Ropes and Knots

Question 1

What is life safety rope?

Answer 1

Rope designed exclusively used for rescue and other emergency operations; used to raise, lower, and support people at an incident or during training.

Question 2

What is the life span for life safety rope?

Answer 2

10 years. After this, it must be taken out of service.

Question 3

What is the sole type of construction approporate for life safety rope?

Answer 3

NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services, specified that only block creel construction using continuous filement virgin fiber for load-bearing elements is suitable for life safety applications.

Question 4

What criteria must be met to reuse life safety ropes?

Answer 4

• No abrasions or visible damage
• No exposure to heat or direct flame
• No exposure to any impact load
• No exposure to liquids, solids, gases or other material that can deteriorate the rope

Question 5

What is utility rope?

Answer 5

Utility rope is used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects, or cordon off an area. NFPA does not have standards for utility rope construction.

Question 6

What is the NFPA standard for life safety rope?

Answer 6

NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services

Question 7

Are natural fiber ropes allowed to be life safety ropes?

Answer 7

No, only utility ropes because they rot and loose strength when wet.

Question 8

What are the advantages of synthetic rope over natural fibre?

Answer 8

• Water resistant
• Longer life span
• Lighter weight and greater strength
• Easily maintained

Question 9

What are the advantages of natural fiber rope?

Answer 9

• More resistant to UV degradation
• Does not melt in heat

Question 10

What are the four types of rope construction?

Answer 10

Used for life safety rope:

• Kernmantle - jacketed synthetic rope composed of a braided covering or sheath (mantle) over a core (kern) of the main load-bearing strands.

Used for utility rope:

• Laid (twisted) - constructed by twisting fibers together to form strands, then twisting the strands (typically three) to make the final rope
• Braided - constructed by uniforming interweaving strands in a diagonally overlapping pattern
• Braid on braid - consists of a braided core enclosed in a braided sheath. It’s also known as a double-braided rope.

Question 11

What’s the difference between dynamic and static rope?

Answer 11

These are two types of kernmantle rope. Dynamic is high-stretch while static is low-stretch. Because elasticity is a disadvantage when raising heavy loads, static rope is used for this purpose.

Question 12

What is the maximum amount of time that a rope can be under a sustained load?

Answer 12

Two days

Question 13

What are the two types of webbing?

Answer 13

• Flat - constructed of a single layer of material that resembles an automobile seat belt. In rescue situations, it’s mostly used for straps and harnesses.
• Tubular - commonly used for rescues as it’s easier to tie into knots that flat webbing. There are two types:
  
  • Edge-stitched
  • Spiral weave - also known as shuttle-weave construction; preferred for rescue work.

Question 14

What is escape rope?

Answer 14

Rope designed to carry the weight of one person. Used for self rescue, it must be destroyed after use.

Question 15

What is a water rescue throw line?

Answer 15

A rope designed to float in water and it is used to rescue people from water.

Question 16

What is a rope log?

Answer 16

These are used for life safety ropes to determine when they should be taken out of service. The log should contain:

• Product label, identification label, and manufacturer’s instructions
• Information regarding purchase date, use, maintenance, and inspection
• Incidents that result in impact loading

Question 17

What is the best way to store rope?

Answer 17

In a nylon or canvas bag.

Ropes stored in bags can be deployed quickly by holding the end of the rope and dropping or throwing the bag. The weight of the rope inside the bag carries the bag toward the target and the rope unravels from the bag as it travels through the air.

Note that the rope log can also be attached to the bag.

Question 18

What are the 3 parts of a rope when typing knots?

Answer 18

• Running part - the free end that’s used for hoisting or pulling
• Standing part - the section between the running part and the working end
• Working end - the end of the rope that’s used to tie the knot or hitch

Question 19

What are the 4 steps to tying knots?

Answer 19

1. Form the knot
2. Tighten knot until snug
3. Remove slack (dressing)
4. Tie an overhand safety or a hitch, if needed

Question 20

What are the most common types of knots in the fire service?

Answer 20

• Overhand safety
• Clove hitch
• Figure-eight
• Figure-eight on a bight
• Figure-eight follow through
• Sheet bend
• Bowline

Question 21

What safety guidelines should be followed when hoisting tools?

Answer 21

• Stand firmly and maintain balance
• Use the hand-over-hand method to maintain control of the rope
• Use an edge roller or padding to protect rope from damage when pulling it over sharp edges, such as parapet walls
• Use a pulley system for heavy objects
• Work in teams
• Avoid hoisting near electrical hazards
• Secure the nozzles of charged hoselines
• Use a tag line to help control
• Avoid hoisting tools if it’s safer to carry them

Question 22

How do you hoist an axe?

Answer 22

1. Place the axe with the handle facing towards the intended destination (the head should be at the bottom).
2. Tie a clove hitch at the axe head
3. Loop the working end around the axe head and back up the handle.
4. Tie a half hitch on the handle a few inches above the clove hitch
5. Tie a second half hitch towards the end of the handle, above the first half hitch.

Question 23

How do you hoist a pike pole?

Answer 23

1. Place the pike pole with the head facing the intended destination.
2. Leave enough excess running end so it becomes the tag / guide line.
3. Tie a clove hitch or approved knot around the bottom of the pike pole (opposite the head).
4. Tie a half hitch in the middle of the pike pole.
5. Tie a second half hitch under the pike hook.
6. Hoist.

Question 24

How do you hoist a ladder?

Answer 24

1. Lower an appropriate length of rope from the intended destination of the ladder.
2. Make a large loop at the end of the working end of the rope using a figure 8 on a bight.
3. Thread the loop under the ladder and up between a rung that’s about one-third distance from the hoisting end.
4. Open the loop and place it over the tip of the ladder.
5. Arrange the standing part under the ladder rungs.
6. Tighten the loop around the beams, pulling the standing part of the rope up behind the rungs towards the ladder tip.
7. Tie a tag / guide line to the ladder.
8. Hoist the ladder.

Question 25

How do you hoist an uncharged hoseline?

Answer 25

1. Lower an appropriate length of rope from the intended destination of the hoseline.
2. Fold the nozzle over the hoseline so that there’s about 4 to 5 feet of overlap.
3. Tie a clove hitch with an overhead safety knot around the nozzle and hoseline so that they’re lashed together (note this should be placed over the pistol grip and bail).
4. Place a half-hitch on on the doubled hoseline about 12 inches from the loop end.
5. Hoist the hoseline from the running end while using the hoseline itself as the tag line to steady it.

Question 26

How do you hoist a charged hoseline?

Answer 26

1. Lower an appropriate length of rope from the intended destination of the hoseline.
2. With the nozzle pointing towards the destination, take the working end and tie a clove hitch with an overhead safety knot around the hoseline, a foot past from the nozzle / coupling.
3. With the standing part, secure the bail of the nozzle by making a bight, and pulling it under / through the bail and over the pistol grip.
4. With the standing part, tie a half hitch around the nozzle.
5. Hoist the hoseline from the running end while using the hoseline itself as the tag line to steady it.

Question 27

How do you hoist a chain saw?

Answer 27

1. Place the chain saw with the blade facing the intended destination.
2. Lower an appropriate length of rope from the intended destination of the saw.
3. With the working end, secure the rope to the handle of the chain saw using a figure 8 follow through or a bowline.
4. Tie a tag / guide on the grip to steady the saw while hosting.
5. Hoist the power saw.