Rope and Knots

useful for who like fire fighting

1. Knots and bends used in fire fighting Vishnu A C SOE, CUSAT

2. Ropes are widely used in the fire service. May be your only means for rescue A fire fighter must be able to tie simple knots accurately and without hesitation. Introduction

3. Life safety Used solely for supporting people Escape Used for emergency self-rescue Utility Used in most cases when it is not necessary to support a person Types of Rope

4. Never used as utility rope Must be used when supporting the weight of one or more persons NFPA 1983 specifies design, construction, and performance criteria. Life Safety Ropes

5. Technical use life safety rope 3/8” (9.5 mm) or greater, but is less than 1/2” (12.5mm) in diameter General use life safety rope is no larger than 5/8” (16 mm) and no smaller than 7/16” (11 mm) in diameter Types of Life Safety Rope

6. Used for self-rescue in extreme situations Designed for the weight of one person Should be replaced after one use Use the rope only as a last resort. Escape Rope

7. Is not used to support a person Used for hoisting, lowering, and securing equipment Requires regular inspection Utility Rope

8. Ropes can be made of many types of materials. Earliest ropes were made from natural vines woven together. Now ropes are made of synthetic material and Wire ropes. Rope materials

9. Wire rope is a combination of steel wires arranged around a central fiber core The breaking load of wire is considerably greater than that of fiber rope of equivalent size it is far less flexible limited to equipment usage like winch, ladders, etc. Wire Ropes

10. Natural fiber ropes were often made of manila. Currently used for utility, not life safety, tasks Drawbacks to Using Natural Fiber ropes Lose their load- carrying ability over time Subject to mildew Absorb 50 percent of their weight in water Degrade quickly Difficult to meet block creel construction requirement with natural fibers Natural Fibers

11. Nylon first manufactured in 1938 Synthetic fibers have been used for ropes ever since. Synthetic Fibers Several newer synthetic materials – Polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene

12. Life safety rope is always synthetic. Nylon Polyester Polypropylene ( Terylene ) Synthetic Fibers

13. Advantages to using Synthetic Fiber Ropes Strength to Diameter ratio Longevity over natural fibers Thinner without sacrificing strength Less absorbent than natural fiber ropes Greater strength and added safety More fire-retardant than natural fiber ropes

14. Drawbacks to using Synthetic fiber ropes Can be damaged by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light Can be damaged by exposure to strong acids or alkalis Susceptible to abrasion

15. Rope Construction There are several types of rope construction. The best choice depends on the specific application. Twisted Rope Construction Braided Rope Construction Kernmantle Rope Construction Dynamic and Static Rope Construction Dynamic and Static Kernmantle Rope Construction

16. Twisted Rope Construction Also called laid ropes Individual fibers twisted into strands Strands are twisted to make the rope. Both natural and synthetic fibers can be twisted.

17. Braided Rope Construction Strands woven like hair braiding Exposes all of the strands to abrasion Fibers stretch Double-braiding

18. Kernmantle Rope Construction Kern is the center core. Mantle is the sheath-like braided covering that protects kern from dirt and abrasion.

19. Kernmantle Rope Construction Kern and mantle are synthetic. Provides a very strong and flexible rope that is thin and lightweight Well suited for rescue work

20. Dynamic and Static Rope Construction Dynamic Designed to be elastic Usually used by mountain climbers Static Has a limited range of elasticity More suitable for rescue situations

21. Dynamic and Static Kernmantle Rope Construction Dynamic Constructed with overlapping or woven fibers When loaded, the fibers pull tighter. Static Constructed with fibers parallel to each other Little elasticity and limited elongation

22. Causes of Deteriorations of Ropes Abrasion and Chaffing Breaking of internal fibers Kinking or Sharp bends Dragging on ground Overloading Entry of grits into the fibers Chemical attack

23. Rope Maintenance All ropes require proper care. Four parts to maintenance: Care Clean Inspect Store

24. Care of the Rope Protect the rope from sharp and abrasive surface. Protect the rope from rubbing against another rope or a webbing. Protect the rope from heat, chemical and flames. Protect the rope from prolonged exposure to sunlight. Follow the manufacture’s recommendations for rope care. Never step on rope.

25. Clean the Rope Use mild soap and water for synthetic fibers. Do not use bleach. Follow manufacturer ’ s recommendations. Do not pack or store wet or damp rope. Courtesy of Captain David Jackson, Saginaw Township Fire Department

26. Cleaning fire department ropes

27. Questions to consider when Inspecting Life Safety Ropes Has the rope been exposed to heat or flame? Has the rope been exposed to abrasion? Has the rope been exposed to chemicals? Has the rope been exposed to shock loads? Are there any depressions, discoloration, or lumps in the rope?

28. Inspect the Rope Inspect life safety rope after each use and on a regular schedule when unused. Look for cuts and damage as you run it through your fingers.

29. Inspect the Rope A life safety rope that is no longer usable must be pulled from service and either destroyed or marked as a utility rope. Signs of Possible Rope Deterioration Discoloration Shiny marking from heat or friction. Damaged sheath Core fibers poking through the sheath

30. Store the Rope Avoid temperature extremes and keep out of sunlight and away from fumes of gasoline, oils, and hydraulic fluids. Use a separate apparatus compartment.

31. Store the Rope Do not place heavy objects on the rope. Rope bags may be used or rope may be coiled. If shock loaded, inspect and consider removing from service.

32. Placing a life safety rope in a Bag

33. Knots Ways of fastening ropes and webbing to objects or each other. Fire fighters must know how and when to use knots. Knots are used for multiple purposes. Knots reduce rope load-carrying capability.

34. Relative Strengths of “Knots” for Single Kernmantle Rope No Knot 100 % Figure 8 75-80 % Bowline 70-75 % Double Overhand Bend 65-70 % Ring Bend 60-70 % Clove Hitch 60-65 % Overhand 60-65 % Two Half Hitches 60-70 % Square Knot 43-70 %

35. Knot Terms Working end Used in forming knots Running end Used in lifting or hoisting Standing part Between the working and the running end

36. Knot Terms Bight Make a Bight to form a loop at middle part of a length of line Loop Makes a circle in the rope Round turn Makes a loop with parallel ends

37. Safety Knot Secures the leftover working end of the rope to the standing part of the rope. Ensures primary knot will not become undone To test, try sliding it on the standing part of the rope. A knot that is tied correctly will slide.

38. Tying a safety knot

39. Loop Knots Used to form a loop in the end of a rope May be used for hoisting tools, securing a person, or identifying the end of a stored rope. Will not slip easily but are easy to untie

40. Loop Knots Figure eight knot Used to produce a family of other knots Seldom used alone Figure eight on a bight Secures loop at the working end Can be used to attach rope to fixed object or a piece of equipment

41. Loop Knots Figure eight follow-through Useful for attaching a rope to a fixed ring or a solid object with an “ eye ” Figure eight bend Used to join two ropes together Bowline Used to secure a rope to an object or anchor point

42. Loop Knots In- Line Figure eight Figure eight follow-through

43. Figure of Eight

44. In-Line Figure Eight Steps of knot making

45. Figure-Eight Follow Through Steps of knot making

46. Bowline

47. Bowline

48. Microys , Helmut; “Climbing Ropes;” American Alpine Journal 51 (1977) p. 140 2 “Rope Technical Data;” brochure by the Cordage Group, Division of Columbian Rope Company ; Auburn, New York (March, 1977)

49. Hitches Wrap around an object Used to secure working end to a solid object or to tie a rope to an object before hoisting it

50. Hitches Half hitch Not secure by itself Used only in conjunction with other knots. Long objects may need several half hitches.

51. Round Turn with Two Half Hitches The Round Turn One Half Hitch Second Half Hitch

52. Hitches Clove hitch Used to attach rope to a round object Will hold if tension is applied

53. Clove Hitch Steps of knot making

54. Tying a Clove Hitch in the open

55. Tying a Clove Hitch in the open

56. Tying a Clove Hitch around and object

57. Tying a Clove Hitch around and object

58. Hitches Prussik Hitch The prussik hitch or “ prussik ” is formed from pre-tied 8mm accessory cord . Operations company members should only use the three-wrap prussik . The three wrap Prusik Hitch is for rescue loads up to 600 lbs .

59. Prusik Hitch Steps of knot making

60. Bends Used to join two ropes together The sheet bend or Becket bend can be used to join two ropes of unequal size. The water knot or ring bend is used to join webbing of the same or different sizes together.

61. Bends Overhand follow-through Bend Double overhand bend Double Becket Bend Square bend

62. Sheet or Becket Bend

63. Sheet or Becket Bend

64. Double Becket Bend Steps of bend making

65. Overhand Follow-Through Bend Steps of bend making

66. Double Overhand Bend Steps of bend making

67. Square Bend Steps of bend making

68. Hoisting an Axe

69. Hoisting a Charged line

70. Hoisting a Charged line

71. Hoisting a Ladder

72. Hoisting a Ladder

73. Hoisting an Uncharged H ose

74. Hoisting an Uncharged Hose

75. Hoisting a Power tool

76. Hoisting a Power tool