Chapter 15
Ropes and Knots
Introduction
• Rope is one of the most important
and routinely used tools in the fire
service
• In this chapter, you will learn:
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How to select the proper rope
The proper uses of rope in fire service
The essential skill of knot tying
How to properly inspect, maintain, and
store rope
15.2
Rope Materials and
Their Characteristics
• Constructed of a wide variety of
materials
• Each material has different
characteristics
• Earliest ropes were made of natural
materials
• The fire service has re-examined the
type of rope materials being utilized
as life safety lines
15.3
Natural Materials
• Materials that fall into this category
– Manila, sisal, and cotton
• Share same poor characteristics with
regard to:
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Rot
Mildew
Abrasion resistance
Natural deterioration
Low shock load absorption capability
15.4
Figure 15-2 Type 1 manila rope.
15.5
Synthetic Materials
• Primary synthetic materials utilized:
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Nylon
Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Polyester
• Today, ropes made of these are the
rule rather than the exception
• High strength-to-weight ratio
15.6
Figure 15-6 Brightly colored polyethylene rope floating on water.
15.7
Construction Methods and
Their Characteristics
• Natural fiber ropes dominating fire
service were constructed using laid
method
• Modern ropes utilize a number of
different construction techniques
• Two broad categories:
– Static
– Dynamic
15.8
Laid (Twisted)
• Most common type of construction for
natural fiber ropes
• Formed by twisting individual fibers
together to form strands or bundles
• Tends to accentuate spinning and twisting
• Advantage is that all fibers are exposed
– Easy to inspect
– Exposed fibers also susceptible to damage
15.9
Figure 15-7 Example of laid construction method.
15.10
Braided
• Utilized predominantly with
synthetic fibers
• Formed by weaving small bundles
of fibers together, much the same
as braided hair
• Smooth to touch, high flexibility
• Does not accentuate spinning
• Every fiber exposed to abrasion,
sunlight, and physical damage
15.11
Braid-on-Braid
• Formed by braiding a sheath over a
smaller braided core
• Ropes of this kind are quite dynamic
• Soft sheath more susceptible to
damage from abrasion
Figure 15-9 Example of braid-on-braid construction method.
15.12
Kernmantle
• Kern is a derivative of the term
kernel
• Mantle is defined as “anything that
cloaks, envelops, covers, or
conceals”
• Kern carries vast majority of load
• Can be dynamic or static depending
on configuration of fibers of kern
• Quite resistant to abrasion
15.13
Figure 15-10 Example of kernmantle construction
method with the outer kern cut and pulled back at
the end, showing the inner mantle section.
15.14
Primary Uses
• Fire service utilizes ropes on a
regular basis
• Operations divided into two
classifications:
– Utility
– Safety
• Firefighter should be familiar with
department standard rope use
15.15
Utility
• Rope used for utility purposes has
no governing standards
• Firefighters must take extra
precautions when using utility rope
• Firefighters should become familiar
with common uses within their own
department
15.16
Firefighting and Rescue Uses
• Ropes for structural search and rescue
guide ropes do not fall into category of life
safety ropes
• Ropes, harnesses, and hardware utilized
anywhere there will be life supported must
comply with NFPA 1983
• NFPA 1983 categorizes life safety ropes
as:
– Light-use
– General-use
• NFPA 1983 also sets tensile strength
requirements for each
15.17
Fire Service Knots
• Each service will have preferred
methods and knots
• Consult local protocol, policies or
SOPs to find which knots expected
for various situations
• Some knots introduced with switch to
synthetic fibers
15.18
Terms Used for Rope
and Knots
• Three separate and distinct parts of
a rope:
– Working end
– Standing part
– Running end
• Firefighters need to know terms used
to describe elements combined to
form knots
15.19
Figure 15-12 The three parts of a rope: working end,
standing part, and running end.
15.20
Figure 15-13 Left to right: a round turn, a bight, and a loop.
Take the loose end of the working end after tying the
primary knot, and secure it by making a round turn around
the standing knot and bringing the loose end through. Make
a round turn in the standing portion of the rope, and slide
the round turn down over the object being hoisted.
15.21
Knots
• Dressing: make sure parts of the knot are
lying in the proper orientation to other parts
• Setting: make sure knot is snug in all
directions
• Most commonly used:
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Half hitch and overhand (safety) knot
Clove hitch
Becket bend and double becket bend
Bowline knot and figure eight knots
Rescue knot and water knot
15.22
(A)
(B)
Figure 15-14 (A) A loose and sloppy knot. (B) A knot properly dressed
and set.
15.23
Inspection
• All ropes must be inspected and
properly maintained
• Inspections should be a matter of
department policy
• Life safety rope found damaged must
be removed from service
• Ropes should be inspected along
their entire length
15.24
Figure 15-16 It is very important that rope is
inspected as it is being put back into a rope
bag.
15.25
Laid (Twisted)
• Firefighters should look and feel for:
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Foreign matter
Slippery spots
Voids in center fibers
Stiff or hard spots and soft spots
• Laid ropes should be untwisted at
random intervals to inspect between
strands
15.26
Figure 15-18 It is important to twist apart a laid
rope to inspect between strands.
15.27
Braided
• Should be visually and tactilely
inspected as well
• Inspecting inside is not possible
• All strands appear on the surface
somewhere along the rope
15.28
Braid-on-Braid
• When inspecting braid-on-braid rope,
there is no way to see the inside braided
rope
• Pay attention to tactile inspection
– Watch and feel for damage
• Outside braid will sometimes slip over the
inner braid causing the rope to invert
– Immediately remove from service
• Outside braid represents 50 percent of
strength
15.29
Kernmantle
• Cannot see kern portion
– Represents 75 percent of total strength
of rope
• Tactile inspection is best and only
way to discover damage to kern
• Key is to search for a different feel
– Flat spots, voids, bunches, stiffness,
and limpness
15.30
Maintenance
• Maintenance of ropes is not difficult
• Firefighter may be called on to
assist with placing new rope into
service
• Carefully adhere to manufacturer's
instructions
15.31
Cleaning
• Follow manufacturer's instructions
• Brush dirt off natural materials; do not
use water
– Lose 50 percent of strength when wet
– Do not regain strength when dry
• Ropes manufactured from synthetic
materials can be cleaned in a number of
ways
– Hand wash
– Rope washer
– Clothes washing machine
15.32
Figure 15-24 A kernmantle rope can also be “chained”
and washed in a front-loading washing machine.
15.33
Drying
• Rope must be completely dried prior
to storage
• Different drying methods:
– Lay flat to dry
– Hang to dry
• Use clothing dryer with extreme
caution
– Even a low temperature setting could
surpass manufacturer’s
recommendations
15.34
Storage
• Quick identification is important
– Type
– Length
• Different material types, sizes, or colors
of bags or tags can be used to
differentiate
• Each department needs to establish
policy
• Standard coiling
• Utilization of special bags
15.35
Figure 15-27 The two most common methods of
storing life safety ropes (bagged or coiled).
15.36
Rigging for Hoisting
• One of the primary uses of rope on
emergency scene
• Much smaller rope can be utilized
• Can be stored bagged or coiled
• Some departments have policies
governing the use of tag/guide lines
15.37
Specific Tools and Equipment
• Small figure eight on a bight with half
hitch up handle is easiest and
quickest way to hoist an ax
• Pike poles should be hoisted point up
• Hoselines can be hoisted charged or
uncharged
• Power tools have closed handles or
support pieces
• Ladders are hoisted on regular basis
15.38
Securing a Rope between
Two Objects
• Need to secure a rope between two
objects may arise at any emergency
scene
• Rope may be used as a barrier
using one of two methods
• Figure eight on a bight may be used
to secure an anchor point
15.39
Lessons Learned
• Ropes have many uses
• Fire service uses ropes on a regular
basis
• Experience is the most effective
teacher
• Firefighters are encouraged to
practice the basics learned
• Maintenance of rope is not difficult or
complicated
15.40