Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition)
Chapter 1 Terms
Ladder Types & Ladder Terms
Beam
Main structural member of a ladder supporting the rungs or rung blocks. Synonymous with Side Rail and Rail.
Bed Section
Bottom section of an extension ladder.
Bedded Position
Extension ladder with the fly section(s) fully retracted.
Butt
Heel (lower end) of a ladder; or, the act of steadying a ladder that is being climbed.
Butt Spurs
Metal safety plates or spikes attached to the butt end of ground ladder beams.
Designated Length
Length marked on the ladder.
Dogs
Locking mechanism for extension ladders. Synonymous with Pawls or Locks.
Fly Section
Extendable section of ground extension or aerial ladder.
Foot Pads
Feet mounted on the butt of the ladder by a swivel to facilitate the placement of ladders on hard surfaces.
Gooseneck
A piece of metal extending from the tip of pompier ladders to facilitate hooking into a window or onto a ledge.
Ground Ladder
Ladders specifically designed for fire service use that are not mechanically or physically attached permanently to fire apparatus and do not require mechanical power from the apparatus for ladder use or operation.
Guides
Devices to hold sections of an extension ladder together while allowing free movement.
Halyard
Rope used on extension ladders to extend the fly sections. Synonymous with Fly Rope.
Heel
Base or butt end of a ground ladder; or, to steady a ladder while it is being raised.
Identification Number
Serial number placed on each ground ladder by the manufacturer.
Inside Ladder Width
Distance between the inside edge of one beam and the inside edge of the opposite beam.
Ladder
Two rails or beams with steps or rungs spaced at intervals; any fire department ladder of varying length, type, or construction.
Ladder Nesting
Positioning of different width ladders, one partially within another, for storage on apparatus.
Maximum Extended Length
Total length of an extension ladder with all sections fully extended and pawls engaged.
Outside Width
Dimension from the outside surface of one ladder beam to the outside surface of the opposite ladder beam or the widest point of a ladder including staypoles when provided, whichever is greater.
Pawls
Devices attached to the inside of the beams on fly sections used to hold the fly section in place after it has been extended. Also called Dogs or Ladder Locks.
Pitch
Angle between horizontal and a ladder positioned for use.
Pole Ladder
Large extension ladder that requires tormentor poles to steady the ladder as it is raised and lowered. Also called Bangor Ladder.
Rail
Main structural member of a ladder supporting the rungs or rung blocks. Synonymous with Side Rail or Beam.
Retracted
Withdrawn; in a closed position.
Roof Ladder
Straight ladder with folding hooks at the top end. The hooks anchor the ladder over the roof ridge.
Rungs
Step portion of a ladder running from beam to beam.
Scuttle
Opening in the roof or ceiling providing access to the roof or attic.
Side Rail
Main structural member of a ladder supporting the rungs or rung blocks. Synonymous with Beam or Rail.
Single Ladder
One-section ladder. Synonymous with Straight Ladder.
Staypoles
Poles attached to long extension ladders to assist in raising and steadying the ladder. Some poles are permanently attached, and some are removable. Synonymous with Tormentor Poles.
Straight Ladder
One-section ladder. Synonymous with Single Ladder.
Tip
Extreme top of a ladder. Synonymous with Top.
Top
Extreme top of a ladder. Synonymous with Tip.
Tormentor Poles
Poles attached to long extension ladders to assist in raising and steadying the ladder. Some poles are permanently attached, and some are removable. Synonymous with Staypoles.
Trusses
Beams consisting of one tensile chord, one compression chord, and truss blocks or spaces between the two.
Wood Grain
Stratification of wood fibers in a piece of wood.
Working Length
Length of a non-self-supporting ladder measured along the beams from the butt to the point of bearing at the top.