Considerations for Rescue Rope Tie-Offs and Winch Receivers

By Bill Proft

Most Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) member companies will provide receivers and anchors for rope and removable winches as optional features.

Basic guidelines for these features are provided in section 15.12 of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus. While the guidelines are quite specific, there are several additional items to consider when specifying a rope or winch receiver on your next vehicle. The intent of this article is to identify these items and help you make a more informed decision on your next purchase.

Plan Ahead

Regardless of the type of apparatus you plan to purchase, the first and most important step is to plan ahead. Consider how it will be used, the number of firefighters that will be on board, and the equipment they will be using. When it comes to the specific features of the vehicle, proper planning is also essential. Identify and specify exactly what you need first; then do your homework and consider different manufacturers and what they offer. In many cases, their standard offerings will meet your requirements without modification. This saves everyone time and expense. If you have requirements that necessitate special designs, there is nothing wrong with specifying them. However, be aware that there are usually increased costs associated with custom requests.

Portable Winch Receivers

Let's start with receivers required for installing and using portable winches. Paragraph 15.12.1 of NFPA 1901 reads, "Receivers or anchors installed at any location on the apparatus for use as removable winch anchors shall be designed and affixed to provide at least a 2 to 1 straight line pull no-yield safety factor over the load rating of the removable winch." This requires that the vehicle manufacturer test the strength of the device designed to hold the winch to twice the rating of the winch. If you plan to carry a 9,000-pound winch, the receiver needs to be able to handle a straight-line pull of at least 18,000 pounds without any permanent deformation.

In today's world, there are portable winches with 9,500-pound ratings. Therefore, the receiver needs to withstand 19,000 pounds of straight line pull. The issue is that as winches become more and more powerful, the receivers and their mounts need to be designed for correspondingly higher loads. That means more structure is required on the truck for these devices. More structure means more cost, more weight, and less storage space for other items. Therefore, carefully consider what you really need when it comes to winch ratings. If you need anything larger than a 9,000-pound rating, consider a permanently mounted electric or hydraulic winch in the front or rear of the vehicle.

Most fire apparatus manufacturers have locations predefined on their trucks where winch receivers can be mounted. These are typically at the front and rear and also in the rear wheel fender panel. Use their standards first and foremost if they can meet your needs. The apparatus manufacturer will have already done the testing to meet the standard. Going to something more unusual will mean added design, material, and testing cost that you may ultimately have to pay for.

When considering the locations to mount a portable winch, evaluate the ease of installation. A pin is required to secure the winch to the receiver tube, and the 12-volt electrical connection must be made. If either of these items is not readily accessible, the setup time will increase.

Portable winches are relatively large in size and not necessarily easy to stow in a body compartment. One solution is to include a receiver and power connection in the front bumper. This provides a dual purpose in that there is a storage spot for the winch and it is immediately available for use off of the front of the truck.

Rope Anchors

Paragraph 15.12.2 of NFPA 1901 covers the requirements for rope anchors. It reads, "Receivers or anchors installed at any location on the apparatus for use with rope operations shall be designed and affixed to the apparatus to provide at least a 9000 lbf (40,000 N) no-yield condition with a straight line pull." Note that this requirement is different than that for portable winches. For rope anchors, there is no safety factor identified. In addition, there is no language for anything with a smaller rating than 9,000 pounds. So, here is where careful thought and consideration are required. Obviously, there are many types and thicknesses of rope with varying strength ratings. In addition, there are many types and styles of rope anchors that can be affixed to a vehicle. As in the case of portable winches, spend some time investigating what manufacturers have available as standard and determine if these options meet your requirements.

The NFPA 1901 requirement for a 9,000-pound rating coordinates closely with NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services, which states, "General-use portable anchor devices … shall withstand a minimum load of at least 36 kN (8093 lbf) without failure." Loads are lower than this for light use or technical use attachments.

A 9,000-pound load in some areas of the body and chassis can be quite substantial. Adequate and proper design is essential and is much more involved than simply threading or bolting an eyelet anywhere on the truck. As a result, there will be some locations where a manufacturer tells you that a rope eye can certainly be mounted but not with a 9,000-pound rating.

There are some rope eyes designed to be used in standard two-inch square receiver tubes. In these cases, if the receiver is also designed for use with a portable winch, there is the possibility that you will have a rope anchor rating of greater than 9,000 pounds. The receiver will be rated for twice the rating of the winch. As a result, the rope eye or the rope may now be your limiting factor.

Identification

Paragraph 15.12.3 of NFPA 1901 identifies the marking required for receivers and anchors and states, "A label shall be placed on or near each receiver or anchor that states the maximum straight line pull rating of the anchor." As a result, whether the receiver or anchor has the standard NFPA 1901 rating or not, the end user will know the capacity. Proper labeling is essential, given the difference in required capacity depending on whether light, technical, or general-purpose rope is to be used. Proper and adequate training is always a prerequisite to using portable winches and rope anchors.

Consider the end result

As we all know, no two fire departments are alike. Geographic location, man-made and natural hazards, and population are some of the drivers that dictate the type of fire departments and associated resources and training required therein. Portable winches and rope anchors are but a small part of overall apparatus design but need to be considered carefully to ensure your requirements are met. Plan ahead, work with a FAMA member company sales representative who you know and trust, and give careful consideration to what is currently available. The end result will be a vehicle equipped to meet the needs of your department and community.

FAMA is committed to the manufacture and sale of safe, efficient emergency response vehicles and equipment. FAMA urges fire departments to evaluate the full range of safety features offered by its member companies.

BILL PROFT has more than 23 years of engineering experience at Pierce Manufacturing, where he is director of engineering for the Rescue Program. For nearly 22 years he has been involved in or responsible for the design of rescue products at Pierce. Proft is a past chairperson for the Technical Body Subcommittee within FAMA.