working end
To be suitable for use in the fire service, a knot must:
Be easy to tie and untie
Be secure under load
Reduce ropes strength as little as possible
Overhand safety knots
As an added measure of safety, an overhand safety knot can be used when tying any type of knot
Clove Hitch
Principally used to attach a rope to an object such as a pole, post or hose line
Figure-eight
It can be used as a stopper knot so that the rope will not pass through a rescue pulley or the grommet of a rope bag
figure-eight bend
Primarily used on life safety rope to tie ropes of equal diameter together
figure-eight on a bite
Good way to tie a closed loop
figure-eight follow through
Used for securing objects
water knot
Preferred knot for joining two pieces of webbing or the ends of the same piece when a loop is needed
Rope and webbing are frequently used to raise or lower tools and equipment, with one notable exception
Prohibits hoisting pressurized cylinders
Tag line
A separate tag line may be tied to the equipment or part of the hoisting line may also serve as a tag line
Are non-load-bearing and help prevent tools from spinning or snagging while being hoisted
Firefighters on the ground use the tag line to prevent the equipment from striking the structure or other objects
Carabiner
Is a snap link made from aluminum, titanium or steel with a spring or screw gate that connects ropes to other mechanical gear
Pulley
Simple device used to create a mechanical advantage or change in direction
Consist of a grooved wheel which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope
Personnel should never use utility rope during rescue operations, instead use life safety rope for:
Rappelling
Lifting victims and rescuers
Removing victims from ice and swift weather situations
Control Zone Perimeter
Utility rope has traditionally been used to establish the perimeter to control access to required control zones
Clove hitch with overhand safety knots are used to tie the rope to trees, sign posts or other stationary objects
Search lines
Used to assist search teams working in dark, smoke-filled or confined spaces
They allow team members to remain in contact with each other and with firefighters at the lines entry point
They also provide a physical means of finding an exit route
Object stabilization
Utility rope and webbing are sometimes used to stabilize an object
Before any work is performed around the object, you must be certain that:
The rope or webbing and the anchor point are strong enough to hole the weight of the object
The knots are tight and safety knots are in place
The attachment points at both ends are secure and will not pull free
Personnel are clear from the stabilizing line in case it breaks and snaps back
