Rescue Equipment

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

WEBBING 1” tubular webbing = 4000 lbs strength 1” solid Webbing = 6000 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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fall Protection and Retrieval Equipment

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Knots Tie it Dress it Tighten it Safety knot necessity

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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