10.1 Ropes & Fire Service Knots (JPR 4.3.20)
Key Takeaways
- Fire service rope is divided into life safety rope (used to support a person) and utility rope (used for hoisting tools and securing equipment); the two categories must never be interchanged.
- NFPA 1983 classifies life safety rope by use: static kernmantle rope for descending, hauling, and rescue; dynamic rope for fall arrest; and escape rope for emergency egress.
- A Firefighter I must tie the bowline, clove hitch, figure-8 on a bight, half hitch, becket (sheet) bend, overhand safety, and water knot, and must select the correct knot for the load and application.
- Life safety rope must be inspected after every use, retired if it has been loaded, washed with mild soap and air-dried away from direct sunlight, and stored in a clean, dry environment.
10.1 Ropes & Fire Service Knots (JPR 4.3.20)
Fire Service Rope Construction
A fire service rope is made from a fiber material (natural or synthetic) and constructed in one of two patterns:
- Laid (twisted) rope: Three strands twisted together. Common for utility rope, it is easy to splice but prone to hockling (kinking under load) and absorbs water and contaminants.
- Braided rope: A woven sheath over a core (kernmantle). The kern (core) carries the load and the mantle (sheath) protects the core from abrasion. Kernmantle construction is the standard for life safety rope because it is strong, flexible, and resists contamination.
Materials
- Nylon: High strength, elasticity, abrasion resistance, and heat resistance up to about 400 deg F (204 deg C). The standard for dynamic life safety rope.
- Polyester: Lower stretch than nylon, good UV resistance, and moderate heat resistance. Common for static life safety rope.
- Polypropylene: Lightweight, floats, but has poor abrasion resistance and low melting point. Used for throw bags and water rescue lines.
- Natural fibers (manila, cotton, hemp): Used only for utility rope. They absorb water, rot, and lose strength when wet.
NFPA 1983 Rope Categories
NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services, classifies life safety rope by intended use:
- Static rope (low stretch): Used for rappelling, ascending, hauling, and lowering. Maximum elongation of 1.6 to 10 percent at 10 percent of minimum breaking strength.
- Dynamic rope (high stretch): Used for fall arrest. Elongation of at least 25 percent at 10 percent of breaking strength so the rope absorbs the shock load of a fall.
- Escape rope: A single-use emergency egress rope designed for one evacuation. It is discarded after one use.
- Utility rope: Not rated for life safety. Used for hoisting tools, securing hose, crowd control, and other non-life-support tasks. Color or labeling differentiates utility from life safety rope.
A Firefighter I must never use a utility rope to support a person and must never downgrade a life safety rope to utility use, because once a life safety rope is removed from the life safety inventory it cannot be returned.
Knots Required for Firefighter I
NFPA 1001 Firefighter I requires the candidate to tie seven knots quickly and correctly. Each knot has a specific fireground application:
| Knot | Type | Fireground Application |
|---|---|---|
| Bowline | Loop | Forms a secure loop at the end of a rope for hoisting, anchoring, or securing a victim. The bowline does not slip under load and is easy to untie after loading. |
| Clove hitch | Hitch | Attaches a rope to a pole, post, or tool. Used to secure a hose or tool to a ladder or apparatus. |
| Figure-8 on a bight | Loop | Forms a strong, easy-to-untie loop at the end of a rope for anchoring or attaching hardware. Stronger and easier to inspect than a bowline. |
| Half hitch | Hitch | A quick, temporary securing knot used alone or as a backup to another knot. |
| Becket bend (sheet bend) | Bend | Joins two ropes of different diameters. Used to extend a rope by attaching a smaller line. |
| Overhand safety knot | Stopper | Tied in the working end of another knot to prevent the working end from slipping back through and untying the knot. Used to finish a bowline or becket bend. |
| Water knot | Bend | Joins two ends of tubular webbing to form a loop for a victim harness or anchor. Common for webbing drags and improvised harnesses. |
Knot Terminology
- Working end: The end of the rope used to tie the knot.
- Standing part: The long part of the rope not involved in the knot.
- Bight: A bend in the rope that does not cross itself.
- Loop: A bend in the rope that crosses itself, forming a closed circle.
- Round turn: A wrap of the working end completely around an object.
Knot Selection by Application
- Hoisting an axe or pike pole: Clove hitch and two half hitches, with an overhand safety in the working end.
- Securing a hose to a ladder: Clove hitch with an overhand safety.
- Lowering a victim or downed firefighter: Figure-8 on a bight, secured to a harness ring with a carabiner.
- Improvised victim harness (webbing drag): Water knot to join the ends of a loop of tubular webbing.
- Extending a rope: Becket bend (sheet bend), with an overhand safety in the working end.
- Anchoring to a substantial object (pillar, post): Bowline with an overhand safety, or figure-8 on a bight clipped with a carabiner.
Inspection and Care of Life Safety Rope
Life safety rope is a piece of life safety equipment and is inspected and maintained per the manufacturer instructions and NFPA 1983.
Inspection
Inspect life safety rope before every use and after every incident. Inspect for:
- Cuts, abrasions, or glazing on the sheath.
- Soft spots or depressions in the kern that suggest core damage.
- Chemical contamination: Discoloration, stiffness, or chemical smell. A contaminated rope is retired.
- Heat damage: Melted fibers, discoloration, or stiffness from overheating.
- Foreign matter: Paint, oil, blood, or body fluids. Heavily contaminated rope is retired.
If the rope passes the visual inspection, perform a hand inspection: pull the rope through a gloved hand and feel for lumps, soft spots, or other irregularities in the core. Any irregularity requires retirement of the rope.
Cleaning and Storage
- Wash life safety rope with mild soap (such as Ivory dish soap) and lukewarm water.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Air dry away from direct sunlight and heat. Never machine dry or use a dryer.
- Store rope in a clean, dry, ventilated area in a rope bag or coil. Never store rope in direct sunlight, in the apparatus bay where exhaust can contaminate it, or near chemicals or fuels.
- Tag the rope with its serial number, date of manufacture, manufacturer, and date of last inspection.
Retirement
NFPA 1983 requires that life safety rope be retired from service if:
- It has been subjected to a load (a fall arrest, a rescue lowering, or any dynamic load).
- It has been contaminated by chemicals, blood, or body fluids.
- It has visible damage to the sheath or core.
- It fails the inspection.
- It has been in service for 10 years from the date of manufacture (per NFPA 1983), regardless of use.
A retired life safety rope is destroyed by cutting it into short segments so it cannot be reused, and the serial number is removed from the inventory.
Which knot is used to join two ends of tubular webbing to form a loop for a webbing drag or improvised victim harness?
Under NFPA 1983, when must a life safety rope be retired from service?
What distinguishes static life safety rope from dynamic life safety rope under NFPA 1983?