CICERO FIRE DEPARTMENT

TRAINING DIVISION
GROUND LADDER
SHEET
GROUND
LADDERREFERENCE
CHEAT SHEET

NFPA ladder requirement for trucks: 168ft of ground ladders.

Average window height is 4 ft.
Residential buildings can be estimated at 9ft from floor to floor.
Commercial buildings can be estimated at 12 ft from floor to floor.
Add to residential and commercial floors 3ft for window sill. Using a residential building
example, a second floor is 9ft in height + 3ft for window sill for a total of 12ft in height.
A third floor window would be 9ft in height + 9ft in height+ 3ft height for window sill for
a total of 21ft in height.
Space between rungs is 14.
Proper climbing angle for a portable ladder is about 70 degrees.
At a 70 degree climbing angle, about 6% of the ladders total height is lost to this factor.
The remaining 94% is called the working length.
For a quick estimate of the working height, divide by 4. This gives you the approximate
location to place the butt of the ladder away from the building. For instance, the
working length of a 20ft ladder would be 20/4=5ft. (5ft-20ft= 15ft working ft).
Proper tip placement depends on the task. Ventilating a widow requires the tip of the
ladder at the top of the window frame, just off to the upwind side of the objective.
Entering or exiting through a window requires placing the tip at or just below the
windowsill, the entire window should be kept clear for the firefighter.
Average window width is 30 wide.
The average firefighter with an air pack is nearly 20" wide.
Placing the tip of the ladder at the sill allows the firefighter/those being rescued to climb
onto it without rising up onto the greatest area of heat or even fire.
NFPA 1832 requires a heat indicationg label on each aluminum and fiberglass ladders.
The label will change color when exposed to dangerous temperatures (300 degrees).
A design load of 750 pounds has been selected for most ground ladders. Do not
overload the ladder with personnel!
Usually ladders are now at least 16 inches wide at their narrowest point.
Do not position ladders directly in front of ingress or egress routes or where fire is likely
to vent.

Training Division Mission: To initiate and promote professional, well rounded,

well educated, competent firefighters and future administrators.