Chapter 7: Ropes & Knots

Question 1

Two types of rope found in fire service

Answer 1

life-safety and utility rope

Question 2

Life-Safety Rope

Answer 2

Rope that meets the requirements of NFPA 1983 and is dedicated solely for the purpose of constructing lines to be used for the raising, lowering or supporting people during rescue, firefighting or other emergency operations, or during training.

Question 3

Criteria to consider before a life-safety rope is reused in life-safety situations:

Answer 3

1. Rope must not be visibly damaged
2. Rope must not show abrasions or have been exposed to high temp or direct flame.
3. Rope has not been impact loaded
   4 Rope must not have been exposed to liquids, solids, gases, mists or vapors from any chemical or material that can deteriorate rope.
4. Rope must pass inspection made by a qualified person both before and after each use. Inspection procedures must follow manufacturer’s recommendations.

Question 4

Impact Loaded

Answer 4

A force applied to a rope when it suddenly stops a falling load

Question 5

Life-Safety rope that fails inspection should be…..

Answer 5

….. destroyed immediately. Meaning it should be altered in a manner that it cannot be mistaken for life-safety rope and inadvertently used in that application again.

Question 6

Utility Rope

Answer 6

Rope to be used in any situation that requires a rope - except life-safety applications. Utility ropes can be used for hoisting equipment, securing unstable objects and cordoning off an area.

Question 7

Natural Fiber rope materials

Answer 7

Hemp (manila or sisal) or cotton

Question 8

Synthetic Fiber Rope

Answer 8

Rope featuring continuous fibers running the entire length of the rope; has excellent resistance to mildew and rotting, has excellent strength and is easy to maintain.

Question 9

Dynamic Rope

Answer 9

Rope that stretches farther tan a static rope. Used when long falls are possible, stretch without breaking. Not considered practical for rescue or hauling applications.

Question 10

Static Rope

Answer 10

Rope that will stretch a relatively short distance under load. NFPA 1983 = must not elongate more than 10 percent when tested under a load equal to 10 % of its breaking strength

Question 11

Three Categories of Life-Safety rope

Answer 11

Light-use; general use, and throwline

Question 12

Light use Life-Safety rope

Answer 12

3/8 inch in diameter or greater, but less than 1/2 inch. It is intended to support the weight of one person, minimum breaking strength of almost 4500lbs and maximum safe working load limit of 300 lbs

Question 13

General use life-safety rope

Answer 13

7/8 in diameter or great, but less than or equal to 5/8 inch. Intended to support the weight of two persons, minimum breaking strength of nearly 900lbs and a maximum safe working load limit of 600lbs

Question 14

Throwline life-safety rope

Answer 14

19/64 inch diameter or greater, but less than 3/8 inch. Used to tether rescuers during water rescues or to throw to a victim in the water. Minimum breaking strength of almost 3000lbs and maximum safe working load limit of 200 lbs.

Question 15

Escape rope

Answer 15

Not considered either life-safety or utility by NFPA1983, escape rope is constructed in the same manner as life-safety rope. Must meet generally the same elongation, breaking strength, and safe working load requirements as throwline. Intended for one time use only.

Question 16

Kernmantle Rope

Answer 16

A jacketed rope, is composed of a braided covering or sheath (mantle) over a core (kern) of the main load-bearing strands. The core is made of high-strength fibers, accounting for 75% of total strength of the rope.

Question 17

Laid Rope

Answer 17

Rope constructed by twisting several groups of individual strands together. Typical of most natural fiber ropes. Easily inspected, but also easily damaged. Utility rope.

Question 18

Braided Rope

Answer 18

Rope constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope together. Load-bearing fibers are subject to direct abrasion and damage. Most commonly utility rope.

Question 19

Braid-on-braid Rope

Answer 19

Rope constructed with both a braided core and a braided sheath. The appearance of the sheath is that of a herringbone pattern. Very strong, half o strength in sheath and the other in the core. Its disadvantage is that it does not resist abrasion as well as kernmantle. Sheath may slide along the core. Typically used as utility rope

Question 20

Inspecting rope should be….

Answer 20

…. done after each use. Unused rope should be inspected annually. Done by both visual and touch. Any damage found and the rope should be taken out of service. Document all inspection in rope log.

Question 21

Rope Log

Answer 21

A record that is kept by a department throughout a rope’s working life. The date of each use and the inspection/maintenance records for the rope should be entered into the log, which should be kept in a waterproof envelope and placed in a pocket that is usually sewn on the side of the rope’s storage bog.

Question 22

Cleaning Natural Fiber Rope

Answer 22

Cannot be cleaned effectively because water eventually weakens fibers

Question 23

Cleaning Synthetic Rope

Answer 23

Cool water and mild soap are least likely to damage.

Washing by hand, using rope-washing device, or placing it in a front loading washing machine.

Question 24

Storage of Life Safety Rope

Answer 24

In spaces or compartments that are clean and dry but have adequate ventilation. Should not be exposed to chemical contaminants (battery acid or hydrocarbon fuels)

Question 25

Bagging Rope

Answer 25

Best method for storing kernmantle rope and other life-safety rope. Can be deployed quickly by holding the end of the rope and throwing or dropping the bag.

Question 26

Coiling/Uncoiling of rope

Answer 26

Improperly coiled rope may become tangles and fail to uncoil, resulting in the failure of an evolution.

Question 27

Webbing

Answer 27

Synthetic nylon, spiral weave, tubular material used for creating anchors, lashings, and for packaging patients and rescuers.

Question 28

Running End of a Knot

Answer 28

part of the rope that is to be used for work such as hoisting, pulling or belaying

Question 29

Working in of Knot

Answer 29

part of the rope that is to be used in forming the knot. AKA Bitter end or loose end

Question 30

Standing Part

Answer 30

That part of a rope between the working end and the running end.

Question 31

Elements of a Knot

Answer 31

To be suitable for use in rescue, a knot must be easy to tie and untie, be secure under load, and recue the rope's strength as little as possible

Question 32

Names for the bends that a rope undergoes

Answer 32

Bight, Loop and round turn

Question 33

Overhand Safety Knot

Answer 33

not used in conjunction with other knots to eliminate the danger of the running end of the rope slipping back through the knot, causing the knot to fail.

Question 34

Clove Hitch Knot

Answer 34

Knot that consists essentially of two half-hitches. Its principal use is to attach a rope to an object such as a pole, post or hose. Not suitable for anchoring of life-safety rope

Question 35

Figure Eight Knot

Answer 35

Knot used to form a loop in the end of rope; should be used in place of the bowline knot when working with synthetic rope. Also used as a stopper knot so the rope will not pass-through grommet of rope bag.

Question 36

Figure Eight Bend

Answer 36

Used primarily to tie ropes of equal diameters together. AKA Flemish Knot

Question 37

Figure Eight on a Bight

Answer 37

Good way to tie a closed loop in the end of a rope.

Question 38

Figure eight Follow Through

Answer 38

Used to secure a rope around an object.

Question 39

Carabiner

Answer 39

Metal snap link used to connect elements of a rescue system together. 2 actions are required to be used during rescue.

Question 40

Pulleys

Answer 40

used in rescue systems to change the direction of pull or create mechanical advantage.

Question 41

Hoisting safety Considerations

Answer 41

1. Have solid footing and make necessary preparations before starting 2. Use the hand-over-hand method to maintain control of rope 3. Use an edge roller or padding to protect rope 4. Work in teams to ensure FF safety 5. Look to ensure all personnel are clear of are 6. Avoid hoisting operations near obstructions 7. Secure nozzles of any charge hose lines 8. Use a guideline to help control objects