NFPA 1081 Standard Skills Objectives

Inc ipie nt Indust ria l Fire B riga de M e mbe r After compl eti ng thi s chapter, you will be abl e to perform the foll owi ng skill s:
NFPA 1081 contai ns no Incipi ent Industri al j ob performance requi rements for thi s • Pl ace a life safety rope i nto a rope bag.
chapter. • Ti e the foll owing knots:
Safety (overhand)
A dv a nc ed Ext e rior Indust ria l Fire B riga de Me mbe r Hal f hitch
Cl ove hitch
NFPA 1081 contai ns no Advanced Exterior Industrial j ob performance requi re - Fi gure ei ght
ments for thi s chapter. Fi gure ei ght on a bi ght
Fi gure ei ght foll ow-through
Inte rior St ruc tural Indust ria l Fire B riga de M e mbe r Bowline
NFPA 1081 contai ns no Interi or Structural Industri al j ob performance require - Sheet bend or becket bend
ments for thi s chapter. • Hoi st the foll owi ng tool s usi ng the correct knots:
Axe
Pi ke pol e
Additional NFPA Standards Ladder
Charged hose li ne
NFP A 600 Standard on Industri al Fi re Bri gades Uncharged hose line
NFP A 198 3 Standard on Fi re Servi ce Life Safety Rope and Exhaust fan
System Components

Knowledge Objectives
After compl eti ng thi s chapter, you will be abl e to:
• Descri be the di fferences between li fe safety rope and utility rope.
• Li st the three most common syntheti c fi ber ropes used for fire brigade
operati ons.
• Descri be the constructi on of a kernmantle rope.
• Descri be how to use rope to support response acti viti es.
• Descri be how to cl ean and check ropes.
• Descri be how to record rope mai ntenance.
• Li st the reasons for pl aci ng a li fe safety rope out of servi ce.
• Descri be the knot types and thei r usage in the fi re servi ce.
• Descri be how to tie safety, half hi tch, cl ove hitch, figure ei ght, fi gure eight
on a bi ght, fi gure ei ght wi th a foll ow-through, bowli ne, and sheet bend or
Becket bend knots.
• Descri be the types of knots to use for gi ven tool s, ropes, or si tuati ons.
• Descri be hoi sti ng methods for tool s and equi pment.
 You are a new brigade member responding to your first structure fire at the plant. Flames are
showing from the third floor in the rear of the building. Two brigade members go into the building to
perform search and rescue operations while the rest of the team sets up a rapid intervention crew
and an attack line to begin fire suppression. As the attack crew enters the building, you see the
rescue team at an upstairs window. The brigade leader tells you that they need another axe and
that they are going to drop a rope so you can send it up to them.
1. As the rescue team lowers a rope from the upstairs window, what factors do you
need to consider?
2. How do you safely tie the axe to the rope?
3. What kind of knot will you use?
4. How can you b e sure that the axe will not slip out of the rope?

Introduction must support the weight of one or more persons. In these sit-
uations, rope failure could result in serious injury or death.
In the fire serv ice, ropes are widely used to hoist o r lo wer Becaus e a b rig ade memb er's equ ip ment mu st be
tools, appliances, or people; to pull a person to safety; or to extremely reliab le, the criteria for design, construction, and
serve as a lifeline in an emergency. A rope may be your only performance of life safety rope and related equip ment are
means of accessing a trapped person or your only way of specified in NFPA 1983, Standar d on Fire Serv ice Life Safer
escaping from a fire. Rope and Sys tem Components. Life s afety rop es are rat ed for
Learn ing about ropes and knots is an important part of
your training as a brigade member. This chapter will give you a
basic understanding of the impo rtance of ropes and knots.
You can then build on this foundation as you develop skills in
handling ropes and tying knots. You must be able to tie simple
knots accurately without hesitation or delay regardless of the
conditions.
This chapter d iscusses different types of rope construction
and the materials used in making ropes. It covers the care,
cleaning, inspection, and storage of ropes. It also shows how to
tie eight essential knots and how to secure tools and
equip ment so they can be raised o r lo wered using ropes.
Finally, it discusses additional uses for ropes in various rescue
situations.

Types of Rope
There are two primary types of rope used in the fire service,
each d edicated to a d istinct funct ion. Life safety rope is
used solely for supporting people. Life safety rope must be
used anytime a rope is needed to support a person, whether
during train ing or during firefighting, rescue, or other emer-
gency operations (Figure 9-1). Utility rope is used when it is
NOT necessary to support the weight of a person, such as
when ho isting o r lo wering too ls or equip ment.

Life Safety Rope

The life safety rope is a critical tool used only for life-saving
purposes. It must never be used for utility purposes. Life
safety rope must be used in every situat ion where th e rope (Figure 9-1) A safety rope is a critic al tool for brigade m embers.

either one person or t wo persons. A two -person rope must
be used in rescue operations where both the rescued indi -
vidual and the rescuer requ ire support.
NFPA 1983 lists very specific standards for the construc-
tion of life safety rope. The Standard also requires the rope
manufacturer to include detailed instructions for the proper
use, maintenance, and inspection of the life safety rope,
including the conditions for removing the rope fro m service.
The manu factu rer must also supply a list o f criteria that
must be rev iewed before a life safety rope that has been used
in the field can be used again. If the rope does not meet all of
the criteria, it must be ret ired fro m service.
Types of Life Safety Ropes
The two primary types of life safety ropes are the one-person
rope and the two-pers on rope . In NFPA 1983, the
one-person rope is classified as a light duty life safety rope and
the two-person rope is classified as a general duty life safety
rope.
(Figure 9-2) A. A one-pers on rope is a light duty lif e safety rope. B.
A two-person rope is a general duty lif e safety rope.
(Figure 9-3) A personal esc ape rope is designed to be used only onc e.
Ropes and Knots 235
A one-person life safety rope is designed to bear the weight of
a single person (300 lbs) (Figure 9-2A). A two-person life
safety rope is d esigned to b ear the weight o f t wo peop le
(600 lbs) (Figure 9-2B). After each use, these ropes must be
inspected according to the criteria provided by the manu -
facturer before they can be used again. If a life safety rope has
been damaged or overstressed, or if it does not meet the
inspection criteria, it cannot be reused as a life safety rope.
Personal Escape Ropes
A personal escape rope is intended to be used by a brigade
member only for self-rescue from an extreme situation. This
rope is designed to carry the weight o f only one person and to
be used only one time (Figure 9-3 ). Its purpose is to provide
the brigade member with a method of escaping fro m a
life-th reat en ing s ituat ion . A fter on e use, the personal
escape rope should be rep laced by a new rope.
When you are fighting a fire, you should always have a
safe way to get out of a situation and to a safe location. You
may be ab le to go back th rough the doo r th at you entered , or
you may have another exit route, such as through a dif ferent
door, th rough a windo w, or do wn a ladder. If conditions
suddenly change for the worse, hav ing an escape route can
save your life.
So metimes, you may find yourself in a situation where
conditions deteriorate so quickly that you cannot use your
planned exit route. For examp le, the stairway you used col-
lapses behind you, or the roo m you are in suddenly flashes
over (a ph ase in t he d evelop ment o f a cont ained fire in
which exposed surfaces reach ign ition temperature more or
less simultaneously and fire spreads rapid ly throughout the
space), blocking your planned route out. In such a situation,
you may need to take ext reme measures to get out of the
build ing. The personal escape rope was developed specifi-
cally for this type of emergency self-rescue situation. A per-
sonal escape rope can support the weight of one person and
fits easily in a small packet or pouch (T Figure 9-4).
( Figure 9-4) A pers onal escape rope can be easily carried by a brigade mem ber.
236 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E :
(Figure 9 -5) Utility ropes are used for hoisting and low ering tools.
Because these personal escape ropes are so important,
they can be used only once. A fter they are used once, they
are d iscarded. The rope may have been damaged in so me
way and might fail if it ever has to be used again for rescue.
You cannot take that chance; your life may depend on the
quality and strength of your personal escape rope.
Utility Rope
Utility rope is used when it is NOT necessary to support the
weight of a person. Fire brigade utility rope is used for hoisting
or lo wering too ls o r equ ip ment , fo r l adder hal yards (rope
used on extension ladders to raise a fly section), for marking
off areas, and for stabilizing objects ( Figure 9-5). Ut ility
ropes also require regular inspection.
Brigade Member Safety Tips
Many fire brigades use c olor-c oding or other vis ible m arkings to
identify different types of rope. This allows a brigade member to very
quickly determine if a rope is a one-pers on or two-pers on lif e safety
rope or a utility rope. The length of each rope should also be clearly
marked by a tag or a label on the rope bag.
P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E
(Figure 9-6) Some utility ropes are made from nat ural fibers.
Ut ility ropes must not be used in situations where life
safety rope is requ ired. A brigade member must be able to
instantly recognize the category of a rope fro m its appear-
ance and markings.
Rope Materials
Ropes are made fro m different types of materials. The earliest
ropes were made fro m naturally occurring vines or fibers that
were woven together. Ropes are now made of synthetic
materials such as nylon o r po lypropy lene. Because ropes
have many different uses, different materials may work better
than others, depend ing on the situat ion .
Natural Fibers
In the past, fire brigades used ropes made fro m natu ral
fibers, such as man ila, because there were no alternat ives
(Figure 9-6), The natural fibers are twisted together to form
strands. A strand may contain hundreds of ind ividual fibers
of different lengths. Today, ropes made fro m natural fibers are
still used as utility ropes but are no longer acceptable as life
safety ropes ( Table 9-1). Natural fiber ropes can be weakened
by mildew and deteriorate with age, even when properly
stored. A wet manila rope can absorb 50% of its weight in
water, making it very susceptible to deteriora tion. A natural
fiber rope is very d ifficu lt to dry.
Synthetic Fibers
Since nylon was first manufactured in 1938, synthetic fibers have
been used to make ropes. In addition to nylon, several newer syn-
thetic materials such as polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene
are used in rope construction ( Figure 9-7 ). Synthetic fibers have
several advantages over natural fibers ( Table 9-2 ). Synthetic
fibers are generally stronger than natural fibers, so it may be
possible to use a smaller diameter rope without sacrificing
strength. Synthetic materials can also produce very long
 Ropes and Knots 237

( Figure 9-7) Synthetic fibers are generally stronger than natural fibers. (Figure 9-8) Polypropylene rope is often used in water resc ues.

fibers that run the full length of a rope to provide greater strength
and added safety. Table 9-1 Drawbacks to Using Natural
Synthetic ropes are more resistant to rot and mildew than FiberRopes
natural fiber ropes and do not age or degrade as quickly. They • Los e their load -carrying ability ov er tim e •
also absorb much less water and can be easily washed and
Subject to m ildew and rot • Abs orb 50% of
dried. Some types of synthetic rope can float on water, which
is an advantage in water rescue situations. their w eight in w ater • D egrade quick ly
However, ropes made fro m synthetic fibers do have some
drawbacks (Table 9-3 ). Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light
as well as exposure to strong acids or alkalis can damage a
synthetic rope and decrease its life expectancy. In addit ion,
synthetic materials may be h igh ly suscept ib le to ab rasion
or cutting.
Life safety ropes are always made of synthetic fibers. Before Table 9-2 Advantages to Using Synthetic
any rope can be used for life s afety purposes, it must meet the Fiber Ropes
requirements outlined in NFPA 1983. These standards specify • Thinner wit hout s acrif icing st rengt h • Less
that life safety rope must be made of cont inuous filament abs orbent than natural fiber ropes • Greater
virgin fiber and woven of block creel construction (without
resist anc e to rotting and mildew • Longer-lasting
kn ots o r sp lices in the y arns , p ly yarns , st ran ds, b raids , or
rope). Rope of any other material or construction may not be than natural fiber ropes • Greater strength and
used as a life safety rope. added s afety • More burn resistant than natural
The most co mmon synthet ic fib er used in life safety fiber ropes
rop es is ny lo n. It has a h igh melt ing t emperatu re wit h
good abrasion res istance and is strong and light weight .
Ny lon ropes are also resistant to most acids and alkalis.
Polyester is the second most co mmon synthetic fiber used
for life safety ropes. So me life safety ropes are made o f a
co mb inat ion o f ny lon and po ly ester o r o ther syn thet ic
fibers.
Table 9-3 Drawbacks to Using Synthetic
Po lypropy lene is the lightest o f the synthetic fibers.
Fiber Ropes
Because it does not absorb water and floats, polypropylene • Can be damaged by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light •
rope is often used for water rescue situations ( Figure 9-8 ). Can be dam aged by ex pos ure to strong acids or alk alis •
However, it is not as suitable as nylon for life safety uses Susc eptible to abrasion
because it is not as strong, it is hard to knot, and it has a low
melt ing point.
 238 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Table 9-4 Properties of Rope Materials

T y pe M a te ri a l Pr o p e rt ie s
A p p l ic ati o n
P os iti ve N e g ati ve
Natural M anila N o real adv ant ages ov er sy nt het ic Abs orbs w at er easily
Utility rope rope C annot bear as m uc h w eight as synthetic rope Nonc ontinuous
fibers Easily degraded

Sy nt hetic Nylon High melt ing t emperat ure Can be dam aged f rom ex pos ure to Li fe
saf ety resc ue rope Poly es t er Good abrasion resist anc e s unlight, oils , gas, ac i ds, bas es,
U tilit y rope Less abs orbent t han natural ropes or fum es Greater resist anc e to rotting and mildew Lasts longer than natural ropes

Poly propy lene D oes not abs orb w at er H ard t o k not

W at er resc ue rope F loats Low m elt ing point
U t ilit y rope

Rope Construction Brigade Member Tips

There are several d ifferent types of rope construction. The
To understand how a kernmantle rope gets its strength, imagine a
best choice of rope construction depends on the specific
small, m onofilam ent fis hing line rat ed at 15 pounds. Putting 100
applicat ion (Table 9 -4), identic al strands of this filam ent side-by-side would creat e a cable
capable of supporting 1500 pounds. When covered with a sheath, the
Twisted and Braided Rope fishing line cable would create a static kernmantle rop e.
Twisted rope, which is also called laid rope, is made of indi-
vidual fibers twisted into strands. The strands are then twisted
together to make the rope (Figure 9-9 A). This method of rope
construction has been used for hundreds of years. Both natural rope are made with synthetic fibers, but different fibers may
and synthetic fibers are used to make twisted rope. be used for the kern and the mant le.
This method of construction exposes all o f the fibers to Each fiber in the kern extends for the entire length of the
the outside of the rope where they are subject to abrasion. rope without knots or splices. This block creel construction is
Abrasion can damage the rope fibers and may reduce rope required under NFPA 1983 for all life safety ropes. The con -
strength. Twisted ropes tend to stretch and are p rone to tinuous filaments produce a core that is stronger than one
unraveling when a load is applied . constructed of shorter fibers that are twisted o r b raided
Brai ded rope is constructed by weaving or intert wining together.
strands together (Figure 9-9 B). This method of construction
also exposes all of the strands to the outside of the rope where
they are subject to abrasion. Most braided rope is constructed
fro m synthetic fibers. Braided rope will stretch u nder a load ,
but it is no t p ron e to t wis t ing . A d oub le braid ed rope h as
an inner b raided co re covered by a p ro tective braided
sleeve, so that only the fibers in the outer s leeve are
exposed . Th e inner co re is p rotected fro m abrasion.

Kernmantle Rope
Kernmantl e rope consists o f two d istin ct parts : th e kern
and the mantle. The kern is the center or core of the rope; it
provides about 70% o f the strength of the rope. The mantle
or sheath is a b raided covering that p rotects the co re fro m
dirt and ab ras ion. On ly abou t 30% o f th e strength o f the
rop e co mes fro m t he mant le. Both p arts o f a kern mant le
( Figure 9-9) A. Tw isted rope. B. Braided rope.

( Figure 9- 10) A. Suspension bridge cables use the same type of con-
struction as kernmantle ropes. B. This close-up shows the core and mantle
construction.
Kern mant le construction is also used for the cables that
support a suspension bridge (Figure 9-10). Thin strands of
steel are laid fro m one end of the b ridg e to the oth er.
Although each strand only supports a small weight, mult iple
strands are strong enough to support both the b ridge and the
load carried by the bridge. The cables are then wrapped with a
protect ive covering, similar to the mant le port ion of a rope.
Kernmantle construction produces a very strong and flexible
rope that is relatively thin and lightweight (Figure 9-11). This
construction is well suited for rescue work and is very popular
for life safety rope.
Dynamic and Static Rope
A rope can be either dynamic or static, depending on how it
reacts to an applied load. A dynamic rope is designed to be
elastic and will stretch when it is loaded. A static rope will
not stretch under load. The d ifferences between dynamic
and static ropes result from both the fibers used and the con-
struction method.
Dynamic rope is usually used in safety lines for mountain
climbing, because it will stretch and cushion the shock if a
climber falls a long distance. A static rope is more suitable for
Table 9-5 Required Strength of Life Safety Ropes
Cla ssificat io n Rate d L oa d (P ers o ns)
Fact or
Pers onal esc ape rope One
10: 1 Light us e lif e s af et y rope One
kN) 15: 1 General us e lif e s af ety rope
9, 000 Ibf (40 k N ) 15: 1
S OURCE : M FP A 19 8 3, Stan da rd on Fi re Se rvi ce Li fe S afe ty Rop e an d S yste m C o mp on e nts.
Ropes and Knots Z39
( Figure 9 -1 1) The parts of a kernmantle rope.
most fire rescue situations, where falls fro m great heights are
not anticipated. Teams that specialize in rope rescue often
carry both static and dynamic ropes fo r use in d ifferent
situations.
Dynamic and Static Kernmantle Ropes
Kern mantle ropes can be either dynamic or static. A dynamic
kern mant le rope is constructed with overlapping or woven
fibers in the core. When the rope is loaded, the core fibers are
pulled tighter, which gives the rope its elasticity.
The core of a static kern mant le rope has all of the fibers
laid parallel to each other. A static kern mantle rope has very
litt le elasticity and limited elongation under an applied load.
Most fire brigade life safety ropes use static kern mantle con-
struction. It is well suited fo r lowering a person and can be
used with a pulley system fo r lift ing indiv iduals. It can also
be used to create a bridge between t wo structu res.
Rope Strength
Life safety ropes are rated to carry a specific amount o f
weigh t und er t he min imu m req u iremen ts o f NFPA 1983
(Table 9-5 ). The required minimu m breaking strength for a
R ated L oa d ( W ei g ht) M in i mu m B reaki n g Stre n gth Safety
300 lbs 3, 000 I bf (13. 34 k N )
300 lb s 4, 500 I bf (20
Tw o 600 lbs
240 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Fire Marks
Although synt hetic f iber ropes were introduced t o the fire s ervice in t he
1950s, they were not widely adopt ed until the 1980s.

life safety rope is based on an assumed load ing o f 300 lbs

per person with a safety factor o f 15:1 . The safety factor
allows for reductions in strength due to knots, twists, abra-
sion, or any other cause. The safety facto r also allo ws for
shock loading if a weight is applied very suddenly. For exam-
ple, shock loading could occur if the person who is tied to the
rope falls and then is stopped by the rope. A personal escape
rope is also expected to support a weight of 300 lbs, repre- (Figure 9-12 ) A carabiner.
senting one person, with a safety factor o f 10:1.
The actual b reaking strength of a rope depends on the
material, the d iameter, and the type o f construct ion . The
rope manu factu rer shou ld be consu lt ed fo r detailed
specifications.

Technical Rescue Hardware

During technical rescue incidents, ropes are often used to
access and extricate indiv iduals. In addition to the rope, sev -
eral hard ware co mponents may also be used. The one most
co mmon ly used by b rigade members is a carab iner. o r a
snap link (Figure 9-12). This device is used to connect one
rope to another rope, to a harness, or to itself. There are dif-
ferent types o f carab iners, and you should kno w how to
operate the type used by your organ izat ion.

Harnesses (Figure 9-13) Class II harness (s eal harness ).

A harness is a piece of rescue safety equipment made of web-
bing and worn by a person. It is used to secure the person to a
rope or to a solid object. Three different types of harnesses—
belts, seats, and chest harnesses —are used by rescuers,
depending upon the type of circu mstances encountered.
• The ladder belt harness (NFPA Class I harness) is
used to keep a b rigade member in place on a ladder.
Generally , the most accurate way to differentiate a
Class I harness fro m a Class II harness is to inspect
the harness label.
• The seat harness (NFPA Class II harness) is used to
support a brigade member, part icu larly in rescue situ
ations (Figure 9-13).
• The chest harness (NFPA Class III harness) is the
most secure type o f harness and is used to support a
brigade member who is being raised or lo wered on a
life safety rope (Figure 9-14).
Harnesses must be cleaned and inspected regularly , just
as you do for life safety ropes. Follo w the manufacturers
instructions for cleaning and inspecting harnesses.
Rope Rescue
Rope rescue invo lv es rais ing and lo wering rescu ers to
access in jured or trapped indiv iduals, as well as raising o r
lo wering those rescued so they can be g iv en app ropriate
med ical t reat ment . An app roved rope rescue cou rse is
requ ired to att ain p ro ficien cy in rop e res cu e s kills.
Ho wever, this chapter will prov ide you with the bas ics o f
rop e rescue and g ive you a found at ion fo r learn in g th e
more co mp lex p arts o f rope rescue.
Brigade Member Tips
Harnesses that are labeled as NFPA Class III and independently
certified to meet American National Standards Instit ute (AN SI)
Z359. 1 are OSHA compliant for fall-arrest protection.

( Figure 9-14) Class III harness (chest harness).
(Figure 9-15) R ope resc ues require intens e tec hnical training.
Rope rescue courses cover the technical skills needed to
raise or lower people using mechanical advantage systems
and to remove so meone fro m a rock ledge o r a confined
space (Figure 9 -15). They also cover the equip ment and
skills needed to acco mplish these rescues safely.
Ropes and Knots 241
(Figure 9-16) R opes are invaluable when a pers on is trapped in an
inaccessible area, such as a high platform.
Rope Rescue Incidents
Most rope rescue incidents invo lve people who are t rapped
in normally inaccessib le locat ions such as a tower or p lat-
form (Figure 9 -16). Rescuers often have to lower themselves
using a system of anchors, webbing, ropes, carabiners, and
other devices to reach the trapped person. Once rescuers reach
the person, they then have to stabilize h im or her and
determine ho w to get the person to safety. So metimes the
person will have to be lowered or raised to a safe location.
Ext reme cases could involve mo re co mplicated operat ions,
such as transporting the person in a basket lowered by a
helicopter.
The type and number of ropes used in a rope rescue will
depend upon the s ituat ion. There is almost always a pri mary
rope that will bear the weight o f the rescuer (or res cuers) in
order to reach the person. The rescuers will often have a
second safety line attached to them, wh ich serves as a
back-up if the main line fails. Addit ional lines may be
needed to raise o r lo wer the trapped ind iv idual, depending
upon the circu mstances.
Trench Rescue
Rescues in co llapsed trenches often are co mp licated and
involve a nu mber of different skills, such as shoring , air
quality monitoring, confined space operations, and rope res -
cue. Ropes are often used to remove the t rapped person.
After the rescuers shore the walls of the trench and remove
the dirt covering the person, they will place the person in a
Stokes basket or on a backboard and lift him o r her to the
surface. If the trench is deep, ropes may be used to raise the
patient to the surface.
Confined Space Rescue
A confined space rescue can take place in locations such as
tanks, to wers, underground elect rical vau lts, storm d rains,
 V"Ropes
OICES OF EXPERIENCE
and pr oper knots can be life savers,
and I encourage the members of my team to
keep a piece of knot-tying rope handy in their
personal cars to practice while stopped at traf fic
lights."

T
echnical rescue including rope work is a key
technique for industrial brigades owing to the
vast range of vessels, racks, cranes, process
plants, confined spaces, and
constant construction activities they may encounter. Rope use can be called upon frequently for
rescue and equipment movement.
For examp le, two summers ago, our team was called upon to assist with an extremely difficult and
hazardous rescue. A bulldozer operator had become trapped in his cab after a coal pile at a power
plant shifted, causing the dozer to become submerged in a 40-foot pile of coal. The initial rescuers
faced a daunting task, similar to trying to keep the walls of a sandy hole dug at the beach from
collapsing. The coal pile was so unstable that the only possible way to extricate the victim was
vertically, without disturbing the coal pile.
Luckily, a screw conveyor was located directly over the sinkhole, at an elevation of some 100 feet in
the air. Our team of rescue technicians, who were highly skilled in ropes and knots, made quick
work of setting up a lowering system with mult iple anchor points and a 4:1 mechanical advantage
system for raising the victim. A rescuer was lowered into the hole. Gingerly digging by hand, he
removed the coal and freed the cab door of the bulldozer. The operator, who had suffered a
broken arm, was packaged by the rescuer and outfitted with a rescue harness. Rescue technicians
on the conveyor were ready and waiting with the haul system and gently raised the victim and
then the rescuer from the hole. The victim was transported to a regional trauma center, where he
underwent surgery; he eventually made a full recovery.
Our rescuer was quoted as saying, "A lot goes through your mind—first about the victim, and
then about yourself and the safety of the operation, and then all the things you care about in life
rush through your entire being." In this case, the coordinated efforts of individuals who continu -
ously practice rope and knot work made the completion of this extremely hazardous rescue
flawless and safe.
I cannot stress enough how important a piece of rope and a proper knot are in a fire fighters' chest
of tools. It may indeed, save your life one day in a bailout situation or another hazardous condition.
Practice, practice, practice, and more practice will keep your knot skills sharp and ready. Ropes
and proper knots can be life savers, and I encourage the members of my team to keep a piece of
knot-tying rope handy in their personal cars to practice while stopped at traffic lights.

John A. Welling, III

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
New Brunswick, New Jersey

and similar spaces. It is often very difficu lt to extricate an
unconscious or injured person fro m these locat ions because
of the poor ventilat ion and limited entry or exit area. For this
reason, ropes are often used to remove an in jured or uncon -
scious person (Figure 9-17).
Water Rescue
Ropes can be used in a variety o f ways during water res cue
operat ions . The s imp lest s ituat ion invo lves a rescuer o n
t he sho re t h ro wing a rop e to a p erson in th e water and
pulling the person to shore (Fig ure 9 -18). A mo re
co mp licated situ at ion may invo lv e a rop e st retch ed across
a stream o r river. A boat is tethered to the rope, and res -
cuers on shore maneuv er the boat using a series o f ropes
and pu lleys.
Figure 9-17) Ropes are often us ed to rem ove an injured or unc onscious
person from a confined space.
Figure 9-18) Ropes ensure rescuer safety during water rescues.
Ropes a nd Knots 243
Rope Maintenance
All ropes, especially life safety ropes, need proper care to
perform in an optimal manner. Maintenance is necessary for
all kinds of equ ip ment and all types o f rope, and it is
absolutely essential fo r life safety ropes. Your life and the
lives o f others dep end on the p roper maintenance o f your
life safety ropes.
There are four parts to the maintenance formula:
• Care
• Cleaning
• Inspection
• Storage
Care
You must fo llow certain principles to p reserve the strength
and integrity of rope (Table 9-6 );
• Protect the rope fro m sharp and abrasive surfaces. Use
edge protectors when the rope must pass over a sharp
or unpadded surface.
• Protect the rope fro m heat, chemicals, and flames.
• Protect the rope fro m rubbing against another rope o r
webbing. Frict ion generates heat, wh ich can damage
or destroy the rope.
• Protect the rope fro m pro longed exposure to sunlight.
Ultrav iolet rad iat ion can damage rope.
• Never step on a rope! Your footstep could force shards
of glass, splinters, or abrasive part icles into the core of
the rope, damaging the rope fibers.
• Fo llow the manufactu rers reco mmend at ions fo r
rope care.
Cleaning
Many ropes made fro m synthetic fibers can be washed with a
mild soap and water. A special rope washer can be attached to
a garden hose (Figure 9-19). So me manufacturers rec-
ommend placing the rope in a mesh bag and washing it in a
frontloading washing machine.
Use a mild detergent. Do not use bleach because it can
damage rope fibers. Follow the manufacturer's recommenda-
tions for specific care of your rope. Do not pack or store wet
Table 9-6 Principles to Preserve Strength
and Integrity of Rope
• Protect from sharp abrasive s urfac es. • Protect
from heat, chem icals, and flam es. • Protect from
rubbing against another rope. • Protect from
prolonged exposure to sunlight. • Nev er step on a
rope. • F ollow m anufacturer's rec omm endations.
244 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S AND PR A CTI CE

Table 9-7 Questions to Consider When

Inspecting Life Safety Ropes
• Has the rope been expos ed to heat or flam e? • H as the rope been
expos ed to abrasion? • H as the rope been expos ed to chemic als? •
Has the rope been exposed to shock loads? • Are there any
depressions, disc oloration, or lumps in the rope?

Table 9-8 Signs of Possible Rope

Deterioration
• D isc olorat ion • Shiny m ark ings from
( Figure 9-19 ) Some fire brigades use a rope was her to clean their ropes.
heat or friction • Dam aged s heath • C ore
fibers pok ing through t he s heath
or damp rope. Air-drying is usually reco mmended, but rope
should not be dried in direct sunlight. The use of mechanical
drying devices is not usually recommended.

Inspection
Life safety ropes must be inspected after each use, whether
the rope was used for an emergency incident or in a training
exercise ( Table 9-7 ). Unused rope should be inspected on a
regular schedule. So me o rganizat ions inspect all rope,
including life safety and utility ropes, every three months.
Obtain the inspection criteria fro m the rope manufactu rer.
Inspect the rope visually , looking for cuts, frays, or other
damage, as you run it through your fingers. Because you
cannot see th e inner co re o f a kemmant le ro pe, feel fo r
any depressi ons (flat spots o r lu mps on the ins id e).
Examine the sheath for any d iscolorations, abrasions, or flat
spots ( Figure 9-20). If you have any doubt about whether the
rop e has been damaged , consu lt wit h you r b rig ade leader (
Table 9 -8).
A life safety rope t hat is no longer usab le must b e
destroyed or downgraded. In some cases, a used life safety
rope can be downgraded and used as a utility rope. A down-
graded rope must be clearly marked so that it cannot be con -
fused with a life safety rope.
Rope Record
Each p iece o f rop e must be marked fo r ident ificat ion. A
rope record must be kept for each piece of life safety rope.

Brigade Member Safely Tips

A shock load c an occur when a rope is suddenly placed under
unusual tension. This could occur if som eone attached t o a lif e safety
rope falls until the lengt h of the rope or another rescuer stops the drop.
A utility rope c an be s hock-loaded in a sim ilar m anner if a piec e of
equipm ent that is being raised or lowered suddenly drops. Any rope
that has been s hock -loaded must be ins pect ed and m ay hav e t o be
remov ed from s ervic e. Although t here m ay not be any v isible
damage, s hock-loading m ay caus e dam age that is not im mediately
apparent. Repeat ed s hock loads c an s everely weak en a rope s o that
it can no longer be used s afely. Acc urate rope records w ill help
identify pot ent ially damaged rope. W henev er a lif e s afety rope is
shock loaded, it should be rem ov ed f rom s ervice or dow ngraded to
utility rope.

( Figure 9-20) Rope inspection is a critical step.

 Ropes and Knots 245

( Figure 9-21 ) Ens ure that ropes are stored s afely.

This record should include a history of when the rope was (Figure 9-22) R opes may be coiled for storage.
purchased, each time it was used, how it was used, and the
types of loads applied to it . Each inspection should also be
recorded. Many fire brigades maintain records for both utility
ropes and life safety ropes.

Storage
Proper care will ensure a long life for your rope and reduce
the chance of equ ip ment failu re and accident. Store ropes
away fro m temperatu re ext remes, out of sunlight , and in
areas where there is some air circulation. Avoid placing ropes
where fu mes fro m gasoline, o ils, or hydraulic flu ids can dam-
age the rope. Apparatus compartments used to store ropes
should be separated fro m co mpart ments used to store any
oil-based p roducts or mach inery po wered by g asoline or
diesel fuel. Do not place any heavy objects on top of the rope (
Figure 9-21).
A rope bag is used to protect and store ropes. Each bag
shou ld co ntain on ly one ro pe. Ro pe may also b e co iled for ( Figure 9-23) Long sections of rope are som etimes stored on reels.
storage ( Figure 9-22)j. Very long pieces of rope are sometimes
stored on reels (Figure 9-23) Follow the steps in (Skill Drill
9-1 ) to place a life safety rope into a rope bag:
1. Tie a figure eight knot on a bight in the first end of the
Knots
life safety rope to be placed into the rope bag. (Step 1) Knots are prescribed ways of fastening lengths of rope or
2. Load the life safety rope into the rope bag carefully webb ing to objects or to each other. As a brigade member,
(Step 2) you must kno w ho w to t ie and when to use certain knots.
3. Do not try to coil the rope in the bag, because this will Knots can be used for mu lt ip le pu rposes. Hitches, such as
cause it to kink and become tangled when it is pulled the clove h itch, are used to attach a rope around an ob ject.
out. (S tep 3) Knots, such as the figure eight and the bowline, are used to
form loops. Bends, such as the sheet bend or becket bend,
are used to join t wo ropes together. Safety knots, such as
Brigade Member Tips the overhand knot , are used to secure the ends o f ropes to
prevent them fro m co ming unt ied.
Rope identific ation is facilitated by labeling each end of t he rope and Any knot will reduce the load-carrying capacity of the
prot ecting the label with clear heat-s hrink tubing. rope by a certain percentage (Table 9-9), You can avoid an
unnecessary reduct ion in rop e strength if you kno w what
type of knot to use and how to t ie it correct ly.
248 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Table 9-9 Effect of Knots on Rope Strength Terminology

Reduction Gr o u p K n ot
Specific terminology is used to refer to the parts of a rope in
in Str e ng t h
describing how to t ie knots (Figure 9-24).
Loop k not s Figure eight on a bight 20%
• The working end is the part of the rope used fo r
Figure eight wit h a f ollow -through 19% Bow line forming the knot.
33% • The runni ng end is the part o f the rope used for lift
ing or ho isting.
• The standi ng part is the rope bet ween the working
end and the runn ing end.
• A bight is fo rmed by reversing the direction of the
rope to fo rm a " U" bend with t wo parallel ends
(►Figure 9-25).

Placing a Life Safety Rope into a Rope Bag

Tie a figure eight knot on a bight in the first end of the rope to go
into the bag.

Load the rope into the bag.

Do not coil the rope in the bag.

 Ropes and Knots Z47

( Figure 9-24) The sections of a rope used in tying knots. ( Figure 9-26 ) A loop.

(Figure 9-25) A bight. (Figure 9-27) A round turn.

• A loop is formed by making a circle in the rope • Safety knot (overhand knot)
(Figure 9-26). • Half h itch
• A round turn is formed by making a loop and then • Clove hitch
bring ing the t wo ends of the rope parallel to each • Figure eight
other (Figure 9-27). • Figu re eight on a bight
A brigad e member must kno w ho w to t ie eight bas ic • Figu re eight with a follo w-th rough
knots or h itches and how to use them p roperly . The eight • Bowline
basic knots are: • Bend (sheet or becket bend)

Teamwork Tips
In a rescue situation, always have your partner check your knots.
Taking a few extra seconds to be sure knots are tied correctly can save
lives.
Safety Knot
A safety k not (also referred to as an overhand knot or a
keeper knot ) is used to secure the leftover wo rking end o f
the rope. It p rovides a degree of safety to ensure that the
primary knot will not beco me undone. A safety knot should
always be used to fin ish the other basic knots.
A safety knot is s imp ly an overh and knot in t he loose
end of the rope that is made around the standing part o f the
250 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Clove Hitch Tied in the Open

Make a loop using your left hand, with the running part of the rope Make a sec ond loop us ing your right hand, with the running part of
over the working part of the rope. the rope under the working part of the rope.

Bring t he right-hand loop on top of the left-hand loop. Slide both loops ov er the object.

Pull in opposite directions to tight en the clove hitch. Tie a saf ety knot in
the working end of the rope.
 Ropes and Knots 251

Clove Hitch Tied Around an Object

Make a complete loop around the object, working end down. Make a second loop around the object a short distance above the
first loop.

Now pass the working end of the rope under the sec ond loop, Tighten the k not and sec ure it by pulling on both ends.
above the point where the second loop crosses ov er the first loop.

Tie a safety knot in the working end of the ro pe.

252 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E :
Figure Eight Knot
Form a bight in the rope.
Thread the working end back through the bight.
Figure Eight Knot
A figure eight is a basic knot used to produce a family of other
knots, includ ing the figu re eight on a bight and the figure
eight with a follow-through. A simple figure eight knot is sel-
dom used alone. Follow the steps in (Skill Drill 9-6) to tie a
figure eight knot:
1. Form a bight in the rope. (Step 1)
2. Loop the working end o f the rope co mp letely around
the standing end of the rope. (Step 2)
3. Thread the working end through the opening of the
bight. (Step 3)
4. Tighten the knot by pu lling on both ends simu ltane
ously. When you pull the knot t ight, it will have the
shape of a figure eight. (Step 4)
P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E
Loop the working end of the rope com pletely around the standing
part of the rope.
Tighten the knot by pulling on bot h ends simultaneously.
Figure Eight on a Bight
The figu re eight on a b ight knot creates a secure loop at the
working end of a rope. The loop can be used to attach the
end of the rope to a fixed object or a p iece of equip ment, o r to
tie a life safety rope around a person. The loop may be any
size—fro m an inch to several feet in d iameter. Fo llow the
steps in (►Skill Drill 9-7 ) to t ie a figu re eight on a b ight:
1. The figu re eight on a bight is t ied in a section o f the
rope that has been doubled over to form a b ight. The
closed end o f the bight beco mes the working end o f
the rope. (Step 1)
2. Ho ld the t wo sides of the b ight as if they were one
rope. Form a loop in the doubled section o f the rope.
(S tep 2)
 Ropes a nd Knots 253

Figure Eight on a Bight

Form a bight and identify the end of the bight as the w orking end. Holding both sides of the bight together, form a loop.

Feed the w orking end of the bight back through the loop. Pull the knot tight.

Secure the loose end of the rope with a safety knot.

254 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E :
3 . Pass the working end of the b ight through the loop.
(Step 3)
4. Pull the knot t ight. Pu lling the knot t ight locks the
neck of the bight and forms a secure loop. (Step 4 )
5. Use a safety knot to t ie the loose end of the rope to
the standing part. (Step 5)
Figure Eight Follow-Through
A figure eight follow-through knot creates a secure loop at the
end of the rope when the wo rking end must be wrapped
around an ob ject or passed through an open ing befo re the
loop can be formed. It is very useful for attaching a rope to a
fixed ring or a solid object with an "eye." Follow the steps in (
Skill Drill 9-8 ) to tie a figure eight follow-through:
1. The first step in a figure eight follow-through is to tie
a simp le figure eight in the standing part of the rope,
about 2' fro m the wo rking end. Leave this knot loose.
(Step 1)
2. Thread the working end th rough the open ing o r
around the object and b ring it back to the figure eight
knot.
3. Secure the wo rking end by thread ing it back through
the figure eight, tracing the path o f the o rig inal knot
in the opposite direction. (Step 2)
4. Once the working end has been th readed th rough the
knot, you can pu ll the knot t ight. (Step 3)
5. Secure the loose end with a safety knot. (Step 4)
Th is knot can also be used to t ie th e ends of t wo ropes
together securely. To do this:
1. Tie the simp le figure eight near the end of one rope.
2. Thread the end o f the second rope co mpletely
through the knot in the opposit e d irect ion .
3. Pull the knot t ight.
4. Secure the loose end of each rope to the standing part
of the second rope.
Bowline
A bowline knot also can be used to form a loop. It is frequently
used to secure the end of a rope to an object or anchor point.
Follow the steps in (Skill Drill 9-9) to tie a bowline:
1. To tie a bo wline, form a loop and b ring the working
end of the rope back to the standing part . (Step 1)
2. Make a s mall loop in the standing part o f the rope so
that the section closer to the working end passes on
top of the section closer to the running end . (Step 2)
3. Thread the working end of the rope th rough the
opening in the small loop fro m below. (Step 3 )
4. Pass the wo rking end over the loop, around and
under the standing part o f the rope, and back do wn
through the same opening. (Step 4)
5. Tighten the knot by hold ing the working end and
pulling the standing part of the rope backward. (Step 5)
6. Use a safety knot to secure the wo rking end of the
rope. (S tep 6)
P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E
Bends
Bends are used to join two ropes together. The sheet bend or
Becket bend can be used to join two ropes of unequal size. A
sheet bend knot also can be used to join rope to a chain. Follow
the steps in (Skill Drill 9-10) to tie a sheet or becket bend:
1. This knot is t ied by fo rming a b ight in the working
end of one rope. If the ropes are o f unequal size, the
bend should be made in the larger rope. (S tep 1)
2. The end o f the second rope is passed up through the
opening of the b ight, under the t wo parallel sections
of the first rope. (Step 2)
3. Loop the second rope co mpletely around both sides of
the bight. (Step 3)
4. The second rope is then threaded under itself and on
top of the two sides of the bight. (Step 4)
5. To tighten the knot, ho ld the first rope firmly wh ile
pulling back on the second rope. (Step 5 )
6. A safety knot should be used to secure the loose ends
of both ropes. (Step 6)
There are many ways to tie each of these knots. Find one
method that works fo r you and use it all the time. In addition,
your brigade may require that you learn how to tie other knots.
It is important to beco me p roficient in tying knots. With
practice, you should be able to tie these knots in the dark,
with heavy gloves on, and beh ind your back.
A knot should be properly "dressed" by tightening and
removing twists, kinks, and slack from the rope. The finished
knot is firmly fixed in position. The configuration of a properly
dressed knot should be evident so that it can be easily inspected.
All loose ends should be secured by safety knots to ensure that
the primary knot cannot be released accidentally.
Knot-tying skills can be quickly lost without practice.
Pract ice tying knots wh ile you are on the telephone or
watching TV (Figure 9-28). You never know when you will
need to use your skills in an emergency s ituation.
( Figure 9-28) To maintain your knot-tying skills, practice tying differer:
knots frequently .
Z5 6 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E

Bowline

Make the desired size loop and bring the work ing end back to the Form another small loop in the standing part of the rope with the
standing part. section closest to the w orking end on top.

Thread the working end up through this loop from the bottom. Pass the working end over the loop, around and under the standing
part, and back dow n through the same opening.

Tight en t he knot by holding the working end and pulling the stand- Tie a safety knot in the w orking end of the rope.
ing part of the rope backw ard.
 Ropes and Knots
ZS7

Sheet or Becket Bend

Using your left hand, form a bight at the working end of the first Thread the working end of the second (sm aller) rope up through the
(larger) rope. bight.

Loop the second (smaller) rope completely around both sides of the Pass the working end of the second (smaller) rope between the
bight. original bight and under the second rope.

Tighten the knot. Tie a safety knot in the working end of each rope.
258 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E :
Hoisting
Tying knots is not an id le exercise but a pract ical skill that
you will use on the job. In emergency situat ions, you may
have to raise or lo wer a tool to other brigade members. It is
important fo r you to learn how to raise and lo wer an axe, a
pike po le, a ladder, a hose line, and an exh aust fan.
You must ensure that the rope is tied securely to the object
being hoisted so the too l does not fall. Addit ionally, your
crew members must be able to remove and place the tool into
service quickly. When you are hoisting or lowering a tool,
make sure no one is standing under the object. Keep the
scene clear of people to avoid any chance fo r accident.
Hoisting an Axe
The team that needs the axe should lower a rope with enough extra
rope to tie the required knot around the axe.
Place the loop over the axe handle near the head.
P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E
Hoisting an Axe
An axe should be hoisted in a vertical position with the head
of the axe down. Fo llo w the steps in (Skill Drill 9-11 ) to hoist
an axe:
1. The team that needs the axe should lower a rope with
enough ext ra rope to tie the requ ired knot around the
axe and for the tag line. (Step 1)
2. Tie the end of the ho ist ing rope around the handle
near the head using either a figure eight on a b ight o r
a clove hitch. (Step 2)
3. Slip the knot do wn the handle fro m the end to the
head. (Step 3)
Tie a figure eight on a bight to make a small loop.
Pass the standing part of the rope around the head of the axe.

4. Loop the standing part o f the rope under the head .
(Step 4)
5. Place the standing part of the rope parallel to the axe
handle. (Step 5)
6. You can use one or two half hitches along the axe han
dle to keep the handle parallel to the rope. (Step 6 )
7. Prepare to raise the axe. (Step 7)
To release the axe, hold the middle of the handle, release
the half hitches, and slip the knot up and off.
Hoistin g a Pik e Po le
A p ike po le shou ld be ho isted in a vert ical posit ion with
the head at the top , so it can be used immed iately. Fo llow
the steps in ( Skill Drill 9-12) to hoist a pike pole:
Place the standing part of the rope parallel to the ax e handle.
Ropes a nd Knots
259
1. The team that needs the p ike po le should lower a rope
with enough ext ra rope availab le fo r the required knot
and the tag line. (Step 1)
2. Place a clove hitch over the handle and secure it near the
butt. (Step 2)
3. Place a half hitch mid point on the handle. (Step 3)
4. Place a second half hitch on the head, securing it under
the hook. (Step 4)
5. Prepare to raise the pike pole. (Step 5)
Hoisting a La dder
A ladder should be hoisted in a vert ical position. A tag line
should be attached to the botto m to keep it under cont rol as it
is hoisted. If it is a roof ladder, the hoo ks should be in the
Tie one or two half hitches Prepare to raise the axe.
along the axe handle.
260 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Hoisting a Pike Pole

Thejeam that needs the pik e pole should low er a rope with enough Place a clove hitch over the handle and secure it near the butt.
extra rope available for the required knot and the tag line.

Place a half hitch mid point on the handle. Place a second half hitch on the head, Prepare to raise the pike pole.
securing it under the hook.

retracted position. Follow the steps in (►Skill Drill 9-13) to
hoist a ladder:
1. The team that n eeds t he ladd er shou ld lo wer a
rope with enough ext ra rope to t ie onto the ladder.
(Step 1)
2. A figure eight on a b ight should be t ied to create a
loop, appro ximately 3' o r 4' in d iameter, that is large
enough to fit around both ladder beams. (Step 2 )
3. The rope should be passed between t wo rungs of the
ladder, three or four rungs fro m the top. (Step 3)
4. The end o f the loop is then pu lled under the rungs
toward the top o f the ladder.
5. Place the loop around the top of the ladder. (Step 4 )
6. Remove the slack fro m the rope and allo w the loop to
slide down the ladder. (Step 5)
7. Attach a tag line fro m below to control the ladder as it
is hoisted. The size and weight of a ladder require that
a tag line be attached to the lo wer part of the ladder.
This enables a brigade member on the ground to keep
the ladder under control as it is raised. (Step 6) Prepare
to raise the ladder. When the hoisting rope is pulled
up, the ladder will be securely t ied to the rope. (Step 7)
The ladder can be easily released by pulling the loop back
over the top. When lowering a ladder, reverse the loop down
through the ladder. Th is will pu ll the bottom o f the ladder
away fro m the bu ilding, preventing damage.

Brigade Member Tips
Raise a pike pole in the sam e orientation it will be used, pick first. This
eliminat es the need to turn the pole in clos e confines.
Hois ting a Charge d Hose Line
It is almost always preferable to hoist a dry hose line, because
water adds considerable weight to a charged line. Water
weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon, which can make ho isting
much more difficult. Follow the steps in (►Skill Drill 9-14) to
hoist a charged hose line:
1. The team that needs the hose should lower a rope
with enough extra rope available to tie onto the hose.
(Step 1)
2. Make sure that the nozzle is co mpletely closed and
secure. A charged hose line should have the no zzle
secured in a closed position as it is ho isted. An unse
cured hand le (kno wn as the bale) cou ld h ang up as
the hose is being ho isted. The no zzle could open
suddenly, resulting in an out-of-control hose line sus
pended in mid -air, and the potent ial for serious
injuries and damage. (Step 2)
3. Use a clove h itch, 1' o r 2' behind the nozzle, to t ie the
end of the ho isting rope around the hose. A safety
knot shou ld be used to secure the loose end o f th e
rope below the clove hitch. (Step 3)
4. A bight is made in the rope. (Step 4)
5. Insert the b ight through the hand le open ing and s lip
it over the end o f the no zzle. When the b ight is pu lled
tight, it will create a half h itch and secure the hand le
in the o ff position wh ile the charged hose line is
hoisted. (Step 5)
6. Prepare to hoist the hose. (Step 6)
The knot can be released after the line is hoisted by
remov ing the tension fro m the rope and slipp ing the bight
back over the end o f the no zzle.
Hois ting an Unch arged Ho se L ine
Befo re ho isting a dry hose line, you shou ld fo ld the hose
back on itself and place the nozzle on top of the hose. This
ensures that water will not reach the nozzle if the hose is
accidentally charged wh ile being hoisted. It also eliminates
any unnecessary stress on the couplings by ensuring that the
rope pu lls on the hose and not d irect ly on the no zzle or
coupling. Follow the steps in ( ► Skill Drill 9-15 ) to hoist an
uncharged hose line:
1. The team that n eeds the hose should lo wer enough
rope so the ground crew can t ie on the hose. (Step 1)
2. Fold about 6' of hose back on itself and place the
nozzle on top of the hose. (Step 2)
3. Tie a clove h itch securely around both the nozzle and
the hose. (Step 3)
Ropes and Knots
261
4. Tie a hitch half way bet ween the nozzle and the fold,
and t ie a second h alf h itch about 6 inches fro m th e
fold. (Step 4)
5. Hoist the hose with the fo ld at the top and the nozzle
pointing down. Before releasing the rope, the brigade
members at the top must pull up enough hose so that
the weight of the hanging hose does not drag down the
hose. (S tep 5)
Hoisting an Exh aust Fa n or Power Tool
Several different types of tools and equipment, including an
exhaust fan, a chain saw, or circular saw, or any other object
that has a strong closed handle, can be hoisted using the same
technique. The hoisting rope is secured to the object by passing
the rope through the opening in the handle. A figure eight with
a follo w-through knot is used to close the loop.
So me types of equipment require that you use additional
half h itches to balance the ob ject in a part icu lar posit ion
while it is being hoisted. Power saws are hoisted in a level
position to p revent the fuel fro m leaking out .
You should practice hoisting the actual tools and equip -
ment used in your o rganizat ion. You should be ab le to do
them auto matically and in adverse condit ions.
Remember, you always use utility rope for hoisting tools.
You do not want to get oil or grease on designated life safety
ropes. If a life safety rope gets oily or greasy, it should be
taken out of service and destroyed so that it will not be mis -
taken ly used again as a life safety rope. It can be cut into
short lengths and used for utility rope.
Fo llo w th e steps in (►Skill Drill 9 -16 ) to ho ist an
exhaust fan:
1. The team that needs the equipment lo wers enough rope
so the ground crew can tie on the exhaust fan. (Step 1)
2. Tie a figure eight knot in the rope about 3' fro m the
working end of the rope. (Step 2)
3. Loop the working end of the rope around the fan
handle and back to the figure eight knot. (Step 3)
4. Secure the rope by tying a figure eight with a fo llo w-
through. Th read the wo rking end back through the
first figure eight in the opposite direct ion. (Step 4 )
5. Attach a tag line to the fan fo r better control. (Step 5)
6. Prepare to hoist the fan. (Step 6)
Brigade Member Safety Tips
When hoisting t ools: • Wear a helm et and gloves. • Keep the scene
clear. • Us e the hand -ov er-hand met hod. • Use an edge roller (a
devic e us ed t o prevent dam aae to a rope from jagged edges or friction)
to prot ect the rope. • Av oid electric wires.
262 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Hoisting a Ladder

The team that needs the ladder should lower a rope with enough Tie a figure eight on a bight to mak e a loop 3' or 4' in diameter.
extra rope to tie onto the ladder.

Pass the rope between the rungs of the ladder, three or four rungs Place the loop around the top of the ladder.
from the top. Pull the loop under the rungs t oward the top of the
ladder.

Remove the slack from the rope and allow Attach a tag line from below to control the Prepare to raise the ladder.
the loop to slide dow n the ladder. ladder as it is hoisted.
 Ropes a nd Knots
263

Hoisting a Charged Hose Line

The team that needs the hose should low er a rope with enough Make sure that the nozzle is completely closed and secure.
extra rope available to tie ont o the hos e.

Tie a clove hitch around the hose, 1' or 2' behind the nozzle. Make a bight in the rope.

Prepare to hoist
the hose.

Pass the bight through the nozzle handle (bale) and slip the bight
over the nozzle tip. This creates a half hitch that will help keep the
nozzle clos ed while the hose is being raised.
264 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N

Hoisting an Uncharged Hose Line

The team that needs the hose should lower enough rope so the Fold about 6' of hose back on itself and plac e the nozzle on top of
ground crew can tie on the hose. the hose.

Tie a clove hitch near the end of the rope, wrapping t he rope around Tie a half hitc h and slip it ov er the nozzle. Mov e the h alf hitch along
both the nozzle and the hose. the hose and sec ure it about 6" from the fold.

Prepare to hoist the hose line w ith the fold at the

top and t he nozzle pointing down.
 Ropes a nd Knots 265

Hoisting an Exhaust Fan

The team that needs the equipment should low er enough rope so Tie a figure eight knot in the rope about 3' from the working end of
the ground crew can tie on the exhaust fan. the rope.

Loop the working end of the rope around the fan handle and back to Sec ure the rope by tying a figure eight with a follow -t hrough.
the figure eight knot. Thread the working end back through the first figure eight in the
opposite direction.

Attach a tag line to the fan for better control. Prepare to hoist the fan.

Life s af ety ropes are us ed for s upporting a pers on (or pers ons)
during res c ue operations and s hould be us ed only f or that purpos e.
Utility ropes are us ed when it is not neces sary to support the
weight of a pers on.
Life s af ety ropes m ust be made of c ontinuous filam ent virgin
fiber and wov en of bloc k creel construction.
Proper m aintenanc e consists of prev enting damage through
proper care, proper cleaning, regular ins pection, and proper
storage.
Knots have c haract eristic s that m ake t hem good for s elect ed us es.
Basic k nots us ed by brigade mem bers include t he ov er hand s af ety
knot, hitc hes, loop k nots, and bends.
Brigade m em bers must be able to select and tie the appropriate knots
to hoist ax es, pik e poles, ladders, hos e lines, and exhaust fans.
Ben ds Knot s us ed t o join t w o ropes t oget her.
Big ht A U-s hape c reat ed by bending a rope w it h t he t w o s ides
parallel.
Bl o ck cr eel c o nst r ucti o n R op e c ons t ruct ed w it hout k not s or
splic es in t he y arns, ply y arns, strands, braids, or rope. Brai de d r o pe
R ope c ons truc t ed by int ert wining or w eav ing strands together.
Cara bi ner A piec e of m et al hardw are us ed ext ensiv ely in rope
res cue operations. It is generally an ov al-s haped device wit h a
spring-loaded clip t hat can be used f or c onnecting t oget her piec es of
rope, w ebbing, or ot her hardw are. Als o ref erred t o as a "s nap link."
Depressi ons I ndentat ions felt on a kernm antle rope that indic at e
dam age to t he int erior c ore, or k ern, of the rope.
Dy na mic r ope A rope generally m ade out of sy nt het ic m at erials
that is designed to be elastic and stretc h w hen loaded. Us ed often by
m ount ain clim bers.
Edg e r oller A devic e us ed t o prev ent dam age t o a rope from jagged
edges or f riction.
H arness A piec e of equipm ent w orn by a resc uer t hat c an be attac hed
to a lif e saf ety rope.
Hitches Knot s t hat att ac h t o or w rap around an object.
Ke r n ma ntl e ro p e R ope m ad e of t w o part s — t he k ern
(interior c ore) and the m antle (the out side s heat h).
Kn ots A f astening m ade by tying t oget her lengt hs of rope or
webbing in a pres cribed w ay, us ed f or a v ariet y of purpos es.
La dde r halya rds R ope us ed on ext ens ion ladders t o rais e and
lower a fly s ection.
Life safety ro pe R op e us ed s olely f or t he purpos e of s upport ing
people during firefighting, resc ue, ot her em ergency operations, or
during t raining ex erc is es.
Lo op A piec e of rope f orm ed int o a circ le.
One- pers o n r o pe A rope rat ed t o c arry t he w eight of a s ingle
pers on (300 lbs).
Pers o nal esca pe r o pe A n em ergenc y us e rope des igned t o
carry t he w eight of only one pers on and to be us ed only onc e.
Ro pe bag A bag us ed t o prot ect and st ore rope s o t hat t he rope
can be easily and rapidly deploy ed w ithout k inking.
Ro pe reco rd A rec ord f or eac h piec e of rope t hat includes a
hist ory of w hen the rope w as plac ed in s erv ic e, when it was inspect ed,
when and how it was us ed, and w hat types of loads w ere plac ed on it.
Ro u nd tur n A piec e of rope looped t o f orm a c om plet e c ircle
with t he tw o ends parallel.
R un ni n g e nd T he part of a rope us ed f or lift ing or
hoisting.
Safety kn ot A k not us ed t o s ec ure t he left ov er w orking end of t he
rope. Als o k now n as an ov erhand k not or keep knot.
Sho ck l oad An inst ant aneous load t hat plac es a rope under
extrem e tension, suc h as w hen a falling load is suddenly stopped w hen
the rope bec om es taut.
Standi ng part T he part of a rope betw een t he w orking end and
the running end.
Static ro pe A rope generally m ade out of s ynt het ic m at erial t hat
stretc hes v ery little under load.
T wist ed ro pe R ope c ons truct ed of fibers t wist ed int o st rands,
which are then twist ed t oget her.
T wo-pe rs on ro pe A rope rat ed t o c arry t he w eight of t w o peo ple
(600 lbs ).
Utility ro pe R o pe us ed f or s ec uring object s, f or hoist ing equip -
m ent, or f or s ec uring a sc ene to prev ent by standers from being
injured. It is never to be used in life s af ety operations.
W or ki ng e n d T h e part of t he rope us ed f or f orming t he knot.
 You a nd othe r me mbers of yo ur bri gade ar rive o n the sce ne of a s mol deri ng fire i n a n
over head co nvey or belt stru cture t hat carr ies b oxes of fin ishe d pr od ucts fro m a
packi ng b uild in g to a war eh ouse . T he fir e is re latively s mall, but will req uire
exting uis h me nt wit h a hose. After war d, salva ge a nd ove rha ul ope ratio ns will be
con d ucted. The bri gad e leade r instr ucts yo u an d y ou r cre w to acces s the co n veyor b elt
structure an d c o mplete the extin gu ish ment a n d salva ge/ over haul . T he on ly access t o
the 25-foot-h ig h str ucture is via a fixed lad der sy ste m. The struc ture doe s n ot co ntai n
any type of stan d pip e syste m.

1. You decide t hat y ou and y our c rew will ac cess the C. Tie a s eries of c lov e hitches along the pik e pole
struct ure and then us e a rope to raise t he nec ess ary handle every 6 inc hes, and then hoist the pik e pole
equipm ent to c omplete y our t ask s. You ret urn to t he vertic ally.
apparat us to retriev e the proper rope to c omplet e the
D. Tie a bow line around t he hook of the pik e pole, and
task. What ty pe of rope s hould you c hoos e?
then hoist t he pik e pole v ert ic ally.
A. A 20-f oot pers onal w ebbing you carr y in y our
bunker gear.
4. W hic h of the follow ing st at em ents is incorrect regarding
B. A 200-foot life s af ety rope.
the hoisting of t ools ?
C. A 100-f oot ut ility rope. A. You s hould alway s w ear a helm et and gloves.
D. A 50-f oot piec e of w ire rope.
B. Anot her brigade m ember should alw ays stand below
the hoisting operation t o w atc h t he progres s of the
2. You decide t hat t he first piec e of equipment t hat will be operation.
rais ed t o the st ructure will be a hos e line. W hich of the
C. You should us e the hand -over-hand m ethod t o hoist
following st at em ent s is c orrect regarding hoist ing a
the equipm ent.
hos e line up int o a struct ure?
D. Bew are of and av oid electric wires in t he area.
A. Whenever poss ible, it is alw ays pref erable t o hoist a
dry hos e line.
5. How s hould rope be stored w hen y ou no longer need t o
B. A charged hos e line s hould hav e the nozzle sec ured
use it?
in a c los ed pos ition as it is hoist ed.
A. Rope bags are the only acc ept able met hod to store
C. Before hoisting a dry hos e line, fold the hose back
rope.
on its elf and plac e the nozzle on top of the hose.
B. Ropes should be st ored in "daisy-c hained" f as hion
D. All of t he abov e are c orrect.
or c oiled.
C. Ropes s hould be st ored in a coiled fas hion or
3. A pik e pole will be required t o c om plet e t he ov erhaul
should be wrapped around a piec e of wood.
operation. W hat is the proper t ec hnique t o rig a pik e
pole to be hoisted? D. Ropes s hould be st ored in rope bag, c oiled, or
A. A. Plac e a clov e hitc h over the handle near the butt, stored on a reel.
plac e tw o t o three half hitc hes along t he handle 2 t o
3 feet apart, and then hoist the pik e pole v ertic ally.
B. Tie a bow line in t he c enter of the handle, and then
hoist t he pike pole horiz ont ally.