Rope Rescue

NS Mayport Fire and Emergency

Services
 References

IFSTA Rescue, Chapter 4, 6th Edition, 1996

NFPA 1670, Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents, 1999
edition.

NFPA 1983, Fire Service Life Safety Rope And System Components, 1995
edition

Considerations for Rope Rescue, Kenneth N. Laidlaw, 1999, (internet)

Ropes and Knots, United States Search and Rescue Task Force, undated
(internet)
NFPA 1670
 Outlines requirements for Technical
Rescue Incidents
 Identifies the operating levels of rescue.
 Awareness
 Operations
 Technician
Awareness Level
 Minimum requirement
 Ability to:
 Do size up
 Identify resources
 Implement emergency response and ICS
 Use PPE
 Recognize Hazards of Rope Rescue
Operations Level
 Awareness Level
 Implement:
 Rope based mechanical advantage
systems
 Edge Protection
 Single and Multiple point Anchoring
Systems
Operations Level cont...
 Use Belay Systems
 Construct lowering and raising systems
 Tie Knots
 Assure Safety
 Package patient
 Maintain ropes and equipment
 Ascend and Descend a fixed rope
Technician Level
 Operations Level
 Know Procedures for:
 Load distributing anchor systems
 High-line rope system
 Use in High-angle environment
 Pass Knots Through System
 Use litter Attendants in High -angle rescue
Rope
 Two types of rope used in the fire service
 Utility rope
 Life Safety Rope
Utility Rope
 No fire standard applies
 Hoisting and securing objects only
 NOT TO BE USED FOR RESCUE OF VICTIMS
Life Safety Rope
 NFPA 1983
 Two classes
 One person
 300 LBS
 4500LBF
 1 1/8” - 1 1/2”
Life Safety Rope
 Two Person
 600 LBS
 9000 LBF
 1 1/2” - 2 1/4”
Life Safety Rope
 Only type to be used for RESCUE
 Should Not be used for UTILITY ROPE
Rope Construction
 Laid-
 Twisted or laid bundle of strands around
each other
 Can stretch
 Can spiral it untwisted under load.
Laid Rope
Rope Construction
 Solid Braid-
 No Core
 Unacceptable as Rescue Rope
 Used only for Utility rope
Rope Construction
 Kernmantle-
 High strength inner core (kern)
 Outer sheath (mantle)
 Kern is the load bearing element
Kernmantle
 Dynamic Kernmantle
 Load absorbing ability
 Twisted or Laid inner core allows some
stretch
Kernmantle
 Static Kernmantle
 Little stretch
 High abrasion resistance
 Excellent Rescue Rope
Kernmantle
 Almost all rescue rope made of DuPont
Nylon
 Block and Creel construction means-
 No Knots in fibers, and
 Never been used fibers
Kernmantle
Rope Care and Inspection
 Inspect before and after use
 Inspect for-
 Visual damage
 Loose Mantle
 Kinks
 Store away from sunlight, heat and chemicals
 Wash and air dry
Rope Do’s and Don’ts
 Use the rope for it’s intended purpose
 Always use edge protection
 Proper rappelling techniques
 No
 Fast rappels
 Bounding
 Swinging
Rope Do’s and Don’ts
 Never step on a rope
 and, Again,
 Never use a rope for anything other then it’s
intended purpose
Webbing
 Used to construct anchor points
 1-2” sizes
 1” most common has a breaking strength of
4000 LBS
 If use for body contact must have 6000 LBS
breaking strength
Flat webbing
 Single layer of fabric
 Hard to tie knots in
 Mainly used for straps and harnesses
Tubular Webbing
 Easy to tie knots
 Edge stitched
 Spiral weave
 All webbing should be inspected as rope
 Wash in cold water and air dry
Harnesses
 Class I
 Around waist and thighs
 One person escape only
Class I
Harnesses
 Class II
 Fastened as Class I
 Load differences can be determined by
label
 Used for rappelling and victim pick-off
Class II
Harnesses
 Class III
 Fastened around waist, thighs and
shoulders
 Shoulder harness either integrated or
assembled
 Best in Confined Space but also for High-
angle rescue
Class III
Harnesses
 Improvised
 Rescue Knot
 Swiss seat
 Swiss seat with shoulder harness
Belts
 Not for rescue
 Only locking in ladders, high work, etc..
Hardware
 Carabiners
 “D” shaped best for rescue
 Always use locking gate
 Load vertically at spine
 ** IF A CARABINER IS DROPPED FROM WAIST
HIEGHT OR HIGHER, TAKE IT OUT OF SERVICE
Carabiners

Steel Carabiners

Aluminum Carabiners
Hardware
 Rescue ring
 Used with multidirectional loads
 Anchor Plates
 Braking devices also used as anchor points
Hardware

Rescue Ring

Rigging Plate
Ascenders
 Allows climbing of fixed ropes
 Will not stop a fall
 Use as intended
 Two types
 Cam (Gibbs)
 Handle
Ascenders

Gibbs Ascender
Descending devices
 Rappelling devices
 Figure 8’s
 Rappel racks
Figure 8

Various Styles of
Figure 8’s
Descenders

Bar Rack
Descender
Pulleys
 For hoisting and Mechanical Advantage
Systems
 Raising and lowering
 Single or double sheaves
 Edge Rollers
 Hose Rollers
Pulleys
Edge Rollers

Rack Edge Roller

Pulley Edge
Roller