1. Rescue Equipment

2. Rescue Equipment INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL
The participant will understand the need to properly select and use rope-rescue equipment for confined space entry and rescue.

3. ENABLING OBJECTIVES:
Based on the information presented in the classroom and in the student guide, the student will be able to:
Explain the uses and limitations of static kernmantle rescue rope.
Identify various rope rescue hardware components and explain its use.
Demonstrate the correct procedure for tying the following knots and hitches
Simple figure-8 knot
Figure-8 on a bight knot
Figure-8 follow through knot
Figure-8 bend
Clove Hitch
Munter Hitch
Double fisherman’s knot
Bowline knot
Butterfly knot

4. Rescue Ropes, Webbing and Equipment
NFPA 1983 Standard On Fire Service Rope Life Safety Rope, Harness, and Hardware
Life Safety Rope:
Maximum working load:
300 pounds for a one-person rope
600 pounds for a two-person rope.
Minimum breaking:
4500 pounds for a one-person rope
9000 pounds for a two-person rope.

5. Rope Strength
Force is anything that can cause a moving object to change its shape, change its direction of motion, and/or change the speed at which it is moving
Kinetic Energy = ½ mv2 where m is the mass (weight) of the object and v is the velocity (speed) that the object is moving.
Free-fall objects accelerate at a constant 32 feet per second for every second of fall (32 feet/second2) because of the force exerted by gravity.

6. Kinetic Energy Chart of a 160 pound Falling Body
Height of Fall
(Feet)
Time of Fall
(Seconds)
Velocity of Fall
(feet/second)
KE or Force of Impact
(Pounds) 10
0.80
25.6
1,638 20
1.10
35.2
3,097 30
1.40
44.8
5,017 40
1.60
51.2
6,553 50
1.78
56.9
8,410 60
1.95
62.4
9,732 70
2.10
67.2
11,287 80
2.25
72.0
12,960 90
2.38
76.1
14,477
100
2.50
80.0
16,000

7. Rope Strength
Rope must absorb the force of a falling object in order to stop its fall.
NFPA Standard indicates that a lifeline breaking elongation shall not be less than 15% or more than 55%.
Stretching the rope is another way of spreading the shock energy over a longer period of time.
This advantage is not present in cable systems.
NFPA single person load
Safety factor
REQUIRED STRENGTH
300
X 15
4500 lbs
3/8 or 7/16 Kernmantle rope required
NFPA double person load
Safety factor
REQUIRED STRENGTH
600
X 15
9000 lbs
½ kernmantle rope required

8. Work, Mechanical Advantage and the Pulley
The pulley is a simple machine.
The pulley is used for two things:
Change the direction of a rope’s force
Produce mechanical advantage.
(Work = force x distance)

9. Rope Types / Properties
Melting Temp
Abrasion Resistance
Comments
Nylon
500 F
Good
Good shock loading
Polyester
Acid resist, poor caustic
Polyolefin
250 F
Poor
Impervious to acid
Spectra
300 F
Chemical resist, poor shock loading
Kevlar
600 F
Poor shock loading, no sharp bend, expensive

10. TYPES OF KERNMANTLE ROPE
CORE (kern)
50% - 85% of strength
Braided sheath (mantle)
15% - 50% of Strength
STATIC
Low stretch rope
Used for hauling, entry, and rescue
DYNAMIC
High Stretch ropes
Used for arresting a fall
Not used in most entry or rescue situations

11. Rope Care and Storage Written History
Pad sharp corner (Rope and webbing do not usually break, they cut)
Avoid sharp bends
Utilize efficient knots
Retire the rope if there is any doubt as to its quality
Storage cool dry place (bagged)

12. Rope Retirement Rescue rope 5 year old (even if unused)
Industrial rope 3 year old (even if unused)
Rope absorbs a five foot fall
Penetration of sheath
Soft spots in the middle off the rope
Exposure to chemicals
Used for one rescue only
Inspected visual and by feel

13. When in doubt, throw it out!
ROPE QUALITY
When in doubt, throw it out!

14. WEBBING 1” tubular webbing = 4000 lbs strength
1” solid Webbing = lbs strength
2” solid tubular webbing = 6000 lbs strength
Poor shock loading qualities
Poor abrasion resistance cuts easily under load
Very versatile
Can be purchased in straight lengths or sewn slings

15. Prusik cord
Prusik cord consists of a 7-9 mm nylon cord with a 2,000-3,000 lb strength. It is used for tie-offs, prusik lines, and substitute ascenders. It is important to note this material will not withstand shock loading.

16. Carabiners
Strength varies from 6000 lbs (AL) to 15,000 lbs (steel heat treated)
Link equipment together
Quickly attaches and detaches
May be fractured by dropping
Designed to be loaded along long axis No double axis loads
No hard links (3 carabiners hooked together)
Do not over tighten locking mechanism

17. Steel Trilinks 9000 lbs strength
Used for linking rigging and equipment together
Designed for double axis load
May be fractured by dropping

18. Descenders 9000 lb to 11,000 lb strength
Friction device for lowering and rappelling
Should have ears if used for rescue
May get very hot if used for long rappel or lowering
May cause rope to twist or kink

19. Ascenders Strength varies from 2500 lbs to 6000 lbs
Pull tested to 1000 lbs (gibbs)
Used for ascending or grabbing rope
Not designed to catch a fall
Usually the weak link in a mechanical advantage system
May reduce rope strength by 2/3
May abrade the sheath of the rope

20. Prusik Knots Strengths Inexpensive Simple to tie
Can be used to ascend or descend loaded or unloaded ropes
Can be used for self-rescue
Can be used to assist hoisting and hauling when mechanical advantage systems are stacked or piggybacked
Weaknesses
Can be difficult to slide or untie after load has been applied
Must be small diameter cord

21. Pulleys Breaking strength over 9000 lbs
Load carrying capacity over 600 lbs
Re-directs rope, produces rope, or produces mechanical advantage
Diameter of the pulley should be at least 4 times larger than the diameter of the rope
Splits to accept the middle of the rope

22. Rescue Harness Class I Fastens around the waist
Designed for 1-person load
Common ladder belt
Class II
Fastened around waist and thighs or under buttocks
Rappelling seat
Class III
Fastens around waist, around thighs or under buttocks, and over shoulders
Used when inverting is possible
Recommended for confined space entry and rescue
D-rings provide at least 5000 lb strength

23. Harness Recommendations
Use personal harness if possible
Easily adjustable
Easy to put on and wear
Must have D-ring between shoulder for required safety line attachment if the entrant is working in a vertical space
Additional front D-ring is helpful
Should be clean and well maintained
Waist section rides on pelvic girdle
Should be tight when in use

24. Personal Equipment Harness Gloves Helmet Safety glasses
Appropriate shoe and body covering for the job

25. Fall Protection and Retrieval Equipment

26. Tripods 350 lb working load 5000 lb breaking strength
Designed to be loaded straight down
Leg safety chain should be in place
Designed for 1 person load only
Should be placed on level surface
The higher they are, the more unstable

27. Cable Winches Cable has 350 lb working load (3/16)
Cable breaking strength approximately 4000 lbs
Winch should have fall arrester built-in
Not designed for severe shock loading
Should be backed-up for hauling a life load

28. Lanyards Breaking strength approximately 5400 lbs
Rope or strap with attachment devices on the ends
Should not be more than 6 feet long
Should be replaced after catching one fall

29. Utility Straps Used in anchoring I-Beam strap strength – 10,000lbs
Adjustable utility straps
Webbing strength – 10,000 lbs
D-ring strength – 5000 lbs

30. Wristlets
Used to pull the entrants arms above their head for entry into very narrow passages
Usually should not support the entrant’s body weight
Should be used in conjunction with a full-body harness

31. Hardware Warnings
If the hardware is dropped more than three feet onto a hard surface, inspect carefully for damage.
If the hardware is dropped more than 5 feet, replace or test the hardware.
In most cases, it will be cheaper to replace the hardware rather than have it tested.

32. Knots
Tie it
Dress it
Tighten it
Safety knot necessity

33. Knots Simple Figure-8 knot Figure-8 on a bight knot
Figure-8 follow through
Clove hitch
Munter hitch
Bowline
Butterfly Knot
Square Knot

34. Simple Figure-8 Knot
Use this knot as the basis for more complex figure-8 knots.
A "stopper" knot.

35. safety knot, such as an overhand knot or a double overhand knot.
Figure-8 on a Bight Knot
Frequently used as an attachment point on:
Harness D-ring
Anchors
"dress" It
safety knot, such as an overhand knot or a double overhand knot.

36. Figure-8 Follow-Through
The figure-8 follow-through is used to tie a rope directly to an anchor or directly to a harness.
Used in Tensionless Off Tie Anchor

37. Butterfly Knot
Tie a non-slip loop in the middle of a rope

38. Bowline
The bowline knot is used primarily to make a fixed (non-slip) loop in the end of a line.
Used in Tensionless Off Tie Anchor

39. Double Fisherman's Bend
Ties two lines of together
Forms a single line into a loop
Double or Triple

40. Clove Hitch Primarily used to attach a rope to a pole or rod.
This knot only secures when under tension.
An overhand safety knot should always be tied to prevent it from untying.

41. Munter Hitch The munter hitch is used as a belay device
Designed to arrest and hold a one-person load

42. Square Knot Used to tie the ends of a rope together.
Can be loosened after it has been under tension

43. Ring Bend (Water Knot)
The ring bend is one of the few bends suitable for use in flat material such as webbing.