Clearwater Fire & Rescue Personal Escape Rope PDF

CLEARWATER FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S.O.P. 607 SUBJECT: Personal Escape Rope PAGE 1 OF 5...

CLEARWATER FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S.O.P. 607 SUBJECT: Personal Escape Rope PAGE 1 OF 5 CATEGORY: SUBCATEGORY: Operations Suppression APPROVED BY: EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/19/08 REVISION DATE: 03/08/22 REVIEWED DATE: SIGNATURE ON FILE, APPROVED TO FORM THIS DATE BY SCOTT EHLERS, FIRE CHIEF, FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT FORMS REQUIRED: CFR-042 Rope Log CFR-036 Request to Use Non-issued PPE NOTE: Current forms are located on the Department’s SharePoint. PURPOSE: To establish guidelines for the issue, appropriate use, and required care of the CFR Personal Escape Rope. One Personal Escape Rope Kit will be issued to every operational person in the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department. This Personal Escape Rope Kit will be used in conjunction with the department issued harness that is integrated into the bunker/running pants of each operational member. 607.1 Definitions The following definitions apply to the CFR Personal Escape Rope Kit System. 1) An Escape Rope Kit is a low-profile rope deployment system consisting of rope and hardware for self-rescue from second floor and higher structures. 2) The CFR Personal Escape Rope is an escape kit issued to each firefighter and is designed as an individual system for each firefighter to carry on their turnout gear during calls at all times. 3) The CFR Personal Escape Rope Usage is as a system for emergency self-rescue situations only and may not be used as search rope or for any other rope rescue situations. It is designed for one-time use only and it must be destroyed after use. 607.2_System Inventory The system shall consist of the following items: 1) Fifty (50) foot section of 7.5-millimeter Sterling Firetech 32 personal escape rope 2) 1 - Aluminum self-locking carabineer 3) 1 – Kong Tango carabineer 4) 1 – Sterling F4 Escape, Auto-Locking Descent Control Device 607.3 System Configuration The system shall be configured as follows: 1) The working end of the rope shall have a single loop figure “8”with safety.  EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/19/08 SUBJECT: Personal Escape Rope S.O.P. 607 REVISION DATE: 03/08/22 CATEGORY: SUBCATEGORY: Suppression PAGE 2 OF 5 Operations 2) A Kongo Tango carabineer shall be connected at the captured eye to the loop of the single loop figure eight (8). 3) Sterling F4 Escape, Auto-Locking Descent Control Device shall be placed on the rope approximately six (6) foot from the working end properly laced. 4) A self-locking carabineer shall be unlocked and connected to the small hole of the Sterling F4 Escape, Auto-Locking Descent Control Device. 5) The rope is placed into the Bunker pants pocket ending with the single loop figure “8”/ carabineer on top. 607.4 System Deployment Procedure 1) Prepare for system deployment When the need for rope kit deployment is identified, the following procedure shall be followed at the earliest possible moment (Do not let these steps delay an immediate self-rescue situation.): a) Call a MAYDAY b) Activate PASS alarm device c) Continue to utilize complete fire protective gear d) Find a barrier (safe area) if possible 2) Identify an anchor point The anchor point is the whole foundation of the Personal Escape Rope. Preplanning, preparation, forethought, and ingenuity will help make an anchor successful. It is what your system will attach to and ultimately what your weight will hang on. 3) Deploy the system a) Remove personal escape rope from bunker gear. i) Remove working end of rope Kongo Tango carabineer. Attach to chosen anchor. ii) Attach self-locking carabineer connected to properly threaded Sterling F4 Escape, Auto-Locking Descent Control Device to body attachment point on bunker gear harness. iii) Throw remaining rope out opening. b) Provide edge protection on sharp edges if time allows. i) Furniture cushions ii) Linen iii) Drapery iv) Rope bags v) Fire hose 4) Escape utilizing appropriate descent techniques.  EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/19/08 SUBJECT: Personal Escape Rope S.O.P. 607 REVISION DATE: 03/08/22 CATEGORY: SUBCATEGORY: Suppression PAGE 3 OF 5 Operations 607.5 Equipment Care and Maintenance All items supplied for the kit are NFPA 1983 2017 edition compliant, however proper ongoing care and maintenance are critical to the proper performance of the kit when needed in an emergency. The following procedures are to be followed for the care and maintenance of the personal escape rope. 1) Equipment Responsibility a) It is the individual responsibility of each person for all inspection, cleaning, and preventative maintenance of the personal escape rope issued to them. i) All rope and hardware shall be inspected once a tour at a minimum. ii) All rope and hardware shall be cleaned and undergo preventative maintenance as often as required to retain operational readiness. b) The entire personal escape rope for each firefighter will be inspected annually during the annual station inspection and so noted on the rope log. c) If personnel have any questions about rope and hardware inspections, please contact the on-duty TRT Lieutenant at Station 51 or Station 48. Personnel may also contact the Special Operations Chief. d) The personal escape rope is to be ONLY used for an emergency decent. It is NOT to be used for any other purpose. 2) Equipment Precautions, Inspection, and Maintenance a) Hardware i) General precautions: (1) Do not drop hardware. (2) Do not subject hardware to loads from directions other than the designed load bearing direction. (3) Keep hardware free of oil other than lightly oiled carabineer gate. (4) Remove from service and destroy if dropped more than 12 feet onto a hard surface, if gate pins become loose or if hinge, or self-locking device does not work properly. ii) Inspection (1) Hardware shall be inspected visually for any defects. (2) Moving parts shall be assessed for smooth and appropriate operation iii) Maintenance: (1) Remove nicks or minor surface flaws with fine emery cloth to avoid damaging rope. (2) Restore smooth operation to carabineer gates by lightly oiling the hinge-pin slot and working the gate. Remove any excess oil. (3) Re-mark with personal information if that information has worn off. b) Rope i) General precautions: (1) Use only approved knots. (2) Avoid contact with sharp objects. (3) Use edge protection-whenever possible.  EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/19/08 SUBJECT: Personal Escape Rope S.O.P. 607 REVISION DATE: 03/08/22 CATEGORY: SUBCATEGORY: Suppression PAGE 4 OF 5 Operations (4) Avoid contact with chemicals, gasoline, oil, and/or corrosives. (5) Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. (6) Although the Sterling Firetech 32 personal escape rope has a very high heat resistant outer sheath (932 degrees) caution should be used to avoid high heat exposure. ii) Inspection (1) Rope inspection shall be performed by grasping one end of the rope with an ungloved hand and applying a light steady pressure while drawing the entire length of the rope through the ungloved hand to allow for the detection of obvious or hidden defects. (2) Look for excessive fraying, hard spots, inner core showing, and lack of uniformity in color, diameter, or texture or in any other issue in the appearance or feel of the rope such that its integrity is questioned (3) If any problems are found, the kit should be taken out of service and shall be brought to the attention of the immediate supervisor. iii) Rope Maintenance (1) Clean with warm water only; hand wash. (2) Hang out of the way of sunlight to dry. 3) Equipment Marking a) Hardware i) Carabineers shall be marked with fine point permanent marker with the person’s last name and date issued. ii) Sterling F4 Escape, Auto-Locking Descent Control Device shall be marked with fine point permanent marker with the person’s last name and date issued. b) Rope i) The rope will be marked on the opposite end of the rope from the manufacture’s product label with personnel’s last name and date of issue on a label provided. ii) The manufacture’s product label will not be removed from the rope under any circumstances. iii) The information on the manufacture’s product label shall be transferred to the rope log. 4) Equipment Replacement a) Hardware is to be removed from service and destroyed if i) it is dropped more than 12 feet onto a hard surface, ii) the gate pins become loose, iii) the hinge or self-locking device does not work properly. b) Rope is to be removed from service and destroyed if i) it demonstrates excessive fraying, hard spots, inner core showing, lack of uniformity in color, diameter, or texture, or in any other way appears damaged such that its integrity is questioned; ii) it is more than ten years from date of manufacture (manufacturer recommendation). Escape rope will be placed on an eight-year department cycle. c) System is to be removed from service and destroyed if it is used for any reason.  EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/19/08 SUBJECT: Personal Escape Rope S.O.P. 607 REVISION DATE: 03/08/22 CATEGORY: SUBCATEGORY: Suppression PAGE 5 OF 5 Operations 607.6 Additional Issues 1) Carrying options The Personal Escape Rope Kit is designed to be carried in the bunker pants pocket. The standard carrying pocket shall be the pocket on the bunker pants dominant to the user. The only other option for carrying the Personal Escape Rope Kit will be in an approved rope bag. The rope bag can be approved by filling out Form CFR-036 and forwarding it to the Deputy Chief for approval. Please give consideration if choosing this method of storage, as one more thing hanging off your gear could cause an entanglement hazard. Utilizing this method of carrying the Personal Escape Rope Kit will be the sole fiscal responsibility of the employee and will be susceptible to inspection and cleaning as deemed by the department. 2) Warnings Firefighters must recognize the dangers inherent in the use of this device and heed the following warnings: a) Practical training and ongoing practice with the kit is essential for successful use in emergency settings. b) Use of unsecured anchors, such as Halligan tools are as an absolute last resort only and carry significant risk of serious bodily injury of death. c) Improper use of this device can result in injury or death. 3) Training a) Training will be done using a belay line. b) Training equipment will be used for all training scenario’s REFERENCES: All items supplied for the Personal Escape Rope Kit System are NFPA 1983 2017 edition compliant.