LADDER

Ladder is a portable piece of equipment with rungs attached sides made of metal, wood, or
rope, used for climbing up or down.

Fire service ground ladders are designed to perform varying functions. The specific task at
hand will determine the type of ladder to be used. These functions are usually similar, but
considering the diversity to which each and everyone of us may be assigned, especially for
those who may fall under foreign trained officers/personnel, it will be advantageous that
everybody is made familiar with various ladder types to gain a better understanding of each
one and as much a possible will be able to identify and make use of each.
TYPES OF LADDER
All of the various types of ladder have a 1. Single or Straight Ladder
purpose. Some of them however are more 2. Extension Ladder
adaptable to a specific function than to 3. Roof Ladder
general purpose. Their identification name is 4. Folding Ladder
often significant regarding the use to which 5. Aerial Ladder
they are applied, and firefighters frequently 6. Tower Ladder
make reference to them by association. 7. Elevating Platforms
8. Pompier Ladder
9. Pole Ladder
10. Combination Ladder
11. Articulating Aerial Ladder
SINGLE OR STRAIGHT
LADDER
 A type of ladder that is non-adjustable
in length and consists only of one
section, sometimes called a wall
ladder, used for quick access to
windows and roofs of one and two-
story buildings.
EXTENSION LADDER
 A type of ladder that is adjustable in length. It
consists of two or more section, which travels in
guides or brackets to permit length adjustment.
It provides access in windows and roofs within
the limits of extendable length. Extra long
ladders are usually equipped with stabilizing
poles, called tormentors (24” to 55” in length). A
baby extension (baby Bangor) is a 12-foot long
extension ladder without a halyard for raising
the fly section. The hand-raised fly is held in
position by engaging its heel spurs over the
upper rungs of the main section.
ROOF LADDER
 These are single ladders equipped with
folding hooks at the top end which provides
means to anchor the ladder over the roof
ridge or other roof parts. Roof ladders are
generally used to lie flat on the roof surface,
so that firefighters may stand on the ladder
for roof work and the ladder will distribute
their weights and help prevent slipping. It
may be used as single ladder wall. Their
lengths range from 12 to 20 feet.
FOLDING LADDER
 These are single ladders that have hinges
rungs, allowing them to be folded up so that
one beam rests against the other. It provides a
means of reaching through opening into
attics and lofts and other areas which are
somewhat difficult to reach without a special
ladder. Constructed so that they can be folded
or collapsed for small or closet work, folding
ladders are usually short in length since they
only required reaching a short distance.
AERIAL LADDER
 It is power operated metal ladder mounted on
specially build chassis. The aerial ladder is
hydraulically powered and may be mounted
on a single chassis or three-axle tractor
drawn vehicle. It consists of a continuous
walkway for the purpose of fire and rescue
operations and ranges in lengths of 65-135
feet (20-41 meters). The most modern of this
type is made by Colla Spa in Italy now being
operated by Madrid Fire Department, Spain
with maximum reach of 72 meters.
TOWER LADDER
 It combines some features of both aerial
ladder equipment and elevating platforms. A
telescoping boom has a ladder mounted on it,
but the top working area is a partially
enclosed platform. Various ground ladders
are also carried.
ELEVATING PLATFORMS
 Although elevating platforms are not
considered to be ladders, some elevating
platform apparatus carry ground ladders.
This apparatus has some features, which is
similar to aerial ladders, but they are
primarily a portable elevator controlled by an
operator.
POMPIER LADDER
 It consists of a large gooseneck hook at the
tip, with a single bed through which the
rungs project. At one time the pompier ladder
was used by firefighters to reach the upper
stories of tall buildings, beyond the reach of
ground or aerial ladders but their use has
diminished greatly.
POLE LADDER
 These are extension ladders that have stay
poles for added stability. The lengths vary
from 35-65 feet (11-20) meters). They are of
truss constructions and have one up to three
fly sections.
COMBINATION LADDER
 These are designed so that they may be used
as single extension or “A” frame ladder.
Lengths of this type of ladder vary from 8-14
feet (2-4.3 meters).
ARTICULATING AERIAL
TOWER
 It is an apparatus consisting of two or more
boom sections within enclosed platform
attached to the top of the boom. The platform
provides a stable base to carry out both fire
and rescue operations. They are equipped
with built in piping and nozzles to provide
elevated streams and ranges in lengths from
50-150 feet (15-46 meters).
USES OF LADDERS
1. Climbing
2. Ventilating
3. Constructing drains
4. Bracing of other ladders
5. Bridging between buildings
6. Serve as platforms where fire fighters stand
7. Rescue. The most significant use at a fire scene.
8. Provide elevated streams
9. Access. The most obvious use of a ladder
10. Stability. Roof ladder provides stability to a fireman working on a slope roof.
INSPECTING LADDER
 Wood ladders require a much closer inspection than metal ladders, for their trusses and beams
are subject to cracks and splinters. Fire department ladders should be inspected at regular
intervals, after each use or major repair, and tested once a year. Appropriate records should be
maintained for each other.
 Rungs should be checked for tightness of bolts, and welds should be checked for looseness;
and beams, trusses, and truss blocks for evidence of compression failure. Exposure of metal
ladders to temperatures over 300 *F should be a cause for testing.
PARTS OF AN EXTENSION
LADDER
1. Base Section/Bed Section/Main Section - It refers to the lower section of an extension
ladder.
2. Beam - It refers to the side rail (bar) of a ladder.
3. Dogs/Locks/Pawls - These are metal devices used to hold the fly section in place after it has
been raised.
4. Fly Section - It refers to the upper section or top portion of an extension ladder.
5. Guides/Channels - These are woods or metal strips on an extension ladder which guide the
fly section while being raised.
6. Halyard - A rope used for hoisting (raising) fly sections.
7. Heat Sensor Label - A level affixed to the ladder beam near the tip used to provide warning
that the ladder has been subjected to excessive heat.
8. Heel (Butt) - It is the bottom or ground end of a ladder.
9. Heel Plates – These are metal safety plates attached to the heel of a ground ladder to stabilize
the ladder and protect the beam.
10. Hooks - curved, sharp metal device (two in number) which folds outward from each beam at
the top end of a roof ladder.
11. Protective Plates - These are plates fastened to a ladder designed to prevent wear at point
where it comes in contact with mounting brackets.
12. Pulley - It refers to the small grooved wheel through which the halyard is drawn.
13. Rails - The two lengthwise members of a trussed ladder beam which are separated by truss or
separation blocks.
14. Rungs - These are cross members (usually round) between the beams on which people climb.
15. Safety Shoes or Shoes - These are rubber or neoprene spike plates, usually of the swivel
type, attached to the heel of ground ladders.
16. Spurs - These are metal points at the lower end of tormentor’s poles.
17. Stay Poles - These are poles which are attached to the long extension ladder to assist in
raising and steadying the ladder, some of which are permanently attached and some are not.
18. Stops - These are woods or metal pieces which prevent the fly section from being extended
too far.
19. Top or Tip - It is the extreme top of the ladder.
20. Truss Block - It is the separated pieces between the rails of trussed ladder used to support
the rungs.