GROUND LADDER SELECTION
TRAINING NOTEBOOK
GROUND LADDERS have three primary functions: They provide a means of escape for occupants, provide access for firefighters, and provide a means of emergency egress for firefighters who become trapped by deteriorating interior conditions. Considering these three important and usually urgent functions, selecting and placing ground ladders should be a task that firefighters can complete in a minimum amount of time.
That’s not always the case. We’ve all encountered the frustrating problem of selecting and placing a ground ladder only to find that it’s too short or too long for operation and therefore unusable. The IFSTA Ground Ladder Practices manual says that to select a ladder, firefighters should assume that the average number of feet per floor can be recognized by the type of occupancy. It says, for example, that a residential story will average eight to 10 feet and the height of the windowsill is three feet; a commercial story will average 12 feet per floor and the windowsill height four feet. In most cases, these averages are representative of actual construction. The firefighter is encouraged to count the floors, multiply by the number of feet per floor, then add 3 or 4 feet depending on the final objective. The resulting sum will indicate the length that the ground ladder must reach so he can make the proper selection.
That’s well and good, but using these figures during fireground operations— when a lot is happening all at once—is something else. Although the math is not difficult, most firefighters don’t or can’t take the time to complete the process, much less the steps necessary to determine the hypotenuse of a right triangle that they will create in placing a ladder. Many times firefighters select ladders based on their own experiences, or they “guesstimate” the needed length. Guessing becomes problematic because they lose precious time if the selected ladder is too short and they have to abandon it.
THE NUMBER SELECTION SYSTEM
Recently I have been teaching a quick and simple ladder selection method to firefighters and company officers, and I’ve used it myself as a company officer for several years. It is easy to remember and has proven effective for operations at residential, commercial, and industrial occupancies. An important advantage of this method is its simplicity: Remembering one simple rule of thumb—the number selection system—will satisfy most ladder length needs.
To select a ground ladder, count the number of stories the ladder must reach. The number will give you the first digit of the portable extension ladder that’s needed. For example, to select a ladder for entering a secondstory window, count the stories as two; thus you will need an extension ladder whose total length is rated between 20 and 29 feet, usually a 24or 28-foot extension ladder. Use the same method to select a ladder to the third-story window for access. Counting the stories, three will correspond to a rated ladder length of between 30 and 39 feet, usually a 35-foot extension ladder.
When using the number selection method, remember that the roof edge is counted as an additional story. To select a ground ladder to access the roof of a two-story building, count the roof as the third story. Three, then, is the key number: A ladder length of between 30 and 39 feet is needed; a 35-foot extension ladder will reach effectively in this case.
It’s important to provide a sufficient number of firefighters to carry and raise ground ladders safely. The number selection system also tells you the minimum number of personnel needed. The first digit of the ladder length is the minimum number of firefighters needed. One firefighter can carry and raise a 12or 14-foot ladder; two firefighters should carry and raise a 24or 28-foot ladder; three are necessary for the 35foot; and four at minimum for the larger, three-section extension or bangor ladders.
You really shouldn’t have to make a chancy guess that the ladder you take from the truck will be the proper size for effective operations. With a little practical training and some simple tips to make the task less confusing, you can select the right ladder length.
