Wash. Admin. Code § 296-305-06006 - Ground ladders
This section establishes the minimum requirements for the construction, care and use of fire department ground ladders.
(1) New ground ladders purchased after the
effective date of this chapter must be constructed and certified in accordance
with the 2004 edition of NFPA 1931, Standard on Design and Design Verification
Tests for Fire Department Ground Ladders.
(2) Firefighters must climb and descend
ground ladders with the fly in, for safety purposes, when not in conflict with
the manufacturer's recommendations. Even when ladders are routinely used in the
fly-out configuration, in adverse conditions firefighters must be permitted to
climb and descend ground ladders with the fly in to assure secure
footing.
(3) All ground ladders
must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and
visually inspected at least once a month and after every use. The following
ladder components must be visually inspected:
(a) Heat sensor labels, if provided, for a
change indicating heat exposure.
(b) All rungs for snugness and
tightness.
(c) All bolts and rivets
for tightness.
(d) Welds for any
cracks or apparent defects.
(e)
Butt spurs for excessive wear or other defects.
(f) Halyards for fraying or
breaking.
(g) Roof hooks for
sharpness and proper operation.
(h)
Beam and rungs for punctures, wavy conditions, worn serrations or
deformation.
(i) Surface
corrosion.
(4) The
following wood ladder components must be checked:
(a) Beams for dark streaks. When a wood
ground ladder develops dark streaks in the beams, the ladder must be removed
from service and service tested as specified in subsection (9) of this
section.
(b) Loss of gloss on the
protective finish of fiberglass or wood ladders, signifying damage or
wear.
(5) Any sign of
damage or defect during a visual inspection must be cause to remove the ladder
from service until it has been repaired. Scratches and dents must not be cause
for a ladder to fail a test if it passes the appropriate service
test.
(6) If the heat sensor label
has an expiration date, and that date has passed, the heat sensor label must be
replaced.
(7) Whenever any ground
ladder has been exposed, or is suspected of having been exposed to direct flame
contact, or wherever the heat sensor label has changed to indicate heat
exposure, the ladder must be service tested according to subsection (9) of this
section.
(8) Temporary repairs must
not be made to ground ladders.
(9)
When ground ladders are tested, they must be tested in accordance with the
strength service testing procedures of the 2004 edition of NFPA 1932, Standard
on Use, Maintenance and Service Testing of In-Service Ground Ladders, section
7.2.
Notes
Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and 29 C.F.R. 1910.156, Fire brigades. 13-05-070, § 296-305-06006, filed 2/19/13, effective 1/1/14.
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