Ropes & Knots (IFSTA) Flashcards
One of the oldest and most common tools used by firefighters
Rope
Applications for rope
- Rescues
- Hoisting tools
- Securing unstable objects
- Cordoning off areas
- Gaining access to areas above and below ground level
Designed to be used only for rescue and other emergency operations or to raise, lower, or support firefighters during training
Life safety rope
Life safety rope should not be used for ___
Other utility purposes
Only rope of ___ is suitable for life safety applications
Block creel construction using continuous filament virgin fiber for load-bearing elements
Specifies the only rope construction suitable for life safety applications
NFPA 1983
Requires manufacturers to provide info regarding proper use, inspection, and maintenance procedures and criteria for retiring life safety rope from service
NFPA 1983
In order to be reused in life safety applications, NFPA 1983 requires that rope meet what criteria?
- No abrasions or visible damage
- No exposure to heat or direct flame
- No exposure to any impact load
- No exposure to liquids, solids, gases, mists, or vapors of any chemical or other material that can deteriorate raw rope
Impact loading cannot be detected by the ___
Manufacturer’s regularly scheduled inspections
Start and keep a rope log throughout the rope’s ___
Working life
Maintaining accurate rope logs ensures that ___
Life safety ropes remain a reliable source of protection for rescuers and victims
When life safety rope is purchased, it must be permanently ___
Identified
Common method of marking life safety rope
Mark the ends of the ropes with the unit number and date placed into service
Marking the ends of new ropes can be done with ___
A printed label sealed to the rope ends with a liquid compound made for this purpose
Remove a life safety rope from service if ___
It has been subjected to an impact load, fails inspection, has been used only as utility rope, or is marked for destruction
If a life safety rope is repurposed as a utility rope, you must ___
Alter it in some way so that it cannot be mistaken for a life safety rope
Life safety rope that has been converted to utility rope is referred to as ___
Downgraded
Can be used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects, or cordon off an area
Utility rope
Ensure that downgraded life safety rope is clearly marked as ___
Utility rope
Downgraded life safety rope can be used as utility rope if it is ___
Still in good condition
NFPA standard on utility rope
None
Fire service rope can be constructed from ___
Synthetic or natural fibers
___ fibers are used to construct both life safety and utility ropes
Synthetic
___ fibers are only permitted for utility ropes
Natural
The main difference between synthetic and natural fiber ropes
The material used for construction
How does the material used for rope construction affect the rope?
The use and longevity of each type
Natural fiber rope loses its strength when it ___
Gets wet and rots rapidly
Synthetic fibers include ___
- Polypropylene
- Nylon
- Kevlar
- Polyester
- Polysteel
- Spectra
Disadvantage of synthetic fibers
Melt when exposed to heat
Advantages of synthetic fiber rope
- Excellent resistance to water, mildew, mold, rotting, and shrinkage
- Longer life span than natural fiber rope
- Lightweight yet very strong
- Easy to maintain
Most natural fiber rope is made from ___
Plant fibers such as:
1. Manila
2. Sisal
3. Hemp
4. Cotton
Disadvantage of natural fiber rope
- Being prone to mildew and mold
- Deteriorates when exposed to chemicals
- Burns when in contact with embers or open flame
Natural fiber ropes should not be used for ___
Life safety applications
Advantages of natural fiber rope
- More resistant to sunlight than synthetic rope
- Chars rather than melts (fails) when exposed to heat
Most common types of rope construction
- Kernmantle
- Laid
- Braided
- Braid-on-braid
Jacketed synthetic rope composed of a braided covering or sheath over a core of the main load-bearing strands
Kernmantle rope
Sheath
Mantle
Core
Kern
The kernmantle rope core strands run ___ and work in conjunction with the covering to ___
- Parallel with the rope’s length
- Increase the rope’s stretch resistance and load characteristics
The core of a kernmantle rope is made of ___
High-strength fibers, usually nylon
The core of a kernmantle rope accounts for ___ of the total strength of the rope
75%
The sheath of a kernmantle rope accounts for ___ of the total strength of the rope
25%
Function of the sheath in a kernmantle rope
Protects the core from abrasion and contamination as well as some strength of the rope
Kernmantle construction is used for ___ rope
Life-safety
Kernmantle rope types
- Dynamic (high stretch)
- Static (low stretch)
Used when long falls are a possibility
Dynamic rope
___ rope is designed to stretch without breaking
Dynamic
Why is dynamic rope designed to stretch?
To reduce the shock of impact in falls
Why is dynamic rope not used for hoisting applications other than a belay line?
The elasticity is a disadvantage when trying to raise or lower heavy loads
___ rope is used for most rope-rescue operations
Static
Rope designed for low stretch without breaking
Static
Low-stretch rope must not elongate more than ___ when tested under ___
- 10%
- A load equal to 10% of its breaking strength
Static rope is used for ___
Rescue, rappelling, and hoisting and where falls are not likely to occur or only very short falls are possible
Constructed by twisting fibers together to form strands, then twisting the strands (typically 3) together to make the final rope
Laid (twisted) rope
Most natural fiber ropes and some synthetic ropes are of this type
Laid (twisted) rope
Laid ropes are used exclusively as ___
Utility ropes
Disadvantage of laid ropes
- Susceptible to abrasion and other physical damage
- Damage immediately effects the ropes strength because such a large portion of load bearing strands are exposed
Advantage of laid rope strand exposure
Easy to inspect
Constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope together in a diagonally overlapping pattern
Braided rope
Braided rope is less likely to ___ than laid rope, but its load-bearing fibers are ___
- Twist during use
- Still vulnerable to direct abrasion and damage
Braided rope is most commonly used as ___
Utility rope
Most braided ropes are made with ___
Synthetic fibers, although some use natural fibers
Consists of a braided core enclosed in a braided sheath
Braid-on-braid rope
Braid-on-braid rope is also known as ___
Double-braided rope
Difference between braid-on-braid rope and kernmantle rope
Kernmantle rope has a core rope strand running the length of the rope while braid-on-braid rope has a braided core running the length of the rope
Strength of braid-on-braid rope
Very strong. Half the strength is in the core and half in the sheath
Disadvantage of braid-on-braid rope
- Does not resist abrasion as well as kernmantle rope
- The sheath may slide along the inner core of the rope
Braid-on-braid rope is most often used as a ___
Utility rope
A rope log must be kept so that personnel can record the rope’s ___
Use and maintenance history
Ropes should be inspected ___
- After each use
- At least once a year if unused
Damage to rope that requires removal from service
- Imbedded shards of glass
- Metal shavings
- Wood splinters
- Foreign objects that can damage the fibers
Inspecting kernmantle rope is somewhat difficult because the damage may not ___
Be obvious
When inspecting kernmantle rope ___
Put a slight tension on the rope while feeling for lumps, depressions, or soft spots
Soft spots in kernmantle rope is caused by ___, but they may not be signs of permanent damage to the core because ___
- Knots or bends
- Core fibers may only be temporarily misaligned
If you feel a soft spot in kernmantle rope ___
Inspect the outer sheath, if the sheath is damaged, the core is probably damaged as well
The core of a kernmantle rope can be damaged without ___
Visible evidence on the outer sheath
If there is any doubt about the kernmantle rope’s integrity, it should be ___
Removed from service, downgraded to utility status, or destroyed
In addition to inspecting kernmantle rope for damage to the core or sheath, inspect the rope for ___
- Irregularities in shape or weave
- Foul smells
- Discoloration from chemical contamination
- Roughness
- Abrasions
- Deterioration (fuzziness)
Rope that is excessively fuzzy in one spot or overall should be ___
Removed from service
Inspecting synthetic laid rope
Should be untwisted so that all sides of each strand can be inspected
In synthetic laid rope, mildew is not necessarily an option because ___. However ___
- The fibers resists rotting and molding
- Mildew must always be removed, after which the rope should be cleaned and reinspected
When inspecting synthetic laid rope, look for ___
- Soft, crusty, stiff, or brittle spots
- Cuts, nicks, or abrasions
- Dirt or grease
- Excessive stretching
- Chemical damage
- Other obvious flaws
Natural fiber laid rope deteriorates with ___
Age
When natural fiber rope reaches the end of its manufacturer’s recommended service life, it must be ___
Removed from service
The rope’s age can be determined from the ___
Rope log
When inspecting natural fiber laid rope look for ___
- Ruptured fibers and powdering between strands
- Dark red, brown, or black spots between the strands, along with a sour, musty, or acidic odor
- Powdering between strands
- Brittle or ruptured fibers, dark red or brown spots, salt encrustation, or swollen areas
- Rust spots
- Accumulation of heavy, greasy materials