The fire service

has always
depended on
ropes for:
Hoisting
equipment
Gaining access
Rescuing
people
Stabilizing
equipment and
vehicles
 Used to support
rescuers and victims
Must be constructed of
“block creel
construction” of
continuous filament
virgin fiber without
knots or splices in the
yarns, ply yarns,
strands or braids, or
rope
 Must be used
only for
supporting
people during
rescue, fire
fighting, or other
emergency
operations, or
during training
For all uses
except life safety,
such as hoisting
and securing
items
No standards for
utility line
applications
Emergency self-rescue
rope used to escape an
immediately hazardous
environment, not
classified as a life
safety rope
Floating rope
that is intended
to be thrown to
a person during
water rescues
or as a tether
for rescuers
entering the
water
Natural fibers
Not acceptable for life safety ropes
Can be used for utility purposes

Most natural fiber ropes are made of:

Natural fibers
Advantages
Resistant to sunlight
Does not melt when exposed to heat
Holds knots firmly

Disadvantages
Prone to mold and mildew
Deteriorates with chemical exposure
Burns
Synthetic fibers
Used for life-safety applications
Excellent resistance to mildew and rotting
Excellent strength and easy to maintain
May have continuous fibers running the
entire rope length
Synthetic materials commonly used:
Nylon Polyester
Polyethylene Polypropylene
Kevlar Aramid Spectra polyethylene
 Constructed of a braided covering or
sheath (mantle) over a core (kern) of the
main load bearing strands
The kern accounts for about 75% of the
rope's strength
The mantle provides
the rest of the rope's
strength and protects
the core from abrasion

Low-stretch
kernmantle is the most
common rescue rope
used
Dynamic
Designed to stretch
without breaking
Used when long falls
are a possibility

Not practical for

rescue or hauling
operations because
of its elasticity
Static
Designed for low stretch
without breaking

Used for most rope-

rescue situations where
falls are not likely

Must not elongate more

than 10% when tested to
a load equal to 10% of
its breaking strength
Constructed by
twisting yarns
together to form
strands
Most vulnerable to
physical damage by
abrasion because all
load-bearing strands
are exposed
Used as utility rope
 Constructed by
intertwining
strands together
Can be subject to
direct abrasion
and damage
Used as utility
rope
 Constructed with a
braided core and a
braided jacket
Considered strong due to each
braid taking half of a load
Does not resist abrasion as
well as kernmantle rope
Outer sheath may slide along
inner core
Inspect all ropes after each use and
annually
Follow manufacturer's recommendations
Label or identify all ropes
Keep a maintenance log
Inspect ropes visually and by touch
Inspect all ropes
for:
Foreign
materials
Cuts and
abrasions
Chemical
damage
Heat damage
Damage may not be obvious
Put a slight tension on rope and feel
for lumps, depressions, or soft spots

Outer sheath
damage may
indicate core
damage
The core can
be damaged
without visible
damage to the
sheath
Check externally and untwist and
check internally for:
• Soft, crusty, stiff,
or brittle spots
• Cuts, nicks, or
abrasions
• Chemical
damage
• Dirt or grease
Check for:
• Ruptured fibers
• Dark spots indicating
mold or mildew
• Brittle or ruptured
fibers that may indicate
chemical damage
• Rust spots
• Heavy grease or oil
stains
 Natural fiber
Do not use water
Wipe or gently brush
Synthetic fibers
Follow manufacturer's directions
Clean with cool water and mild soap
Avoid bleach and harsh detergents

Dry all ropes

thoroughly and
out of direct
sunlight
New rescue rope should be marked
on the ends with an identification
number and the date in service

A log should be kept

throughout the rope's
life
The dates of each use
and inspection should be
entered into the rope log
Record any incident of
impact loading
Rescue rope should
be stored in clean,
dry spaces with
adequate ventilation

Rope should not be

exposed to chemical
contaminants or
fumes

Should not be stored

with gasoline-
powered tools or fuel
Best for storing life-safety
ropes
Rope can be quickly deployed
by holding the rope end and
throwing or dropping the bag
The rope’s weight carries the
bag toward the target as the
rope plays out
Knots, kinks, and bends should
be removed when storing rope
 Used with rope for both
life safety and utility use
Webbing may be of solid
flat design or a tubular
design
Most webbing is made
from the same
materials as synthetic
rope
One-inch webbing is
the most common
webbing used
Webbing Uses
To support fire fighters during operations
as a rescue harness or ladder belt
To construct technical rescue anchor
systems
To package and
secure victims
To attach
rescue
components
together
 Class I harness
Fastens around the waist
and around the thighs or
under the buttocks
Intended for emergency
escape for up to 300 pounds

Class II harness
Fastens exactly like a
Class I harness
Rated for up to 600
pounds
“Full body harness”
Fastens around the
waist, around the thighs
or under the buttocks,
and over the
shoulders

Rated for up to
600 pounds
Many fire fighters carry a section of
utility webbing in their turnout gear
for use during emergency operation

Long lengths of
webbing may be rolled
or daisy-chained for
storage
Life safety harnesses
should be kept in
bags for protection
Knots are used to connect ropes or webbing, form
loops, and attach ropes or webbing or objects
Improperly tied knots are hazardous to
rescuers and victims

Standing part:
between running
and working end

Working end:
used to form knot Running part:
and tie to the free end used for
object hoisting and pulling
 All knots should be
"dressed" after being
tied: tightened until
snug with no slack

Knots can sometimes loosen or fail

from repeated loading and unloading
A safety knot should
be tied in the tail of the
working end to prevent
slippage
A fire service knot must be easy to tie
and untie and be secure under load

A rope’s strength is
reduced to the degree
it is bent
The tighter the bend,
the more strength lost
Some knots create
tighter bends
Knots are formed using these bends:

Bight:
formed by Loop:
bending the made by
rope back crossing the
on itself side of the
while bight over the
keeping the standing
sides part
parallel
Knots are formed using these bends:

Round
turn:

further
bending
the sides
of a loop
 Used for
added
safety
with any
knot
Eliminates danger of end
slipping back through knot
One of the most
important fire
service knots
Will not constrict
object it is
placed around
Easily untied
Formed by making a round turn around an object
The rope's standing part is passed under the round
turn on the side opposite the intended direction of
the pull
Several half-hitches can be applied in succession if
required
Consists of two
half hitches

Used to attach
rope to poles,
posts, hose and
to hoist round
objects

Not suitable for

life safety uses
Can be formed anywhere in a rope
Can withstand a
steady pull in
either direction
without slipping

Should be
backed with an
overhand safety
knot
 HANDCUFF RESCUE KNOT
Consists of two adjustable
loops formed from a bight

Used to secure a victim's hands or feet to raise

or drag them to safety
Adjustable until the half-hitches are tightened
HANDCUFF RESCUE KNOT
Also known as the
“Flemish Bend”

Used on life-
safety rope to
tie ropes of equal
diameter together
Used to tie a closed
loop in the end of a rope
Tied by forming a bight
at each end of a rope
and then tying a simple
figure-eight with the
bight in the double part
of the rope
Used to secure a rope
around an object

A single figure-eight is
tied and then the end of
the rope is wrapped
around an object and
follows back through the
single figure-eight
Used to secure a rope
around an object
A single figure-eight is
tied and then the end of
the rope is wrapped
around an object and
follows back through the
single figure-eight
Used for joining two ropes of unequal
diameters or joining a rope with a chain
Unlikely to slip with wet rope
Not suitable for life safety work
 WATER KNOT
Preferred knot for joining two
pieces of webbing or the ends of
one piece when a loop in needed
WATER KNOT
The most common use of
ropes is to raise or lower
tools and equipment from one
level to another

Pressurized cylinders, such

as SCBA bottles or fire
extinguishers should not be
hoisted by rope

A tagline or guideline should

be tied to the piece of
equipment to prevent the
equipment from contacting
the building when being
raised
Always have a
solid footing
Use hand-over-
hand to keep
control of the rope
Protect rope from
sharp edges with
an edge roller or
padding
Work in teams for
fire fighter safety
Make sure area is
clear of personnel
and electrical
hazards
If hoisting a
charged hoseline,
secure nozzles
from accidentally
opening
Always remember
to use a tagline to
control the object
 A clove-hitch is
placed near the end of
the handle with a half
hitch near the middle
and another half hitch
around the head

A pike pole should be

hoisted with the head
upward
A clove hitch is tied near
the axe head and the
working end of the rope is
looped around the head
and back up the handle
A half hitch is tied on the
handle a few inches
above the clove hitch
A second half hitch is tied
near the end of the handle
 A bowline or a figure-eight on a bight is tied
and slipped through the first two rungs of the
ladder

After pulling the loop through, slip it over the

top of the ladder
Fold the nozzle end of the
hoseline back over the rest
of the hose for about four
feet
Tie a clove hitch and an
overhand safety knot over
the nozzle and hose it is
against
Secure the doubled end with
a half hitch about 12-inches
from the loop end
Tie a clove hitch and
an overhand safety
knot around the hose
about one-foot below
the nozzle

Tie a half hitch

through the nozzle
handle and nozzle to
allow the rope to hold
the nozzle shut
 OTHER FIRE SERVICE USES FOR ROPES
Control Zone Perimeter

Utility rope can be

used to establish a
perimeter to control
access

Clove hitches with half hitch overhand

safety knots are used to tie rope to trees
or posts
OTHER FIRE SERVICE USES FOR ROPES
Search Lines
Using ropes as
search lines can
help fire fighters
working in smoke-
filled spaces

Branch lines tied to a main search line will

allow fire fighters to search larger areas
while staying in contact with the rest of the
team
 OTHER FIRE SERVICE USES FOR ROPES
Object Stabilization
Webbing and utility rope are frequently used
to stabilize objects, such as preventing a
vehicle from falling after an accident
When using rope to stabilize an object,
personnel must be sure that:
The anchoring point is strong enough to
hold the object's weight
The knots are tight and safety knots are
used
Attachment points
at both ends are
secure
Everyone is clear
of the line in case
it breaks