PIONEER SAFETY My Confusion Surrounding NFPA Standards and Rope Rescue Equipment

PIONEER SAFETY WWW.PIONEER-GROUP.CA

My Confusion Surrounding NFPA Standards and Rope Rescue

Equipment


• Excerpts taken from Jim Kovach’s ITRS presentation with permission.

• Presentation called ”Why the fire service should ingnore NFPA 1983”


How it started...

• I started as a rescuer • Was involved in equipment purchasing• Wanted to ensure the correct

legislation/standards were followed• Received conflicting information from others

in the field• Looked at other rescue providers


Just so we are clear...

• I support the use of NFPA standards• I follow them in my training courses• Other equipment I do use that is not NFPA

rated meets or exceeds their requirements


First Conflicting Advice“You should only

use NFPA rated equipment”

(based on the 1983 standard)


First ProblemRope rescue gear that is not covered by

NFPA...

• Belay devices• Prussik cord• Webbing• Stretchers and litters• Casualty harnesses

(rescue diaper)

• Load releasing hitches• Bridles


So what does your organization use for belay???

• 540 is rated as “L” or “G” to NFPA 1983 under pulleys

• The MPD is “G” rated under the designation of pulley and descent control device


Standards NFPA has, that most rescue teams don’t use

• NFPA 1951 for helmets (The majority of rescue teams use the petzl Vertex or Erin Roc)

• Portable anchors in 1983 for tripods (there is only 1 on the market for purchase anyway..)

• Anchor straps in 1983 (most teams use webbing or the PMI Vari Rigger, neither are NFPA rated)


First Conclusion

• You require gear that is not NFPA rated• Don’t just choose gear because of the

standard but because of:– Safety factor– System compatibility


Second conflict

• “NFPA states that you can not use L-rated equipment for a 2 person load, only G-rated”

Do they????


NFPA 1983

• Old versions for G rated equipment stated:– 600 lb MWL 2- person

• New version states:– The definition of “general use” is: One designation

of equipment item or manufactured systems designed for general-use loads, light-use loads, and escape based on design loads and performance requirements”. End of quote. The key phrase here is “based on design loads”.


• Why the change? • Why did they remove the 2-person 600 lb

statement?• Who is 1983 for?• Is a 2 person rescue load really 280kg?


More confusion...

• “G” rope = MBS 40kN• “G” pulleys = MBS 36kN• “G” Descent control device = MBS 22• “G” pick off strap = 27 kN• “G” rated auxiliary equipment have 6 different

MBS – 45kN, 40kN, 36Kn, 27kN, 22kN and 11 kN????


As an instructor I was told..

• You can’t use 11mm rope for rescue on our site, it is only “L” rated!

• 11mm New England KMIII rope MBS 35 kN• The G rated friction device I use to control the

rescue load MBS = 22kN• Why can’t I use it?


Excerpt from Jim Kovach’s ITRS presentation in 2005

One of the questions submitted to the NFPA was: Can light-use life safety rope be used to support multiple persons (two or more)? These are the answers received from the NFPA. Mr. Frank Florence, the NFPA Staff Liaison to 1006 gave the following opinion.

• Question: Can light-use life safety rope be used to support

multiple persons (two or more)? • Answer: Rope use techniques are outside the scope of this

document. Rope standards are covered in NFPA 1983, Standard on Fire Service Life Safety Rope and System Components.


The question submitted to Bruce Teele, the NFPA Staff Liaison to 1983 for the 2001 edition was different but relevant:

• Question: How is the design load for life safety rope

determined? • Answer: Users of rope need to consider the types of

operations expected to be performed, the loads the rope is expected to bear, and set purchase specifications at or above the requirements of NFPA 1983 to assure the safety deemed necessary for such operations and loads will be met by their equipment.


Questions 1 and 2: Is it the intent of 1983 to establish a safety factor for rope or auxiliary equipment? If so, what is the safety factor?

• Answer: On Questions 1 and 2, The scope statements in Section 1 of NFPA 1983 do not address “safety factors” but do address that the standard is based on minimum design, performance, testing, and certification requirements. Safety factors, as such, are not specified in NFPA 1983.


Mr. Donald C. Cooper, past secretary and current chairman of 1670, supplied the following opinion during a telephone conversation:

• Question: Can light-use life safety rope be used to

support multiple persons (two or more)? • Answer: NFPA 1670 does not describe how

specific techniques are done, nor does it prohibit any technique. That would be up to the AHJ.


As Jim Kovach put it.....

“And here is another question for the fire service. If we can use a “general use” rated descender with a MBS of 4,946 lbf or a “general use” rated rope grab with a MBS of 2,500 lbf, then why can’t we use an aluminum carabiner with a “light use” rating of 6,069 lbf along with them? That’s a rating of 1,123 pounds stronger than the “general use” descender and 3,569 pounds stronger than the “general use” rating of the rope grab.”


Conclusion #2

• Chose gear certified to an approved/recognized standard with a MBS that fits within your safety factor

• Focus more on studying and understanding our system safety factors and less on a standard that was not written for us


Third Conflict

• “The NFPA states that you must achieve a 15:1 safety factor”

or• “The NFPA states that you must achieve a 10:1

safety factor”• Does the NFPA recommend a safety factor?


• Conversation from chat posts on firehall.com


From Jim Kovach’s reportQuestions concerning NFPA 1670 were answered in a telephone conversation

with the chairman of that committee. • Question: Does 1670 require or recommend a 15:1 safety factor for rope

rescue?• Answer: No • Question: Does 1670 require or recommend a 10:1 safety factor for rope

rescue?• Answer: No • Question: Does 1670 have a required or recommended safety factor for

rope rescue?• Answer: NFPA does not require or specify any safety factor.


• Question: Does 1500 require a 15:1 safety factor for rope rescue?

• Answer: NFPA 1500 requires life safety rope meet NFPA

1983. • Question: Does 1500 require a certain safety factor for rope

rescue? If so, what is it? • Answer: NFPA 1500 requires life safety rope meet NFPA

1983.


• The 15:1 safety factor myth came from NFPA 1983 (old versions) where they stated for the manufacturer’s that life safety rope is to be designed with a SWL of 600lbf and a MBS of 9000lbf

• I have come across Dept’s who have 16mm rope trying to achieve this!


• It is up to your organization what your static system safety factor will be

• Choose it because it meets your risk assessments

• 10:1 is a standard industry practice


Conclusion

• Before we quote standards , we must know for sure

• Just because someone says it doesn't make it true

• Choose equipment that fits within your SSSF

Documents

PIONEER SAFETY My Confusion Surrounding NFPA Standards and Rope Rescue Equipment