Ladders 1 Portable Ladders

Question 1

Extension Ladders
35' = 20' Closed   135 lbs.
25' = 15' Closed   100 lbs.
24' = 14' Closed    80 lbs.
16' = 10' Closed   70 lbs.

Answer 1

14’ ‘A’ Frame = 7’ Closed 35 lbs.

10’ Scissor = 11’ Closed 16 lbs.

Question 2

The marine companies carry 12 foot and 20 foot portable hook ladders with wood beams. They are painted black except for the hooks and for 18 inches at the base of each beam, which are painted white. They have fixed hooks and no spikes on the bottoms.

Answer 2

Climbing angle= 65°-75°= the base of the ladder at a distance from the vertical plane equal to 1/4 the total working length of the ladder.

Question 3

ADVANTAGES OF ALUMINUM LADDERS
∙  Lighter
∙  Tougher than wood
∙  Long Life expectancy
∙  Will not dry out

Answer 3

DISADVANTAGES OF ALUMINUM LADDERS
∙ Conduct electricity
∙ Conduct heat
∙ High heat will weaken them (the metal may not show any signs of any change. A discoloration may indicate a loss of structural strength.)

Question 4

STORING AND SECURING PORTABLE LADDERS ON APPARATUS
∙ If ladders cannot be held securely, the Technical Services Division shall immediately be notified by telephone. A requisition shall be forwarded and an entry made in the company journal.
∙Provision shall be made to secure ladders as safely as possible pending repair or relocation of ladder holding devices by the Technical Services Division. These temporary fastenings shall be checked after each response.

Answer 4

∙ If the officer on duty feels that a particular ladder cannot be temporarily secured to the spare apparatus in a safe manner, and there is a danger of loss of the ladder during response, the ladder shall be left off the apparatus. An entry of this action shall be made in the company journal.

Question 5

MARKING PORTABLE LADDERS= length of a ladder shall be marked on the side of the rails within 12 inches
of the end of the ladder.

Answer 5

∙ Straight ladders - length shall be marked on each end of each rail.
∙ Extension ladders - length shall be marked at the butt end only of each rail
∙ Unit marked within 18 inches of each butt end

Question 6

Ladder Placement
A. Placed at a window - Tip shall be level with window sill.
B. Placed at a roof - Tip shall be at least 2 feet above the roof or parapet.

Answer 6

C. Placed alongside a fire escape on a building wall - Tip shall be 1 to 3 feet above the fire escape railing.
D. Placed against a fire escape - Tip shall be slightly above the fire escape railing.

Question 7

∙ The butting member places his left foot in the center of the bottom rung of the ladder and maintains a downward pressure. His right foot is positioned behind him at a comfortable distance to maintain balance and provide resistance against ladder movement. Both hands grab the beams.

Answer 7

∙ If a member is working off one side of the ladder, the butt man moves his foot from the center of the bottom rung of the ladder to the side opposite the one from which the man is working, and places his foot next to the beam

Question 8

∙ The aluminum portable ladder, if it is to be left unattended, should be secured at the tip by the first member that climbs the ladder.

Answer 8

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Question 9

CLIMBING AND OPERATING ON PORTABLE LADDERS
∙ Climb on the balls of the feet near the arch, left and right of the center line up and down the ladder.
∙ The underside of the beams are grasped with the hands.

Answer 9

∙ During the climb, the eyes look up or forward.
∙ During freezing weather, Position the rung of the ladder under the arch of the boot, next to the heel and Position the feet on the rungs directly next to the beams with each step

Question 10

The Leg Lock:
∙ The leg performing the locking maneuver is opposite the working side.
∙ To perform the leg lock, the locking leg is placed over and under the rung that is two rungs above the one on which the member is standing.

Answer 10

∙NYFD has adopted the fly up position for the placement of extension ladders.

Question 11

Portable Ladder Capacities are as follows:
A. Collapsible ladders - up to 300 pounds load.
B. Roof, straight and extension ladders (26’ or less) - up to 500 pounds load.
C. Extension ladders (27’ to 35’) - up to 600 pounds load.

Answer 11

Bridge a Fence
∙ The 16’ extension ladder, nested, is placed against the fence at the proper climbing angle and butted by a member.
∙ The butt end of the 12’ hook ladder is passed to the member on the 16’ extension ladder.
∙ The adjacent beams of the two ladders are tied together securely where they intersect

Question 12

OTHER USES OF PORTABLE LADDERS
∙ Used in a Tower Ladder Basket.-
∙ Forcible Entry
∙ Ventilating Lexan Windows- Place the butt of the ladder on the Lexan window in the corner adjacent to the window frame. Three or four members apply a gradual leaning pressure against thewindow until it is forced inward.

Answer 12

∙ Portable ladders may be placed over weakened, damaged or burnt-out stairs
∙ portable ladders are placed over holes in a floor or roof or over a shaft opening
∙ Extension ladders must be used only in the nested position when bridging.

Question 13

∙ Hook ladders, in addition to their use as conventional straight ladders, may be used on sloping roofs, to gain access to piers or bulkheads, or any other application where a hanging ladder may be required. To prevent slipping on peaked roofs, set hooks into roof by pulling down on ladder.

Answer 13

∙ during winter months when snow conditions prevent or restrict approach of the apparatus close to the fire area, in transporting heavy equipment and rolled or folded hose, the ladder as a sleigh should be considered. The ladder should be covered lengthwise with a tarpaulin, wide boards or other materials to help support the hose or other equipment and prevent it failing through the ladder, dragging in the snow, or being lost.

Question 14

∙ Portable ladders may be used in an emergency to shore excavations, or reinforce weakened walls.
∙ During winter months, portable ladders may be used for the rescue of victims that have
fallen through ice that has formed on bodies of water. Laid flat on the ice, the ladder
distributes the weight of the rescuer and/or the victims over a larger area of ice. It thereby
reduces the total weight concentrated at any one point.

Answer 14

∙ The ladder may be used to remove occupants from a stalled elevator car stuck
between the floors of a building. The occupants are first relocated to the roof of
the car via a ladder and then to a landing or a breached wall by a portable ladder.
Also uses for rescue from elevator pits.

Question 15

Tenements and Multiple Dwellings:
∙ a portable ladder should be raised to the first balcony at a point opposite the drop ladder. If more relief for the fire escape is required, another portable ladder should be
raised to the second balcony.

Answer 15

∙ Portable ladders must, if possible, be taken through the 1st floor public hall, apartments or store to the rear yard to effect rescue.
∙ Because of its portability the 12’ hook ladder may be used to gain access to the various balcony levels by the roofman or OVM for search and rescue procedures

Question 16

Brownstone Buildings:
∙Placing a portable ladder at the window of the (DEADMANS ROOM) small room over the front entrance door will be difficult because of the long, high stoop, which may interfere with firefighting operations. Consider placing the ladder at the adjoining window to gain entrance to this small room.
∙

Answer 16

There may be 2 doors to the small room, one from the interior hall and one from a larger adjoining bedroom.
If there is no door in the small room from the large bedroom, and hallway fire conditions prevent normal entry into the small room, access may be gained by breaking through the lath and plaster partition between the two rooms.

Question 17

taking the ladder through the second floor (parlor floor) of an adjoining brownstone, passing it out the rear window to another member in the yard below, is faster than using the fire building.
∙ Row frames are easier because there are front and rear doors or window entries at ground level.

Answer 17

∙ In a brownstone, it is important to take the ladder through with the butt facing the rear of the building.
∙ In a brownstone, It is recommended that extension ladders be used in lieu of straight ladders

Question 18

Brownstone Buildings:
1) 4th floor - 35’ extension ladder.
2) 3rd floor - 25’ or 35’ extension ladder.
3) 2nd floor - 16’ or 25’ extension ladder,
or 10’ - 14’ “A” Frame ladder.

Answer 18

∙ Do not climb higher than the third rung from the top on either straight or extension ladders.

Question 19

VENTING FROM PORTABLE LADDERS
∙ The tip of the ladder, if possible, should be level with, or higher than the top of the window.
∙ EYE SHIELD DOWN

Answer 19

∙ When the member is positioned on the ladder and prepares to use a tool to ventilate the window (a 6 foot hook is preferable), he should extend his arms upward and slant the tool downward and strike the glass.
∙ Placing the ladder upwind from the window will allow the falling glass

Question 20

Portable ladder with only one member: The ladder should be positioned so that it will break the desired window glass area when dropped against the window. When the ladder strikes the glass, there should be no contact between the member and the ladder.

Answer 20

∙ When a ladder has been positioned and used by a member to gain entry to a fire building, there is the possibility that he will also need it as a means of retreat. He expects the ladder to be there. Therefore, do not move or reposition a ladder used in this manner except if it is necessary to use the ladder for rescue. When an extension ladder is raised, the halyard shall be tied off to the lower section of the ladder.

Question 21

Electrical Hazards:
∙ Both metal and, under certain conditions, wooden portable ladders can conduct electricity.
∙ Electrical current can arc and jump the distance between the ladder and the wires and cause death to an unsuspecting member.

Answer 21

∙ When placing a metal portable ladder against a building constructed with an aluminum siding exterior, the member should release the ladder before contact is made with the building. Siding could be energized
∙ When operations are to be conducted at electrical generating stations or substations, under NO circumstances shall metal ladders or tools be brought inside the gates.

Question 22

MAINTENANCE OF PORTABLE ALUMINUM LADDERS
∙ Aluminum ladders shall be maintained free of dirt and grime. They shall be washed when necessary with warm soapy water and rinsed thoroughly.
∙ Nicks or burrs that are found on the ladder shall be removed with a fine file in order to prevent injury to member’s hand during ladder handling.

Answer 22

∙ A visual inspection of portable ladders shall be made weekly
∙ On all ladders, plain candle wax or paraffin shall be applied every three months to all contacting surfaces of multiple section ladders to insure smooth operation.
∙ Pulleys= 1 to 2 drops of oil once a year.

Question 23

∙ The mechanical lock assemblies shall be given careful scrutiny during inspections
and kept clean and well oiled.

Answer 23

∙ The hooks of the hook ladders must be carefully inspected, kept clean and well oiled to insure proper functioning.