Ladder 1- PORTABLE LADDERS Flashcards
Extension Ladders/Closed Length
35’- 20 ‘
24’- 14’
Straight Ladders…
20’
20’ hook
12’ hook
Special Ladders
14’ A frame- 7’ closed
10’ folding–11’ closed
Marine Company carries?
12 and 20 foot hook ladders with wooden beams..painted black
Base of portable aluminum ladder is provided with ?
STEEL SPIKES or Swiveling rubber safety shoes and aluminum spikes
Advantages of Aluminum Ladders..
- lighter in weight and stronger than wood
- can sustain daily wear and tear very well
- will NOT weaken with age/long life
- dent but NOT chip or crack
- will NOT fail suddenly
- bend but NOT break
- NO PROTECTIVE FINISH is required/will not dry out and weather
- slow oxidizing of the surface occurs, but it can be polished off
Disadvantages of Aluminum Ladders?
- readily CONDUCT ELECTRICITY
- CONDUCT heat rapidly
- subjected to excessive heat exposure at a fire, may affect load carrying capacity, even though metal shows NO SIGNS of any change
DISCOLORATION may indicate loss of structural strength
notify Fire Tools and Equipment Unit
If ladder is stored in slides or in internal racks on the apparatus, it should remove?
EASILY WITHOUT FORCE
Upon receipt of spare apparatus, LADDER BRACKETS should be?
checked for their HOLDING CAPABILITIES, as they relate to unit’s ladder inventory
if ladders cannot be held securely, IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY FIRE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT UNIT by TELEPHONE, requisition forwarded and entry in company journal…secure ladders as safely as possible and check after each response (while awaiting Fire Tools and Equip)
If OFFICER feels that particular ladder cannot be safely secured…ladder shall be LEFT OFF APPARATUS and JOURNAL ENTRY should be made
Marking Portable Ladders?
-numerical length- side rails within 12 INCHES of the end of ladder:
straight ladder- each side of rail
extension ladder- marked at butt end only of each rail of the BED LADDER
Ladder LENGTH markings shall be visible when ladders are stored on the apparatus (bluff answer- unit designation )
Unit designation- 18 inches of each BUTT
If another apparatus arriving at a fire or emergency is positioned closer than _____feet to the rear of the ladder apparatus, the _____ or ______ladder cannot be removed from these reacts due to insufficient clearance?
20 feet (need at least 20 foot clearance)
20 foot straight ladder
35 foot extension ladder
Climbing Angle for ground ladder is approx?
65-75 degrees- max strength and best service
formula- 75 degree angle—base of ladder at a distance from the vertical plane equal to 1/4 the total working length of the ladder
working length - distance from the base of the ladder to the TOP of its support(figure 4A )
Portable Ladder placement?
window- tip is LEVEL with window sill
roof- tip AT LEAST 2 feet above roof or parapet
ALONGSIDE fire escape on building wall- tip 1-3 feet above the fire escape railing
Against fire escape - tip SLIGHTLY ABOVE fire escape railing
Butting member..?
place LEFT FOOT in the CENTER of the BOTTOM RUNG of ladder and maintain downward pressure…right foot behind them to maintain balance
-BOTH hands grasp the LADDER BEAMS to aid in steadying ladder
if member is working off ONE SIDE of ladder: butt FF move foot from center to side opposite the one from which the FF is working and places foot next to the BEAM
force is direct proportion of climbing members weight and increases as member ascends ladder..will be greatest at TOP
if ladder is to be left unattended - secure at tip by FIRST MEMBER that climbs
Climbing ladder…
- climb on BALLS of feet near arch, left and right of center line, up and down
- Grasp UNDERSIDE OF BEAMS
- look forward or UP
- tool carried, balance in carrying hand, which holds onto side of beam…free hand will continue to grasp UNDERSIDE of beam
DO NOT CARRY TOOL CLOSE TO BODY OR INSIDE LADDER OVER RUNGS…because of danger to butt man , in case tool is dropped
Leg Lock..
- leg performing lock is OPPOSITE working side
- LOCKING LEG is placed over and under the rung that is TWO RUNGS above the one on which the member is standing
- instep of locking leg is placed on the beam of the ladder opposite the members working side
- arch of foot ON RUNG is placed against the other beam
- butt FF must reposition foot as previously discussed
Duties that require the member to work from the ladder necessitate the use of a leg lock or personal harness for safety: Personal harness (snap hook of the personal harness hooks directly to the ladder rung)
Leg Lock..
- leg performing lock is OPPOSITE working side
- LOCKING LEG is placed over and under the rung that is TWO RUNGS above the one on which the member is standing
- instep of locking leg is placed on the beam of the ladder opposite the members working side
- arch of foot ON RUNG is placed against the other beam
- butt FF must reposition foot as previously discussed
The FDNY has adopted the FLY OUT position for the placement of extension ladders…
FIRST MEMBER ascending the ladder should ALWAYS check the ladder lock assemblies to ensure they are completely engaged on the rung
-ladder locks work in fly out or fly in position
Portable Ladder Capacities..
collapsible ladders- 300 lb
Roof/straight/and extension ladders- 26 feet or less–500 lbs
EXTENSION ladder - 27 to 35 feet—600 lbs
Other uses of PORTABLE LADDERS…
BRIDGE A FENCE-ladders positioned should be tie together–both ladders at proper climbing angle (figure 6)
BARRIER- across doorway/on beam/over holes
Used in TOWER LADDER BASKET (SEE LADDERS 6)
SUPPORT OVERHEAD DOORS
USED ON ICE for rescue
used in bridging excavations
Fire is in cellar, 1st floor, 2nd floor…without front fire escape
raise portable ladders adjacent to and above the fire area,..severe fire may render interior stairs untenable
Tenements and Dwellings with Front Fire escapes..
raised to FIRST BALCONY OPPOSITE DROP LADDER
-if more relief is required, raise portable to 2nd balcony (drop ladder side) see figure 9
if time and conditions permit, lash ladders to fire escapes
Tenements and MD’s with REAR FIRE ESCAPES..
overcrowding of rear fires escape may be relieved by assisting OCCUPANTS to ROOF via GOOSENECK LADDER
-if possible, take ladders through first floor public hall, or store to rear yard
12 foot hook may be used to gain access to the various balcony levels by Roof/OV …may be brought to roof via Aerial /TL or utility ropes
Brownstones…
most cases, taking ladder through the SECOND FLOOR (PARLOR) of AN ADJOINING brownstone and passing i9t out the rear window to another member is faster than using fire building (doesn’t say you can’t use fire building)
take it through with BUTT facing rear
Row Frames are generally less complicated because there are front and rear windows at ground level
most often , ALL floors in brownstone can be reach via portable ladder..:
4th floor- 35 foot
3rd floor- 24’/35’
2nd floor- 24’ or 14’ A frame
Other use for Portable Ladders at Fires..?
forcible entry- straight ladders-wood frame inward opening doors
Ventilating LEXAN windows at GROUND LEVEL- remove exterior screen, place butt on window in corner adjacent to window frame-apply gradual leaning pressure (3 or 4 members)
Ventilation from Portable Ladder…
upwind from window
- tip is level with or higher than TOP of window (do not confuse with level with sill for entry and rescue)
- eye shields down
- 6 FOOT HOOK is preferable -extend arms upward and slant tool downward and strike glass
Ventilation WITH PORTABLE LADDER..
- full PPE/eyeshields
- When Ladder strikes glass- NO CONTACT with member and ladder
- no personnel should be in danger area
- as soon as glass sections have fallen, member must stabilize ladder
Burnt out stairs?
portable ladders may be placed over WEAKENED, DAMAGED OR BURNT OUT STAIRS—EXTENSION LADDER IS preferable—shorter nested length for maneuverability and positioning , while adjustable length ensure proper coverage of the entire stair span (same as MD’S)….butts shall be supported by the floor at the base of the stair, while both upper beams at the tip of true ladder should rest on the upper floor landing for proper support
When Extension ladder is used for bridging , span courts, alleys, shafts…?
ONLY IN NESTED POSITION
AUC 200
WINTER OPS
use ladder as sled…COVER WITH TARP…transport tools and equipment /rolled and folded hose
Ladder used to gain entry, must not be moved or repositioned, EXCEPT FOR RESCUE…
MEMBERs operating in area ladder was used to access shall be NOTIFIED
ladder should be returned to original location ASAP
Other uses of Portable Ladders..?
shore excavations reinforce weakened walls search-brace over floor area ice rescue elevators emergencies
Extension Ladder safety?
- do not take apart
- never be used upside down
- halyard shall be tied off
ALWAYS FACE ladder when ascending /descending..
DO NOT climb higher than 3rd rung
Defective Ladder?
Fire Tools and Equipment Unit
Do NOT lower ladder by pulling the butt end further away from the building …
this will reduce load capacity as angle decreases and may unlock the lock assembly
When placing Metal ladder against aluminum siding exterior…
release ladder before contact is made with the building (electrical shock may occur)
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should metal ladders be brought inside substation or generating stations …
never place metal ladder against metal superstructure
Maintenance of Portable Aluminum Ladders…
LESS maintenance than wood ladders
- wash warm soapy water
- nicks/burrs removed with fine file
- VISUAL INSPECTION WEEKLY and after use
- thorough inspection MONTHLY
material used on extension ladders (ladder sections to slide easily) -CANDLE WAX/PARAFFIN/GREASE
Aluminum truss ladders- GREASE cleaned from grooves/recoated each year or when dried out
ALL LADDERS- plain candle wax or paraffin applied every 3 months…apply where there is contact between rungs, guides or side rails
Pulleys- 1 to 2 drops of oil per year
Halyards- frayed or twisted should be replaced
Mechanical lock assemblies - careful scrutiny….well oiled
Hook ladders- hooks given careful scrutiny…well oiled
