Essentials of Firefighting (4th Edition)
Chapter 9-Ground Ladders
FF1 Test Review
What is a beam?
- main structural member supporting the rungs or rung blocks
What is the bed section?
- lowest or widest section of an extension ladder
- always maintains contact with ground or supporting surface
What is the butt?
- bottom end placed on ground or supporting surface when raised (also called heel)
What are butt spurs?
- metal safety plates or spikes attached to the butt end to prevent slippage
What is the fly?
- upper section(s) of extension ladders or some combination ladders
What are footpads?
- rubber or neoprene foot plates, swivel type attached to the butt
What are guides?
- wood or metal strips that form slots or channels for the fly section of an extension ladder
What is the halyard?
- rope or cable used for hoisting and lowering fly of extension ladders (also called fly rope)
What is a heat sensor label?
- label affixed to the inside of each beam of each section to determine exposure to extreme heat
What are hooks?
- curved metal devices on the tip of roof ladders to secure them to roof peak
What are pawls?
- devices attached to insides of beams that hold the fly section on place (also called dogs & locks)
What are protection plates?
- strips of metal at chafing points such as the tip or where contact with apparatus is made
What is the pulley?
- small, grooved wheel which halyard is drawn through on an extension ladder
What are rails?
- two lengthwise members of a trussed beam ladder separated by truss blocks
What are rungs?
- cross members that provide foothold for climbing; extend from one beam to the other
What are stops?
- prevent the fly section(s) from being extended to far
What are tie rods?
- metal rods usually on wood ladders under each rung for reinforcement
What is the tip?
- extreme top of ladder (also called top)
What is a truss block?
- separation pieces between rails of a trussed beam, sometime used to support rungs
What are the characteristics of a single ladder?
- nonadjustable in length, only one section
- provide quick access to windows and roofs of 1-2 story buildings
- vary in length from 6-32 feet
- most common lengths 12-20
What are the characteristics of a roof ladder?
- equipped at tip with folding hooks for anchoring on a roof ridge
- generally required to lie flat
- distributes weight and helps prevent slipping
- can be used as single wall ladders
- lengths range from 12-24
What are the characteristics of a folding ladder?
- single ladders with hinged rungs, folded so beams rest against each other
- also called attic ladders
- lengths from 8-16 feet, most common 10 feet
- NFPA 1931 requires foot pads to be attached
What are the characteristics of an extension ladder?
- adjustable in length
- consists of base section and 1 or more fly sections
- range in length from 12-39 feet
What are the characteristics of a pole ladder?
- extension ladder with staypoles, also called bangor ladders
- most pole ladders do not exceed 50 feet, and usually have 2-4 sections
- NFPA 1931 requires staypoles for all ladders over 40 feet
What are the characteristics of a combination ladder?
- self-supported step ladder (A-frame), can be used as a single or extension ladder
- lengths from 8-14 feet
- equipped with positive locking devices to hold ladder in open position
What are the characteristics of a pompier ladder?
- single beam ladder with rungs projecting from beam on both sides, also called scaling ladders
- gooseneck projects out at the tip for inserting into windows
- lengths from 10-16 feet
What NFPA standard certification label is found on fire service ladders?
- NFPA 1931
What is maintenance?
- keeping ladders in a state of usefulness and readiness
What is repair?
- the restoring or replacing of ladders
What does NFPA 1932 state for general maintenance of ladders?
- keep free of moisture
- do not store near exhaust or engine heat
- do not store where exposed to elements
- do not paint except for top and bottom 12 inches for identification or visibility
How should ladders be cleaned?
- with a soft-bristle brush and running water
- tar, grease, and oil should be removed with a safety solvent
- look for defects and apply occasional lubrication when needed
When does NFPA 1932 require ladders to be tested?
- after each use and monthly
Who are ladder test conducted by?
- authorized FD personnel or approved testing organization
What should you look for when inspecting ladders?
- check heat sensor labels for color changes ( on wood-check varnish for bubbled or blackened areas)
- rungs for snugness and tightness
- bolts and rivets tight (on wood-not to tight that it crushes wood)
- welds for cracks or defects
- beams and rungs for cracks, splintering, breaks, gouges, checks, wavy conditions, or deformations
What are some maintenance checks specific to wood ladders?
- areas where varnish is chafed or scraped
- darkening of varnish (indicates exposure to heat)
- dark streaks in wood (indicates deterioration of wood)
What are some maintenance checks specific to roof ladders?
- roof hooks operate with ease
- no rust present
- hooks not deformed and parts firmly attached
What are some maintenance checks specific to extension ladders?
- pawl assemblies working properly
- fraying or kinking of halyard
- snugness of halyard cable in bedded position
- proper synchronization of sections
- pulleys turn freely
- ladder guides smooth when sections are operated
- free operation of staypole toggles and their condition
- latching mechanism of staypoles operating properly