Ropes and Knots

Question 1

Life Safety Rope

Answer 1

-Used solely for supporting people

Question 2

Utility Rope

Answer 2

-Used when not necessary to support the weight of a person, such as when hoisting tools or lowering equipment

Question 3

NFPA 1983

Answer 3

• Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services
• Life safety rope must be virgin fiber and block creel construction

Question 4

One Person Life Safety Rope (light duty)

Answer 4

• Designed to bear 300 lbs

- Safety Factor 15:1 (NFPA 1983)

Question 5

Two Person Life Safety Rope (general duty)

Answer 5

-Designed to bear 600 lbs

Question 6

Personal Escape Rope

Answer 6

• Last resort
• One time use
• 300 lbs one person support
• 10:1 safety factor (NFPA 1983)

Question 7

Natural Fibers

Answer 7

• Can be weakened by mildew and deteriorate with age
• Can absorb 50% of its weight in water
• Very difficult to dry

Question 8

Synthetic Fibers

Answer 8

• Nylon invented 1938
• Polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene
• Generally stronger than natural fibers
• Can use smaller diameter rope without sacrificing strength
• Resistant to rotting and mildew
• Do not age or degrade as quickly

Question 9

Synthetic Fiber Drawbacks

Answer 9

• UV light can damage
• Acid/alkalis can damage
• Highly susceptible to abrasion/cutting

Question 10

Nylon

Answer 10

• Most common fiber in life safety ropes

- Retains 85% of strength when wet

Question 11

Polypropylene

Answer 11

• Lightest of synthetic fibers
• Does not absorb water
• Floats, use in water rescue
• Not as strong as nylon, hard to knot, low melting point

Question 12

Twisted Ropes

Answer 12

• Laid ropes
• Synthetic or natural fibers
• Individual fibers twisted into strands
• Disadvantage: exposes all fibers to outside of rope, stretch and unravel when load is applied

Question 13

Braided Ropes

Answer 13

• Usually synthetic fibers
• Weaving or intertwining fibers
• Exposes all strands to outside of rope
• Stretches under load, not prone to twisting
• Double braided has inner braided core protected by braided sleeve

Question 14

Kernmantle

Answer 14

• Kern: Inside, 70% of strength
• Mantle: Outside, 30% of stregth, protective
• Each fiber extends for entire length of the rope

Question 15

Dynamic Rope

Answer 15

-Elastic, stretches under load

Question 16

Static

Answer 16

-Does not stretch under load

Question 17

Dynamic Kern Mantle

Answer 17

-Overlapping or woven fibers in core which stretch when loaded

Question 18

Static Kern Mantle

Answer 18

-All fibers parallel, does not stretch under load

Question 19

Class 1 Harness

Answer 19

-Ladder belt harness

Question 20

Class 2 Harness

Answer 20

-Seat harness, supports firefighter during rescue situations

Question 21

Class 3 Harness

Answer 21

• Chest harness
• Most secure
• Supports firefighter being raised/lowered on life safety rope

Question 22

Trench Rescue

Answer 22

-Need shoring, air quality monitoring, confined space operations, and rope rescue

Question 23

Confined-Space rescue

Answer 23

-Difficult to extricate unconscious or injured person from these locations because of poor ventilation and limited entry/exit area

Question 24

Water Rescue

Answer 24

• Simplest involves rescuer throwing rope to victim

- More complicated could involve a rope stretched across a stream or river, boat could be tethered to the rope

Question 25

Four Parts of Rope Maintenance

Answer 25

- Care - Clean - Inspect - Store

Question 26

Care for The Rope

Answer 26

- Protect from sharp/abrasive surfaces, rubbing against another rope (friction), heat, chemicals, flame - Never Step on a Rope - Follow manufacterer's instructions

Question 27

Clean

Answer 27

- Mild detergent - No Bleach - Don't pack/store damp rope - Air drying preferred (no direct sunlight)

Question 28

Inspect

Answer 28

- Life safety ropes inspected after each use, unused rope inspected on regular schedule - Look for cuts, frays, depressions - Maintain a rope record including history of when rope was purchase, used, how it was use, what kind of loads were applied to it

Question 29

Store

Answer 29

- Away from temperature extremes, out of sunlight, in areas with air circulation - Away from fumes, oils, hydraulic fluids - In rope bags

Question 30

Working End

Answer 30

-Part of rope for forming knot

Question 31

Running End

Answer 31

-Part of rope used for lifting/hoisting

Question 32

Standing Part

Answer 32

-Par of rope between working end and running end

Question 33

Bight

Answer 33

-U bend

Question 34

Loop

Answer 34

-Circle in rope

Question 35

Round turn

Answer 35

-Make a loop and bring two ends of rope parallel to each other

Question 36

8 Fire Service Knots

Answer 36

- Safety Knot - Half Hitch - Clove Hitch - Figure Eight - Figure Eight on a Bight - Figure Eight with a Follow Through - Bowline - Bend (sheet or Becket bend)