Life Safety Rope Standards

Updated for today s challenges and current equipment nfpa 1983.

Life safety rope standards.

Standard on selection care and maintenance of life safety rope and equipment for emergency services is the primary document that details rope selection and care. Construction block creel static kernmantle. Certification ul classified to nfpa 1983 standard on life safety rope and equipment for emergency services 2017 edition. Fiber 100 high tenacity polyester htp.

While often quoted by users nfpa 1983 is a manufacturer. Life safety rope service life and nfpa requirements for inspection. Standard on life safety rope and equipment for emergency services specifies current minimum requirements for the design performance testing and certification of life safety rope and associated equipment used to. 7 1 3 technical use life safety rope shall be tested for size as specified in section 9 1 of cordage institute specified in section 9 1 of cordage institute standard ci 1801 low stretch and static kernmantle life safety rope and shall have a diameter of 9 5 mm 3 8 in or greater but less than 12 5 mm 1 2 in.

Protect responders insist on top quality gear as specified by the 2012 edition of nfpa 1983. 1 1 1 this standard shall specify minimum design performance testing and certifications requirements for life safety rope escape rope water rescue throwlines life safety harnesses belts victim extrication devices litters escape webbing escape systems and auxiliary equipment for emergency services personnel. There are 4 nfpa standards that address technical rope rescue. Nfpa standard 1983 specifies limits for elongation on life safety rope between 1 and 10 at a load equal to 10 of the rope s mbs.

The rope shall have a nominal breaking strength of 5 400 pounds 1926 104 e 1926 104 e all safety belt and lanyard hardware shall be drop forged or pressed steel cadmium plated in accordance with type 1 class b plating specified in federal specification qq p 416. All life safety rope must meet specific physical standards and characteristics as defined by nfpa. Nfpa 1983 the standard on fire service life safety rope and system components which was first issued in 1985 the current edition is 2001 with a new edition expected in 2006. Elongation describes how much a rope will stretch when it is loaded either by being pulled slowly or when suddenly loaded with an impact force.

Understand the nfpa standards as they apply to rope rescue. Proper inspection and record keeping are essential to determine if the rope is still safe for use during rappelling or rescue operations. Life safety ropes are regularly exposed to conditions that could lead to dangerous damage and put firefighter s lives at risk. The 2018 edition of nfpa 1858.