Fire Equipment and Tools: Ladder Operations PDF

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Fir e Eq uipmen t an d Tool sLesson 2: Ladder Operations A. Ladder Ladder are very important during an emergency situation, particularly during fire, when every second counts towards the success or failure of an operation. Firefighters must know the proper procedures for carrying, raising, and climb...

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Fir e Eq uipmen t an d Tool s Lesson 2: Ladder Operations A. Ladder Ladder are very important during an emergency situation, particularly during fire, when every second counts towards the success or failure of an operation. Firefighters must know the proper procedures for carrying, raising, and climbing ladders so thoroughly that their actions will be governed by habit. Even after every performance or procedure are well established, constant practice is necessary in order to achieve the degree of efficiency. Originally, were made from hard wood, with solid beams. Even in short lengths these ladders were heavy and hard to handle. As the years passed by, an improved metal ladder made of lightweight metal alloys were introduced and to date are most commonly used in fire service.

Types of Ladders A.

Ground Ladders

B.

Aerial Ladders

A. Ground ladders vary in sizes from 3.1 to 17 meters (10-55 feet) long. It is carried on a pumper or fire trucks. Uses of Ground Ladder •

It is use for rescue

•

It is also use to stretch lines into a fire building

• It is to provide ventilation by giving access to ports, scuttle, windows, roofs, or other places that are hard to reach. Forms of Ground Ladders a.

Wall,

b.

Extension Ladder,

c.

Hook Ladder (roof) or Straight ladder, and

d.

Attic Ladder

a. Wall ladder – this type of ladder best used in rescue where a ladder in place is already fall short of the endangered person. b. Extension Ladder - this consists of a bed and one or more fly ladders. This ladder slides through guides on the upper end of the bed ladder. It contains locks which hook over rungs of the bed ladder. These secure it in a designated position, dependent upon the desired length of the ladder. The fly ladder is usually raised by a halyard fastened to the lower rung and operated over a pulley on the upper end of bed ladder. 24, 25, 36 foot ladder are the types commonly found and carried on the pumpers or fire trucks. An extension ladder that has a stay pole is called tormentors. Tormentors support the beams and give extra stability when raising or lowering the ladder. It ranges from 4-6 to 10 meters in length (15-33 feet). Extension ladder that are extended to more than 35 feet are called Bangor ladder.

c. Straight ladder – This type of ladder contains only one section. It ranges in length from 12 to 16 feet. The common size is the 14 foot straight ladder. •

Roof or hook ladder is a straight ladder adapted for a special purpose.

•

Hooks are mounted on a movable socket that permits them to fold inward when not in use.

d. Attic Ladder – it provides means of reaching through an opening into attics, lofts and other areas that are somewhat difficult to reach without a special ladder. It can be folded or collapsed for a small room or closes works. They are usually short because they are required to reach only a short distance.

Type of ladder According to its Beam •

Solid beam ground ladder – made of heavy hard wood and/or lightweight metal alloys.

•

Trussed beam ground ladder- a lightweight metal alloy easier to handle and carry.

B. Aerial Ladders

This type of ladder that is mounted on a turntable, capable of extending up to 30.5 meters (100 feet), may have three or four metal fly sections of ladder that can be raised or lowered by hydraulically controlled cables. Form of Aerial Ladders •

Hydraulic Aerial Ladders

•

Elevating Platform (Articulated boom)

Uses Provide a source of heavy streams in combating fire, Best used for rescue operations; Used an elevator to lift handlines, handtools and short ladders up to its load limits Used as a reconnaissance platform or a place from which to direct operations. Ladder Terminology Bed Ladder – the lowest section of an extension ladder. Fly Ladder – the top section of an extension ladder Butt - the bottom end of a ladder Heel – the part of the ladder that touches the ground. Halyard – a rope or cable used to raise the fly ladder. Pawl or Dog – the mechanism located at the end of the fly ladder that locks to the bed ladder. Rung – the cross member of a ladder that is used for climbing Top or tip – it is the top part of a ladder Hooks – part of the ladder that is used to hook over a roof peak, sills or walls where the heel does not rest on a foundation Stops – made of metal or wood extending out further from the ladder. Guide – light metal strips of an extension ladder that guides the fly ladder while it is being raised or lowered.

Types of Ladder Carries

a)

One Man Carry

b)

Two Man Carry

c)

Four Man Carry

d)

Six Man Carry

a. One Man Carry – Remove the ladder from the apparatus and pass either arm through the ladder at the middle of its length. Carry it with the hooks forward and lowered. b. Two Man Carry - Normally extension ladders from 24 to 36 feet in length require at least two men. To remove the ladder from the fire apparatus, place one man near each end. Each man then passes one arm through the ladder and grasps the second rung forward. Both men must be on the same side.

Four Man Carry Remove the ladder from the apparatus and place it on the ground with the fly up. Have the four men take their positions, two near each end, on opposite sides of the ladder. Face the top of the ladder. Reach down and grasp a rung with the hand nearest it. Raise the ladder on the shoulder Six Man Ladder This procedure is the same as the four man carry except that an additional two men are placed in the middle on the opposite sides to carry heavier ladder.

Ladder Raising This require practice and cooperation. Before raising, you must know how far you should place the heel of the ladder from the building. Ways or Methods to Determine the Distance of the Ladder Heel from the Building •

Divide the length of the ladder by 5 and add 2.

Example: if the ladder is 35 feet divided it by 5 and add 2 to the result (35/5=7+2=9). • Divide the length of the ladder by 4. if you used a fully extended 35 foot. The result is also a distance of approximately 9 feet. Types of Ladder Raise

1.

One Man Raise

2.

Two Man Raise

3.

Three Man Raise

4.

Four Man Raise

Steps in One Man Ladder Raise •

Place the heel of the ladder against the building.

•

Walk the ladder up to the building by using the rungs;

•

Place the ladder against the building;

• After the ladder is in upright position, lift the ladder off the ground and place it back to the correct climbing angle; • rung.

Safety the ladder by placing the ball of either foot on the bottom rung, then place hand on the

Steps in Two Man Ladder Raise. •

Place the ladder close the building.

•

One Man stands at the bottom rung inside to steady the ladder.

•

The other man is at the top with one hand on a rung and one hand on the beam.

•

The man on the top walks the ladder up to the building by using the rungs of the ladder.

•

Turn the ladder so the extension is in the correct position for raising,

• The smaller man in the front; when the ladder is turned. He is on the inside between the wall and the ladder; •

Untie the halyard and raise the ladder to the desired height;

•

Tie the halyard on the rung and move the ladder out to the proper climbing height.

• Steps in Three Man Raise •

Place the heel of the ladder as close to the building as possible;

• One man is at the bottom rung of the ladder closet to the wall. The other two at the top holding onto the beam. •

The two men walk the ladder up to the building by using the beam of the ladder.

•

Turn the ladder so the extension is in the correct position for raising;

•

Raise the extension ladder.

•

Tie the halyard on the rung. Bring the ladder out to the correct climbing angle.

•

Two men safety the ladder.

Four Man Raise •

The 36 foot extension ladder should not be raised by less than three people.

•

Four men are better.

•

The four man raise is very similar to the three man raise.

•

But two men are use at the heel of the ladder on this raise.

•

Proper Climbing Angel

•

Rule of Thumb.

• With out-stretched arm, reach for a rung at about shoulder level.(applicable only at an average firefighter •

On the other hand an exceptionally tall or short person might have to make some adjustments

•

Stand approximately 75 degrees angle of inclination between the ladder and the ground.

Locking in on a Ladder Place one leg on the rung with toes against the butt. The other leg inserted inside the rung and lock either on the beam or the lower rung....