1. Mod 3: Technical References
Rope Rescue Level I
Mod 3: Technical References

2. HIGH ANGLE RESCUES Rope Rescues
Often called Vertical Rescue, Technical Rescue or High Angle Rescue
Use of rope to stabilize and move a victim to safety
These rescues require many elements such as rope, hardware, and anchors. When these elements are combined to construct a functioning unit they are referred to as “systems”
“SRT” – Single Rope Technique is a term that refers to ascending and descending directly on rope without direct aid by contact with the rock, walls, or structures.

3. HIGH ANGLE RESCUES Fire Service Rescue
Many changes since tragic incident in New York City in June of 1980
IAFF, NFPA and ISFSI are active in advances in safety
NFPA 1983 was established to create safety standards for rope rescue equipment
Most significant change was in use of natural fiber ropes for rescue
Natural fiber rope was determined to be a primary contributing factor in the death of the FDNY firefighters.

4. HIGH ANGLE RESCUES Industrial Rescue
High potential for high angle incidents in the industrial environment
Confined Space Rescue – specialized industrial rescue operation
Due to high death rates, OSHA created specific laws
Safety standards can be overlooked in industrial settings due to lack of management and training and propensity to have a “get the job done” attitude.

5. HIGH ANGLE RESCUES Tactical Operations
Law enforcement and military are employing more high angle operations
Contributions from tactical groups in equipment development
Special Air Service (SAS) in England credited for the Figure 8 with ears descenders

6. STANDARDS NFPA 1006 NFPA 1983 NFPA 1670
Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1670
Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents
NFPA 1983
Fire Service Life Safety Rope and System Components
STANDARDS
Three predominant standards for rope and technical rescue for the fire service.
NFPA 1006 is the primary standard that is referenced for skill sets and knowledge requirements for individual rescuers.

7. Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1006
Standard for
Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications
Standards that describe specific skill sets
Level I – Awareness and Operations
Level II - Technician
Rescue personnel shall be referenced based on their certification level in a specific discipline. To be a certified rescue technician one must meet prerequisites established in Ch 4 and Ch 5 and all of the general requirements for the 6 primary disciplines in chapters

8. Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents
NFPA 1670
Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents
Standards that describe procedures, guidelines and tactics for training and response.
Standard that is very useful in developing departmental or team SOP’s, training guidelines, equipment caches and strategy and tactics.
1670 references Awareness, Operations, and Technician which no longer correlates to levels referenced in 1006 – Level I, Level II

9. Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services
NFPA 1983
Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services
Labeling requirements
Design and construction requirements
Performance requirements
Testing requirements

10. Safety Factors Industry and Construction Mountaineering / Self Rescue
5:1
Mountaineering / Self Rescue
10:1
NFPA / Rescue
NFPA 1983 utilizes the term “Design Load” to describe the load for which a given piece of equipment or manufactured system was engineered for under normal static conditions.
15:1 (This is an approximate factor based on the following coefficients that varies slightly per NFPA.)
“L” Design Load – 300# Coefficient
“G” Design Load – 600# Coefficient
The weight of the load may be less or greater than the given coefficient and should be calculated accordingly to insure safe equipment application.
Discuss the importance of safety factors and the role they play in proper selection and application of equipment

11. Safety Factors
Utilize graph to illustrate the significant difference in product design requirements between the three categories

12. Fall Factors
The fall factor calculation is used to estimate the impact force on a rope when it is subjected to stopping a falling mass (“impact load”)
Calculated by dividing distance fallen by length of rope used to arrest the fall
.25 and above consider high stretch ropes per NFPA 1983
This can be applied by considering ¼ the overall length of rope as the maximum allowable fall distance.
This factor applies to dynamic rope and the given calculation does not accurately correlate to static rope. Fall factor calculations should be utilized as a general principle for safe practices.
Impact load is also referred to as shock load
Fall Factors of greater than .25 will result in serious trauma or death and potential catastrophic failure of rigging elements
This factor applies to dynamic rope and the given calculation does not accurately correlate to static rope. Fall factor calculations should be utilized as a general principle for safe practices.

13. FALL FACTORS Use the following:
Given a 100’ section of rope anchored at 100’ height
A: FF = 1.0
B: FF = 0.75
C: FF = 2.0
D: FF = 1.25

14. Standards Agencies that set standards other than NFPA and OSHA ASTM CE
International organization that sets high angle standards related to search and rescue, recreational climbing, and arboriculture CE
European organization that sets high angle standards for recreational climbing, industrial fall protection, and rope access
UIAA
International organization that sets standards for ropes, harnesses, ice axes, helmets, and carabiners to be used by climbers and mountaineers.

15. Terms and References Relevant to SF and FF calculations.
kN = KiloNewton
Conversion factor to lbs. = 225 (estimate)
Common benchmarks are 20 kn and 40 kn which correlate to 4500 lbs. and 9000 lbs.
MBS = Minimum break strength
Represents the TS of a material at failure
TS = Tensile Strength
Represents a measurement of the greatest lengthwise stress under slow pull conditions that a rope can resist without failing
225 conversion factor is not exact but very close estimating tool
Common benchmarks create basic estimating margins for one and two person load designs in relation to NFPA safety factors