FVCC Fire Rescue
ROPES AND KNOTS
LIFE SAFETY & UTILITY
ROPE APPLICATIONS
 Life Safety
 Used solely to support rescuers/victims
 Must be synthetic, block creel, virgin fiber
 May not be reused unless meets all reuse criteria
 Utility
 Used for any but life safety applications
 May be synthetic or natural fiber
 May be reused
TS 6–1
CRITERIA FOR REUSING
LIFE SAFETY ROPE
TS 6–2
 Has no visible damage
 Has never been exposed to heat, flame, or abrasion
 Has never been subjected to any impact load
 Has never been exposed to harmful chemical liquids, solids,
gases, mists, or vapors
 Passes inspection before and after each use
Homework
Distinguish between life safety and utility rope applications. Mark “A” for life safety applications or
“B” for utility rope applications.
1. __ Pulling someone from the water
2. __ SCBA guide rope
3. __ Tag line
4. __ Securing backpack assembly to confined space rescuer's harness when
rescuer cannot enter space wearing standard SCBA
5. __ Securing a victim in a Stokes basket
6. __ Cordoning off an area
7. __ Hanging a salvage cover to dry
8. __ Hoisting a tool or piece of equipment
9. __ Safety harness tie-in during confined space entry
10. __ Securing a charged hose to a ladder
11. __ Drying clothes
12. __ Lowering a victim from a building during training exercise
13. __ Rappelling
14. __ Roping off an area
15. __ Stabilizing a vehicle for extrication

VS 6-1
ROPE TERMINOLOGY
Strand
Yarns
Sheath or Jacket
Mantle
Fibers
Core
Kern
VS 6-2
ROPE CONSTRUCTION
Laid (Twisted)
Braided
Braid-on-Braid
Static Kernmantle
Dynamic Kernmantle
Homework
Match rope materials to their descriptions. Write the correct letters on the blanks.
16. Strong, hard fiber from the abaca plant; type #1 best for rope and identified by a colored string twisted into
the fibers; short, non-continuous strands provide poor tensile strength
17. Synthetic rope with three to three and one-half times the tensile strength of manila, but may lose up to 15
percent of its strength when wet; stretches under load so is not suitable for vehicle stabilization or similar
applications
18. Synthetic fiber sometimes known as Dacron®; particularly suitable to high-strength, low-stretch applications
such as vehicle stabilization; very susceptible to damage by alkalis
19. Very lightweight synthetic rope used for water rescue because it absorbs no water and floats; difficult fiber to
secure into solid knots and hitches

a. Manila
b. Nylon
c. Polyethylene
d. Polyester
Homework
 Match rope materials to their descriptions. Write the correct letters on the blanks.
20. Same synthetic fiber as that used in bulletproof vests; also known as Kevlar®; easily
damaged by abrasion so must be sheathed in polyester or nylon; very difficult to knot
21. Soft, pliable natural fiber; generally white or light colored; most susceptible to
physical abrasion and damage of all natural fiber ropes
22. New synthetic fiber with a high molecular weight; strongest of the synthetic rope
fibers; also known as H. Spectra®
23. Very lightweight fiber from same synthetic family as polypropylene; surface has slick,
oily feel; can be manufactured in bright colors for good visibility
a.
b.
c.
d.
Gel spun polyethylene
Cotton
Polypropylene
Aramid
TS 6–3
NATURAL FIBER ROPE
 Types
 Manila
 Sisal
 Cotton
 Used for many years
 Is no longer accepted for life safety applications
TS 6–4
SYNTHETIC ROPE
 Types
 Nylon
 Polypropylene
 Polyester
 Aramid
 Gel spun polyethylene
(H. Spectra®)
 Polyethylene
 Preferable to natural fiber rope
 Excellent resistance to mildew and rotting
 Excellent strength
TS 6–5
DYNAMIC (HIGH STRETCH) ROPE
 Used when long falls are a possibility
 Designed for high stretch without breaking
 Not considered practical for hauling applications
TS 6–6
STATIC (LOW STRETCH) ROPE
 Preferred for rescues requiring raising and lowering heavy
loads
 Designed for low stretch without breaking
 Used for hauling, rescue, rappelling, and where no falls are
likely to occur or only very short falls are possible
LAID (TWISTED)
ROPE CONSTRUCTION
TS 6–7
 Constructed by twisting yarns together to form strands;
three strands twisted together make final rope
 Susceptible to abrasion and other types of physical damage
BRAIDED
ROPE CONSTRUCTION
 Is constructed of uniformly intertwined strands
 Reduces or eliminates twisting common to laid ropes
 Is subject to direct abrasion and damage
TS 6–8
TS 6–9
BRAID-ON-BRAID (DOUBLE BRAID) ROPE
CONSTRUCTION
 Is constructed with both a braided core and a braided sheath
 Is very strong
 Does not resist abrasion as well as kernmantle; sheath may
slide along the inner core of the rope
KERNMANTLE
ROPE CONSTRUCTION
 Has braided covering or sheath over main load-bearing
strands
 Comes in both dynamic and static types
TS 6–10
Homework
 Select facts about rope construction. Write the correct letters on the blanks.
23. What type of rope construction is illustrated above?
a. Laid
b. Braided c. Braid-on-braid
d. Kernmantle
24. Firefighter A says that static rope stretches very little.
Firefighter B says that dynamic lines stretch more than static lines under weight and shock
loads.
Who is right?
a. Firefighter A b. Firefighter B c. Both A and B d. Neither A nor B
25. Why is static rope preferred for rescue work?
a. Its elasticity absorbs the weight of a fall
b. It has a low stretch factor
c. It has a high stretch factor
d. It stretches more than dynamic rope under weight and shock loads
Homework
26. What statement below is true in regard to laid (twisted) rope construction?
a. The tightness of the lay (twist) determines the rope’s properties.
b. Generally six strands are twisted together to make the final rope.
c. Twisted rope is resistant to abrasion and other types of physical damage.
d. Twisted rope is difficult to inspect.
27. What type of rope construction is illustrated below?
a. Laid
b. Braided
c. Braid-on-braid
d. Kernmantle
28. Firefighter A says that braided rope eliminates the twisting common to laid ropes.
Firefighter B says that braided rope is constructed mostly of natural fibers though some
are made from synthetic fibers.
Who is right?
a. Firefighter A
b. Firefighter B
c. Both A and B
d. Neither A nor B
Homework
29. What type of rope construction is illustrated below?
a. Laid
b. Braided
c. Braid-on-braid
d. Kernmantle
30. How many strands are there generally in a laid rope?
a. Seven b. Five c. Three d. Two
31. Which of the following ropes possesses half its strength in its sheath and the
other half in its core?
a. Laid b. Braided
c. Braid-on-braid d. Kernmantle
Homework
32. Which type of rope construction is also called twisted construction?
a. Kernmantle
b. Braided
c. Laid
d. Woven
33. Which of the following ropes possesses three-quarters of its strength in its core
and the remaining quarter in its sheath?
a. Laid
b. Braided
c. Braid-on-braid
d. Kernmantle
34. Which rope construction is most easily inspected, but also most susceptible to
physical damage?
a. Braided
b. Laid
c. Braid-on-braid
d. Kernmantle
Homework
35. Which of the following is the most commonly used rescue rope?
a. Dynamic braid-on-braid b. Static braid-on-braid
c. Dynamic kernmantle
d. Static kernmantle
36. What type of rope construction is illustrated below?
a. Laid
c. Braid-on-braid
b. Braided
d. Kernmantle
TS 6–11
ROPE CARE & MAINTENANCE
 Number or otherwise identify all ropes.
 Inspect after each use.
 Make periodic inspections.
 Use approved inspection methods.
 Immediately red-label rope damaged on scene.
 Keep a rope logbook.
 Remove used life safety rope from service per manufacturer’s
criteria.
TS 6–12
REASONS TO REMOVE
ROPE FROM SERVICE
 Excessive sheath wear
 Severely shock loaded
 Overloaded
 Chemically contaminated
 Old
• Lacks uniform diameter
• Lacks uniform texture
• Does not meet
manufacturer’s criteria
for reuse as life safety
rope
GUIDELINES FOR
INSPECTING ROPE
 Inspect visually and tactilely after each use.
 Remove damaged rope from service.
 Inspect for flaws and damage specific to rope type.
TS 6–13
TS 6–14
INSPECTING LAID ROPE
Look for . . .
 Soft, crusty, stiff or brittle spots
 Cuts
 Nicks
 Abrasions
 Internal mildew
TS 6–15
INSPECTING BRAIDED ROPE
Look for . . .
 Heat sears
 Nicks
 Cuts
 Excess or unusual fuzziness
TS 6–16
INSPECTING BRAID-ON-BRAID ROPE
Look for . . .
 Heat sears
 Nicks
 Cuts
 Lumps that indicate core damage
 Sliding sheath
TS 6–17
INSPECTING KERNMANTLE ROPE
Look for . . .
 Lumps
• Discoloration
 Depressions
• Roughness
 Soft spots
 Irregularities in shape or
weave
 Foul smells
• Abrasions
• Fuzziness
TS 6–18
MAINTAINING A ROPE LOGBOOK
 Start record with purchase of each piece of rescue rope.
 Keep track of each use and the inspection/ maintenance
records of the rope.
 Keep log in waterproof envelope.e
The rope log is usually placed in a pocket sewn on the side of the rope’s
storage bag.
TS 6–19
CLEANING NATURAL FIBER ROPES
 Do not use water; ropes cannot be cleaned effectively.
 Wipe or gently brush to remove as much dirt and grit as
possible.
TS 6–20
CLEANING SYNTHETIC ROPE
BY HAND
 Use cool water and mild soap (no detergents, bleaches, or
solvent-based cleaners).
 Wipe with damp cloth that has been dipped in cool soapy
water and then wrung out, or scrub gently with brush.
 Rinse thoroughly.
 Dry out of direct sunlight.
TS 6–21
CLEANING SYNTHETIC ROPE
IN ROPE WASHER
 Use cool water.
 Feed through washer to remove larger particles of dirt.
 Remove stubborn dirt by hand with cloth or scrub brush.
 Dry thoroughly out of direct sunlight.
TS 6–22
CLEANING SYNTHETIC ROPE
IN CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE
 Use a front-loading,
tumbling-type machine
without a plastic window.
 Place rope in cloth bag in
bird's-nest coil.
 Wash and rinse in cool
water for recommended
period of time.
• Use mild soaps (no
detergents, bleaches, or
solvent-based
cleaners), and follow
mfgr.’s directions.
• Dry thoroughly out of
direct sunlight.
• Contact the rope mfg.
for special cleaning
problems.
TS 6–23
ROPE DRYING METHODS
 Spread out on a hose rack out of sunlight
 Suspended in a hose tower
 Loosely coiled in a hose dryer
TS 6–24
LIFE SAFETY ROPE STORAGE
 In clean, dry spaces that have adequate ventilation
 Coiled
 In bag
 Best for kernmantle rope and other life safety rope
 Allows easy carrying; keeps dirt and grime from rope
VS 6-3
COILING ROPE
1
2
3
4
BAGGING ROPE
VS 6-4
Homework
 Select facts about rope cleaning and storage. Write the correct letters on the
blanks.
37. How should natural fiber ropes be cleaned?
a. In cool water with a brush
b. By wiping or gently brushing
c. By coiling in a cloth bag and washing in a clothes washing machine
d. By feeding through a rope washer
38. Which of the following is not an approved method of drying rope?
a. Air drying
b. Drying in a hose tower or on hose racks
c. Drying in a clothes dryer
d. Looping over clothesline and drying in the sun
39. What water temperature should be selected when using a clothes washer to clean rope?
a. Warm
b. Hot
c. Cold
d. Any of the above
Homework
40. What type of machine should be used for washing ropes in a
clothes washing machine?
a. Front-loading
b. Commercial
c. Top-loading
d. Heavy-duty
41. What type of cleaning agent should be used for cleaning
rope?
a. Bleach b. Solvent-based cleaner
c. Soap
d. Detergent
42. What should the water temperature be for cleaning a rope
with a rope washer?
a. Warm b. Cold
c Hot
d. Any of the above
GENERAL INFORMATION
ABOUT KNOTS
TS 6–25
 The ability to tie knots is a vital part of fire and rescue
operations.
 Synthetic rope material has changed methods of selecting and
tying knots:
 Manila and other natural fiber ropes are no longer considered
safe for life safety use.
 Synthetic rope is slick and may slide under load, so it requires
an overhand or half hitch safety knot on the working end.
 The bends in knots weaken rope: outside fibers are stretched;
inside fibers are bent or crushed.
TS 6–26
DESIRABLE KNOT ELEMENTS
 Easy to tie
 Easy to identify
 Easy to untie
 Secure under load (not subject to slippage)
 Tied with few abrupt bends
 Strong enough for required job
VS 6-5
ELEMENTS OF A KNOT I
Underhand
Loop
Bight
Loop
Round
Turn
Overhand
Loop
VS 6-6
ELEMENTS OF A KNOT II
Working End
Standing Part
Running End
TS 6–27
KNOT TERMS
 Working end — Used for forming knot
 Standing part — Between working and running ends
 Running end — Used to hoist, pull, belay, etc.
 Bight — Loop that does not cross over itself
 Loop — Side of bight crossed over or under standing part
 Round turn — End of rope continued around top of loop
until standing lengths are parallel
PRIMARY KNOT
APPLICATIONS
TS 6–28a
 Overhand knot
 A foundation knot for beginning other knots
 A safety knot or backup to secure other knots (particularly
those of synthetic rope) to prevent the working end from
slipping back through the knot and causing it to fail
 Half hitch
 Hoisting tools
 Stabilizing tall objects
PRIMARY KNOT
APPLICATIONS (cont.)
TS 6–28b
 Bowline — Various utility and life safety (rope rescue
harness) applications
 Clove hitch
 Attaching ropes to objects
 Hoisting (with overhand knot)
 Figure-eight — Foundation knot for other knots in family
 Figure-eight follow through — Joining ropes of equal
diameters
PRIMARY KNOT
APPLICATIONS (cont.)
TS 6–28c
 Figure-eight on a bight — Securing a loop in middle or end
of a rope for a safety line, safety harness, litter and rescue
equipment, anchor lines
 Double-loop figure-eight — Constructing a rope rescue
harness
 Becket bend (sheet bend)
 Joining ropes of unequal diameter
 Joining rope to chain
VS 6-7
HALF HITCH & OVERHAND SAFETY
1
2
3
Two Half Hitches
Overhand Safety
VS 6-8
BOWLINE
1
2
3
4
TS 6–29
BOWLINE KNOT
 Is used to form a loop that will not constrict the object it is
placed around
 Is untied easily
 Shares degree of acceptability in both life safety and utility
applications
VS 6-9
CLOVE HITCH IN OPEN
1
2
3
4
VS 6-10
CLOVE HITCH AROUND OBJECT
1
2
3
TS 6–30
CLOVE HITCH
 Is easily formed of two half hitches
 May be used with overhand safety knot for hoisting tools and
equipment
 May be formed anywhere on the rope
 Withstands pull in either direction without slipping, when
properly tied
VS 6-11
FIGURE-EIGHT
1
2
3
4
VS 6-12
FIGURE-EIGHT FOLLOW THROUGH
1
2
3
FIGURE-EIGHT FOLLOW THROUGH AROUND
OBJECT
VS 6-13
1
2
3
4
VS 6-14
FIRGURE-EIGHT ON A BIGHT
1
2
3
VS 6-15
DOUBLE-LOOP FIGURE-EIGHT
1
2
3
4
TS 6–31
FIGURE-EIGHT KNOT
 Has replaced the bowline since the introduction of synthetic
rope
 Is not as likely as the bowline to damage the rope
 Is stronger than the bowline
 Is an easy knot to tie, untie, inspect, and keep neat
BECKET BEND OR
SHEET BEND
VS 6-16
1
2
3
4
BECKET BEND
(SHEET BEND)
TS 6–32
 Is not likely to slip when the rope is wet
 Is dependable and useful for fire service utility applications
VS 6-5
Homework
43.
46.
44.
47.
45.
a. Bight b. Loop c. Overhand Loop d. Round Turn e. Underhand Loop
Homework
48.
49.
a. Running End
b. Standing Part
c. Working End
50.
Homework
 Match knots to their primary applications. Write the
correct letters on the blanks.
51. __ Joining ropes of unequal diameters, joining rope
to chain
52. __ Joining ropes of equal diameters
53. __ Securing a loop in a rope for a safety line, safety
harness, litter and rescue equipment, anchor lines
54. __ Foundation knot for other knots in family
55. __ Safety backup
a. Overhand knot
b. Figure-eight
c. Becket bend or sheet bend
d. Figure-eight on a bight
e. Figure-eight follow through
Homework
56. Attaching ropes to objects; hoisting (with
overhand knot)
57. Forming a loop that will not constrict the
object it is placed around
58. Constructing rope rescue harnesses when
webbing harness is unavailable
59. Hoisting tools; stabilizing tall objects
a. Bowline
b. Clove hitch
c. Half hitch
d. Double-loop figure-eight
TS 6–33
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE HOISTING
 Plan carefully, and complete all preparations.
 Ensure solid footing.
 Choose an area clear of electrical hazards if possible.
 Know that pressurized cylinders such as SCBA bottles and
fire extinguishers should NOT be hoisted.
TS 6–34a
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
DURING HOISTING
 Use hand-over-hand method to control rope.
 Use edge rollers to protect rope pulled over sharp edges.
 Work in teams when working from heights.
 Look to ensure all personnel are clear of hoisting area.
 Use extreme caution if you must work near electrical
hazards.
TS 6–34b
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
DURING HOISTING (cont.)
 Secure nozzle handle on charged lines to prevent accidental
discharge.
 Use a tag line as necessary to prevent equipment from
contacting building or other objects.
 Secure knots with overhand safety knots as appropriate.
VS 6-17
HOISTING A LADDER
1
2
3
TS 6–35
HOISTING A LADDER
 Use bowline or figure-eight on a bight.
 Place knot through two rungs of ladder about one-third
down from top.
 Place loop over top of ladder.
VS 6-18
HOISTING HOSELINES
Dry Line
Charged Line
HOISTING TOOLS
&PikeEQUIPMENT
Pole
VS 6-19
Portable Fan
Axe
Half
Hitch
Bowline
Half
Hitch
Half
Hitch
Working
End
Tag Line
Clove
Hitch
Clove
Hitch
Tag
Line