TECHNICAL COMMITTEE on Special Operations Clothing and ...

Dallas, TX March 3-4, 2016

Agenda

March 3-4, 2016 Dallas, TX

1. Call to order at 8:00am

2. Introductions

3. Opening remarks - Chair, Jeremy Metz

4. Review and approval of minutes from previous meeting

5. NFPA Staff Liaison report - Chris Farrell

6. NFPA 1855 First Draft- act on Public Inputs

7. NFPA 1858 First Draft- act on Public Inputs

8. New business

9. Old business

10. Other items

11. Next meeting

12. Adjourn, NLT 1500 local time

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE on Special Operations Clothing and

Equipment

Public Input No. 1-NFPA 1855-2015 [ Chapter 2 ]

Chapter 2 Referenced Publications

2.1 General.

The documents or portions thereof listed in this chapter are referenced within this standard and shall beconsidered part of the requirements of this document.

2.2 NFPA Publications.

National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471.

NFPA 70E® , Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, 2012 edition.

NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, 2013 edition.

NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents, 2009edition.

NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents, 2013 edition.

NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting,2013 edition.

NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 edition.

NFPA 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for EmergencyServices, 2013 edition.

NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies, 2005edition.

NFPA 1992, Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous MaterialsEmergencies, 2012 edition.

NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents, 2012edition.

NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations, 2013 edition.

2.3 Other Publications.

2.3.1 ACGIH Publications.

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 1330 Kemper Meadow Drive, Cincinnati, OH45240.

ACGIH Publication No. 0112, 2012 0115 , 2015 TLVs and BEIs , 2015 .

2.3.2 ISO Publications.

International Organization for Standardization, 1, rue de Varembé, Case postale 56, CH-1211 Geneve 20,ISO Central Secretariat, BIBC II, 8, Chemin de Blandonnet, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,Switzerland .

ISO 17011, Conformity assessment — General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformityassessment bodies, 2004.

ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems, 1996.(Superseded by ISO/IEC 17065)

ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, 2005,Technical Corrigendum 1, 2006 .

ISO/IEC 17065, Coformity Assessment - Requirements for Bodies Certifiying Products, Processes,and Services, 2012.

National Fire Protection Association Report http://submittals.nfpa.org/TerraViewWeb/ContentFetcher?commentPara...

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2.3.3 U.S. Government Publications.

U.S. Government Printing Government Publishing Office, 732 North Capitol Street, NW, WashingtonDC , DC 20402 20401 - 9325 0001 .

NIOSH Publication No 2005-149, NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, September 2005.

USFA, Protective Clothing and Equipment Need of Emergency Responders to US & R Missions, 1993.

2.3.4 Other Publications.

Lewis, R., Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2002.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, MA, 2003.

2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections. (Reserved)

Statement of Problem and Substantiation for Public Input

Referenced current SDO names, addresses, standard names, numbers, and editions.

Related Public Inputs for This Document

Related Input Relationship

Public Input No. 2-NFPA 1855-2015 [Chapter B]

Submitter Information Verification

Submitter Full Name: Aaron Adamczyk

Organization: [ Not Specified ]

Street Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

Submittal Date: Wed Jun 17 22:09:29 EDT 2015


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Public Input No. 3-NFPA 1855-2016 [ Section No. 7.3.8 ]

7.3.8 *

The following procedures shall be used for machine washing:

(1)

(2)

(3) All closures, including pocket closures, hooks and loops, snaps, zippers, and hooks and dees shall befastened.

(4) All garments and separable barriers shall be placed into a mesh laundry bag for machine cleaning.

(5)

(6) A mild detergent with a pH range of not less than 6.0 pH and not greater than 10.5 pH as indicated onthe product MSDS or original product container shall be used.

(7) All tools and accessories shall be removed and not machine washed.

(8)

(9)

(10) The element shall be inspected and rewashed if necessary.

(11) All tools and accessories shall be removed and not machine dried.

(12)

(13) Cleaning and soaking agents shall not leave any residue or cause any degrading of the ensemble orensemble elements.


Regardless if machines are adjustable or not the maximum g limit should be 100g.


Submitter Full Name: Karen Lehtonen

Organization: Lion Group, Inc.

Street Address:

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Submittal Date: Wed Jan 06 15:03:32 EST 2016

* The machine shall not be overloaded.

* Heavily soiled or spotted areas shall be pretreated. Chlorine bleach, chlorinated solvents, active-ingredient cleaning agents, or solvents shall not be used without the ensemble or ensemble elementmanufacturer’s approval.

* Water temperature shall not exceed 40°C (105°F).

* Washing machines with the capability of drum RPM adjustment shall be adjusted so the g-forcedoes not exceed 100 g for all elements.

* Machine manufacturer’s instructions shall be followed for proper setting or program selection for thespecific element being washed.

* Where the machine is also used to wash items other than protective ensemble elements, it shall berinsed out by running the machine without a laundry load through a complete cycle with detergent andfilled to the maximum level with water at a temperature of 49°C to 52°C (120°F to 125°F).


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Public Input No. 2-NFPA 1855-2015 [ Chapter B ]

Annex B Informational References

B.1 Referenced Publications.

The documents or portions thereof listed in this annex are referenced within the informational sections ofthis standard and are not part of the requirements of this document unless also listed in Chapter 2 for otherreasons.

B.1.1 NFPA Publications.

National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471.

NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, 2013 edition.

NFPA 1521, Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer, 2008 edition.

NFPA 1581, Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program, 2010 edition.

NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents, 2013 edition.

NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting,2013 edition.

NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies, 2005 edition.

NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents, 2012edition.

NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations, 2013 edition.

B.1.2 Other Publications.

B.1.2.1 AATCC Publications.

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC27709-2215.

AATCC 127, Water Resistance: Hydrostatic Pressure Test, 2003 2014 .

B.1.2.2 ANSI Publications.

American National Standards Institute, Inc., 25 West 43rd Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

ANSI/ISEA Z87.1, Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices, 2010 2015 .

B.1.2.3 ASTM Publications.

ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.

ASTM F 1731 F1731 , Standard Practice for Body Measurements and Sizing of Fire and Rescue ServicesUniforms and Other Thermal Hazard Protective Clothing, 1996 (2008) edition , reapproved 2013 .

ASTM F 1930 F1930 , Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Flame Resistant Clothing for ProtectionAgainst Flash Fire Simulations Using an Instrumented Manikin, 2011 2015 .

ASTM STP 1237, Performance of Protective Clothing, 5th Volume, 1996.


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B.1.2.4 EPA Publications.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents,Washington, DC 20402-9325 National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Department ofCommerce, 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, VA 22312 .

EPA SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods (The specific methodscited can be downloaded at http:// www www3 .epa.gov/ epaoswer epawaste / hazwaste hazard/ test/SW846 testmethods/sw846/online/index .htm ): Method 3015a , “Microwave Assisted AcidDigestion of Aqueous Samples and Extracts,” September 1994 revision 1, February 2007 ; Method3540c , “Soxhlet Extraction,” Revision 3, December 1996; Method 6010d , “Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Optical Emission Spectrometry,” Revision 2 4 , December 1996 July 2014 ; and Method 8270d ,“Semivolatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS),” Revision 3 5 ,December 1996 July 2014 .

B.1.2.5 IAFC Publications.

International Association of Fire Chiefs, 4025 Fair Ridge Drive, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22033-2868.

www.iafc.org. LODD Response Plan (downloadable from IAFC website; click on Resources, DownloadDocuments, Health & Safety, Line of Duty Deaths, Investigation).

B.1.2.6 IAFF Publications.

International Association of Fire Fighters, 1750 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20006-5395.

Line of Duty Notification, Assistance, and Investigation Policy, 2010. Available at www.iaff.org/safe/lodd.html.

B.1.2.7 ISO Publications.

International Organization for Standardization, 1, rue de Varembé, Case postale 56, CH-1211 Geneve 20,ISO Central Secretariat, BIBC II, 8, Chemin de Blandonnet, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,Switzerland .

ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems, 1996 edition.(Superseded by ISO/IEC 17065)

ISO 9000, Quality management systems — Fundamentals and vocabulary, 2005 2015 .

ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity Assessment - Requirements for Bodies Certifiying Products,Processes, and Services, 2012.

B.1.2.8 USFA Publications.

U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

Research, Testing, and Analysis on the Decontamination of Fire Fighting Protective Clothing andEquipment.

B.1.2.9 U.S. Government Publications.

U.S. Government Printing Government Publishing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Washington,DC 20402-9325. Phone: 202-512-1800 (www.gpo.gov) 732 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington DC,20401-0001.

Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910.120, “Hazardous Waste Operations and EmergencyResponse,” August 22, 1994 2013 .

B.2 Informational References. (Reserved)

B.3 References for Extracts in Informational Sections. (Reserved)


Referenced current SDO names, addresses, standard names, numbers and editions.




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Public Input No. 1-NFPA 1855-2015[Chapter 2]

Referenced current SDO names, addresses, standard names,numbers and editions.


Submitter Full Name: Aaron Adamczyk

Organization: [ Not Specified ]

Street Address:

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Submittal Date: Wed Jun 17 22:41:52 EDT 2015


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Public Input No. 16-NFPA 1858-2016 [ Global Input ]

Throughout... change the term "Organization" to "AHJ"

Type your content here ...


The term "organization" is not defined other than as the Certifying Organization... yet the term Organization is used throughout the document to seemingly refer to the organization who has purchased or is providing the equipment. Suggest that wherever the term Organization is used in this manner, we change it to AHJ. THis is consistent with the definition of AHJ as already provided inthis document.


Submitter Full Name: Loui McCurley

Organization: PMI Denver

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Submittal Date: Tue Jan 05 13:20:13 EST 2016


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Add new section to identify requirements for life safety rope and equipment inspection


There is a requirement in 6.2.2 that makes reference someone meeting the requirements of the AHJ for equipment inspection... but nowhere does it say that the AHJ must HAVE requirements for inspectors...




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THroughout Chapter 6

Numerous references are made to inspection finding a "defect". Suggest changing the word "defect" to"deficiency" throughout.


The word "defect" is used most accurately to refer to an inherent fault or imperfection. While these are important, what we are really looking for in ongoing inspections are "deficiencies"...which may be due to an inherent defect, or it may be due to damage, wear, degradation over time, contamination, or any number of factors.




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6.2.5.8, 6.2.5.9, 6.2.5.10, 6.2.5.11, 6.2.5.12, 6.2.5.13, 6.2.5.14, 6.2.5.15

Change latter part of sentence in all cases to read "if inspection reveals damage or performancedeficiency due to:"


See 6.2.5.1




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New 8.3

Equipment shall not be modified, repaired, or otherwise altered without explicit authorization fromthe manufacturer.


This isn't yet said anywhere... and it is the most important thing we can say about repair!




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1.1.1

This standard shall specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for life safety rope, escape rope and webbing, water rescue throwlines, moderate elongation laid life saving rope, life safetyharnesses, belts, auxiliary equipment, litters, and victim extrication devices for emergency servicespersonnel and associated equipment that are compliant with NFPA 1983.


Ease of cross reference between 1858 and 1983. Will also minimize errors if, and when, changes are made to categories in 1983



Public Input No. 7-NFPA 1858-2015 [Section No. 1.2.2]


Submitter Full Name: R DOUGLAS STEPHENSON

Organization: CITY OF JOHNS CREEK FIRE DEPT

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Submittal Date: Wed Jul 29 10:49:15 EDT 2015


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1.1.2

This standard shall also specify minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for life safetyrope, escape rope and webbing, water rescue throwlines, moderate elongation laid life saving rope, lifesafety harnesses, belts, auxiliary equipment, litters, and victim extrication devices for emergency servicespersonnel that are compliant with the previous editions of NFPA 1983.


Duplicate text



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1.1.3

This standard shall not specify minimum selection, care and maintenance requirements for anyaccessories that could be attached to the certified product and are not necessary for the certified product tomeet the requirements of this standard.


text affirms the intent of the document








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1.1.4

This standard shall not specify minimum selection, care and maintenance requirements for any utility rope,utility rope accessories or utility hardware .


affirms the intent of this standard







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1.1.5

This standard shall not specify requirements for any rope or associated equipment designed for mountainrescue, cave rescue, lead climbing operations, or where expected hazards and situations dictate otherperformance requirements.


Text is not necessary for this document. The document should stay focused on selection, care and maintenance of 1983 equipment. Furthermore, 1983 items are commonly used in these environments, with many agencies mandating items be 1983 compliant.




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1.1.6

This standard shall not specify requirements for any rope or equipment for fall protection pertaining orco-worker assisted rescue pertaining to employees of general industry or the construction and demolitionindustry.


Equipment for coworker assisted rescue is addressed by ANSI Z359.4




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1.1.6

This standard shall not specify minimum selection, care and maintenance requirements for any rope orequipment for fall protection pertaining to employees of general industry or the construction and demolitionindustry.


affirms intent of the standard







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1.2.2

The purpose of this standard shall also be to establish basic criteria for selection, inspection, cleaning,decontamination, repair, storage, and retirement of life safety rope , escape rope and webbing, waterrescue throwlines, moderate elongation laid life saving rope, life safety harnesses, belts, auxiliaryequipment, litters, and victim extrication devices for emergency services personnel elements andassociated equipment that are compliant to NFPA 1983 .


Ease of cross reference between 1858 and 1983. Will also minimize errors if, and when, changes are made to categories in 1983







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4.4.3

The purchasing organization shall retain and make accessible to organization personnel a end users acopy of manufacturers’ instructions regarding the care, use, and maintenance of the life safety rope andequipment for reference purposes.


Terminology is not clear throughout... the term user, end user, personnel, etx, seem to be used interchangeably. Suggest getting consistent throughout and identifying the organization as a "purchasing organization" or "AHJ" or something like that, and then also clarify that we clarify that "organization personnel" means "end users", "field personnel", or some such (as opposed to office staff and administrators...)




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5.1.2

The organization shall refer to its risk and hazard assessment of the response area to determine the typesof incidents requiring life safety rope and equipment that could be encountered, with respect to :

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4) Level of operational capability that the organization intends to maintain for each type of technicalrescue incidents: awareness, operational, technician

(5) Maximizing response capabilities through cooperation with other response organizations,departments, and/or agencies

(6)

(7)


Fort he safety of the rescuer, departments should be encouraged to think in terms of MOU's and Mutual Aid where the frequency of incident types is too low, and/or where the required training for proficiency for a given type of incident is too high, to warrant maintaining a high enough level of response capability.




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* Type of technical rescue incidentslikely to occur in the response area

Type of technical rescue incidents to which the organization plans to respond

Frequency of each of these types of incidents

* The organization’s established acceptable safety factors for technical rescue operations

* Geographic location and conditions


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5.1.4 *

The organization shall ensure that elements under consideration are certified as being compliant with thecurrent edition of NFPA 1983 and/or other relevant standards .


NFPA does not address all types of equipment, so latitude should be given to allow (indeed, encourage) the response agency to use equipment that meets other appropriate standards. Case in point: NFPA does not have a standard for dynamic rope, but if an agency is responding to an incident where lead climbing is required, they should use a dynamic rope that is certified to appropriate UIAA (or equivalent) standards




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5.1.9

Upon receipt, the organization shall inspect the AHJ shall designate an individual to inspect purchased lifesafety rope and equipment to determine that the products meet the organization’s specifications and werenot damaged during shipment. The organization shall also verify the quantity and sizes of the life safetyrope and equipment received.


An organization can't inspect... this is an individual responsibility.




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5.2.7 *

The total weight to be carried shall be considered since it determines the necessary length , as it isdetermined by length , diameter, and material of the rope.


weight does not determine length, diameter, and material of the rope, it is the other way around!




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5.8.4*

The organization shall select a throwline that will handle perform well during the intended use.


more descriptive wording.


Submitter Full Name: Jack Reall

Organization: Columbus (OH) Division of Fire

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Submittal Date: Thu Jan 07 10:08:07 EST 2016


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5.11.3 *

The organization’s selection of pulleys shall be based on the intended use, and the following criteria shallbe considered.

(1) Efficiency

(2) Single or double

(3) Ratchet

(4) Size Overall dimensions

(5) Sheave width

(6) Sheave Diameter

(7) Strength

(8) Compatibility with tension member (rope)


These important considerations for pulley selection were omitted.




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5.12.3*

The organization shall determine the maximum allowable static load for the belay device.


Not sure if this is applicable due to removal of Procedure B from 1983 MBS testing




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5.13.3*

The organization shall evaluate the performance of end-to-end and multiple configuration straps in themanner of intended use.


Missing from text




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Public Input No. 46-NFPA 1858-2016 [ New Section after 5.15 ]

5.15.3 The organization shall evaluate the system for ease of removal of components.


the removal of components from a system may not be desirable to the organization, so these should be evaluated as part of the selection process.




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Public Input No. 47-NFPA 1858-2016 [ New Section after 5.16 ]

5.16.14 Organization shall evaluate the escape or fire escape system for ease of removal of components.


the removal of components from a system may not be desirable to the organization, so these should be evaluated as part of the selection process.




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6.2.1 *

Life safety rope and equipment shall be inspected periodically according shall periodically undergo athorough inspection, according to the organization’s policy for inspecting for thoroughly inspecting lifesafety rope and equipment. The intent of this inspection is to be more in depth and detailed than thepre-use inspection.


Pre (or even post-)use inspection tends to be quick. In addition to this type of inspection, there should also be a thorough sit-down once or twice a year to look in detail at manufacturing dates, use logs, certification compliance, etc. this is consistent with other industries where life safety rope and equipment is used.




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6.2.2

After each use Before use , life safety rope and equipment shall be inspected by an inspector meeting theorganization’s requirements for inspection of life safety rope and equipment.


Less important to inspect after use than to inspect before! Of course, inspecting after use can also be construed as inspection before the next use... but suggest we put the emphasis on BEFORE use.




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Public Input No. 22-NFPA 1858-2016 [ Section No. 6.2.5.1 ]

6.2.5.1 *

Life safety rope shall be retired from service if any of the following defects is found: if inspection revealsdamage or performance deficiency due to:

(1) Soiling

(2) Contamination

(3) Physical damage

(4) Cuts, chaffing, broken fibers, or soft or hard spots on the sheath

(5) Thermal or chemical damage that can be detected by sight, feel, or smell, such as meltedfibers, glazed surfaces, or discoloration

(6) Any variation in the rope diameter

(7) A history in the rope log of shock load, fall load, or static load in excess of the design load

(8) Excessive age


It is reasonable to expect any piece of equipment in service to have some level of soiling, abrasion, or other evidence of use. This is not in and of itsel reason to retire or repair. The thing that should trigger repair or retirement should be limited to damage that has a negative effect on performance.




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6.2.5.2 *

Escape and fire escape rope shall be retired from service if any of the following defects is found:if inspection reveals damage or performance deficiency due to: :

(1) Soiling

(2) Contamination

(3) Physical damage


(5) Thermal or chemical damage on the sheath, such as melted fibers, glazed surfaces, ordiscoloration


(7) A history in the rope log of shock load, fall load, or static load in excess of the design load

(8) Excessive age


see 6.2.5.1




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6.2.5.3

Life safety harnesses, ladder belts, and escape belts shall be repaired or retired from service if any of thefollowing defects is found: if inspection reveals damage or performance deficiency due to: :

(1) Soiling

(2) Contamination

(3) Physical damage to the webbing components

(4) Cuts, worn or frayed areas, broken fibers, or soft or hard spots

(5) Thermal or chemical damage such as melted fibers, glazed surfaces, or discoloration

(6) Pulled threads, abrasions, or breaks in the stitching

(7) Physical damage to the hardware components

(8) Damage, sharp edges, or missing components

(9) Improper operation

(10) Excessive age


same reasoning as 6.2.5.1




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6.2.5.4

Carabiners and snap links shall be repaired or retired from service if any of the following defects is found:if inspection reveals damage or performance deficiency due to:

(1) Soiling

(2) Contamination

(3) Physical damage

(4) Damage, sharp edges, missing components

(5) Improper operation of the gate or locking mechanism


Same reasoning as 6.2.5.1




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6.2.5.5

End-to-end and multiple-configuration straps shall be repaired or retired from service if any of the followingdefects is found: if inspection reveals damage or performance deficiency due to:

(1) Soiling

(2) Contamination

(3) Physical damage to the webbing components

(4) Cuts, worn or frayed areas, broken fibers, or soft or hard spots

(5) Thermal or chemical damage, such as melted fibers, glazed surfaces, or discoloration

(6) Pulled threads, abrasions, or breaks in the stitching

(7) Physical damage to the hardware components


(9) Improper operation

(10) History of shock load, fall load, or static load in excess of the design load

(11) Excessive age


same reasoning as 6.2.5.1




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6.2.5.6

Rope grabs and ascending devices shall be repaired or retired from service if any of the following defectsis found: if inspection reveals damage or performance deficiency due to:

(1) Soiling

(2) Contamination

(3) Physical damage


(5) Improper operation of the cam or rope gripping component


same as 6.2.1




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6.2.5.7

Throwlines shall be repaired or retired from service if any of the following defects is found: Soilingservicee if inspection reveals damage or performance deficiency due to:

(1) Soiling

(2) Contamination

(3) Physical damage


(5) Thermal or chemical damage to the sheath, such as melted fibers, glazed surface ordiscoloration


(7) History in the rope log of shock load, fall load, or static load in excess of the design load

(8) Excessive age


same as 6.2.5.1




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Public Input No. 48-NFPA 1858-2016 [ New Section after 6.2.5.15 ]

6.2.5.16

Components that arrived as part of the preassembled system have been removed.


evaluation of removed components from the system is a part of the inspection process that should be included.




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Public Input No. 50-NFPA 1858-2016 [ New Section after 7.1.1 ]

7.1.1.1 Organizations should consider manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning of life safety ropeand/or equipment where possible.


Mfr recommendations or procedures should be followed if provided and appropriate.




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7.2.3.2

The cleaning procedure shall be as follows:

(1) Remove as much debris, dirt, and mud as possible at the scene.

(2) Rinse off any excess dirt with a hose.

(3) Soak the rope or webbing for about 30 minutes in a plastic tub of water with nondetergent soapadded.

(4) Rinse the rope or webbing by pulling it through a rope washing rope washing device twice.

(5) Hang the rope or webbing in a cool, shady place to dry.


Add webbing to the cleaning process as it is covered in the title.




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Public Input No. 51-NFPA 1858-2016 [ Section No. 8.1 ]

8.1 Rope and Webbing.

When damage to rope or webbing is detected, the rope or webbing shall be removed from service anddestroyed or relegated to non-life safety duty .


there are other duties that are appropriate for rope that is no longer suitable for life safety. Examples are knot tying and utility work.




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Public Input No. 52-NFPA 1858-2016 [ Section No. 8.2 ]

8.2 Other Equipment.

Equipment other than rope or webbing that appears repairable shall be returned to the manufacturer forrepair when appropriate .


Some components may not be able to be sent back to the manufacturer for repair or the mfr may not do repairs.




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Public Input No. 58-NFPA 1858-2016 [ New Section after A.3.3.20 ]

A3.3.29.1

Design loads are used as a reference load for testing of products. This does not constitue any endorsementon behalf of NFPA that a product can not or should not exceed this load. The designation of a 1 person or 2person load was removed from the standard due to the misconception that items were not to exceed asingle person or two person load, dependant on the items designation. Some items are tested with a 300 lbor 600 lb load, but the test method results in forces beign generated far exceeding the base load. The AHJmust determin the equipment capability based on manufacturer information, the intended use of the productand the team capability in load or force calcualtions.


PlaceholderWe need to address the design load misconception. Certain systems and their components will generate forces in excess of 300 or 600 lbf. One example is a tensioned highline. I feel it is necessary that we address this in the standard as a point of refernece for trainers and decision makers.


Submitter Full Name: R. Douglas Stephenson

Organization: City of Johns Creek Fire

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Public Input No. 32-NFPA 1858-2016 [ Section No. A.3.3.20 ]


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A.3.3.20 Fall Factor.

Fall factors (see Figure A.3.3.20) are calculated by dividing the distance the person attached to the ropewill fall by the length of the rope between the person and the rope anchor or belay. Thus, a 305 mm (1 ft)fall on a 150 mm ( 1⁄2 ft) rope would be a fall factor of 2.0; a 305 mm (1 ft) fall on a 305 mm (1 ft) rope wouldbe a 1.0 fall factor; a 305 mm (1 ft) fall on a 1.12 m (4 ft) rope would be a 0.25 fall factor; and a 305 mm(1 ft) fall on a 12.2 m (40 ft) rope would be a 0.025 fall factor. Note as well that a 7.6 m (25 ft) fall on a30.5 m (100 ft) rope is also a 0.25 fall factor. This formula assumes the fall takes place in free air withoutrope drag across building edges or through intermediate equipment.

Figure A.3.3.20 Fall factors.

When fall factors of greater than 0.25 are anticipated, such as are possible in lead climbing, dynamic ropesspecifically designed for climbing should be considered. Only ropes certified to appropriate climbing ropestandards [e.g., the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) and EuropeanCommunity (CE)] are appropriate for this use. Dynamic climbing ropes should be stored, maintained,inspected, and use-logged in a manner similar to that required for static/low-stretch rope. Such operationsare outside the scope of this document. A fall factor of 0.25 is the maximum considered for NFPA 1983.

Recent testing Research indicates that the formula for calculating fall factors may not translate perfectlyfrom dynamic ropes to the more static design ropes the "fall factor" method of estimating the effects ofa fall on an anchor or a load do not translate equally between dynamic ropes and the static and low stretchtype ropes used for fire service operations rescue operations .


testing is not exactly recent... Attaway first showed this back in the '90's. It has been repeated and confirmed by others since then. Also, it is not the method of calculating that has changed (after all, a factor is a factor, right?) It


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is just that the assumptions are not the same.




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A.3.3.20 Fall Factor.

Fall factors (see Figure A.3.3.20) are calculated by dividing the distance the person attached to the ropewill fall by the length of the rope between the person and the rope anchor or belay. Thus, a 305 mm (1 ft)fall on a 150 mm ( 1⁄2 ft) rope would be a fall factor of 2.0; a 305 mm (1 ft) fall on a 305 mm (1 ft) rope wouldbe a 1.0 fall factor; a 305 mm (1 ft) fall on a 1.12 m (4 ft) rope would be a 0.25 fall factor; and a 305 mm(1 ft) fall on a 12.2 m (40 ft) rope would be a 0.025 fall factor. Note as well that a 7.6 m (25 ft) fall on a30.5 m (100 ft) rope is also a 0.25 fall factor. This formula assumes the fall takes place in free air withoutrope drag across building edges or through intermediate equipment.

Figure A.3.3.20 Fall factors.

When fall factors of greater than 0.25 are anticipated, such as are possible in lead climbing, dynamic ropesspecifically designed for climbing should be considered. Only ropes certified to appropriate climbing ropestandards [e.g., the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) and EuropeanCommunity (CE)] are appropriate for this use. Dynamic climbing ropes should be stored, maintained,inspected, and use-logged in a manner similar to that required for static/low-stretch rope. Such operationsare outside the scope of this document. A fall factor of 0.25 is the maximum considered for NFPA 1983.

Recent testing indicates that the formula for calculating fall factors may not translate perfectly from dynamicropes to the more static design ropes used for fire service operations.

List the formula(s) used in determineing force calculations along with an explanatory figure?

Additional Proposed Changes

File Name Description Approved

Force_Calc.PNG Example figure from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/flobi.html


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Force calculation formulas should be stated as to make the user aware such methods are available and can be used to determine potential loads placed on a rope system.




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Public Input No. 33-NFPA 1858-2016 [ Section No. A.5.1.2(3) ]

A.5.1.2(3)

NFPA 1983 divides life safety rope and equipment into two designations: general use and technical use.Rescue organizations can elect to use either technical use– or general use–labeled equipment based onthe anticipated loads of the incident and ; training/skill level of responders; and the AHJ’s establishedacceptable safety factors. Safety factors are based on the types of What safety factor(s) is deemedappropriate may vary based on the acceptable level of risk, severity of consequence of a potentialfailure, types of technical rescues and the corresponding level of operational capability of the organization.The AHJ should compile and evaluate information on the comparative advantages and disadvantages ofthe life safety rope and equipment under consideration. For example, an organization at the operationallevel performing a simple rescue might require the higher margin of safety that could be gained fromstrengths offered by general-use equipment. A highly trained or specialized organization performing morecomplicated rescues might benefit from the lighter weight of technical-use equipment but, due to the level oftraining, can maintain an acceptable safety factor while increasing the efficiency of its operations.General-use equipment can provide greater durability and possibly an advantage for incidents in which theanticipated system loads are difficult to estimate.


As originally written, this was confusing. Still is, kind of, but I'm trying... :-) Safety factors don't vary depending on type of rescue, they vary depending on loads vs strength of equipment. The question is, what is an acceptable safety factor... and this is the variable that I think the paragraph was trying to get at. Re-wording is an attempt to clarify - and to dispense with the myth that heavier equipment always equals a higher safety factor.




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Public Input No. 54-NFPA 1858-2016 [ Section No. A.5.1.2(3) ]

A.5.1.2(3)

NFPA 1983 divides life safety rope and equipment into two three designations: general General use,Technical use and technical use. Escape. NFPA does not establish or endorse a particular safety factor orratio. Rescue organizations can elect to use either technical use– or general use–labeled equipment basedon the anticipated loads of the incident and the AHJ’s established acceptable safety factors. Safety factorsare based on the types of technical rescues and the corresponding level of operational capability of theorganization. The AHJ should compile and evaluate information on the comparative advantages anddisadvantages of the life safety rope and equipment under consideration. For example, an organization atthe operational level performing a simple rescue might require the higher margin of safety that could begained from general-use equipment. A highly trained or specialized organization performing morecomplicated rescues might benefit from the lighter weight of technical-use equipment but, due to the level oftraining, can maintain an acceptable safety factor while increasing the efficiency of its operations.General-use equipment can provide greater durability and possibly an advantage for incidents in which theanticipated system loads are difficult to estimate.


There are three designations in 1983 for equipment ratings. Not sure if we should list escape here. The 15:1, 10:1 safety factor has been misinterprited for decades. Lets be clear that our standards do not endorse a particular ratio.




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A.5.1.4

NFPA DOES NOT CERTIFY PRODUCTS. Third party certification is required to show that a item orproduct is compliant to the applicable NFPA standard.

From time to time, NFPA receives complaints that certain items of fire and emergency services protectiveclothing or protective equipment could be carrying labels falsely identifying them as compliant with an NFPAstandard. The requirement for placing the certification organization's mark on or next to the product label isto help ensure that the purchaser can readily determine compliance of the respective product throughindependent third-party certification.

NFPA advises those purchasing life safety rope or equipment to be aware that for life safety rope orequipment items to meet the requirements of NFPA 1983, they must be certified by an independentthird-party certification organization. In addition, the item must carry the label, symbol, or other identifyingmark of that certification organization.

A life safety rope or equipment item that does not bear the mark of an independent third-partycertification organization is not compliant with NFPA 1983, even if the product label states that theitem is compliant.

For further information about certification and product labeling, see Chapters 4 and 5 of NFPA 1983. Also,the definitions for certification organization, certified, labeled, and listed in Chapter 3 of this standardshould be reviewed.

Third-party certification is an important means of ensuring the quality of emergency services protectiveclothing and equipment. To be certain that an item is properly certified, labeled, and listed, NFPArecommends that prospective purchasers require appropriate evidence of certification for the specificproduct and model from the manufacturer before purchasing. Prospective purchasers should also contactthe certification organizations and request copies of the certification organization's list of products certifiedto the appropriate NFPA standard. Such a “listing” is a requirement of third-party certification by thisstandard and is a service performed by the certification organization.

All NFPA standards on fire and emergency services protective clothing and equipment require that the itembe certified by an independent third-party certification organization, and all items of fire and emergencyservices protective clothing and equipment must carry the label, symbol, or other identifying mark of thatcertification organization.

Any item of protective clothing or protective equipment covered by an NFPA standard that does notbear the mark of an independent third-party certification organization is not compliant with theappropriate NFPA standard, even if the product label states that the item is compliant.


I want to make sure we actually say that somewhere in the standard. Many users believe that NFPA certifies products.




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A.5.2.1

Typically the intended application of life safety rope is for protection of a person from fall or for actualaccess to or from height. While design for these applications might seem to be close, specific choices of lifesafety rope should be made for specific applications. Choices that the AHJ might make include but are notlimited to material, construction, elongation, strength, diameter, weight, hand, color, and length. Forexample, a fall protection dynamic rope that has the ability to absorb energy safely might be moreimportant than other qualities for protecting someone at risk of falling from height, while in a rope loweringor raising operation, a less elastic rope might be a better operational efficiency choice.


The example given was kind of non-sequitur... reference to "fall protection rope" is ambiguous (isn't all rope fall protection rope??) in that fall protection systems by definition typically rely more on the system than the rope for force absorption. Using the term "dynamic" puts the discussion more into context with the remainder of the sentence, which refers to elongation in a rope.




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A.5.2.3


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Rope construction is the method of assembling the yarn bundles into ropes. Different assembly types havevarious properties, making some constructions better than others for a particular application.NFPA 1983does not specify any one particular rope construction type or material but provides performancerequirements for a certified rope. Typical constructions found in emergency services are laid rope, doublebraid, and kernmantle (see Figure A.5.2.3)

Figure A.5.2.3 Typical emergency services rope constructions.

Rememove DOUBLE ROPE Terminology... should say DOUBLE BRAID. (Also, picture iswrong...the picture of the double braid should look like a braided rope coming out of a braided

rope. And, the picture of kernmantle has too much twist.

Braid. A rope or textile structure formed by a braiding process. [CI 1202, used with permission]

There are many subcategories of braids, each having its own advantages and disadvantages for use inrescue.

Braid Pattern. A description of the manner in which the strands of a braided rope are intertwined. A plain(diamond) pattern is when one strand (or multiple strand) of one direction of rotation about the axis passesover one strand in the opposite direction and it in turn passes under the next strand of the oppositedirection. A twill pattern is when one strand (or multiple strand) of one direction of rotation about the axispasses over two strands of the opposite direction and it in turn passes under the next two strands of theopposite direction. [CI 1202, used with permission]

The diamond braid pattern is more common in life safety rope applications, but either pattern is permittedby NFPA 1983.

Hollow Braid. A single braided rope having a hollow center consisting of multiple strands which may bebraided in a plain or twill pattern. A 12-strand braid is commonly used. [CI 1202, used with permission]

Hollow braids are the simplest of all braids to make. Their low strength compared to other constructions andsoft hand make them seldom used in life safety rope applications, but they are found in utility fire serviceapplications such as ladder halyards. Hollow braids lack the protective feature of a load-bearing coreprotected by an outer braid.

Double Braid. A rope constructed from an inner hollow braided rope (core) surrounded by another hollowbraided rope (cover). Also called Braid-on-Braid, 2 in 1 Braid. [CI 1202, used with permission]

Double braids were popular with some fire rescue operations in the past. Their typical easy hand runs wellin rigging gear such as pulley systems. Because the generally looser construction is easier to snag andabrade on rough surfaces, the double braids are no longer a selected as a life safety rope for fire ground orremote rescue operations.

Solid Braid. A cylindrical braid in which each strand alternately passes under and over one or more of the


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other strands of the rope while all strands are rotating around the axis with the same direction of rotation.On the surface, all strands appear to be parallel to the axis. [CI 1202, used with permission]

Solid braid is one of the more economical methods of manufacturing ropes, and many utility ropes insmaller diameters can be found in this construction style. They are often seen in water rescue ropes andhardware store general-duty small ropes.

Laid. Ropes made by twisting of three or more strands together with the twist direction opposite that of thestrands. [CI 1202, used with permission]

Laid ropes are probably one of the earliest tools known. First made of natural plant fibers such as grass,they are now available in modern fibers like nylon and polyester. It is important to note any wear on theoutside fibers because they are all twisted together without an independent inside core, unlike kernmantleand double braid constructions. Laid ropes are higher elongation than many other construction types.Elongation provides energy absorption in a fall but also makes for more work in haul and lower systemsdue to the same stretch. The built-in twist in laid ropes can also be a management problem for the user infire rescue operations.

Kernmantle. A rope design consisting of two elements: an interior core (kern) and an outer sheath(mantle). The core supports the major portion of the load; and may be of parallel strands, braided strands orbraided. The sheath serves primarily to protect the core and also supports a portion of the load. There arethree types: static, low stretch and dynamic. [CI 1202, used with permission]

Typical rescue kernmantle construction is a braided sheath over a continuous parallel core. This designprovides relatively low elongation due to the parallel core strands and excellent protection of the core fibersfrom the covering sheath. Various models are available with thicker or thinner sheaths, tighter or loosersheaths, and low or high twist parallel core strands. Additionally, many different choices of materials andblends of materials are available. Most life safety ropes today are of kernmantle construction.


Double Rope is a term used to denote use of two separate ropes, side by each. What the picture should be showing is double BRAID, which is a braid-on-braid. In fact, shouldn't the picture show ALL of the types of ropes described??




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A.5.2.4

Elongation is the ratio of the extension of a rope, under an applied load, to the length of the rope prior to theapplication of the load expressed as a percentage. Rope increases in length as the load on the ropeincreases. [CI 1202, used with permission]

A rope’s ability to elongate is important in that elongation can be a critical part of reducing the impact forceson the user and the system in a fall. Fall factors are a means of describing the relationship of the length of afall to the amount (length) of rope available to absorb the fall’s energy. Should a user fall from his or herposition, rope anchored high above the user will provide a much lower fall factor than a rope of the samelength anchored below the user.

NFPA 1983 requires manufacturers to provide users with the elongation of certified ropes at 1.35 kN (300lbf), 2.7 kN (600 lbf), and 4.4 kN (1000 lbf). This information can provide a good comparison between onerope and another as to their elongation to load curves for typical working loads. The more a rope elongates,the more energy it will absorb in a fall. Too much elongation can cause problems such as rope bouncewhen lowering, excess resets in haul systems, and loss of control in mid-face loading in a pick-off rescue.Typical fire-rescue applications choose ropes classified by the Cordage Institute as either static or lowstretch.

Static Rope. A rope with a maximum elongation of 6% at 10% of its minimum breaking strength. [CI 1202,used with permission]

Static life safety rope is usually selected when rope stretch will be a problem. This can occur with high lines,guiding lines, long rappels, or rope systems with a long length of rope involved. Static ropes allow a moreefficient mechanical advantage haul system because less stretch must be removed from the rope aftereach reset of the system.

Low Stretch Rope. A rope with an elongation greater than 6% and less than 10% at 10% of its minimumbreaking strength. [CI 1202, used with permission]

Low stretch life safety rope provides a balance between not too much stretch during use and someelongation to absorb energy should a shock load occur to the system. There is always a trade-off inarresting a falling rescuer or litter — the less distance the fall, the higher the impact force but also the lesschance of hitting something on the way down.

Moderate Stretch Rope. A rope with elongation greater than 10% and less than 25% of the rope’sminimum breaking strength. [CI 1805, used with permission]

Moderate stretch rope is not classified as life safety rope according to NFPA 1983 because of the greateramount of elongation. Moderate stretch rope is classified as a special-use rope defined by NFPA 1983 asmoderate elongation life saving rope. The greater elongation allows for a lower impact force, but there ismore movement when the rope is loaded.

High Stretch Rope. A rope with an elongation greater than 25% at 10% of the MBS. [CI 1805, used withpermission]

High stretch Dynamic rope is very high elongation rope compared to static and low stretch ropes.Requirements for this rope are based on the UIAA climbing rope standard for mountaineers and aretypically outside the scope of NFPA 1983. Dynamic ropes are used to lower the impact load on a climber’sbody, the anchors, and the equipment in a roped fall. One use in the fire service is for belaying a rescuerapproaching a person who is threatening suicide by jumping from a height.


High stretch ropes are not addressed by UIAA... Dynamic ropes are. This seems to have been a typo from the previous line.



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A.5.2.6

For NFPA 1983, the actual diameter of a certified rope is determined according to Section 9.1 of CI 1801,Low Stretch and Static Kernmantle Life Safety Rope, and then rounding to the nearest 0.5 mm (1/64 in.).

Equipment such as pulleys, ascenders, and descent control devices often work correctly only whenmatched with the correct diameter rope. In some combinations, a very small difference in rope diameterswill change the performance of the other devices. The organization must take care to make sure the ropespurchased match the other devices in service or expected to be purchased in the future.

Larger diameter ropes are easier to grip by hand , but they also are heavier.


clarification, given that modern equipment technology has rendered hand grip not nearly as essential as it was back in the day of Georgia Hauls...




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A.5.2.7

The weight per unit length of a rope is a good is one indicator of the amount of material used to produce arope when comparing one rope construction to another. Generally speaking, a rope with a higher per meterweight will be stronger than a rope weighing less per meter when both are made from the same material.However, care should be taken with such an assumption because rope may also be "weighted" by othermaterial.

Consideration needs to be given to the length and the diameter of a rope and the weight of a given ropelength for deployment and transportation to the site. Bigger is not necessarily better if a rope has to becarried long distances and an adequate safety factor could be provided with a smaller diameter rope.


Commodity rope test methods sometimes do not actually test MBS but instead make assumptions about strength based on weight per unit length. This has been known to be a problem when less than scrupulous manufacturers have "stuffed" material (such as paper) into the core of a rope's construction for the sole purpose of cheaply making it heavier.




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A.5.4.2

NFPA 1983 provides for two types of attachment points: load bearing and positioning. A load bearingattachment point is designed for a higher static load and for an impact load. A positioning attachment pointis intended only to support the user’s weight while the user is sitting in the harness or for travel restraint toprevent the user from reaching a location where a fall could occur.

Load Bearing Attachment Points are usually at the front waist and the sternal and dorsal locations. Thefront waist attachment point is the most common on life safety harnesses and provides the most usefulattachment location for descents and for working in the harness. This attachment point allows the user to sitin the harness and allows maximum mobility for operations such as pick-offs and litter tending.

Because the sternal attachment point is above the user’s center of gravity, it holds the user in a moreupright position while transferring the load to the waist and leg straps of the harness. A sternal attachmentpoint would be selected if a more upright position is required, such as for entry into a narrow space orhelicopter hoist operations. The sternal point is also used for limited fall arrest, allowing the user to bestopped in a more upright position and facing the life safety rope.

The dorsal attachment point is used for fall arrest system attachment in an industrial-type work situationwhere space below the user is provided for the arrest.

Positioning attachment points are usually at the side, shoulder, or rear waist. Side attachment points wouldbe selected if the wearer will be leaning back into the harness while attached to a structure. They provide amore stable position than a single attachment point at the front waist.

A Class 3 harness with shoulder attachment points would be selected when there is a requirement to lift theuser in linear body position for movement through a narrow space.

The rear waist attachment point is used for travel restraint to prevent a fall when the user is working near anedge.

need to put in there somewhere that tells the NFPA guys that they are not exempt from followingapplicable OSHA requirements in there area.

Such as if you are in an elevated platform you should wear a class III harness and be attached with ashock absorbing lanyard… etc


Additional explanatory material regarding harnesses.




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A.5.6.2

Carabiner gates have several different methods of preventing the carabiner from accidently opening duringuse.

The simplest design does not have a locking system and is usually referred to as a nonlocking carabiner.While having a long history of use for life support in the recreational field, nonlocking carabiners are notconsidered adequate for industrial or fire service use. See 6.5.5 of NFPA 1983.

Manual lock designs require a physical movement to activate the locking mechanism, which can be either asleeve that screws the gate over the nose or a sleeve that, once activated, snaps into place. A physicalmovement is required to move the sleeve down to unlock the carabiner. Common names for this type ofcarabiner lock design include screw gate and manual lock.

An automatic locking gate is designed so that when the gate closes, a spring moves the sleeve up the gateand over the nose. Two or three physical movements are required to unlock the gate. This type of carabineris usually referred to as auto-locking.

Auto-locking carabiners might be preferred for life safety use because the user does not have to rememberto activate the gate-locking mechanism. Manual-lock carabiners have the advantage of easier removal fromtheir storage location because they do not need to be unlocked first. Before relying on the carabiner for lifesupport, the user must verify for both types that they are locked; while the gate might close automatically onthe auto-locking model, if webbing or clothing blocks the gate from closing, the carabiner will be unlockedand could even remain open.

Some jurisidictions and activities require the use of ANSI rated connectors, which have additional design,strength and rating requirements. The AHJ needs to determin if all applicable regulatory requirements havebeen addressed while conducting a safety analysis for both incident and training environments.


Addresses the use of ANSI connectors, especially in the training envioroment and calls to attention that such requirements may apply depending on the jurisdiction and nature of the task.




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Public Input No. 59-NFPA 1858-2016 [ New Section after A.6.2.1 ]

A6.1.2

The seriousness of contamination should be determined by identifying the contaminated material, chemicalor pathogen and referencing the manufaturers information for the product. Direct consultation with themanufaturer may be necessary where information may be vauge or nonexistant. Materials that are soiledwith mud or dirt may only require general cleaning with a specified detergent and water. Somecontaminates, such as blood or chemicals, may require a more aggressive process and special handlingand care. Consultation of the manufacturer is warrented in cases where the AHJ is unsure of the properprocedure. In addition, proper drying and inspection is also required prior to returning any item to service.


Addresses the issue with determining contamination and a need to seek expert assitance in cases where the user may not have the proper information.




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TECHNICAL COMMITTEE on Special Operations Clothing and ...

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