Ropes And Knots (BSM) Flashcards
It is more important to be able to tie these standard knots automatically, while under stress of an emergency, than to ___
Know a greater number of knots and yet have failed to acquire skill in their use
Whether working with rope or knots in an emergency or training, ___ should be on the mind of all involved
Safety
SFD separates the use of ropes into two categories: ___
- Utility
- Life safety
A rope that is used for any function than that of life safety
Utility rope
Tie ropes, practice ropes, RIG ropes, roof ropes, and other ropes that are marked as such all ___
Fall under the umbrella of utility rope
Any rope used to support the weight of members or other persons during rescue, fire fighting, or other emergency operations, or during training evolutions
Life safety rope
Operations companies use ___ for all operations level rescues
1/2” static kernmantle life safety rope
Accessory cord used in life safety applications
- 8mm guide sling for the Load Releasing Hitch
- Prussik loops
8mm rope (accessory cord) breaking strength
3100 lbs
1/2” rope breaking strength
9000 lbs
Non-moving
Static
There is no such thing as a ___ rope system
Static
What describes rope better than static and dynamic?
Low-stretch and high-stretch
Operations life safety rope have a relatively ___ stretch ratio
Low
Stretch ratio of operations life safety ropes
Usually between 10 and 20 percent till failure
What makes the operations life safety ropes have a low stretch ratio?
Non-spiral constructed core bundle
___ elongation will occur with a working load (operations life safety ropes)
2 to 5 percent
Low stretch ropes are called ___
Static
Working load for operations life safety ropes
200 lbs
___ ropes have a relatively high stretch ratio
High stretch or dynamic ropes
Stretch ratio of dynamic rope
20 to 50 percent till failure
What gives dynamic rope its high stretch ratio?
Spiral constructed core bundle
Operations utility ropes are ___ stretch
“Dynamic” high
Rope safety rules
- Avoid walking or standing on the rope
- Do not drag the rope
- Do not leave a rope under tension for any extended period of time unless necessary
- Remove all knots as soon as possible
- If rope cleaning is needed, clean by rinsing with clean fresh water
- Hang dry wet rope before bagging
- Minimize exposure to UV radiation
- Nylon moving across nylon can melt through the stationary piece
- Pad sharp edges
- Avoid adding twists and kinks when bagging/coiling the ropes
Types of rope used
- 1/2” (low-stretch) static kernmantle rescue rope
- Accessory cord
- Utility rope
How many bags of life safety rope are carried by operations ladder companies?
3
Typically, most ladder companies will carry ___ life safety ropes
(1) 150’ and (2) 300’
A rescue load is considered to be ___
600 lbs
In order to meet NFPA certifications, life safety rescue rope has a ___ safety factor
15:1
Two accessory cords used
- Guide slings
- System Prussik Loops
Used primarily for tying a load releasing hitch, however can be used for any accessory rigging need
Guide slings
Guide sling size
25 to 30 foot
Short prusik loop size
57”
Long prusik loop size
71”
How are prusik loops tied (created)
Double overhand bend and are tightened down using a compound 9:1 pully system until 2” of tail remains protruding from the bend
Strength of 8mm material according to the manufacturer
3630 lbs
Utility rope is usually made of ___
Manila, nylon, or other synthetic materials
To achieve a functional breaking strength, the rope or other material is ___
Placed in the position of function and slow pulled to failure
The reason for slow pull testing of rope
Allows fibers to change alignment and move in relation to each other. Shock load testing occurs in less than .5 seconds and the fibers do not have time to realign
The energy generated by movement
Dynamic energy
A rope arresting a falling object, has energy transference that would be ___ of the rope
Dynamic tensioning of the rope
If a rope was attached to a falling object and used to arrest its fall, then the energy of the object would be ___
Transferred to the rope
The remaining strength in a rope that has been used for a period of time
Residual strength
As a rope is used, high load forces, abrasion, and other factors combine to ___
Reduce the strength of the rope
Factors that affect the residual strength of the rope
Arresting falls, corrosive chemicals, sunlight, abrasion, etc
Modern rescue ropes are capable of sustaining ___
Considerable damage without failure
Low stretch life safety ropes are marked ___
On each end with a number for inventory and the date the rope was placed into service. Each end is marked with either End A or End B. Mark the middle as recommended by the manufacturer
How to evenly distribute wear on life safety rope
Alternate the End A and End B after each use
Washington State Law requires members to record what the rope was ___ after every use
Used for
The rope’s history is one of the elements that will contribute to the decision of ___
When to retire a rope from service
What to note in the rope log
- Date
- Use
- Condition
- Which end and length used
- Recorder’s name
How to clean life safety rope
Wash with clean water, brushing the dirt off with a nylon brush and allow to air dry. Mild detergent may be used if needed
Questions regarding which detergent to use on life safety rope should be directed to ___
On duty personnel at Rescue 1 at Station 14
Max temp of water for cleaning life safety rope
110°F
The rope is dried ___
Away from direct sunlight in a hose tower or heated room
Before bagging the cleaned rope ___
Inspect the rope and record the washing in the rope log
In rope making the manufacturers add a ___ that leads to nylon degradation
Lubricating compound
The lubricant added to nylon rope is an aid in manufacturing, but leads to ___
Programmed obsolesce
Washington state mandates that life safety ropes be removed from service as a life safety rope after ___
6 years of service
Utility ropes are cared for based on ___
Material they are made from
Utility ropes do not have ___
- Either end marked
- Dedicated service life
- rope history log
Manila roof rope should never be put away ___
Wet
How to stow manila rope
Daisy chained
Nylon rope is usually stowed ___
Bagged
Webbing used
- 1” tubular webbing
- Pick-off straps
- Anchor straps
Primary material used for rigging anchors in operations
Webbing
Characteristics of webbing
Light, can be used for most rigging situations, and is strong
Since ___, the 1mm diameter of 1” tubular webbing makes this material an excellent choice in rigging for rescue
Tight radius bends cause larger diameter materials to lose strength
Diameter of 1” tubular webbing
1mm
General purpose utility strap made of 1 3/4” flat webbing
Pick-off strap
Pick-off strap rating
- Webbing at 10,000 lbs
- Buckle slips at 4500 lbs
Uses for this strap range from clipping an attendant into the litter for high/low angle evacuations to an adjustable attachment point for the edge attendant
Pick-off strap
The buckle could be ___, to achieve a strength closer to that of the webbing if needed (pick-off strap)
Tied off with a double overhand
Using the pick-off strap for clipping an attendant into the litter for high/low angle evacuations
Clip doubled end to the load and obtain a 2:1 mechanical advantage
2” high strength nylon straps
Anchor straps
The anchor straps have link connection points at both ends to ___
Receive carabiners
When the anchor strap is used in the basket U configuration as in operations, they are rated at ___
12,500 lbs
The end of a rope that you will manipulate the most to actively tie a knot
Running end
The end of the rope not being used in the knot you are tying
Bitter end
The running end is also called the ___
Working end
The bitter end is also called the ___
Standing end
The opposite end to the running end
Bitter end
Any rope that doubles back on itself without actually crossing over
Bight
Created when a bight crosses itself
Loop
An intertwined loop of rope, used to fasten two such ropes to one another or to another object
Knot
A knot, even when not in use, will ___
Hold its shape or form
Ways of fastening or tying ropes together
Bend or hitch
Will not hold its form when not in use or wrapped around something
Bend or hitch
Made by untwisting two rope ends and weaving them together
Splice
Kernmantle rope construction
Balanced construction of continuous filament polyester cover braided over a unidirectional nylon core
Kernmantle means literally ___
Core-sheath
Kernmantle is designed to meet the rigorous requirements associated with ___
Rescue and rappelling operations
Carabiners are central to ___
Rigging for rescue
All carabiners should be loaded ___
Along the spine
Along the spine
From end to end
Squarish rescue carabiners tend to ___
Rotate the load on the opposite side of the spine causing incorrect loading
Incorrect loading greatly reduces the carabiner’s strength by as much as ___
50%
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Locking “D” rescue carabiner breaking strength
9000 lbs
The large gate opening on the locking “D” rescue carabiner allows it to ___
Fit over litter rails
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
When using the locking “D” rescue carabiner, always ___
- Lock the gate
- Load along the spine
- Avoid rigging material more than two fingers wide or distributed from two different directions on the same end
Three way loading can reduce the strength of a carabiner by as much as ___
47%
Lock the gate of the carabiner for ___
Maximum strength
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Knots must be ___
Tied, dressed, and set
Cleaned up so there are no twists, and the knot flows correctly with the tension on the correct strand
Dressed
Tensioned to remove any slack in the knot
Set
The criteria for knot selection
- Ability to tie
- Ability to inspect
- Ability to adjust
- Ability to untie
- Last is the strength of the knot
Check your teammate’s knots with the ___ method to be sure they are ___
- Touch
- Dressed and set
A tactile review of each element of a knot
Touch method
If the component of the knot hasn’t been touched by the reviewer, then it hasn’t been ___
Checked
The process of cleaning up the knot, bend, or hitch so that the rope flows smoothly through the many turns and bights
Dressing
Refers to putting a strain on each leg of the knot
Setting the knot
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with no knot
100%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with a figure 8
75-80%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with a bowline
70-75%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with a double overhand bend
65-70%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with a ring bend
60-70%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with a clove hitch
60-65%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with an overhand knot
60-65%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with two half hitches (tested over 16mm diameter ring)
60-70%
Relative strength of single kernmantle rope with a square knot
43-70%
Rope intertwined with itself
Knot
A “U” shape in the rope
Bight
Rope forming a loop and continuing on
Loop
The end actively being tied
Running end
Non-moving part of rope
Standing end
Utility knot used in many applications where a quick non-slip attachment is required in non life safety applications
Round turn and two half hitches
Bowline is used because of its ___
Adjustability, ease of inspection, and ability to be untied after being loaded
The bowline must be backed-up by ___
A Yosemite finish or a double overhand
The longtail bowline doesn’t require a ___
Backup knot
Advantage of the Yosemite finish vs a double overhand
Easy and less bulky
The tail in the bowline is rewoven through the knot until it surfaces in parallel with the standing end
Yosemite finish
Use as an end knot to form a loop to connect the rope to an anchor or harness
Double figure eight
The Double Figure 8 is one of two tie-in knots recommended for tie-in to a ___
Single person belay line
Double figure 8 may be used to tie off the end of the running end of a rappel rope so that ___
The person is not able to slide off the end of the rope
In-line figure 8 use
A mid-line attachment point that can be used for rescue systems and life safety or any place where a midline loop may be of use
Preferred method of storing webbing
Chain stitch
A hitch incorporates something within it to maintain ___
Shape
Operations company members should only use the ___ prusik
Three-wrap
The three wrap prusik hitch is for rescue loads up to ___
600 lbs
Useful to quickly tie-off the end of a rope so it will not fall out of your reach, and still easily adjustable
Clove hitch
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Why is the clove hitch not used as a tie-off, or in place of an anchor knot
Why is the clove hitch not used as a tie-off, or in place of an anchor knot?
It has been known to slip and untie
The clove hitch is a good beginning for wrapping and ___
Frapping
The square knot is actually a ___
Bend
Used to tie two strands together, primarily for non life safety situations
Square bend
Used to tie two webbing ends together to form a runner, tie a multipoint anchor together, etc
Overhand follow-through bend
Tubular webbing is slippery, so leave a ___ of tail as a minimum for the overhand follow-through bend
A hand width or two inches
Why is dressing and setting the overhand follow-through bend very important
The slippery material
This bend is used to tie two ropes together, primarily for prusik loops. Can also be used to tie high/low stretch materials together
Double overhand bend
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
The double overhand bend is preferred for use with ___
The double overhand bend is preferred for use with ___ loads
Single person
Because of the tight arcs within the double overhand bend, it is ___
Very difficult to untie once loaded
If the double overhand bend is used for rescue loads, a ___ is recommended
Prusik bypass
If you don’t use a prusik bypass with a double overhand bend if used for a rescue load, you may need to ___
Cut this bend out of the rope once it is set with a rescue load
Used for joining two unequal sized diameter material together
Double becket bend
One may wish to backup the double becket bend with ___
Double overhands on the two tails
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
Preferred link in the rigging systems
Locking “D” rescue carabiner
