TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT MANUAL
LADDER PRACTICES
304.007 SPECIALTY LADDERS
EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007
Current Revision Date: 07/22/21 Next Revision Date: 07/22/23 Author’s Name/Rank: Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Review Level: 2 Crystal Giannopulos, Administrative Support: Senior Administrative Clerk ADA
PURPOSE
The Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) utilizes 10 and 14-foot “Fresno” Attic Ladders, 10-foot collapsible Attic Ladders and the Little Giant Velocity 13 (carried on engine apparatus) and Defender 17 (carried on aerial apparatus).
APPLICATION
Specifically designed for use where space is limited, the “Fresno” Attic Ladder is particularly ideal for entering attics through ceiling scuttle holes and similar close- quarter situations.
The little Giant Ladders are ideal where an articulating extendable ladder unit is helpful, such as smoke detector installs, negotiating over a fence or other situations where a step ladder is needed.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
The Little Giant Velocity 13 (carried on engine apparatus) shall not be used on the fire ground for firefighting inside or outside of a structure. It is not National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) compliant.
The Little Giant Defender 17 (carried on aerial apparatus) meets the NFPA standard for Manufacturer’s design of fire department ladders and has been tested to the requirements of NFPA standard on use, maintenance, and service testing of in- service fire department ground ladders. With such certifications and testing, the Little Giant Defender 17 can be used on all fire ground operations.
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OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
Fresno Attic Ladder
The shoulder carry method is used with the 10-foot and 14-foot “Fresno” Attic Ladder when there is sufficient room to maneuver.
If the “Fresno” Attic Ladder must be carried through a crowd, the vertical position is most suitable. This carry has no protrusions to bump or injure people as it goes through a crowd and leaves the left hand free to help clear a path.
The under-arm method is best for entering buildings. This method puts the ladder in a position where it can be placed under a low door and then pushed upward toward the ceiling in a confined space.
Use caution when collapsing the ladder, so as not to pinch fingers.
Little Giant Velocity 13 and Defender 17
The ladders should be carried in the stored position in a “suitcase carry” until at the site for deployment.
All ladder care and maintenance should be done following Training and Equipment Manual, Section 304.003, Care and Maintenance.
PROCESS
1. How To Carry The Fresno Attic Ladder:
a. Shoulder Carry:
i. Remove the ladder from the apparatus.
ii. Lift the ladder onto the shoulder, butt forward, with fly towards the firefighter.
iii. Place right hand on the bottom beam and left hand onto the top beam.
iv. Balance the ladder and adjust left hand so as not to obstruct vision.
v. Proceed to the desired location, checking for obstructions (See Figure 1).
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Figure 1
b. Vertical Position:
i. Remove the ladder from the apparatus.
ii. Stand the ladder in an upright position with fly section towards the body.
iii. Place right arm between the most convenient rungs.
iv. Grasp the most convenient rung with the right hand, leaving the left hand free to guide your way through a crowd.
v. Proceed to the desired location, checking for obstructions (See Figure 2).
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Figure 2
c. Under-Arm Method:
i. Remove the ladder from the apparatus.
ii. Position ladder so the fly section is away from the firefighter and the tip of the ladder is facing forward.
iii. Grasp the lower beam of the ladder with the right hand and balance the ladder.
iv. Steady the ladder by holding the upper beam with the left hand.
v. Proceed to the desired location, checking for obstructions (See Figure 3).
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Figure 3
Note: The 14-foot “Fresno” Attic Ladder has a bedded length of over 9 feet long and is not as easy to maneuver as the 10-foot ladder. It may be best to utilize two firefighters when moving the 14-foot ladder inside a building to ensure no damage occurs.
d. How to Raise “Fresno” Attic Ladder:
The “Fresno” Attic Ladder is light and maneuverable. It is not necessary to use all the same steps in raising the ladder as used with other ground ladders. There will be times when using the “Fresno” Attic Ladder where it will be impossible to raise it step by step. However, when there is room, the following steps are to be used:
i. Remove the ladder from the apparatus and stand it in an upright position at the desired location, with the fly section towards the firefighter.
ii. Steady the ladder by grasping the left beam of the bed section firmly with the left hand at about shoulder height.
iii. Raise the fly section of the ladder by lifting it upwards with the fingertips or with the heel of the right hand, palm toward the ladder (See Figures 4 and 5).
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Note: The thumb of the left hand may act as a brake for the fly section as the ladder is being raised.
iv. Lock pawls on the desired rung of the bed section by raising the fly section until the pawls are slightly above the desired rung, then lowering section until both pawls engage the rung.
v. Lower the top of the ladder onto structure by grasping the beams of the ladder with both hands at shoulder height and adjust the ladder to the proper climbing angle (See Figure 6).
Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6
e. How to Raise “Fresno” Attic Ladder in a Confined Area:
At times, the “Fresno” Attic Ladder will have to be raised in a crowded closet or in a congested area. The following is a recommended method of raising the ladder in a confined area.
i. Bring the ladder into the closet by utilizing the under-arm method and stand the ladder in a vertical position, rotating the ladder so the fly section is towards the firefighter.
ii. Steady the ladder by grasping the left beam of the ladder with the left hand at approximately shoulder height.
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iii. Select the lowest rung on the fly section of the ladder within reach, without stooping, and raise the ladder (See Figure 7).
Figure 7
Note: The fly section of the ladder may be raised with the fingertips or the heel of the hand.
iv. Hold the fly section of the ladder in place by applying pressure against the beam with the left thumb.
Note: Repeat the above two steps until the desired height is reached.
v. Position the ladder for climbing by grasping both beams of the ladder at shoulder height and maneuver it into place.
f. How to Remove Scuttle-Hole Cover Using Fresno Attic Ladder:
The primary use of the “Fresno” attic ladder is to gain access to attics. Many times, the openings are hidden in the ceiling of closets or in narrow hallways. Many wardrobe closets containing scuttle holes are small and to the point of overflowing with clothing. In such cases, clothing should be removed and placed somewhere out of the way before the scuttle cover is removed.
i. Carry the “Fresno” Attic Ladder using the under-arm method to the desired location.
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ii. Place the ladder in a vertical position under the scuttle hole with the fly section towards body. Steady the ladder by grasping the left beam of the main ladder firmly with the left hand at approximately shoulder height.
iii. Raise the fly section of ladder to just below the scuttle cover and lock fly section.
iv. Position the ladder by grasping the beams firmly with both hands at chest height and lift the ladder upward so the top of the fly section is against one side of the scuttle-hole cover.
v. Open the scuttle by pushing upward and sliding the scuttle cover over to one side (See Figure 8).
Figure 8
vi. Lower the ladder to the floor in a vertical position and adjust the ladder by raising the fly section to extend through the scuttle opening with the proper climbing angle. g. How to Lower “Fresno” Attic Ladder:
i. Reverse the above operations, ensuring the pawls are locked on the second rung of the bed section of the ladder prior to moving the adder.
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2. Collapsible Attic Ladder:
a. Placing Collapsible Attic Ladder into Operation:
i. Remove the ladder from the apparatus.
ii. Grasping both beams, place the ladder in a vertical position.
iii. Pull the beams away from each other.
iv. Move the beams in the opposite direction until the rungs are perpendicular to the beams and the ladder locks into position.
v. Place the ladder into position and adjust it for the proper climbing angle (See Figures 9, 10, and 11).
Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11
b. Removing Collapsible Attic Ladder from Operation:
i. Release the locking mechanism beneath the bottom rung (See Figure 12).
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Figure 12
ii. Reverse the above operations.
3. Little Giant Ladder:
a. How to carry the Little Giant Velocity 13
i. Suitcase Carry
a. Remove the ladder from the apparatus.
b. Lift the ladder into suitcase carry, butt forward.
c. Balance the ladder.
d. Proceed to the desired location, checking for obstructions.
b. How to carry the Little Giant Defender 17
i. Suitcase Carry
a. Remove the ladder from the apparatus.
b. Lift the ladder into suitcase carry, butt forward.
c. Lift the ladder into suitcase carry, butt forward.
d. Balance the ladder.
e. Proceed to the desired location, checking for obstructions.
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ii. Tip and Glide Wheels
a. With the ladder in its storage position, hold the ladder by the top outer rung and tip the ladder until the wheels make contact and the feet lift up off the ground. The ladder can now be freely wheeled across flat hard surfaces by pulling it behind you (See Figure 13).
Figure 13
Little Giant Ladder Velocity 13 and Defender 17 Operation
a. Articulated Extendable Ladder Unit
i. The inner assembly has two locking hinges which allow the ladder system to be used in the following configurations:
a. Storage (See Figure 14)
b. Step Ladder (See Figure 14)
c. Straight Ladder (See Figure 14)
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Figure 14
ii. Locking mechanisms on the two outer assemblies permit the ladder to be adjusted in length. These locking mechanisms fit into any rung on the inner assembly allowing rung by rung adjustment. Since outer sections can be adjusted independently, this allows for the following additional configurations.
a. 90-degree (See Figure 15)
b. Staircase (See Figure 15)
Figure 15 c. Adjusting the Ladder
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i. The Hinges- Located at the top of the ladder when it is in the storage position. They permit you to alter the shape of the ladder.
a. Unlocking Hinge locks-
i. Unlock the hinges by pushing straight in on the palm buttons until they stay in the open (unlocked) position on both hinges (See Figure 16).
ii. If there is pressure on the hinge lock mechanism, it will be difficult to unlock the hinge. To relieve pressure, simply adjust one half of the ladder back and forth until the hinge lock moves with minimal force.
Figure 16
b. Locking the hinge locks
i. Move the ladder into desired position. The hinge locks are spring assisted and will spring into closed (locked) position when hinge is rotated into the next ladder position.
ii. Always make sure both hinge locks are completely locked before climbing the ladder.
c. The Outer Ladder Locks
i. Located at the tops of the outer ladder assemblies. There are four of these on the ladder.
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ii. They permit you to change the height of the ladder (See Figure 17).
iii. Since the outer ladder assemblies can be adjusted independently, setting them at different lengths is how you achieve the 90-degree and staircase mode.
Figure 17
d. Unlocking Outer Ladder Locks
i. Rock Lock
1. To unlock, press in on the bottom of the Rock Lock fastener until it clicks into the open (unlocked) position (See Figure 18).
Figure 18
e. Operating Safety Tips
i. Set up the ladder so the rungs are level from front to back and side to side.
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ii. Keep clothing and body parts out of all moving mechanisms, including hinge locks and outer locks.
iii. Use extreme caution when using the ladder around electricity.
iv. Never let ladder encounter live electrical circuits/power lines.
v. Never exceed the weight limit of the ladder 300 lbs.
vi. Keep ladder rungs and feet clean from mud, ice, oil, etc.
vii. Never lean too far over the side of the ladder and always keep both feet on the rungs.
viii. Inspect the ladder feet for wear and replace if necessary.
ix. Inspect the ladder-on-ladder inspection days, remove from service, and contact the shop/equipment committee chair if bent or broken. f. Step Ladder
i. Starting from the storage position, unlock both hinge locks.
ii. Pull ladder open into stepladder until the hinges lock into position.
iii. Unlock the four outer ladder locks.
iv. Begin extending the ladder by placing one hand on the hinge and tipping the ladder back. Once at desired height lock the outer ladder locks completely (See Figure 19).
v. To extend the other side, hold on to the hinges or inner ladder rails, and raise the inner ladder assembly. Once at desired height lock the outer ladder locks completely (See Figure 19).
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Figure 19
vi. Make sure the ladder is level and all four feet are solidly planted before climbing.
vii. To return to storage reverse the steps, making sure to always hold the inner ladder assembly firmly in place as you release the outer lock assemblies. g. Staircase
i. Start the ladder in the small step ladder. Adjust the outer ladder assemblies to fit the staircase while keeping the rungs approximately level front to back.
ii. If equipped with Tip Glide wheels, the wheels should be placed to the bottom facing away from the stairs. (Figure 20)
Figure 20
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h. Straight Ladder
i. Start from the small step ladder. Release the hinge locks and rotate your ladder up into the straight ladder until the hinges lock. Then lay the ladder face up on the ground near the wall it will be leaned against. If your ladder has tip and Glide wheels they must be positioned to the top of the ladder, so lay it out with the wheels pointed away from the wall (Figure 21).
ii. Unlock the outer ladder locks on the top outer ladder assembly and extend to the desired height. If additional height is needed extend the bottom sections as well. When at desired height lock all outer ladder locks (See Figure 21).
iii. Flip the ladder over, so the rungs are facing the ground (See Figure 21).
iv. Slide the feet at the bottom of the ladder against the wall (See Figure 21).
v. Walk the ladder hand-over-hand, one rung at a time, until you can lean the ladder against the wall (See Figure 21).
vi. Carefully lift and pull the base of the ladder out from the wall until the ladder leans at the proper climbing angle of 75 degrees, approximately ¼ of the height (See Figure 21).
vii. To take ladder down reverse the steps, maintain control of the ladder.
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Figure 21
i. 90 degrees
i. Starting from the step ladder, extend one outer ladder assembly on rung longer than the other side (See Figure 22). This allows the top of the ladder to be closer to the surface you are trying to reach.
Figure 22
Section 304.007 Page 18 of 24 j. Tip and Glide Wheels
i. With the ladder in its storage position, hold the ladder by the top outer rung and tip the ladder until the wheels make contact and the feet lift up off the ground. The ladder can now be freely wheeled across flat hard surfaces by pulling it behind you. k. Ratchet levelers
i. Included on the Defender 17
1. Operation
a. To deploy on uneven surfaces, look for the foot that is not touching the ground while holding your ladder with the rungs level, then press down on the kick plate of the Ratchet leveler leg with your toe until it contacts the ground (See Figure 23).
b. Spring loaded pins will lock the leg into positions.
c. To retract, after you are off the ladder, pull on the d rings or pull up on the slider and Ratchet leveler legs will return to their storage position (See Figure 24).
Figure 23
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Figure 24
INFORMATION
The extension ladder is only 13 inches wide and is easily maneuvered through narrow stairways where longer, bulkier ladders cannot be used. The Department utilizes both 10- and 14-foot “Fresno” attic ladders.
For more information, access the manufacturer specifications at https://www.duosafety.com/products/aluminum-ladders/ and/or the Manufacturer Care and Maintenance Guidelines at https://www.duosafety.com/information/.
Little Giant Velocity 13 and Defender 17 Maintenance
a. Lubricate the hinge locks and outer locks with dry lubricant every six months. This should be performed more often as use dictates.
b. Keep the rails clean.
c. Keep the hinge locks and outer locks clean.
d. Ladder Inspection Checklist (See Figure 25).
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Figure 25
Little Giant Ratchet Leveler lubrication
a. D-ring release lubrication
i. Start by removing the outer ladder assembly with the Ratchet Levelers from the inner ladder assembly.
ii. Generously apply the dry lubricant inside the tops of the leveler legs, coating the inside of the faces with the holes for the locking pins (See Figure 26).
iii. Extend the Ratchet levelers, and generously apply the dry lubricant to all external surfaces of the leveler legs, making sure not to get any lubricant on the feet (See Figure 27).
iv. Generously apply the dry lubricant to the insides of the D-ring housings located on the outer ladder assembly side rails (See Figure 28).
v. Wipe off any excess lubricant from all areas with a dry rag before ratcheting the Ratchet levelers and returning the ladder to service.
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Figure 26
Figure 27
Figure 28
Slider release lubrication
a. Start by removing the outer ladder assembly with the Ratchet Levelers from the inner ladder assembly.
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b. Generously apply the dry lubricant inside the small center hole above the Ratchet leveler release slider, angling both to the left and right. (Figure 29)
c. Spray where the leveler leg slides along the upper and lower brackets inside the outer ladder rails. Then extend and retract the legs several times. (Figure 29)
d. Wipe off excess lubricant and return ladder to service.
Figure 29
Little Giant Defender 17
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Little Giant Velocity 13
For additional information please refer to the owners’ manuals.
Little Giant Ladders
Little Giant Velocity
Little Giant Defender
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
Training and Equipment Manual Section 304.003, Care and Maintenance
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