the actual article from Fire Rescue Magazine

PHOTO GLEN ELLMAN
Figure 1: Ensuring your
ground ladders are stored
correctly, free of vibration
and exposure to the elements, is key in ensuring
they’re safe to use on the
fireground.
n the November 2006 issue of FireRescue, (“Easy
Access,” p. 48) Captain Peter Kertzie from the Buffalo
(N.Y.) Fire Department discussed ground ladder storage
and use. I’ve tested ladders for more than 15 years, and I
can attest to the validity of Kertzie’s statements. In this article, I’ll provide some additional information I’ve learned during my years of testing and inspecting ground ladders and
more than 30 years of fire service experience. This information affects how you maintain and store your ladders, as well
as how you write specifications for a new apparatus.
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Step Up
When you’re checking your apparatus, it’s not
moving. Grab the ladders & see if they shake
around easily. If they do, your ladders will be
prone to road vibration damage.
FIRST THOUGHTS
PHOTO STEVE SPEER
Before you can properly address ladder storage and
maintenance, you must first decide how many and
what size ladders you need. The process is fairly simple:
1. Travel through your response area and identify locations that are difficult or impossible
for an aerial apparatus to reach.
2. Ask yourself: How much time would it take
for the aerial to arrive and set up where it can
operate? What obstructions might impede the
aerial (terrain, overhangs, trees, wires, etc.)?
3. Develop strategy scenarios to handle those
situations.
4. Decide what ground ladders you would need
to reach those locations.
Make sure you know what you should have, not
what you’ve “gotten away with” so far. Kertzie mentioned a truck manufacturer who thought the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and
the Insurance Services Office (ISO®) should do
away with ground ladder requirements because
modern aerial equipment makes ground ladders
almost obsolete. I think this person should go watch
their trucks in action. There’s more than one side to
a building, and you can’t always set up where you’d
like. In addition, a crew can get people down a
ground ladder faster than they can set up an aerial to
reach them. An informal survey I conducted at a
Figure 2: Ground ladders can be stored vertically (left) or horizontally (right).
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conference in New York showed more people were
saved by ground ladders than aerial apparatus.
Once you know how many and what kinds of
ground ladders you’ll need, you must decide
between internal and external storage.
Point 1
3' Top Bracket
Point 3
INTERNAL LADDER STORAGE
Horizontal vs. Vertical Storage
Internal storage is either horizontal or vertical; each
offers pros and cons.
Horizontal storage pros: Horizontal storage causes
much less storage damage. In Figure 2 (p. 70), each
horizontally stored ladder is in its own rack and the
ladder beams are supported the complete length of
the ladder. Ladders stored horizontally have less of a
tendency to become deformed because of the way
they are designed. They are stronger horizontally.
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PHOTO STEVE SPEER
In 15 years of examining internal ladder storage, I’ve
found several areas where apparatus manufacturers
could make a few relatively minor changes that
would make a world of difference when it comes to
vibration damage and other problems. Requesting
these changes during the apparatus specification
process can help you avoid headaches after it’s built.
But even if you’re not ready to spec a new apparatus,
you can use this information to review your current
storage and make changes to reduce ladder damage.
Point 2
Hydraulic Line
Figure 3: Ladders stored internally in a vertical position. Note three points regarding damage: 1) Some
manufacturers only run their top brackets about 3 feet long, as shown in the top left of the picture. Most
of the top ladder rail is therefore unsupported; as the apparatus travels over bumps and rough roads, the
ladders shift around and become damaged. 2) Notice the hydraulic line against the second fly on the
extension ladder. Again, not only is it rubbing the ladder, it’s also rubbing the hose. In this case, the ladder was wedged in and had to be freed before we could test it. 3) The 3-foot-long top supports on the two
extension ladders are barely touching the upper beams. If the hose wasn’t supporting them, they might
fall over. Remember: Duo-Safety and Alco-Lite ladders have different widths. One size doesn’t fit all.
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Step Up
Figure 4: This ladder
shows the effects of damage from loading and
unloading, which affects
the side of beams as well
as labels. If labels
become unreadable, it
could cause a major
problem. Remember: If
ladders are not supported
the entire time during
loading and unloading,
and are allowed to drop
halfway out, a greater
potential exists for them
to become deformed.
Horizontal storage cons: Stacked ladders tend to
damage each other from road vibration. Again,
when using horizontal storage, keep each ladder in
its own rack.
Vertical storage pros: It’s easier to load and unload
ladders vertically, especially if you’ve got limited personnel. When ladders are stored horizontally, the
person closest to the truck must stretch across the
ladder width to keep it from tipping as the ladder
clears the rear of the bracket.
Vertical storage cons: Vertical storage increases
ladder damage from road vibration and increases
damage caused during loading and unloading (see
Figures 3, p. 71, and 4).
Figure 5: Internal storage often opens in the
front, in this case around
the pump enclosure. Rain,
road debris, salt and dirt
end up swirling down
through the ladder box,
resulting in additional
damage to the ladders.
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PHOTOS STEVE SPEER
Closed or Open?
In addition to vertical or horizontal storage, you
must consider whether you will store ladders in a
closed or open space on the apparatus. Figure 5
shows internal storage that opens in the front, in this
case around the pump enclosure. Rain, road debris,
salt and dirt end up swirling down through the ladder box. The result: The ladders become wet and
dirty without ever coming off the truck. You regularly clean the outside of the apparatus, but very few
times does the inside of the ladder compartment get
much attention.
Enclosed ladder storage generally is better for
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PHOTO STEVE SPEER
A Note on Length
If your ladders come off the back of the apparatus,
ensure that other arriving apparatus leave enough
room behind your rig to remove the longest ladders. A
closed 35', three-section ladder is about 15 feet long; a
closed 35', two-section ladder is 20 feet long. By the
way, if you’re trying to decide between a truss ladder
and a solid beam ladder, consider this: Truss ladders
weigh more and take up more room because the
beams are taller. If you’re trying to gain that muchneeded space, solid beam ladders take up less room.
Figure 6: Externally mounted
ladders become deformed
because they are not properly
supported. In this picture, note
the two rungs from the front
bracket to the tip at the front of
the pumper. At the rear of the
pumper, there are five rungs from
the rear bracket to the butt end
of the ladder. The extra weight on
the rear tends to cause the deformity problem to increase.
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reducing damage, but it can cause a problem if you
put ladders away wet and dirty, close the door and
forget to think about them when you return to quarters. In our experience, just as many (or more) problems result from corrosion and parts sticking due to
internal storage as with mounted ladders.
In addition, when ladders protrude into the pump
enclosure, they’re often damaged where they rub on
valves, control arms and hoses. Also, be sure no sharp
steel objects are located or stored where the rear box
and the pump enclosure meet, because this can cause
significant damage to ladder beams from road vibration. Remember: When you’re checking your apparatus,
it’s not moving. Grab the ladders and see if they shake
around easily. If they do, you’ll have road vibration
damage. Make sure the manufacturer corrects this.
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All in Favor?
I’m not against internal storage. However, if you
choose internal storage, you must address the above
issues. Don’t maintain the mindset that if your ladders are stored internally, all your problems are over.
Ladders must be maintained no matter where you
place them on the truck.
EXTERNAL LADDER STORAGE
The most common problem with ground ladder storage, whether it’s internal or external storage, is road
vibration. Each time you respond to an alarm, conduct driver training or move the apparatus, you create
the potential to further damage ground ladders. In
my travels, I often hear people say, “Those ladders
haven’t been off that truck three times since you were
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here last year.” The problem: The ladders are damaged without even being removed from the apparatus.
There are three points of interest to watch for in
external storage: 1) ground ladder deformity; 2)
rung damage & ladders stored on ladders; and 3)
ladder lock damage.
Don’t maintain the mindset that if your ladders
are stored internally, all your problems are over.
Ladders must be maintained no matter where you
place them on the truck.
Rung Damage & Ladders Stored on Ladders
Figure 7 shows the most frequent problem of ladder
storage: severe damage to the rungs of an extension
ladder, caused by beams of the roof ladder rubbing
against them while the apparatus is in motion.
Whether the ladders are stored internally or externally, horizontally or vertically, when they’re stored in
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Deformity
Externally mounted ladders become deformed
because they’re not properly supported, and the risk
of deformity increases with longer ladders. In Figure
6 (p. 74), note that on the front of the pumper, there
are two rungs from the front bracket to the tip. At the
rear of the pumper, there are five rungs from the rear
bracket to the butt end of the ladder. Many departments do this so the ladders do not interfere with the
crosslays. But the extra weight on the rear tends to
increase deformity. If you have crosslays and externally mounted ladders, make sure the support for the
ladders is evenly spaced and the brackets are padded.
Figure 7: The rungs on this extension ladder are severely damaged from the beams of the roof ladder rubbing against them while the apparatus is in motion.
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Step Up
Each time you respond to an alarm, conduct driver
training or move the apparatus, you create the
potential to further damage ground ladders.
direct contact with other ladders, the potential for
road vibration exists. This is caused by insufficient
spring pressure in the latches that hold the ladders
on the truck and insufficient protection between the
roof and extension ladders. If during your next truck
check, you notice you have this problem, prevent
the situation from getting worse by either tightening
the latch springs or placing protection on the extension ladder rungs (be sure not to interfere with the
extension ladder locks). If you allow this to continue, it could cost you a new ladder.
Remember: If you can walk up to the apparatus
and shake the ladders easily, you’re either already
experiencing or will experience this problem.
Figure 8: It’s not
uncommon to see a
ground ladder’s lock
assembly resting on the
ladder brackets. As a
result, the lock assembly becomes damaged.
PHOTO STEVE SPEER
Ladder Lock Damage
Figure 8 shows a ground ladder’s lock assembly resting
on the ladder brackets, a common scenario. As a result,
the lock assembly becomes damaged. At a fire scene,
this could cost you precious time, especially at night,
when it’s hard to see what’s not working properly.
In addition, check your truck brackets to ensure
they’re not causing additional damage. In this case, the
halyard and the cable are rubbing against the bracket.
HYDRAULIC LIFTS
Hydraulic lifts do the job when you’re trying to buy
some of that much-needed room for compartment
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The most frequent problem we find with external
storage: severe damage to the rungs of an extension
ladder, caused by beams of the roof ladder rubbing
against them while the apparatus is in motion.
Figure 9: Hydraulic lifts
either store the ladders on
the side or, as pictured
here, on top of the truck,
bringing them down to the
side. With this type of
setup, the roof ladder usually rides on top of the
extension ladder, creating
the potential for road vibration damage.
PHOTO STEVE SPEER
space. Without a hydraulic lift, some apparatus
require a ladder to get the ladders off the truck!
There are two types of hydraulic lifts. The first
type stores the ladders on the side and lowers them
within reach. The second type, pictured in Figure 9,
stores the ladders on top of the truck, bringing them
down to the side. With this type of setup, the roof
ladder usually rides on top of the extension ladder,
creating the potential for road vibration damage.
Along with the time it takes for the unit to lower,
remember that when the ladders are lowered, they
extend out about 5 feet off the side of the apparatus
(the length of the arm). When you’re pulling up to
the scene, you must account for that distance with
regard to parked cars, poles, trees, mailboxes, etc., in
positioning your apparatus. Where you stop could
make a difference between a rescue and a recovery.
IN YOUR HANDS
What happens to ground ladders after they leave the
manufacturer is in the hands of the fire department.
How ladders are mounted on the apparatus and how
they’re maintained are on your shoulders. However
you choose to mount ground ladders on your apparatus, make sure the apparatus manufacturer does a
good job of securing and padding them so they’re
not damaged while they’re riding along with you.
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Steve Speer is president of Fire Service Safety Testing, a company that
inspects, tests and services ground ladders. Speer has more than 30 years
of experience as a firefighter. He’s a retired lieutenant from the Ridge Road
Fire District in Rochester, N.Y., a past chief of the Hilton (N.Y.) Fire
Department and a former member of the Board of Fire Commissioners for
the Hilton-Parma Fire District. Speer is currently a member of the NFPA’s
Ground Ladder Testing Committee.
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