Chapter 7: Ropes and knots Flashcards
(103 cards)
1
Q
life safety rope:
A
designed to be used only for rescue and other emergency operations
o also used to raise, lower or support firefighters during training
o should not be used for any other purpose
2
Q
NFPA 1983
A
specifies that only rope of block creel construction using continuous filament virgin fiber for load bearing elements is suitable for life safety applications
3
Q
block creel construction
A
method of manufacturing rope without any knots or splices; a continuous strand of fibre runs the entire length of the ropes core
4
Q
In order to be reused in life safety situations, the standard also requires that ropes met the following criteria:
A
o No abrasions
o No exposure or heat or direct flame
o No exposure to any impact load
o No exposure to the liquids, solids, gases,mists or vapours of any chemical or other material that can deteriorate rope
5
Q
Remove a life safety rope from service if
A
it has been subjected to an impact load, fails inspection, has been used only as utility rope, or is marked for destruction
6
Q
Life safety rope that has been converted to utility rope is referred to as
A
downgraded
7
Q
rope log
A
Start and keep a rope log throughout the ropes working life
8
Q
Utility Rope
A
can be used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects or cordon off an area
- NFPA does not have standard s
- Inspect utility rope regularly to see if its damaged
9
Q
Synthetic fibers
A
are used to construct both life safety and utility ropes while natural fibers are only permitted for utility ropes
10
Q
The main difference between syntetic and natural fibers ropes is
A
the material used for the construction, which affects the use and longjevity of each type of rope
11
Q
Synthetic ropes are replacing natural ropes as utility ropes because
A
natural fibrer rope loses its strength when it gets wet and rots rapidly
12
Q
Synthetic fibers include:
A
o Polypropylene
o Nylon
o Kevlar
o Polyester
o Polysteel
o Spectra
13
Q
A disadvantage of synthetic fibers
A
is that they will melt when exposed to heat
14
Q
Synthetic fiber rope has the following advantages;
A
o Excellent resistance to water, mildew, mold, rotting and shrinkage
o Longer life span than natural fibre rope
o Lightweight yet very strong
o Easy to maintain
15
Q
Most natural fiber rope is made from
A
plant fibers such as:
o Manila
o Hemp
o Sisal
o Cotton
16
Q
natural fibre rope should not be used for
A
Should not be used for life safety applications
17
Q
natural fibre disadvantages
A
-Prone to mildew and mold
-Deteriorates when exposed to chemicals and It burns
18
Q
Natural fiber rope does have the following advantages
A
o More resistant to sunlight than synthetic rope
o Chars rather than melts (fails) when exposed to heat
19
Q
The most common types of rope construction are
A
o Kernmantle
o Braided
o Laid
o Braid on braid
20
Q
Kermantle rope
A
jacketed synthetic rope composed of a braided covering or sheath (mantle) over a core (kern) of the main load-bearing strands
21
Q
kermantle core
A
- The core strands run parallel with the rope’s length and work in conjunction with the covering to increase the ropes stretch resistance and load characteristics
- The core is made of high fibers usually nylon which accounts for 75% of the total strength of the rope
22
Q
kermantle rope sheath
A
The sheath protects the core from abrasions and contamination
23
Q
Comes in both ______ and _______ types
A
Comes in both dynamic (high stetch) and static (low stretch) types
24
Q
Dynamic rope and advantages
A
is used when long falls are a possibility
o To reduce the shock of impact in falls, dynamic rope is designed to stretch without breaking
25
dynamic rope disadvantage
when trying to raise or lower heavy loads, dynamic rope is not used for hoisting applications other than as belay line
26
Static rope
is used for most rope-rescue operations
o It is designed for low stretch without breaking
o Used for rescue, rappelling and hoisting where falls are not likely
27
NFPA 1983 low stretch rope must not elongate more than ____ when tested under a load equal to ____ of its breaking strength
NFPA 1983 low stretch rope must not elongate more than 10% when tested under a load equal to 10% of its breaking strength
28
Laid ropes
are constructed by twisting fibers together to form strands then twisting the strands (typically three) together to make the final rope
- Used exclusively as utility ropes
29
One disadvantage of laid ropes is
that they are susceptiple to abrasion and other physical damage
o Damage also immediately affects the ropes strength
30
One advantage of laid (twisted) rope
this strand exposure is that it makes laid ropes easy to inspect
31
Braided rope
constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope together in a diagonally overlapping pattern
- Used as utility rope
- Most braided ropes are synthetic
32
advantage and disadvantage of braided rope
It is less likely to twist during use than laid rope but its load bearing fibers are still vulnerable to direct abrasion and damage
33
Braid on braid rope:
consists of a braided core enclosed in a braided sheath
- Braid on braid rope has a braided core running the length of the rope
- Very strong
- Half its strength is in the sheath and the other half is in the core
- Used as utility rope
34
A disadvantage of braid on braid rope is
that it does not resist abrasion as well as kermantle rope
o The sheath may slide along the inner core of rope
35
Double braided rope is sometimes confused with
kermantle
35
Personnel should inspect all ropes when?
after each use and inspect unused rope at least once a year
36
If any of the following damage is found, remove the rope from service and have it destroyed:
o Imbedded shards of glass
o Metal shavings
o Wood splinters
o Foreign objects that can damage the fibers
37
Inspecting kermantle rope for damage is somewhat difficult because
the damage may not be obvious
- When inspecting put a slight tension on the rope while feeling for lumps, dpressions, or soft spots
o Soft spots are caused by bends of knots
o If you feel a soft spot inspect the outer sheath; if the sheath is damaged, the core is probably damaged as well
- If there is any doubt about the ropes integrity, it should be removed from service, downgraded to utility status or destroyed
38
In addition to inspecting kermantle rope for damage to the core and sheath, inspect the rope for:
o Irregularities in shape or weave
o Foul smells
o Discoloration from chemical contamination
o Roughness
o Abrasions
o Deterioration (fuzziness)
Rope that is excessively fuzzy in one spot or overall should be removed from service
39
Synthetic laid rope
should be untwisted so that all the sides of each strand can be inspected
- Mildew must always be removed, after which the rope should be cleaned and reinspected
40
When inspecting synthetic rope look for the following:
o Sift, crusty, stiff or brittle spots
o Cuts, nicks or abrasions
o Dirt or grease
o Excessive stretching
o Chemical damage
o Other obvious flaws
41
When inspecting natural rope, look for the following signs of damage:
o Ruptured fibers and powdering between strands indicates the rope has benn overloaded
o Dark, red, brown or black spots between the strands, along with a sour, musty, acidic odor indicate rot and mildew
o Powdering between strands indicates internal wear
o Brittle or ruptured fibers, dark red or brown spots, salt incrustation, or swollen areas indicate chemical damage
o Rust spots which occur on ropes in pre rigged pulley systems or ropes that are stored with other metal devices indicte weakened fibers and reduced holding power
o Accumilations of heavy, greasy materials indicate adverse effects on rope strength and reduce holding power
42
When rot is discovered the rotten rope and any surrounding ropes must be immediately removed from servie, cleaned and reinspected because
Rot will quickly spread from a rotten rope to new rope if they are stored next to one another
43
Visually inspect braided rope for
exterior damage such as nicks, cuts, heat sears and excessive or unsual fuzziness
44
Visually inspect braid on braid rope for: and feel for:
o Heat sears
o Nicks
o Cuts
- Feel for lumps which indicate core damage
- For the ropes diameter has shrunk this may indicate a break in the core
- Check to see if the sheath slides on the core: if it does, cut the end of the rope, pull off the ecess material and then seal the end
45
Following guides can help to esure that ropes remain in good condition:
o Avoid abrasion and uncessary wear:
o Avoid sharp angles, bend and knots
o Protect ends from damage
o Avoid sustained loads
o Avoid rust
o Prevent contact with chemicals
o Reverse ends of the rope periodically
o Do not walk on rope
46
Avoid abrasion and uncessary wear:
rope can be weakened from constant vibration against apparatus compartment surfaces, compression when stored in tight spaces and surface damage due to chafing or dragging over splintered, rough or gritty surfaces
47
Avoid sharp angles, bend and knots
sharp angles, bends and knots can reduce strength by as much as 50%
48
Protect ends from damage
whip or tape cut ends to prevent unravelling
49
Avoid sustained loads
natural fiber ropes have less ability to bear sustained loads than synthetic fiber ropes
If they are subjected to heavy loads for long periods of time they can break well below the rated load limit
Never exceed the load limit of any rope or subject it to sustained loads for more than two days
50
Avoid rust
keep all synthetic or natural fiber ropes away from rust, which can weaken rope in as little as one to two weeks
If ropes become rust stained, inspect the extent of the stain. If it is halfway through the rope then it may have lost as much as half its strength. The rope should be removed from service and destroyed
51
Prevent contact with chemicals
natural fibre rope is extremely vulnerable to chemicals and solvents
Sythnetic rope is not entirely resistant to dmage from oils, gas, paint and chemicals
Do not let rope contact storage battery solution, washing compunds or solutions or animal waist
52
Reverse ends of the rope periodically
uncoil the rope and recoil it with the location of the ends changed. This will ensure even wear along all portions of the rope
53
Do not walk on rope
walking on rope grinds dirt and debri into the strands and bruises the strands by compressing them
54
Cleaning rope: Synthetic fiber ropes
mild detergent or fabric softner added in lukewarm to warm water
55
The following three methods are used for cleaning synthetic ropes
o Washing by hand
o Rope washing device
o Washing machine
56
Natural fiber ropes
wipe or gentley brush the rope to remove as much of the dirt and grit as possible
57
Rope storage (3)
- The rope should be in a clean, dry, unheated area with freely circulating air currents
- Ropes should not be stored in the same compartments where gasoline powered tools of fuel containers stored
- The best method for storing rope is to place it into a nylon or canvas storage bag
58
Webbing
used in conjunction with rope for both life safety and utility applications
59
webbing- Comes in many forms and may be a:
o Piece of material
o Ladder belt
o Loop
o Rescue harness
60
Webbing is constructed from
the Same materials used to make synthetic rope
61
____ inch webbing is the most commonly used
1 inch
62
Any webbing used for life safety applications must be
NFPA 1983 compliant
63
Flat webbing
flat webbing is constructed of a single layer of material that resembles an automobile seat belt
o It is stiffer and more difficult to tie into knots
o Mainly used for straps and harnesses
64
Tubular webbing
commonly used for rescue applications
o Two types of tubular webbing are edge stitched and spiral weave
65
edge stitched webbing
webbing is formed by folding a piece of flat webbing lengthwise and sewing the edges together
66
Spiral weave webbing
tubular webbing also known as shuttle loom construction is preffered for rescue work
67
Care cleaning and maintenance of webbing
follow the same guidelines used for synthetic rope
68
Knots:
join ropes and webbing together, attatch ropes and webbing to people and object, and form ropes and webbing into loops
69
parts of a rope
working end
running part
standing part
70
The working end:
is used to tie the knot or hitch
71
The running part
is the free end that is used for hoisting or pulling
72
The standing part
the section between the working end the running part
73
Dressing
tighten knots until snug, after tying all slack should be removed
Prevent such failures is to tie an overhand safety knot in the tail of the working end
74
Knot must
be easy to tie and untie , be secure under load and reduce the ropes strength as little as possible
75
Bight,loop or round turn
names for the bends that a rope undergoes when tying a knot or hitch
76
Knots and hitches
are a combination of bights, loops and round turns
77
how to form a bight
simply bendinmg the rope back on itself while keeping the sides parallel
78
how to form a loop
Make a loop crossing the side of a bight over the standing part
79
how to make a round turn
Make a round turn by further bending one side of the loop
80
Most common types of knots and hitches include:
o Overhand safety
o Clove hitch
o Figure eight
o Figure eight on a bight
o Figure eight follow through
o Water knot
81
Overhand safety knot
can be used when tying any type of knot
- Eliminates the danger of the running end of the rope slipping back through the knot causing the knot to fail
82
A clove hitch
principally used to attach a rope to an object such as a pole, post, or hoseline
- Can be formed anywhere in the rope
83
Figure eight bend
primarily on life safety rope to tie ropes of equal diameters together
84
Figure eight on a bight and how to tie
is a good way to tie a closed loop
- Form a bight in the rope and then tie a simple figure eight with a bight in the doubled part of the rope
85
Figure eight follow through:
and how to tie
used for securing objects
- It is basically a figure eight on a bight that is around the object
86
The water knot:
the preferred knot for joining two pieces of webbing or the ends of the same piece when a loop is needed
- Because the water knot has a tendency to slip, dress the knot properly and have the webbing as flat as possible when forming the knot
o Allow at least 3 inches for the tail
87
OSHA prohibits hoisting
pressurized cylinders, such as SCBAs
88
Tag lines
are non load bearing and help prevent tools from spinning or snagging while being hoisted
o Firefighters on the ground use tag lines to prevent the equipment from striking the structure or other objects
89
Carabiner:
is a snap link made from aluminum, titanium, or steel with a spring or screwed gate that connects ropes to other mechanical gear
90
Pulley
simple device used to create a mechanical advantage or a change in direction
o It consists of a grooved wheel through which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope
91
Always use the following safety
o Be sure that you are balanced and standing firmly on the ground before starting a hoisting operation
o Use the hand over hand method to maintain control of the rope
o Use an edge roller or padding to protect rope from physical damage when pulling over sharp edges
o Use a pulley system for heavy objects
o Work in teams when working from heights
o Make sure that all personal are clear of the hoisting area
o Avoid hoisting operations near electrical hazards- if not possible use extreme caution
o Secure the nozzles of any charged hose lines to prevent accidental discharge
o Use a tag line to help control the hoisted object
o Avoid hoisting tools and equipment if it is safer to hand carry them up stairs, a ladder or an aerial device
92
Hoisting an axe
The procedure for attaching and hoisting is the same for either a pick-head axe or a flat head axe
93
Hoisting a pike pole
- Raise a pike pole with the pike up
- Thai a clove hitch near the butt end of the handle, followed by a half hitch in the middle of the handle and another half hitch around the head
94
Hoisting a ladder
- Tie a figure 8 on a bite and slip it through two runs of the ladder, about 1/3 of the way from the top of the ladder. Pull the loop through and slip it over the top of the ladder.- Secure a tag line to the ladder near the foot
95
Hoisting hoselines
- Use caution to avoid damaging nozzle or coupling when hoisting hose line to upper floors
- Charged hose lines can be hoisted but it is safer and easier to hoist dry hose line
96
Hoisting a power saw
-Tie a figure ate on a bite through the clothes handle, then attach a tagline through the handle
97
Other emergency scene uses what rope
- Utility rope and webbing may also be used in other applications such as designating control zones, establishing a search lifeline, and stabilizing objects
98
Use life safety rope for:
o Rappelling
o Lifting victims and rescuers
o Removing victims from ice and swift water situations
99
Control zone perimeter
-Clove hitchs with overhand safety knots are used to tie the rope to trees, sign posts, or other stationary objects
100
Search lines
are used to assist search teams working in dark smoke-filled are confined spaces.
101
what search lines are used for
- They allow team members to remain in contact with each other and with firefighters at the lines entry point
- Provide a physical means of finding an exit route
- Branch lines are sometimes attached to the main search line allowing team members to search larger areas away from the search line while still remaining in contact with the team
102
Object stabilization
- Before any work is preformed around the object you must be certain that:
o The Rope or webbing in the anchor point or strong enough to hold the weight of the object
o The knots are tight and safety knots are in place
o The attachment points at both ends are secure and will not pull free
o Personnel are clear from the stabilizing line in case of breaks and snaps back
