ropes and knots - wabash independent...

Ropes and Knots

Objectives

• Identify the difference between life safety and utility rope.

• Identify the categories of rope fibers. • Identify the types of rope construction. • Identify the reasons for placing rope out of

service. • Identify the techniques for inspecting,

cleaning and maintaining rope.

Objectives

• Identify the proper method of rope storage. • Identify knots and their uses. • Identify the techniques for using rope to tie

ladders, hose and other objects to hoist and/or secure them.

Life Safety Rope

• Rope dedicated solely for the purpose of supporting people and/or victims during rescue, fire fighting or other emergency operations or during training evolutions.

• Must conform to NFPA 1983 – Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services

• Two primary types – One person – Two person

Utility Rope

• Can be used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects or cordon off an area.

• Needs to be inspected regularly for damage. • Not for life safety, rappelling, rescue or training.

Categories of Rope Fibers

• Natural – Manila – Sisal – Cotton Drawbacks Lose their load carrying ability over time Subject to mildew Absorb 50 percent of their weight in water Degrade quickly


• Synthetic – Nylon – Polyester – Kevlar – Aramine Drawbacks Can be damaged by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light Can be damaged by exposure to strong acids or alkalis Susceptible to abrasion


• Synthetic Advantages Thinner without sacrificing strength Less absorbent than natural fiber ropes Greater resistance to rotting and mildew Longer lasting than natural fiber ropes Greater strength and added safety More fire retardant than natural fiber ropes

Types of Rope Construction

• Laid / Twisted – Twisting yams together to form strands, generally

three strands


• Braided – Uniformly intertwining strands of rope. Similar to braiding of hair

• Braid-on-Braid – Braided core and braided cover or sheath


• Kernmantle – Two parts: Kern (core) and Mantle (cover) – Dynamic

• Used when long falls are possible • Designed to be elastic • Stretches to reduce the shock impact during a fall • Not suitable for hauling

– Static • Low stretch rope • Good for most rescues • Designed for low stretch without breaking


• Kernmantle

Reasons for Placing Rope Out of Service

• In general – Chemical damage – Cuts and abrasion – Internal damage – Mildew and rot – Stretch – Thermal damage

Inspecting, Cleaning and Maintaining Rope

• General inspection – Inspect all ropes after each use – Unused ropes should be inspected at least annually – Inspect rope visually and by touch – Inspect for imbedded chards of glass, metal shavings, wood

splinters or other foreign objects that could cause damage. If any of these are found, the rope should be taken out of service

– All inspections should be documented in the rope log • Marked for identification • Record kept of purchase • Record of use (when, how and type of loads)


• Kernmantle rope – Inspecting kernmantle rope for damage is somewhat

difficult because the damage may not be obvious – Place slight tension on the rope while feeling for any lumps,

depressions or soft spots – A temporary soft spot resulting from hard knots or sharp

bends in the rope may be felt – Any damage to the outer sheath indicates probable damage

to the core. The core of a kernmantle rope can be damaged without visible evidence on the outer sheath


• Kernmantle rope – Any doubt about the rope’s integrity, it should be

downgraded to utility status – The rope should be inspected for irregularities in shape or

weave, foul smells, discoloration from chemical contamination, roughness, abrasions or fuzziness

– A certain amount of fuzziness is normal and is not necessarily a cause for concern

– If there is a great amount of fuzziness in one spot or if the overall amount is excessive based upon the inspector’s judgment and experience, the rope should be downgraded


• Laid rope – Inspect synthetic laid ropes for soft, crusty, stiff or

brittle spots, for areas of excessive stretching, for cuts, nicks, abrasions, chemical damage, dirt, grease and for other obvious flaws

– Untwist and check internally for flaws – In synthetic laid rope the presence of mildew does

not necessarily indicate a problem, however the rope should be cleaned and reinspected

– In natural fiber rope, a foul smell might indicate rotting or mildew


• Braided rope – Visually inspect for exterior damage such as heat

sears, nicks and cuts – Visually inspect for excess or unusual fuzziness – Inspect for permanent mushy spots or other

deformities


• Braid-on-Braid rope – Inspect for heat sears, nicks and cuts – Inspect for the sheath sliding on the core. If sliding

is found, cut the end of the rope and pull off the excess material, then seal the end

– Inspect for lumps that indicate core damage. A reduction in the rope’s diameter may indicate a break in the core

– Carefully examine any type of damage or questionable wear to the sheath


• Recommended methods of washing and drying rope vary with each manufacturer, always follow manufacturer’s instruction for specific cleaning and drying instructions for the type of rope use


• Natural fibers – Cannot be cleaned effectively because water

cannot be used in the cleaning process – Water initially strengthens natural fiber rope,

however after continual exposure to wetting and drying water weakens and damages the fiber

• Can lose up to 50 percent of strength when exposed to water

• Does not regain strength when dry – Wipe or gently brush the rope to remove as much

of the dirt and grit as possible


• Synthetic fibers – Cool water and mild soap are least likely to damage

synthetic fiber ropes – Bleaches or strong cleaners should not be used – Some synthetic rope may feel stiff after washing,

this is not a cause for concern


• Synthetic fibers – Three steps to clean synthetic rope

• Hand washing: Wipe the rope with a cloth or scrub it with a brush and then thoroughly rinse with clean water

• Use a special rope washing device • Dry completely prior to storage

– Lay flat to dry: Out of direct sunlight – Hang to dry – Loosely coiled in a hose dryer

» WARNING: Even a low temperature setting could surpass manufacturer’s recommendations

Proper Methods of Rope Storage

• Must be able to quickly identify – Type – Length

• Different material types, sizes or colors of bags or tags can be used – Each department needs to establish a policy

• Standard coiling • Utilization of special bags • Rope storage in bag • Bags used to protect and store rope • 1 bag – 1 rope • Tie a figure eight knot on a bight in the first end of the rope to go

into the bag

Rope / Knot Terminology

• Running end – Used for hoisting,

pulling or belaying

• Working end – Forms the knot

• Standing part – Between the working

end and the running end


• Bight – Bending the rope back on itself, sides parallel


• Loop – Crossing the side of a bight over the standing part


• Round turn – A loop with the sides parallel

Eight Basic Fire Service Knots

• Bowline • Clove Hitch • Figure Eight on a Bight • Figure Eight Follow Through • Becket or Sheet Bend / Figure Eight Bend • Overhand Safety • Half Hitch • Handcuff Knot

Bowline Knot

• Shares a degree of acceptance in both life safety and other fire service applications

• Easily untied • Good knot for forming single loop that will not

constrict the object it is placed around • Primarily used to attach a rope to a cylinfrical

object

Bowline Knot - Construction

Select enough rope to form the size of the knot desired

Form an overhead loop in the standing part

Pass the working end upward through the loop

Pass the working end over the top of the loop under the standing part

1. 2.

4. 3.

Bowline Knot - Construction

Bring the working end completely around the standing part and down through the loop

Pull the knot snugly into place, forming an inside bowline with the working end on the

inside of the loop

5. 6.

Finished Bowline Knot

Clove Hitch

• Consists of two half hitches • Principle use is to attach a rope to an object such as a pole,

post or hoseline • Used in hoisting • Not suitable in anchoring a life safety rope or in a life safety

situation • May be formed anywhere in the rope • When properly applied, it withstands a pull in either direction

without slipping • If the knot is subjected to repeated loading and unloading, it

should be backed up with an overhand safety knot

Clove Hitch- Construction

Form a loop with the working end crossing under the standing part

Form a second loop with the working end crossing under the standing part

Slide left loop over right loop Slide the knot over the object and pull the ends in opposite directions to tighten

1. 2.

4. 3.

Figure Eight on a Bight

• Creates a secure loop in either the middle or at the end of a rope

• Tied by forming a bight in either the end of the rope or at any point along its length, then tying a simple figure eight with the doubled part of rope

Figure Eight on a Bight - Construction

Form a bight and pass the working end over the standing part to form a loop

Pass the bight under the standing part

Pass the bight over the loop and down through it to form the figure eight

1. 2.

3.

Figure Eight Follow Through

• Used to tie ropes of equal diameter together or to tie a rope around an object when an end of the rope is not available

Figure Eight Follow Through - Construction

Tie a figure eight knot on one end of the rope Feed the running end of the rope through…….

the figure eight knot in reverse

1. 2.

3.

It should follow (hence the name) the exact path of the original knot

4.

Becket or Sheet Bend / Figure Eight Bend

• Used for joining two ropes of unequal diameters or joining a rope and chain

• Unlikely to slip when rope is wet • Becket bend is not suitable in life safety applications

Becket or Sheet Bend / Figure Eight Bend - Construction

• Form a bight in one of the ends to be tied (the bight always goes in the larger of the two)

Becket or Sheet Bend / Figure Eight Bend - Construction

• Pass the end of the second rope through the bight and follow the path of the first rope

Overhand Safety

• Used as an added safety measure • Eliminates the danger of the end of the rope slipping back

through the knot and causing the knot to fail

Overhand Safety - Construction

• Form a loop. Insert the end of the rope through the loop.

Half Hitch

• Useful in stabilizing tall objects that are being hoisted • Always used in conjunction with another knot or hitch • Several half hitches can be applied in succession if required

Half Hitch - Construction

• Make a round turn in the standing portion of the rope

• Slide the round turn down over the object making sure the running end passes under the working end

Handcuff Knot

• Used when victim must be moved due to imminent danger and there is no other way

Handcuff Knot - Construction

Form 2 loops in middle of rope

While pulling the right side of the left loop thru the right loop

Slip loops around victim’s calves/wrists, as high as possible

Pull the left side of the right loop thru the left loop

Handcuff Knot - Construction

Victim can then be hoisted or dragged to safety

Technique for Hoisting / Securing Ladders

Lower an appropriate length of rope from the intended location

Make a loop in the end of the rope using a bowline or a figure eight on a bight

Open the loop and place it over the tip of the ladder

Place the closed loop under the ladder and bring it up between the rung

Technique for Hoisting / Securing Ladders

Tighten the loop around the beams Tie a guideline to the ladder

Hoist the ladder

Technique for Hoisting / Securing Small Equipment

Lower an appropriate length of rope from the intended location

Tie a figure eight knot in the rope about 3’ from the working end

Loop the working end around the handle and back through the figure eight knot

Technique for Hoisting / Securing Small Equipment

Secure the rope by tying an overhand safety Tie a guideline to the equipment

Hoist the equipment

Technique for Hoisting / Securing Charged Hose

Tie a clove hitch, with an overhand safety knot, around the hose about 1’ below the coupling

Pass a bite through the handle and loop it around the nozzle

Tie a half-hitch around the nozzle to take the strain off the handle

Hoist the hose

Technique for Hoisting / Securing Uncharged Hose

Place a half hitch on the doubled hose about 12”

from the loop end

Tie a clove hitch, with an overhand safety knot, around the tip of the nozzle and the hose it is folded against so

that they are lashed together

Hoist the hose

ropes and knots - wabash independent...

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