Essentials of Firefighting 6th Edition: Chapter 8, Ropes & Knots

Becket Bend

Knot used for joining two ropes. It is particularly well suited for joining ropes of unequal diameters or joining a rope and a chain. Also called Sheet Bend.

Bowline Knot

Knot used to form a loop in natural fiber rope.

Braided Rope

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

Braid-on-Braid Rope �

Rope constructed with both a braided core and a braided sheath. The appearance of the sheath is that of a herringbone pattern.

Class I Harness

Harness that fastens around the waist and around the thighs or under the buttocks and is intended to be used for emergency escape with a load of up to 300 pounds (1.33 k/N). Also known as a seat harness.

Class II Harness

Harness that fastens around the waist and around the thighs or under the buttocks and is intended to be used for emergency escape with a load of up to 600 pounds (2.67 k/N). Class II harness looks exactly like Class I harness so the attached label must be

Class III Harness

Harness that fastens around the waist, around the thighs or under the buttocks, and over the shoulders. Class III harness is rated for loads of up to 600 pounds (2.67 k/N). Also known as full body harness.

Clove Hitch

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

Dynamic Rope

Rope that stretches farther than a static rope stretches.

Escape Rope

Rope (not considered life-safety or utility rope) that is 19/64-inch (7.5 mm) in diameter or greater, but less than 3/8-inch (9.5mm) and is constructed in the same manner as life-safety rope. It is intended to be used one time only and then destroyed.

Family of Eight Knots

A series of rescue knots based on a figure-eight knot.

Figure-Eight Knot

Knot used to form a loop in the end of a rope; should be used in place of the bowline knot when working with synthetic fiber rope.

General-Use Rope

Life-safety rope that is 7/16-inch (11 mm) in diameter or greater, but less than or equal to 5/8-inch (16 mm) and is intended to support the weight of two persons.

Half-Hitch

Knot that is always used in conjunction with another knot. The half-hitch is particularly useful in stabilizing tall objects that are being hoisted.

Kernmantle Rope

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

Ladder Belt

Belt with a hook that secures the firefighter to the ladder.

Laid Rope

Rope constructed by twisting several groups of individual strands together.

Life-Safety Rope

Rope that meets the requirements of nfpa 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services, and is dedicated solely for the purpose of constructing lines to be used for the raising, lowering, or supporting people during rescue, fire

Light-Use Rope

Life-safety rope that is 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) in diameter or greater, but less than 1/2-inch (12.5 mm) and is intended to support the weight of one person.

Natural Fiber Rope

Rope made of hemp or cotton used for utility purposes. Natural fiber rope is not accepted for use in life-safety applications.

Overhand Safety Knot

Knot used in conjunction with other knots to eliminate the danger of the running end of the rope slipping back through a knot, causing the knot to fail.

Rope Log

A record that is kept by a department throughout a rope's working life. The date of each use and the inspection/maintenance records for the rope should be entered into the log, which should be kept in a waterproof envelope and placed in a pocket that is u

Rope Rescue

The use of rope and related equipment to perform rescue.

Running End

Part of the rope that is to be used for work such as hoisting, pulling, or belaying.

Standing Part

That part of a rope between the working end and the running part.

Static Rope

Rope that will stretch a relatively short distance under load.

Synthetic Fiber Rope

Rope featuring continuous fibers running the entire length of the rope; has excellent resistance to mildew and rotting, has excellent strength, and is easy to maintain.

Throwline

Life-safety rope that is 19/64-inch (7 mm) in diameter or greater, but less than 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) and is used to tether rescuers during water rescues or to throw a victim in the water.

Utility Rope

Rope to be used in any situation that requires a rope � except life safety applications. Utility ropes can be used for hoisting equipment, securing unstable objects, and cordoning off an area.

Webbing

Synthetic nylon, spiral weave, tubular material used for creating anchors, lashings, and for packaging patients and rescuers.

Working End

Part of the rope that is to be used in forming the knot. Also called Bitter End or Loose End.

Knots rights

easy to tie
easy to ID
easy to undo
few abrupt bends
strong enough for the job

elements of a knot

Bite, loop, round turn

replaced the bowline

figure 8 on a bite also the figure 8 follow through

RSW

Running Standing Working

sheet bend also

becket bend used for ropes of different size