Continuing Education
For the Fire Fighter
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
Ropes, Webbing, and Knots
Module 1
Chapter 8
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Compare and Describe
contrast the characteristics
characteristics Explain Describe parts of knots
of life safety reasons for of a rope and commonly
rope and placing rope considerations used in the
utility rope. out of service. in tying a knot. fire service.
Summarize Describe Describe knot
basic webbing and characteristics
guidelines for webbing and knot
rope construction. elements.
maintenance.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Select commonly
used rope hardware
for specific Inspect, clean, and
applications. store a rope.
Summarize hoisting
safety
considerations.
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FIRE SERVICE ROPE IS DIVIDED INTO TWO
CLASSIFICATIONS.
Courtesy of Shad Cooper/Wyoming
State Fire Marshal’s Office
Life safety rope Utility rope
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NFPA® 1983 CLASSIFIES TWO ADDITIONAL
TYPES OF ROPES USED IN RESCUE.
Water rescue throw
Escape rope
line
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NFPA® 1983 SETS REQUIREMENTS AND
REGULATIONS FOR LIFE SAFETY ROPE.
Continuous For load- Required
Block creel
filament bearing manufacturer
construction
virgin fiber elements information
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NFPA® 1983 SETS REQUIREMENTS AND
REGULATIONS FOR LIFE SAFETY ROPE.
Criteria for re-use
Requires rope log
Designates options for rope
removed from service
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WHILE NFPA® DOES NOT REGULATE UTILITY ROPE
IT SHOULD BE INSPECTED REGULARLY.
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SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL FIBER ROPE ARE
CONSTRUCTED FROM DIFFERENT MATERIALS.
Material
effects use,
longevity
Natural fiber
Replaced with
weakens when
synthetic
wet, rots
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SYNTHETIC FIBER ROPES ARE MADE FROM A VARIETY
OF MATERIALS AND HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES.
- Resistance to water, - Melts when exposed
mildew, mold, rotting, to heat
shrinkage, ultraviolet
(UV) light
- Long lifespan
- Strong/lightweight
- Easy maintenance
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NATURAL FIBER ROPES HAVE DISTINCT
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
- Resistant to - Mildew/mold
sunlight - Exposure to
- Does not melt chemicals
- Holds knot - Burns in contact
firmly with flame,
embers
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USE ONLY KERNMANTLE ROPE CONSTRUCTION
FOR LIFE SAFETY OPERATIONS.
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KERNMANTLE ROPE IS MADE OF SYNTHETIC
MATERIAL AND CONSISTS OF TWO MAIN
COMPONENTS.
Braided
covering or
sheath
(mantle)
Core (kern) of
main load-
bearing
strands
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KERNMANTLE ROPE CAN BE EITHER DYNAMIC OR
STATIC AND SHOULD BE USED IN DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
Dynamic rope
Static rope
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LAID (TWISTED) ROPE CAN BE EITHER SYNTHETIC OR
NATURAL AND IS USED ONLY FOR UTILITY ROPE.
Courtesy of Shad Cooper/Wyoming
State Fire Marshal’s Office
Easy to inspect
- Abrasion,
physical
damage
- Damage
affects strength
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BRAIDED ROPE IS LESS LIKELY TO TWIST THAN
LAID ROPE, BUT IS STILL VULNERABLE.
Courtesy of Shad Cooper/Wyoming
State Fire Marshal’s Office
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BRAID-ON-BRAID (DOUBLE BRAIDED) IS
OFTEN CONFUSED WITH KERNMANTLE.
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FOUR ASPECTS OF MAINTENANCE HELP KEEP
ROPE READY TO USE WHEN NEEDED.
Inspect Clean
Care
Store
for
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ALL ROPE MUST BE INSPECTED AFTER USE OR
AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.
Document in rope log
Inspect visually, by touch
Glass Metal Foreign
Splinters
shards shavings objects
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INSPECT KERNMANTLE ROPE BY APPLYING SLIGHT
TENSION AND FEELING FOR IRREGULARITIES.
Soft spots Other signs Fuzziness
May signal core damage Shape, weave Some is normal
If sheath damaged, core Remove from service if
Smells
likely as well excessive
If in doubt, remove from
Discoloration
service
Roughness
Courtesy of Shad Cooper/Wyoming
Abrasions State Fire Marshal’s Office
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UNTWIST SYNTHETIC LAID ROPE SO EACH
STRAND CAN BE INSPECTED.
1. Remove 2. Clean 3. Re-
mildew Rope inspect
Look for:
• Soft, crust, brittle spots
• Stretching
• Cuts, nicks, abrasions
• Chemical abrasions
• Dirt, grease, other flaws
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REMOVE NATURAL FIBER LAID ROPE AT
MANUFACTURER’S END OF SERVICE PERIOD.
Rotten, Internal
Overloaded
mildew wear
Dark red, brown,
Powdering
Ruptured Fibers black spots
between strands
between strands
Powdering Sour, musty,
between strands acidic odor
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REMOVE NATURAL FIBER LAID ROPE AT
MANUFACTURER’S END OF SERVICE PERIOD.
Chemical Pulley, metallic Reduced
damage devices holding power
Brittle, ruptured
Heavy, greasy
fibers; dark red, Rust spots
material
brown spots
Salt
incrustation;
swollen areas
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ENSURE THAT ROT DOES NOT SPREAD
TO NEW ROPE.
4. Dry, ventilate
1. Remove rope storage area
2. Clean 3. Re-inspect
from service before
returning
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INSPECT BRAIDED ROPE VISUALLY
AND BY TOUCH.
Exterior Interior
Nicks, cuts, heat Permanent mushy
sears spots, deformities
Excessive, unusual Feel, squeeze
fuzziness surface
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INSPECT BRAID-ON-BRAID ROPE VISUALLY
AND BY TOUCH.
Heat sears, nicks, Lumps indicate Shrinking diameter
cuts core damage may indicate break
If sheath slides on
Examine sheath core:
for wear • Cut off end, remove
excess, seal end
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AVOID ABRASION AND UNNECESSARY WEAR
WHILE USING ANY TYPE OF ROPE.
Chafing, dragging over rough surfaces
Constant vibration while in storage
Compression when stored tightly
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AVOID SHARP ANGLES AND BENDS, WHICH
CAN REDUCE ROPE STRENGTH UP TO 50%.
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PROTECT ROPE ENDS FROM DAMAGE BY
TAPING OR WHIPPING THEM.
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AVOID EXPOSING ROPE TO SUSTAINED
LOADS.
Synthetic fiber holds better than natural fiber
Can break below load limit after long periods
of time
Never exceed load limit and never more than
two days
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AVOID EXPOSING ROPE TO RUST, WHICH CAN
WEAKEN ROPE WITHIN ONE OR TWO WEEKS.
Inspect extent
If stain is halfway
If stain is minor,
through rope,
strength should not
strength may be
be diminished
reduced
Remove from service,
Keep in service
destroy
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PREVENT CHEMICALS FROM COMING INTO
CONTACT WITH ANY ROPE.
Natural fiber Synthetic fiber
extremely not entirely
vulnerable resistant
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REVERSE ENDS OF THE ROPE PERIODICALLY
TO ENSURE AN EVEN WEAR.
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DO NOT WALK ON ROPE, WHICH CAN WEAKEN IT
BY BRUISING AND GRINDING DIRT INTO THE
STRANDS.
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CLEANING ROPE INVOLVES TWO BASIC STEPS.
1. Visually inspect for
2. Use stiff brush to
soil and other
remove
contamination
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DO NOT USE BLEACHES OR STRONG CLEANERS ON
SYNTHETIC FIBER ROPE; WASH IN WARM WATER AND
MILD DETERGENT.
Courtesy of Shad Cooper/Wyoming State Fire Marshal’s Office
By hand Rope washing device Washing machine
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DRY SYNTHETIC FIBER ROPE IMMEDIATELY
AFTER WASHING AND RINSING.
Do: Do Not:
• Spread on hose • Place near heat
drying rack source
• Suspend in hose • Let dry in direct
tower sunlight
• Coil loosely in hose
dryer
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WIPE OR GENTLY BRUSH NATURAL FIBER
ROPE, BUT DO NOT USE WATER.
Courtesy of Shad Cooper/Wyoming State Fire Marshal’s Office
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ALL LIFE SAFETY ROPE MUST BE PERMANENTLY
IDENTIFIED WITH A ROPE LOG ONCE PURCHASED.
Mark ends
• With unit number and
service start date
• Print on label, seal to ends
with liquid compound
Log is kept for working
life
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ALL LIFE SAFETY ROPE MUST BE PERMANENTLY
IDENTIFIED WITH A ROPE LOG ONCE PURCHASED.
Records dates every use,
maintenance, inspection
Info helps determine when to
remove from service
Log is kept in waterproof
envelope in pocket on side of bag
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FOLLOW THESE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR
STORING ROPE.
- Clean, dry, unheated area
- Freely circulating air
- Protect from weather, direct sunlight,
chemicals, fumes, vapors
- Keep in separate compartment from fuels
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STORING ROPES IN A BAG PROVIDES SEVERAL
ADVANTAGES.
Protects against
Easy to
contamination,
transport
abrasion
May be
Can be easily
dropped,
marked, with
thrown to be
rope log
deployed
attached
quickly
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WEBBING COMES AS EITHER FLAT OR TUBULAR IN
EITHER SPIRAL OR CHAIN WEAVE.
Made from same Life safety
material as webbing must be
synthetic rope NFPA® compliant
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LIFE SAFETY WEBBING IS USED FOR FOUR
DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
Support
Construct
firefighters
technical
during
rescue anchor
technical
systems
rescue
Package and
Fasten rescue
secure
components
victims to
together
litters
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NFPA® 1983 PROVIDES STANDARDS FOR LIFE
SAFETY WEBBING AND DESCRIBES THREE SEPARATE
CLASSES.
Class I and II Class III
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UTILITY WEBBING IS NOT REGULATED BY
A STANDARD.
Must support Used for
load limit plus variety of
safety factor tasks
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WEBBING CARE AND MAINTENANCE
PROCEDURES ARE SIMILAR TO ROPE.
Follow same Always follow
guidelines as manufacturer’s
synthetic fiber rope instructions
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WEBBING IS STORED IN SEVERAL WAYS.
Carried in
protective
coat
pocket
Rolled or
Carried in
daisy-
apparatus
chained
Kept in
bags
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SUMMARY
Firefighters use rope and webbing to hoist tools and equipment,
stabilize objects, designate control zones, perform rescues, and
escape from life-threatening situations.
You must know how to inspect, clean, maintain, and store ropes
and webbing so that they are ready for use when needed.
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