Chapter 7

Homework
Ropes & Knots
Section A: Key Term
Directions: Type the definition of the terms below on the yellow box provided.
1. Life Safety Rope (p. 277)
Rope designed exclusively for rescue and other emergency operations; used to raise, lower, and
support people at an incident or during training.
2. Block Creel Construction (p. 277)
Method of manufacturing rope without any knots or splices; a continuous strand of fiber runs the
entire length of the rope’s core.
3. Impact Load (p. 278)
Dynamic and sudden load placed on a rope, typically during a fall.
4. Utility Rope (p. 278)
Rope designed for any use except rescue; can be used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects,
or cordon off an area.
5. Synthetic Fiber Rope (p. 279)
Rope made from continuous, synthetic fibers running the entire length of the rope; it is strong easy
to maintain, and resists mildew and rotting.
6. Natural Fiber Rope (p. 279)
Utility rope made of manila, sisal, or cotton; not accepted for life safety applications.
7. Kernmantle Rope (p. 279)
Rope that consists of a protective shield (mantle) over the load-bearing core strands (kern).
8. Dynamic Rope (p. 279)
Rope designed to stretch under load, reducing the shock of impact after a fall.
9. Static Rope (p. 279)
Rope designed not to stretch under load.
10. Laid Rope (p. 280)
Rope constructed by twisting several groups of individual strands together.
11. Braided Rope (p. 280)
Rope constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope together (similar to braiding hair).
12. Braid-on-Braid Rope (p. 281)
Rope that consists of a braided core enclosed in a braided, herringbone patterned sheath.
13. Rope Log (p. 285)
Record of all use, maintenance, and inspection throughout a rope’s working life; also includes the
product label and manufacturer’s recommendations.
14. Webbing (p. 286)
Device used for creating anchors and lashings. or for packaging patients and rescuers; typically
constructed from the same material as synthetic rope.

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15. Working End (p. 287)
End of the rope used to tie a knot.
16. Hitch
Temporary knot that falls apart if the object held by the rope is removed.
17. Running Part (p. 287)
Free end of the rope used for hoisting, pulling, or belaying.
18. Standing Part (p. 287)
Middle of the rope, between the working end and the running part.
19. Overhand Safety Knot (p. 287)
Supplemental knot tied to prevent the primary knot from failing; prevents the running end of the
rope from slipping back through the primary knot.
20. Clove Hitch (p. 288)
Knot that consists of two half hitches; its principal use is to attach a rope to an object such as a pole,
or hose.
21. Clove Hitch (p. 288)
Knot that consists of two half hitches; its principal use is to attach a rope to an object such as a pole,
or hose.
22. Mechanical Advantage (p. 293)
Advantage created when levers. pulleys, and other tools are used to make work easier during rope
rescue or while lifting heavy objects.

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Ropes & Knots
Section B: True/False
Directions: Type True or False on the blanks provided; if False, write the correct
statement on the lines provided.
1. Only rope of block creel construction using continuous filament virgin fiber for load-bearing
elements is suitable for life safety applications. (p. 277)
True
2. Life safety rope that is downgraded to utility rope must be altered in some way so it cannot be
mistaken for life safety rope. (p. 278)
True
3. Rope constructed of natural fibers is permitted to be used for life safety and utility applications.
False: “Synthetic fibers are used to construct both life safety and utility ropes while natural fibers are
only permitted for utility ropes.” (p. 278)
4. When long falls are possible, dynamic kernmantle rope is used in order to reduce the shock of
impact. (p. 279)
True
5. Static rope is used for most rope-rescue operations. (p. 279)
True
6. Inspecting kernmatle rope is difficult because damage may not be obvious. (p 282)
True
7. Synthetic fiber ropes have less ability to bear sustained loads than natural fiber ropes. (p. 283)
Fales: “Natural fiber ropes have less ability to bear sustained loads than synthetic fiber ropes.”
8. Avoid drying or storing rope in direct sunlight because ultraviolet light can weaken rope. (p. 285)
True
9. A rope log must be maintained for every life safety rope. (p. 285)
True

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Ropes & Knots
Section C: Fill in the Blank
Direction: Type the correct answer on the blanks provided.
1. Life safety rope must be made of block creel construction. (p. 277)
2. The type of rope that is designed to stretch without breaking is called dynamic. rope. (p. 279)
3. In addition to visual inspections, and known failures, maintenance log information helps
determine when the rope should be removed from service. (p. 285)
4. Rope should not be stored in the same compartment where gasoline-powered tools or fuel
containers are stored. (p. 285)
5. Lumps on braid-on-braid rope indicate core damage. (p. 283)
6. When cleaning natural fiber rope do not use water because it will damage the rope by weakening
the fiber. (p. 285)
7. When conducting rescues, tubularwebbing is typically used because it is easier to tie.(p. 286)
8. The care, cleaning, and maintenance for webbing follow the same guidelines used for synthetic
rope. (p. 287)
9. When hoisting tools and equipment, firefighters on the ground use the tag line to prevent
equipment from striking the structure or other objects. (p. 291)

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Ropes & Knots
Section D: Picture Identification
Directions: Type the correct answers in yellow box provides
Part I: Sections of Rope. Identify each section of rope and describe its use. (p. 288)

1. Running End

2. Standing Part

3. Working End

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Part II: Types of Knots. Identify the name of the know below in each photo. (p. 289)

1. Overhand Safety Knot 2. A clove hitch tied around an object

3. Figure-eight knot 4. Fire-eight follow through knot

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5. A water knot tied in two pieces of webbing

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Section E: Matching
Part I: Rope Type – Inspection and Cleaning
Match the types of rope with their appropriate inspection or cleaning methods. Not all types
of rope will be used.
Kernmantle Rope 1. Put a slight tension in the rope and feel for lumps, depressions, or soft spots;
the core may be damaged without visible damage to the sheath. (pg.282)
Laid Rope 2. Untwist so that all sides of each strand can be inspected. (pg. 283)
Braided Rope 3. Visually inspect for exterior damage, excessive fuzziness, and other
deformities. (pg.283)
Synthetic Fiber Ropes 4. Wash with a mild detergent or fabric softner and luke warm water; do not use
bleach or strong clearnser. (pg.284)
Natural Fiber Ropes 5. Wipe or gently brush the dirt off; do not use water to wash the rope. (pg. 285)

Part II: Types of Knots and Hitches

Match the type of knot or hitch with the correct description
Water Knot 1. Preferred knot for joining two pieces of webbing. (pg. 291)
Figure-Eight 2. Used for securing objects; basically a figure-eight on a bight that is tied around
Follow Through an object. (pg. 290)
Figure-Eight on a Bight 3. Good way to tie a closed loop. (pg. 290)
Figure-Eight Bend 4. Used primarily on life safety rope to tie ropes of equal diameters together.
(pg. 290)
Clove Hitch 5. Mainly used to attach a rope to an object such as a pole, post, or hoseline.
(pg. 288)
Figure-Eight 6. Can be used as a stopper knot so that rope will not pass through a rescue
pulley or grommet of the rope bag. (pg. 290)
Overhand Safety Knot 7. Can be used as an added measure of safety when tying any knot. (pg. 287)

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Section F: Multiple Choice

Directions: Type the correct answer in the yellow box provided.
1. Which is a reason to remove life safety rope from service? (pg. 282)
☐ A. It is greater than five years old
☐ B. It is greater than three years old
☐ C. It has been used more than five times
☒ D. It has been subjected to an impact load
2. Which is advantage of synthentic fiber rope? (pg. 279)
☐ A. Heavy and strong
☐ B. Highly resistant to sunlight
☒ C. Excellent resistance to mildew and mold
☐ D. Ability to withstand extremely high temperatures
3. The life span of synthetic rope is: (pg. 279)
☐ A. one-half the life span of natural fiber rope
☒ B. longer than the life span of natural fiber rope
☐ C. the same as the life span of natural fiber rope
☐ D. shorter than the life span of natural fiber rope
4. Which is a disadvantage of natural fiber rope? (pg. 279)
☒ A. Prone to mildew and mold
☐ B. Little resistance to sunlight
☐ C. Melts when exposed to heat
☐ D. Has no rope industry standards
5. How often should unused rope be inspected? (pg.282)
☐ A. Weekly
☐ B. At least monthly
☒ C. At least once a year
☐ D. Unused rope does not need to be inspected
6. Ruptured fibers and powdering between strands on natural rope indicates that the rope has been:
(pg. 283)
☒ A. overloaded
☐ B. in contact with chemicals
☐ C. walked on or driven over
☐ D. stored improperly and has mold or mildew
7. What should be done when rot is discovered on natural rope? (pg. 283)
☐ A. Downgrade the rope
☐ B. Continue using but with caution
☐ C. Nothing, because rot is not a concern on natural rope
☒ D. Immediately remove from service, cleaned, and reinspected

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8. To loosen embedded dirt particles in synthetic fiber rope, use a: (pg. 284)
☐ A. hot water submersion method followed by a drip dry
☐ B. solution made with water and a strong cleanser or bleach
☒ C. mild detergent or fabric softner added in lukewarm water
☐ D. heat source such as a dryer or place the rope in direct sunlight
9. The best method for storing rope is to: (pg. 286)
☐ A. place in a large plastic tub
☒ B. place in a a nylon or canvas storage bag
☐ C. hang it inside an apparatus compartment
☐ D. use a hook to hang it on the wall of the apparatus bay
10. For what type of activity is spiral-weave tubular webbing preferred? (pg. 286)
☒ A. Rescue
☐ B. Overhaul
☐ C. Hoisting tools and equipment
☐ D. Utility purposes, such as perimeter marking
11. Tightening a knot until it is snug is referred to as: (pg. 287)
☐ A. pulling the knot
☐ B. hitching the knot
☒ C. dressing the knot
☐ D. finishing the knot
12. Using a carabiner with ropes during hoisting activities allows firefighters to: (pg. 293)
☐ A. attach more than one tag line
☐ B. avoid tying an overhead safety knot
☐ C. protect ropes against physical damage
☒ D. connect ropes to other mechanical gear
13. Which of the following is used to create mechanical advantage or a change in direction when using
ropes during utility or life safety operations? (pg. 293)
☐ A. Lever
☒ B. Pulley
☐ C. U-bolt
☐ D. Carabiner
14. Which type of rope should be used to lift victims and rescuers? (pg. 295)
☐ A. Utility rope
☒ B. Life safety rope
☐ C. Either utility rope or life safety rope
☐ D. A combination of utility rope and life safety rope
15. When using utility rope to establish a perimeter for control zones, what should rope be tied to? (pg.
295)

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☐ A. Vehicles
☐ B. Movable lighting fixtures
☐ C. Temporary poles or barrels
☒ D. Trees, sign posts, or other stationary objects
16. In dark, smoke-filled, or confined spaces, search lines made of rope can allow firefighters to: (pg.
295)
☐ A. raise and lower rescuers and victims during technical rescues
☐ B. stabilize large or heavy objects until the arrival of a backup team
☐ C. raise and lower equipment such as hoselines, pike poles, and axes
☒ D. remain in contact with each other and with firefighters at the entry point
17. When using rope for object stabilization, ensure that the rope and anchor point are strong enough
to hold: (pg. 296 )
☒ A. the weight of the object
☐ B. twice the weight of the object
☐ C. 90% of the weight of the object
☐ D. one and on-half times the weight of the object
18. When using rope for object stabilization, ensure personnel are clear from the: (p. 296)
☐ A. tag line
☐ B. control zone
☒ C. stabilizing zone
☐ D. outer circumference of the object

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Section G: Short Answer
Directions: Type your answer in the yellow box provided.
1. List two criteria for life safety rope to be reused in life safety applications. (p. 278)
● No abrasions or visible damage
● No exposure to heat or direct flame
● No exposure to any impact load
● No exposure to the liquids, solids, gases, mists, or vapors of any chemical or other material
that can deteriorate rope
2. What are two uses of utility rope? (p. 278)
● hoist equipment
● secure unstable objects
● cordon off an area
3. List four items that should be checked when inspecting kernmantle rope. (p. 282)
● damage to the core
● damage to the sheath
● irregularities in shape or weave
● foul smells
● discoloration from chemical contamination
● roughness
● abrasions
● deterioration (fuzziness)
4. List four items that should be checked when inspecting synthetic rope? (p. 283)
● soft, crusty, stiff, or brittle spots
● cuts, nicks or abrasions
● dirt or grease
● excessive stretching
● chemical damage
● other obvious flaws
5. Why should rope not be walked on? (p. 284)
Walking on rope grinds dirt and debris into the strands and bruises the strands by compressing
them.
6. What must be included in a life safety rope log? (p. 285)
● Product label, identification label, and manufacturer’s instructions
● Information regarding purchase date, use, maintenance, and inspection
● Incidents that result in impact loading

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7. Explain how rope should be stored. (p.286 )
● In a clean, dry, unheated area with freely circulating air currents
● protected from the weather, stored out of direct sunlight and kept away from chemicals,
fumes, and vapors
● placed in a nylon or canvas bag marked with the type, diameter, and length of rope and unit
to which it has been assigned.
8. List two ways to prevent the failure of dressed knots. (p. 287)
● Tighten knots until snug. After tying, all slack should be removed.
● tie an overhand safety knot in the tail of the working end
9. List five safety guidelines when hoisting tools or equipment. (p. 293)
● Be sure that you are balanced and standing firmly on the ground before starting a hoisting
operation.
● Use the hand-over-hand method to maintain control of the rope.
● Use an edge roller or padding to protect rope from physical damage when pulling it over sharp
edges, such as cornices or parapet walls
● Use a pulley system for heavy objects.
● Work in teams when working from heights.
● Make sure that all personnel are clear of the hoisting area.
● Avoid hoisting operations near electrical hazards. If this is not possible, use extreme caution.
● Secure the nozzles of any charged hoselines to prevent accidental discharge.
● Use a tak line to help control the hoisted object.
● Avoid hoisting tools and equipment if it is safer to hand-carry them up stairs, a ladder, or an
aerial device.

Fire Fighter I Chapter 7 Homework