RTC Rope Systems & Rigging 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to NFPA 1983, which rope classification is rated for a minimum breaking strength sufficient for a two-person (1,200 lb) rescue load with the required safety factor?
- Technical Use rope
- General Use rope (Correct answer)
- Light Use rope
- Utility rope
Correct answer: General Use rope
NFPA 1983 defines General Use Life Safety Rope as rated for loads up to 600 lbs per person for two persons, requiring a much higher minimum breaking strength than Light Use rope.
Question 2: Which knot is preferred for creating a fixed loop at the end of a rope during technical rescue because it is easy to inspect and does not jam under load?
- Bowline
- Figure 8 on a bight (Correct answer)
- Overhand on a bight
- Clove hitch
Correct answer: Figure 8 on a bight
The Figure 8 on a bight is the industry-standard rescue knot for fixed loops because it is easy to visually inspect after loading and loosens more readily than an overhand on a bight.
Question 3: In a rope rescue system, what is the primary function of a progress capture device (PCD)?
- To redirect the load line over an edge
- To prevent the load from descending when hauling is paused (Correct answer)
- To measure the tension in the haul line
- To attach the litter to the main line
Correct answer: To prevent the load from descending when hauling is paused
A progress capture device (such as a prusik or ratchet pulley) allows the load to be raised but prevents it from slipping back, enabling haulers to reset without dropping the load.
Question 4: When building a high-angle rescue anchor, what does the acronym SERENE-A help rescuers evaluate?
- Strength, Extension, Redundancy, Efficiency, No Extension, Angles
- Solid, Equalized, Redundant, Efficient, No Extension, Angles (Correct answer)
- Single, Extended, Redundant, Equalized, Narrow, Attached
- Safe, Equalized, Reliable, Efficient, Near, Anchored
Correct answer: Solid, Equalized, Redundant, Efficient, No Extension, Angles
SERENE-A stands for Solid, Equalized, Redundant, Efficient, No Extension (or Nylon over Nylon avoided), and Angles — the criteria used to evaluate a safe rescue anchor system.
Question 5: At what slope angle does a rescue scenario transition from 'low-angle' to 'high-angle' rescue operations?
- 30 degrees
- 45 degrees (Correct answer)
- 60 degrees
- 75 degrees
Correct answer: 45 degrees
A 45-degree slope is the standard dividing point: below 45° the rescuer's weight bears primarily on the surface (low-angle), and above 45° the rope system bears the primary load (high-angle).
Question 6: Which rope construction type is most commonly recommended for technical rescue because it separates the load-bearing core from the protective sheath?
- Twisted (laid) rope
- Braided rope
- Kernmantle rope (Correct answer)
- Wire-core rope
Correct answer: Kernmantle rope
Kernmantle rope consists of a twisted or braided core (kern) inside a woven sheath (mantle), allowing the core to bear the load while the sheath protects against abrasion and UV damage.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'belay' system in a technical rope rescue operation?
- To create mechanical advantage for raising a load
- To redirect the rope over a high anchor point
- To independently catch the load if the main raising system fails (Correct answer)
- To equalize force across multiple anchor points
Correct answer: To independently catch the load if the main raising system fails
A belay is a separate, independent safety system designed to arrest the load in the event the primary haul or lowering system fails, providing a redundant life-safety backup.
RTC Rope Systems & Rigging 1
According to NFPA 1983, which rope classification is rated for a minimum breaking strength sufficient for a two-person (1,200 lb) rescue load with the required safety factor?