Firefighter II Objectives
Ground Ladders

OBJECTIVE 4-11.1 (Fire Service Ground Ladders, Pages 18-27)
IDENTIFY THE MATERIALS USED IN LADDER CONSTRUCTION.

  • WOOD-mostlyCoast Douglas Fir for beams, hickory for rungs, and red oak for wear parts and stops. Coast Douglas Fir is kiln dried to less than 12% moisture content to ensure strength.
  • METAL-Aluminum mixed with various alloys.
  • FIBERGLASS-Fiberglass beams with all other parts made of metal.

OBJECTIVE 4-11.2 (Fire Service Ground Ladders, Pages 17)
IDENTIFY THE LOAD CAPACITIES ESTABLISHED BY NFPA 1931 AND NFPA 1904.

  • 750LBS.-Single, roof, extension, pole, and combination ladders.
  • 300LBS.-Folding and pompier ladders

OBJECTIVE 4-11.3 (Fire Service Ground Ladders, Pages 45)
DEMONSTRATE THE PROCEDURES FOR CLEANING LADDERS. (HANDS ON)

  • The most effective tools are a soft bristle brush and running water. Oil, tar, and greasy residues may be removed with a safety solvent. Ladders should also be dried and checked for defects after cleaning.

OBJECTIVE 4-11.4 (Fire Service Ground Ladders, Pages 41-46)
DEMONSTRATE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUND AND AERIAL LADDERS. *(HANDS ON)*
INSPECTION

  • Ladders should be inspected after each use and annually.
  • GENERAL - Check heat sensor labels, for heavy soot or bubbled paint at the tips, rungs for snugness, tightness of bolts and rivets, welds for cracks, splintering, breaks, gouges, checks, wavy conditions, and deformation.
  • WOOD LADDERS - Check for chafed or scraped off varnish, darkening of varnish (indicating exposure to heat), and dark streaks (indicating deterioration of the wood.)
  • ROOF LADDERS - Make sure roof hook assemblies operate with ease, also check for rust, deformities, and snugness of parts.
  • EXTENSION and POLE LADDERS - Make sure pawl assemblies move in and out freely, look for fraying or kinking of the halyard, check snugness and proper synchronization of the halyard, make sure pulleys turn freely, check condition of ladder guides and free movement of fly sections, and check staypole toggles for free operation. (on detachable staypoles, check the latching mechanism)

MAINTENANCE

  • GENERAL - Keep free of moisture, DO NOT place by exhausts or engine heat, store away from elements, DO NOT paint except for the top and bottom 12" for identification and/or visibility
  • WOOD LADDERS/WOOD COMPONENTS OF COMPOSITE LADDERS-Store away from steam pipes, radiators, and out of direct sunlight, spot refinish defects in the Phenolic-Tung Varnish with like varnish containing UV ray absorbers, and every 3 years, apply one coat of Phenolic-Tung Varnish to the entire ladder.
  1. sand damaged area, finish with fine sandpaper feathering into surrounding finish.
  2. apply one part Paint Thinner to three parts Varnish for the primer coat.
  3. apply straight Varnish-2 coats
  • METAL and FIBERGLASS LADDERS - Metal ladders usually just require an occasional application of a good automotive car paste wax. Fiberglass ladders may require an application of Urethane Varnish occasionally.
  1. Clean surface with paint thinner, dry, sand lightly if needed.
  2. (METAL) apply wax. (FIBERGLASS) apply varnish, sand lightly.
  3. (METAL) buff to a smooth, glossy surface. (FIBERGLASS) add additional coats of Varnish, as needed for a smooth, glossy finish.
  • ROOF LADDERS - When roof hooks are rusted in or around the spring assembly, they must be disassembled , cleaned, and lubricated.
  • EXTENSION and POLE LADDERS - Keep pawl assemblies clean and lubricated, replace pawl torsion springs every 5 years of before if needed, check ladder slide areas for smooth operation and lubricate as needed, and apply a small amount of lubricant to halyard pulleys containing ball-bearings. (When replacing halyards on 3 or 4 section extension ladders, draw a diagram of the cable threading arrangement.)

OBJECTIVE 4-11.5 (Fire Service Ground Ladders, Pages 47-52)
DESCRIBE ANNUAL TESTING FOR GROUND LADDERS.

  • HORIZONTAL BEND TEST - (for straight, roof, & extension ladders)
  1. Rest ladder fully extended on 1" cylindrical supports located 6" from each end.
  2. Locate the test load area of 32" at the center.
  3. Apply 350LBS (300LBS if made prior to 1984) and allow it to sit for 1 minute then remove weight.
  4. Measure and record distance from beam to ground.
  5. Apply test load of 500LBS (400LBS if made prior to 1984) and allow to sit for 5 minutes then remove and re-measure.

Ladder Length Differences
Length of Ladder / Difference Allowed
25 feet or less / 1/2"
26-34 feet / 1"
35 feet or longer / 1 1/2"
  • FOR WOOD LADDERS - No measurements are taken. Failure of the ladder means failure of the test.
  • ROOF LADDER HOOK / POMPIER HOOK TEST -
  1. Position ladder hook(s) over wall with safety restraint in place.
  2. Use appropriate webbing to suspend 1,000LBS from the ladder for at least 1 minute.
  3. Remove weight and inspect for damage. Ladder passes test if no permanent deformation is found.
  • EXTENSION LADDER HARDWARE TEST -
  1. Position ladder at a 75 1/2 degree angle against a wall with a minimum of 1 rung extended.
  2. Using appropriate webbing, suspend 1,000LBS from the ladder for at least 1 minute.
  3. Remove weight and inspect hardware for damage. Ladder passes if no permanent damage is found.
  • STRENGTH TEST FOR FOLDING LADDERS -
  1. Rest ladder on 1" cylindrical supports 6" from each end.
  2. Locate the test load area of 16" at the center. (FOR WOOD SKIP TO STEP 5)
  3. Apply pre load test weights of 160LBS for 1 minute and then remove weights.
  4. Measure and record distances.
  5. Apply test weight of 225LBS for 5 minutes then remove. Re-measure. Distances should be no greater than 1/2" STEP 6(for wood ladders) No measurements are taken. Failure of the ladder means failure of the test.
  • LIQUID PENETRATION TEST - For metal ground ladders made of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy to detect otherwise invisible cracks and to check welds. Done by approved testing organizations ONLY.