Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition)
Chapter 1-Ladder Types & Ladder Terms
"By The Numbers"

  • Single ladders range from 6 to 32 feet.
  • Roof ladders range from 12 to 24 feet (14 & 16 feet most common).
  • Folding ladders range from 8 to 16feet (10 foot most common).
  • NFPA 1931, Standard on Design of and Design Verification Tests for Fire Department Ground Ladders.
  • Extension ladders have 2 or 3sections.
  • Extension ladders range from 12 to 39 feet.
  • NFPA 1931 requires that all extension ladders over 40 feet or greater to have staypoles.
  • Pole ladders have 2 to 4sections.
  • Pole ladders range from 40 to 65feet.
  • Most modern pole ladders do not exceed 50 feet.
  • 55 to 60foot pole ladders were more commonly found on older aerial apparatus.
  • Combination ladders range from 8 to 14 feet (most popular is 10 foot).
  • Pompier ladders range from 10 to 16 feet.
  • The preferred pitch for ground ladders is 75.5 degrees.
  • The length label is affixed to the outside of each ladder beam within 12inches of the butt.

Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition)
Chapter 2-Ground Ladder Construction, Maintenance, & Service Testing
"By The Numbers"

NFPA 1931 Maximum Ladder Loads
Type of Ladder / Maximum Load
Folding / 300 lbs.
Pompier / 300 lbs.
Single and Roof / 750 lbs.
Extension and Pole / 750 lbs.
Combination / 750 lbs.
  • NFPA1932, Standard on Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing for Fire Department Ground Ladders.
  • Coast Douglas fir is kiln-dried/air-dried to 12% moisture content.
  • For wood ladders exceeding 24feet, truss beam construction will produce a lighter ladder than solid beam construction.
  • NFPA 1931 requires rungs for solid beam and trussed beam ladders be a minimum of 1 1/4inches in diameter at the center.
  • Swell center rungs (rungs thicker at the center) must be 1 1/4inches in diameter at the center, however, they may taper to 1 1/8inches at the ends.
  • NFPA 1931 requires rungs on wood ladders be spaced from 12 to 14 inches on center, plus or minus 1/8inch.
  • NFPA1931 requires all structural components maintain 75% of their design strength at a minimum of 300oF.
  • NFPA1931 requires rungs on metal ladders be spaced 14 inches on center, plus or minus 1/8inch.

24 foot Ladder Weights
Type of Construction / Weight (lbs.)
Solid Beam (METAL) / 74
Solid Beam (WOOD) / 75
Fiberglass / 85
Truss Beam (METAL) / 97
Truss Beam (WOOD) / 110
  • Metal ladders subjected to 300oF flame temperatures for short periods are subject to failure.
  • Combination ladder hinges lock in a 180degree position to form a single ladder.
  • NFPA 1931 restricts the length of pompier ladders to 16feet, however, older models are found up to 20feet in length.
  • The minimum overall width of rungs on pompier ladders is 12inches.
  • A minimum of 2 standoff brackets on pompier ladders is required (one near top, one near bottom).
  • Standoff brackets should set the ladder a minimum of 7inches away from building (pompier ladders).
  • A manual latching pawl is attached between the beams approximately 4inches above the bottom rung of the fly section.
  • NFPA 1931 requires halyard ropes to be a minimum of 3/8inch in diameter and have a breaking strength of 825pounds.
  • 3 and 4 section ladders have a 2nd halyard, usually a cable, that threads through a pulley attached to the intermediate fly section(s).
  • NFPA 1931 requires that cable used as halyards must be a minimum of 3/16inch in diameter and have a breaking strength of 825pounds.
  • Staypoles are used both to raise and lower ground ladders over 40feet tall.
  • Heat sensor labels change color at 300oF, plus or minus 5%.
  • Heat sensor labels must be affixed immediately below the 2nd rung from the tip of each section on the inside of each beam.
  • Electrical hazard warning and ladder positioning labels must be affixed between 4 1/2 and 6feet from the butt of the ladder.
  • Ladders should not be painted except for the top and bottom 12inches for identification or visibility.
  • Pawl torsion springs should be replaced every 5years or as needed.
  • Cylindrical supports used for ladder testing should be 1inch in diameter and placed under the test ladder 6inches from each end.
  • Test load area for the horizontal bending test is 32inches long over the actual center of the ladder.
  • Preload test weight for the horizontal bending test is 350pounds, or 300pounds if made before 1984 and is allowed to sit on the ladder for 1minute.
  • Test load for the horizontal bending test is 500pounds, or 400pounds if made before 1984 and is allowed to sit on the ladder for 5minutes.

The following measurements are taken 5minutes after the test load has been removed.

Horizontal Bending Test Differences
Length of Ladder / Difference in Measurements
25 feet or less / 1/2 inch
26 to 34 feet / 1 inch
35 feet or more / 1 1/2 inch
  • The test load for a roof ladder hook test, extension ladder hardware test, and pompier ladder strength test is 1,000pounds applied for at least 1minute.
  • The test load area for folding ladders is 16inches long over the actual center of the ladder.
  • The preload weight for folding ladders is 160pounds and is allowed to sit on the ladder for 1minute.
  • The test weight for folding ladders is 225pounds and is allowed to sit on the ladder for 5minutes.
  • 5minutes after test load has been removed from a folding ladder, there should be less than 1/2inch difference than that of the pretest measurement.
  • The liquid penetration test is an additional non-destructive test for metal ground ladders constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy.

Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition)
Chapter 3-Handling Ladders
"By The Numbers"

  • NFPA 1901, Standard for Pumper Fire Apparatus.

Ladders Carried on Pumpers (NFPA 1901)
Length / Type of Ladder
10 foot / Folding
14 foot / Roof
24 foot / Extension
  • Many fire departments prefer to carry a 3 section, 35 foot ladder instead of a 24 foot ladder.
  • An overhead rack can be used to carry ladders longer than 35 feet.
  • NFPA 1904, Standard for Aerial Ladder and Elevating Platform Fire Apparatus (1991 edition).

Ladders Carried on Aerial Apparatus (NFPA 1904)
Length / Type of Ladder
10 foot / Folding
2) 16 foot / Roof
14 foot / Combination Ladder
24 foot / Extension
35 foot / Extension
  • Prior to the 1991 edition of NFPA 1904, one 40 foot or larger pole ladder had to be carried on aerial apparatus.
  • NFPA 1902, Standard for Initial Attack Apparatus.

Ladders Carried on Initial Attack Apparatus
(NFPA 1902)
Vehicle Weight / Length / Type of Ladder
less than 15,000 lbs. / 12 foot / Any Type
15,000-20,000 lbs. / 14 foot / Any Type
over 20,000 lbs. / 16 foot / Any Type
  • NFPA 1903, Standard for Mobile Water Supply Apparatus.
  • A residential story will average 8 to 10 feet and the distance from floor to window sill about 3 feet.

Ladder Selection Guide
Situation / Ladder Length
1st story / 16 to 20 feet
2nd story / 20 to 28 feet
2nd story / 28 to 35 feet
3rd story / 40 to 50 feet
4th story / over 50 feet
  • A commercial story will average 12 feet and the distance from floor to window sill about 4 feet.
  • Ladders should extend at least 5 rungs above roof edge.
  • Ladders used for ventilating from windows should be placed 3 to 4 rungs above window sill to the side of the window.
  • Maximum extended length of extension ladders may be as much as 6 inches LESS than the designated length.
  • For lengths of 35 feet or LESS, the reach is approximately 1 foot LESS than the designated length.
  • For lengths of 35 feet or MORE, the reach is approximately 2 feet LESS than the designated length.
  • The 35 foot extension ladder is the most versatile of all extension ladders.
  • The proper distance from the heel of the ladder to the building can be determined by dividing the used length by 4.

Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition)
Chapter 4-Raising Ground Ladders
"By The Numbers"

  • IFSTA recommends that all ground and aerial ladders maintain a safe distance of at least 10feet from all energized electrical lines or equipment.
  • Single and roof ladders of 14feet or LESS are easily rasied by 1 firefighter.
  • Single ladders longer than 14feet should be placed butt first against the building to heel the ladder.
  • Typically, ladders of 35feet or more should be raised by at least 3 firefighters.
  • Firefighters handling staypoles should stand approximately 5feet apart.
  • When pole ladders are raised beyond 45degrees, the staypole operators assume most of the weight of the ladder.
  • One firefighter can safely shift a ladder that is 20feet long or LESS.
  • NFPA 1932 states that ladders shall not be rolled beam over beam to reach new positions.
  • For a Dome (auditorium) raise, two125foot lifelines and minimum of 6 firefighters are required.
  • NFPA 1983, Standard on Fire Service Safety Rope, Harness, and Hardware.

Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition)
Chapter 5-Climbing & Using Ground Ladders
"By The Numbers"

  • When carrying up another ladder, roof ladders should be shouldered 2rungs above midpoint.
  • The 1stpriority in rescuing victims are those most severely threatened by current fire conditions.
  • The 2ndpriority in rescuing victims are the largest number or groups of people.
  • The 3rdpriority in rescuing victims is the remainder of the people in the fire area.
  • The 4thpriority in rescuing victims are the people in the exposed area.
  • When securing a ladder for raising with rope, attach the ladder approximately 1/3distance from the top.
  • When drafting, a ladder can be used to maintain the 24inch requirement for the strainer to be off the bottom of the drafting source.