WAC 296-305-06005   Ground ladders.  This section establishes the minimum requirements for the construction, care and use of the common types of ladders used in fire combat.

     (1) Ladder locks or pawls on extension ladders shall be so fastened or secured to the beams that vibration and use will not cause loosening of bolts and nuts.

     (a) Pawls or ladder locks shall be so constructed that the hook portion of the pawl that engages the rung shall have sufficient bearing surface or area to prevent the hook from cutting into rungs when engaged.

     (b) Such hooks shall be properly finished to eliminate sharp edges and points.

     (2) Staypoles or tormenters shall be furnished on all extension ladders extending over forty feet. Staypole or tormenters spikes shall not project beyond the butt of the ladder when nested.

     (3) All ladders shall be stored in a manner to provide ease of access for inspection, and to prevent danger of accident when withdrawing them for use.

     (4) Fire fighters shall 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 fire fighters shall be permitted to climb and descend ground ladders with the fly in to assure secure footing.

     (5) All ladders regardless of type shall be inspected thoroughly after each use. Records shall be kept of the inspections and repairs.

     (6) The following metal ladder components shall be checked:

     (a) Rungs for welds, damage or weakness caused by overloading or bumping against other objects, looseness and cracks, etc.

     (b) Beams for welds, rivets and bolts, signs of strain or metal fatigue, and deformation from heat or overloading.

     (c) Bolts and rivets for tightness.

     (d) Butt spurs for excessive wear or other defects.

     (e) Halyards for the same defects listed for wood ladder halyards and cable halyards, for fraying or breaking.

     (f) Heat sensor label, when provided, for change indicating heat exposure.

     (7) The following wood ladder components shall be checked:

     (a) Bolts for snugness and tightness without crushing the wood.

     (b) Beams for dark streaks; when a wood ground ladder develops dark streaks in the beams, the ladder shall be removed from service and service tested as specified in this chapter, prior to further use.

     (c) Protective varnish finish for damage or wear, at least once a month and redone annually or at such frequency as specified by the manufacturer. If the protective finish becomes charred or blistered, the ladder shall be removed from service and service tested as specified in this chapter, prior to further use.

     (8) Methods of fastening ladder halyards, either of wire or fibrous material, shall be in a manner that the connection is stronger than the halyard.

     (9) Any defect noted in above visual inspection shall be corrected prior to testing.

     (10) Every portable ladder shall be tested following the correction of defects disclosed by the visual inspections.

     (11) New ground ladders purchased after the effective date of this chapter shall be constructed and certified in accordance with the requirements of NFPA Standard 1931, 1994 edition.

     (12) All fireground ladders shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with the requirements of the 1994 edition of NFPA 1932. When metal ground ladders are tested, they shall be tested in accordance with the strength service testing procedures of the 1984 edition of NFPA 1932.

     (a) Extension ladders that were constructed prior to the adoption of the 1984 edition of NFPA 1931, may, when tested in accordance with this chapter, be tested with a minimum test load of 400 pounds and a preload of 300 pounds. Ladders tested under this exception shall be used with a maximum load limit of 500 pound distributed or 400 pound concentrated. Ladders shall be tested in the configuration they are used.

     (b) Additional requirements for wooden ground ladders; whenever any wood ground ladder has been exposed or is suspected of having been exposed to direct flame contact the ladder shall be service tested as specified in section 5-2 of NFPA Standard 1932, 1984 edition.

Note 1:	Hardness testing and eddy current NDE testing is not required in the fire department annual maintenance inspection unless the individual ladder has been subjected to a high heat exposure which could have annealed the metal and diminished the structural integrity. The ladder manufacturer's recommendations should be followed with respect to hardness and eddy current testing.
Note 2:	Testing should follow the recommended procedures taught by Washington State Fire Protection Bureau.

     Additional references: Chapter 296-24 WAC, Part J-1 and WAC 296-800-290.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 01-11-038, § 296-305-06005, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-05-080, § 296-305-06005, filed 2/17/99, effective 6/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-11-067, § 296-305-06005, filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 88-14-108 (Order 88-11), § 296-305-06005, filed 7/6/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 83-24-013 (Order 83-34), § 296-305-06005, filed 11/30/83; Order 77-20, § 296-305-06005, filed 10/18/77 and Emergency Order 77-24, filed 11/17/77, effective 12/17/77.]