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CHAPTER VII

LADDER OPERATIONS

Ladders are very important during an emergency situation, particularly

during fire, when every second counts towards the success or failure of
an operation. Firefighters must know the proper procedures for
carrying, raising, and climbing ladders so thoroughly that their actions
will be governed by habit. Even after every performance or procedures
are well-established, constant practice is necessary in order to achieve
the degree of efficiency.

Originally, ladders were made from hard wood, with solid beams. Even
in short lengths these ladders were heavy and hard to handle. As the
years passed by, an improved metal ladder made of lightweight metal
alloys were introduced and to date are most commonly used in fire
Ladders provide firefighters to access elevated areas in a dwelling fire.
It also provides an emergency escape route for firefighters in a
multilevel building or they may need to rescue occupants who are
trapped from upper levels. Ladders can also be placed to position
firefighters for ventilation and fire extinguishing work.
Lesson 7.1 - Type of Ladders

1. Ground Ladders

2. Aerial Ladders
Ground ladders vary in sizes from 3.1 to 17 meters (10. 55 feet) long. It is being
carried on a pumper or firetrucks. 55 company apparatus carry a roof ladder and
an extension ladder
Forms of Ground Ladders:
1. Wall 2. Extension Ladder 3. Hook Ladder (roof) or straight ladder
4. Attic ladder

Uses:
1. for rescue
2. to stretch lines into a fire building
3. provide ventilation by giving access to ports, scuttles, windows, roofs, or
other places that are hard to reach
Ladders are made up of rails and rungs. The rails run along the sides
and are connected by the rungs that are used as steps of the ladder.
The top of the ladder is called the tip. The bottom end of the ladder is
called the butt, while the part of the ladder that touches the ground is
called the heel.

Straight Ladder

This is a type of ladder that contains only one section. It ranges in

length from 12 to 16 feet. The most common size is the 14-foot straight
ladder. The roof or hook ladder is a straight ladder adapted for a
special, purpose. Hooks are mounted on a movable socket that permits
them to fold inward when not in use.
Extension Ladder

This is consisted of a bed section and two or more fly sections. The fly section slides
through guides on the upper end of the bed section. It contains locks (pawls or
dogs) which hook over the rungs of the bed section. These secure it in a designated
position, dependent upon the desired length of the ladder.

The fly section is usually raised by a halyard (rope) fastened to the lower rung and
operated over a pulley on the upper end of bed ladder.

Pulling the halyard extends or retracts the fly sections. The ladder locking devices
located on each rail are referred to as dogs or pawls. These devices locked the fly
sections into place.

An extension ladder that has a stay poles is called tormentors. Tormentors support
the beams and give extra stability when raising or lowering the ladder. It ranges from
4.6 to 10 meters in length (15-33 feet). Extension ladders that are extended to more
than 35 feet are called Bangor ladders.
Attic Ladder

It provides means of reaching through an opening into attics, lofts, and

other areas that are somewhat difficult to reach without a special
ladder. It can be folded or collapsed for a small room or closet works.
They are usually short because they are required to reach only a short
distance.

Wall Ladder

This type of ladder best used in rescue where a ladder in place is

already falls short of the endangered person. It allows the user to climb
up or down, one storey at a time (e.g. scalling or pompier, and fire
escape).
Type of Ladders According to its Beam:

a) Solid beam ground ladder made of heavy hard wood and/or

lightweight metal alloys.

b) Trussed beam ground ladder a lightweight metal alloy easier to

handle and carry.

Aerial Ladders

This type of ladder that is mounted on a turntable, of extending up to

30.5 of that cal, may have capable four metal fly sections of ladder that
can be raised or lowered by hydraulically controlled cables.
Forms of Aerial Ladders

1. Hydraulic Aerial Ladders

2. Elevating Platform (Articulated boom).

Uses:

provide a source of heavy streams in combating fire;

best used for rescue operations;

used an elevator to lift handlines, handtools and short ladders up to its

load limits;
used as a reconnaissance platform or a place from which to direct
operations.
Ladder Terminology

1. Bed Ladder - the lowest section of an extension ladder.

2. Fly Ladder the top section of an extension ladder

3. Butt the bottom end of a ladder

4. Heel the part of the ladder that touches the ground

5. Halyarda rope or cable used to raise the fly ladder

6. Pawl or Dog the mechanism located at the end of the fly ladder that
locks to the bed ladders.

7. Rung the cross member of a ladder that is used for climbing

8. Top or Tip - it is the top part of a ladder

9. Hooks part of a ladder that is used to hook over a roof peak, sills, or
walls where the heel does not rest on a foundation (found only on
roof-type ladders).

10. Stops made of metal or wood blocks used to prevent the fly of an
extension ladder from extending out further from the ladder.

11. Guides light metal strips of an extension ladder that guides the fly
ladder while it is being raised or lowered.
Type of Ladder Carries:

1. One-man carry - Remove the ladder from the apparatus and pass
either arm through the ladder at the middle of its length. Carry it with
the hooks forward and lowered.

2. Two-man carry Normally extension ladders from 24 to 36 feet in

length require at least two men. To remove the ladder from the fire
apparatus, place one man near each end. Each man then passes one
arm through the ladder and grasps the second rung forward. Both men
must be on the same side.

3. Four-man carry- Remove the ladder from the apparatus and place it
on the ground with the fly up. Have the four men take their positions,
two near each end, on opposite sides of the ladder. Face the top of the
ladder. Reach down and grasp a rung with the hand nearest it. Raise the
4. Six-man carry this procedure is the same as the four-man carry
except that an additional two men are placed in the middle on the
opposite sides to carry a heavier ladder.

Steps in One-man Ladder Raise:

1. Place the heel of the ladder against the building;

2. "Walk" the ladder up to the building by using the rungs;

3. Place the ladder against the building:

4. After the ladder is in upright position, lift the ladder off the ground
and place it back to the correct climbing angle
5. Safety the ladder by placing the ball of either foot on the bottom
rung, then place hand on the rung.

Steps in Two-man Ladder Raise:

1. Place the ladder close to the building. One man stands at the bottom
rung inside to steady the ladder. The other man is at the top with the
hand on a rung and one hand on the beam;

2. The man on the top "walks" the ladder up to the building by using
the rungs of the ladder;

3. Turn the ladder so the extension is in the correct Turition for raising.
The smaller them in the front: when the ladder is turned, he is on the
inside between the wall and the ladder;
4. Untie the halyard and raise the ladder to the desired height;

5. Tie the halyard on the rung and move the ladder out to the proper
climbing height.

Steps in Three-man Raise:

1. Place the heel of the ladder as close to the building as possible. One
man is at the bottom rung of the ladder closest to the wall. The other
two at the top holding onto the beam;

2. The two men "walk" the ladder up to the building by using the beam
of the ladder;
3. Turn the ladder so the extension is in the correct position for raising;

4. Raise the extension ladder;

5. Tie the halyard on the rung. Bring the ladder out to the correct
climbing angle. Two men safety the ladder.

Four-Man Raise

The 36-foot extension ladder should not be raised by less then three
people. Four men are better. The four-man raise is very similar to the
three-man raise; but two men are used at the heel of the ladder on this
raise.
Proper Climbing Angle: Rule of Thumb

Stand with your toes against the butt, with out- stretched arms, reach
for a rung at about shoulder level (applicable only for an average fire
fighter, on the other hand an exceptionally tall or short fire fighter
might have to make some adjustments) approximately 75 degrees angle
of inclination between the ladder and the ground.

Handling of Ladders:

A. Ladder Safety:

always wear protective gear including gloves when working with

ladders;
use leg muscle when lifting ladders below the waist; use the proper
number of fire fighters/personnel for raise; each make sure that ladders
are not raised into electrical wires; check ladder for proper angle;
check the rung locks to be sure that they are seated over the rungs;
make sure that the laddering, secure at the top of bottom or both
before climb smoothly and rhythmically; do not overload the ladder;
always use a leg lock when working from the ladder; inspect ladders for
damage and wear after each use.

B. Working Rules for Ladder length and Ground Ladder Placement:

ladder should extend a few feet preferably 5 rungs beyond foot edge
for both footing and handhold for person stepping the ladder; for
ventilation, ladder is place at the side of a window, windward side; for
rescue from a window opening, the tip of the ladder should be placed
just below the window sill. If the window opening is wide enough, the
C. Other Ladder Placement guidelines:

place ladder at least two points on different sides of the building; avoid
placing ladders over openings such as windows and doors; take
advantage of strong points in building construction when placing
ladder; avoid placing ladders where they may come into contact with
overhead obstruction such as wires, tree limbs or signage; avoid placing
ladders on main paths of travel that fire fighters or evacuees will need to
use; avoid placing ladders on uneven terrain or on soft spots; avoid
placing ladders where they may come in contact either on burning
surfaces or openings with flames present; avoid placing ladders on top
of elevator trapdoors or utility covers; do not place ladders against
unstable walls or surfaces.
Steps to secure safety when using extension ladders?

Place ladders on a firm, level surface and ensure the footing is

secure.

Erect extension ladders so that the upper section rests on (e.g.,

in front of) the bottom section. This means the bottom section
"faces" a wall or other supporting surface

Place the ladder feet so that the horizontal distance between

the feet and the top support is 1/4 of the working length of the
ladder. The ladder will be leaning at a 75 degrees angle from
the ground.
Erect ladders so that a minimum of 1 m (3 ft) extends above a landing
platform. Tie the top at support points.

Where a ladder cannot be tied off at the top, station a person at the foot
to prevent it from slipping. This method is only effective for ladders up
to 5 m (16 ft) long. The person at the foot of the ladder should face the
ladder with a hand on each side rail and with one foot resting on the
bottom rung.

Leave all tie-off devices in place until they must be removed before
taking the ladder down.

Maintain the minimum overlap of sections as shown on a ladder label.

Refer to safety regulations.
Important Factors and Precautionary Measures in Ladder Raise:

Fire fighters must need to look overhead for electrical wires or

equipment before making final selection on where to a ladder or what
method to us for raising it,

A distance of at least the distance from all energized electrical

equipment. The distance must be maintained at all times, including the
raising of the ladder.

In general, metal and fibreglass extension ladders are designed to be

used with the FLY OUT (away from the building) except specified by the
ladder manufacturer, Wood extension ladders are intended to be
deployed with the FLY IN (next to the building.
Aerial Ladders

This type of ladder that is mounted on a turntable, capable of extending

up to 30.5 meters (100 feet), may have three or four metal fly sections of
ladder that can be raised or lowered by hydraulically controlled cables.

Forms of Aerial Ladders

1. Hydraulic Aerial Ladders

2. Elevating Platform (Articulated boom).

Uses:

provide a source of heavy streams in combating fire;

best used for rescue operations;

used an elevator to lift handlines, handtools and short ladders up to its

load limits;

used as a reconnaissance platform or a place from which to direct

operations.
END