CMC Rescue - Rope Users Guide and Technical Reports

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Return to previous product. Rope Users Guide Stretch in Rescue Rope How Strong is Rope? What Makes a Good Rescue Rope? About Rope Size Rope - Technical Reports
For convenient viewing and printing the following reports are provided as .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) files.

Rope Life: When to Retire Your Rescue Lifeline Decontaminating Rope and Web Product Strength Ratings Carbon Monoxide and Rescue Lifeline Washing Rope Rescue Equipment Stretch in Rescue Rope For many years, the terms static was used to describe the low-stretch characteristics of rescue rope, as compared to the more elastic rope used by rock climbers. Climbers need a dynamic rope to stretch and absorb the energy of a fall. Rescuers found this stretch to be a problem when starting a rappel or stretcher system, or when they needed to pull the stretch out of a rope each time a raising system was reset. Because nylon, kernmantle rescue ropes do have some stretch, it was decided that a more descriptive way to describe them would be low-stretch. As the industry adopted the new terminology, the Cordage Institute released Standard CI 1801-98 which defined both static and low-stretch life safety ropes. Static is defined as rope with a maximum elongation of less than 6% at a load of 10% of the rope's minumum breaking strength. Low-Stretch is defined as a rope with an elongation greater than 6% and less than 10% at a load of 10% of the rope's minimum breaking strength. With the introduction of 100% polyester ropes, a new category of static has been created. These ropes have much less stretch than static nylon kernmantle or nylon
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CMC Rescue - Rope Users Guide and Technical Reports

core/polyester sheath kermantle ropes. Ropes with very, very little stretch have applications in high-lines and other specialized rigging situations where even a small amount of stretch reduces efficiency. Experienced riggers using these ropes know they have reduced ability to handle shock loads, and plan their rope systems accordingly. So which rope do you need? In most applications, static kernmantle rope or lowstretch kernmantle rope provides the best compromise between minimum stretch and the ability to absorb energy. If your system needs additional energy absorption, as in a belay line, a low-stretch kernmantle may meet your needs. If your highline has too much sag, or if you have a lot of rope out and stretch becomes a problem, used properly, the 100% polyester ropes may be your solution. back to top How Strong is Rope? While rope manufacturers generally used one method for strength testing, the way in which they reported results often varied. This changed when the 1985 edition of NFPA Standard 1983 specified that all manufacturers should report the minimum breaking strength (MBS) of their ropes. The 1995 edition further required that MBS be determined by a 3 sigma calculation, using the mean result of five test samples less three standard deviations. Statistically, this creates a confidence level of 99.87% that any sample of rope will be stronger than the reported minimum breaking strength. When comparing lifelines or other rescue products by strength, be sure you are looking at the same reporting method. A manufacturer may report the NFPA MBS requirement; a MBS based on a 3-sigma calculation; or some other number. To help clarify this information, CMC Rescue uses the appropriate symbol in the catalog wherever a 3 sigma MBS is reported. back to top What Makes a Good Rescue Rope? A good rescue rope is a balance between opposing characteristics. It should be soft enough for easy handling and knotting, but stiff enough for high abrasion resistance and ease of untying knots. There should be enough stretch for the rope to give with loads, yet it should be static enough for efficient hauling and safe rappels. Guided by our experience, weve designed CMC Rescue Lifelines to be block creel kernmantle ropes with just the right balance of characteristics. Kernmantle has become the most popular type of construction for rescue ropes. It provides a heavy sheath over a parallel fiber core for maximum strength and abrasion resistance. Block creel means that a continuous strand of fiber runs the entire length of the ropes core. While this type of construction may make a rope more expensive, there is no doubt that it

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CMC Rescue - Rope Users Guide and Technical Reports

provides a higher quality rope. CMC Rescue Lifeline has been designed to be the best general purpose rescue rope available today. Developed by rope users for rope users, it is a high performance rope you can depend on when your life is on the line. The CMC Rescue School is a real-life test lab for rescue equipment. During a 5-day class, we can put a years worth of normal wear on a rescue rope. We quickly learn which ropes will perform well, and which are difficult to work with or wear out quickly. Our instructors - all rescuers themselves - gather further input from students who are experienced rescuers. All this information allows CMC to determine the best balance between the competing parameters of elongation, abrasion resistance, handling, strength, and weight. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to put a lot of heavy use on every brand and type of rope on the market. Each year we inspect, wash, and wear out more rope than anyone else we know. We work in the field with rope users from every type of rescue organization or rope access business and learn about their rope application needs. We use this field experience to develop leading products like CMC Rescue Lifeline, so that you will have a rope that you can depend on during your rescue or work. back to top About Rope Size While the Cordage Institute has standard procedures for determining the circumference and the diameter of a rope, the measurements are nominal at best. For most of us, the strength of the rope is the key factor in determining the appropriate size. For any given diameter, one brand of rope may vary slightly from another, while the strength meets or exceeds requirements. If the actual diameter of the rope is a critical specification for your application, let us know and we will send you a sample length to verify that a specific brand of rope will meet your needs. back to top

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