Rope & Ladders

[Michael13]

The rope on most of our extension ladders needs to be replaced. I asked a few vets what kind should be purchased. They said Manila. I double checked with the Essentials textbook and theres a chart that states nylon rope has a better strength rating and a better heat rating than Manila. Could anyone tell me which rope is best for ladders? (or what your department uses)

[iamvff]

We replaced ours with manila because that is what the manufacturer had on it. For liability reasons, I would stick to...(cya)...manufacturers recomendations!

iamvff

[Michael13]

We replaced ours with manila because that is what the manufacturer had on it. For liability reasons, I would stick to...(cya)...manufacturers recomendations!

iamvff


CYA? Cover your A$$?

[FitSsikS]

Manila:

Any difference in strength and heat resistance is really not important.

Manila rope does stretch less than synthetics.

As you know the only weight that the rope supports is the weight of a fly

or 2 (ladder sections) and even then it is only for a few moments.

As far as heat tolerance goes, it isn't an issue.

Next time you have a ladder extended properly, cut or burn through the

halyard. Nothing happens right?*

*Except a huge reprimand for cutting or burning through the halyard.

Note: cost difference, nylon rope can cost over 100% more than manila.

[iamvff]

CYA? Cover your A$$?
You got it Pontiac!! If you replace with something different than manufacturers recs. and something fails, it may come into question.

iamvff

[Scuba]

CYA? Cover your A$$?

The legal catch phrase of the current day and age....

[FitSsikS]

Cover your A$$?

Keep your hands on the outside of the beams during extension or retraction (this is when a rope will fail) and you won't get hurt.
If the ladder finds it's way up your ass you are doing something wrong.;)

[Michael13]

Thanks for the help. Off I go to the country market...diddley dee

[iamvff]

If the ladder finds it's way up your ass you are doing something wrong.;)
Is that why they call it a butt spur??

iamvff

[rescuechris]

I know this thread is about portable ladderd, but just a little anecdote,

Although I'm an industrial guy and I do a lot of rescue stuff, I'm a truckie at heart, and while at the academy, I was deploying a ladder (100' mid mount) for a simulation. I had it at 75* and was deploying it (extending) and with about 20' to go i heard what I thought was a gun shot. I hopped off the turn table, looked around and didn't see anything wrong. I called over the prof and he said everything was kosher. I kept extending the ladder and then i heard a second gun shot... this time the cable broke and the 3 fly sections started to come crashing towards me. Luckily with about 5 feet to go the cable got snagged between 2 rungs and created enough friction to stop it, but not before the cable whipped in front of my prof missing his head by inches. It turns out that the cable had frayes a bit and when the frayed section went through the pulley it got snagged and snapped. Now, that morning, i did my full inspection of the truck, as a matter of fact I did it with the asst. director of the academy (he's a truckie too) and we didn't find anthing wrong.

Now I know this is a long anecdote, but what I'm trying to get at, is that you've got to be very thorough during your D.I.'s.... yes the weight of the ladder is only temporarily on the rope, but it can be just long enough for some serious sh*t to hit the fan.

-Chris