BOF FF1 Chapter 8*10 Ropes and Knots

Block Creel Construction

Method of manufacturing rope without any knots or splices; a continuous strand of fiber runs the entire length of the rope’s core.

Braid-on-Braid Rope

Rope that consists of a braided core enclosed in a braided, herringbone patterned sheath.

Braided Rope

Rope constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope together (similar to braiding hair).

Clove Hitch

Knot that consists of two half-hitches; its principal use is to attach a rope to an object such as a pole, post, or hose.

Dressing (Rope)

Tightening a knot until it is snug and has no remaining slack.

Dynamic Rope

Rope designed to stretch under load, reducing the shock of impact after a fall.

Hitch

Temporary knot that falls apart if the object held by the rope is removed.

Impact Load

Dynamic and sudden load placed on a rope, typically during a fall.

Kernmantle Rope

Rope that consists of a protective shield (mantle) over the load-bearing core strands (kern).

Laid Rope

Rope constructed by twisting several groups of individual strands together.

Life Safety Rope

Rope designed exclusively for rescue and other emergency operations - used to raise, lower, and support people at an incident during training.

Mechanical Advantage

Advantage created when levers, pulleys, and other tools are used to make work easier during rope rescue or while lifting heavy objects.

Natural Fiber Rope

Utility rope made of manila, sisal, or cotton; not accepted for life safety applications.

Overhand Safety Knot

Supplemental knot tied to prevent the primary knot from failing; prevents the running end of the rope from slipping back through the primary knot.

Rope Log

Record of all use, maintenance, and inspection throughout a rope’s working life; also includes the product label and manufacturer's recommendations.

Running Part

Free end of the rope used for hoisting, pulling, or belaying.

Standing Part

Middle of the rope, between the working end and the running part.

Static Rope

Rope designed not to stretch under load.

Synthetic Fiber Rope

Rope made from continuous, synthetic fibers running the entire length of the rope; it is strong, easy to maintain, and resists mildew and rotting.

Tag Line

Non-load-bearing rope attached to a hoisted object to help steer it in a desired direction, prevent it from spinning or snagging on obstructions, or act as a safety line.

Utility Rope

Rope designed for any use except rescue; can be used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects, or cordon off an area.

Webbing

Device used for creating anchors and lashings, or for packaging patients and rescuers; typically constructed from the same material as synthetic rope.

Working End

End of the rope used to tie a knot.

What are some of the uses for life safety rope and utility rope?

Life safety rope is designed to be used only for rescue and other emergency operations; Utility rope can be used to hoist equipment, secure unstable objects, or cordoning off an area

What are some advantages of synthetic rope compared to natural fiber rope?

Excellence resistance to water, mildew, mold, rotting, & shrinkage, longer lifespan than natural fiber rope, lightweight yet very strong, and easy to maintain

When is dynamic rope typically used?

when long falls are a possibility

What is the process for inspecting kernmantle rope?

put a slight tension on the rope while feeling for lumps, depressions, or soft spots (inspecting for damage is difficult because the damage may not be obvious); if you feel a soft spot, inspect the outer sheath, if the sheath is damaged the core is probably damaged as well * Inspect the Rope for irregularities in shape or weave, foul smells, discoloration from chemical contamination, roughness, abrasions, and deterioration/ fuzziness (rope that is excessively fuzzy in one spot or overall should be removed from service)

What is the proper way to clean a natural fiber rope?

Wipe or gently brush the rope to remove as much dirt and grit as possible, do not use water; use the same method described for synthetic rope - Washing by hand into a utility sink filled with water and detergent, a rope washing device, or a washing machine

What are some of the uses for flat and tubular webbing?

Flat webbing is used for rescue operations for straps and harnesses; tubular webbing is used for rescue work (easier to tie)

What is the purpose of a safety knot?

eliminates the danger of the running end of the Rope slipping back through the knot and causing the knot to fail

What are some of the knots and hitches that are used in the fire service?

Overhand safety, clove hitch, half hitch, figure eight, figure eight bend, figure eight on a bight, figure eight follow through, and water knot

What is the purpose of a tag line?

help prevent tools from spinning or snagging while being hoisted

What are some other emergency scene uses for ropes and webbing?

rescue uses, control zone perimeter, search lines, and object stabilization