Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition) Chapter 2 Terms Ground Ladder Construction, Maintenance, & Testing

Alloy Substance composed of two or more metals fused together and dissolved in each other when molten.

Annealed Soft state in metal caused by controlled application of heat and cold.

Attic Ladder Term commonly used for a folding ladder or combination ladder used to access an attic through a scuttle or similar restricted opening. Synonymous with Folding Ladder, Collapsible Ladder and Baby Bangor.

Beam Block Used to separate the beams of a truss beam ladder. Synonymous with Run Block and Truss Block.

Bushing A pad added to ladder guides to facilitate sliding of the fly section(s).

Certification Refers to the manufacturer's certification that the ladder has been constructed to meet requirements of NFPA 1931.

Collapsible Ladder Term commonly used for a folding ladder or combination ladder used to access an attic through a scuttle or similar restricted opening. Synonymous with Attic Ladder, Baby Bangor, and Folding Ladder.

Conductor Substance that transmits electrical or thermal energy.

Continuous Halyard Halyard whose both ends are attached to the bottom rung of the fly section of an extension ladder. The rope is run from the bottom rung of the fly section, down around the bottom rung of the bed section, and back up to the bottom rung of the fly section.

Corrugated Formed into ridges or grooves.

Cracks Fractures in a material.

Deformation Alteration of form or shape.

Dimpled Depressed or dented (as on a metal surface) to aid in gripping.

Discontinuity Interruption of the typical structure of a weldment, such as inhomogeneity in the mechanical, metallurgical, or physical characteristics of the material or weldment.

Extension Ladder Sectional ladder of two or more parts that can be extended to various heights.

Extruded Projected from an object. Fiberglass Composite material consisting of glass fibers embedded in resin.

Fly Rope Rope used on extension ladders to extend the fly sections. Synonymous with Halyard.

Folding Ladder Short, collapsible ladder easy to maneuver in tight places such as reaching through openings in attics or lofts. Synonymous with Collapsible Ladder, Baby Bangor, and Attic Ladder.

Growth Ring Layer of wood (as an annual ring) produced during a single period of growth.

Heat Sensor Label Label affixed to the ladder beam near the tip to provide a warning that the ladder has been subjected to excessive heat.

Heat Treatment Controlled cooling or quenching of heated metals, usually by immersion in a liquid quenching medium; its purpose is to harden the metal.

Hooks Curved metal devices installed on the tip end of roof ladders to secure the ladder to the highest point on the roof of a building.

Knurled Having a series of small ridges or beads, as on a metal surface, to aid in gripping.

Levelers Object used to shim a ladder or otherwise support a beam that is not touching the supporting surface; used where uneven terrain is regularly encountered.

Mortise Hole, groove, or slot cut into a wooden ladder beam to receive a rung tenon.

Mud Guard Accessory available for metal truss ladders which is attached between the beams at the but to prevent the ladder slipping into soft ground.

Non-Destructive Test Method of testing objects that does not subject them to stress-related damage.

Permanent Deformation Deformation remaining in any part of a ladder or its components after all test loads have been removed. Synonymous with Set.

Protection Plate Strips of metal attached to ladders at chafing points, such as the tip, or at areas in contact with the apparatus mounting brackets.

Pulley Small, grooved wheel through which the halyard is drawn on an extension ladder.

Run Block Used to separate the beams of a truss beam ladder. Synonymous with Beam Block or Truss Block.

Serrated Notched or toothed edge. Set Deformation remaining in any part of a ladder or its components after all test loads have been removed. Synonymous with Permanent Deformation.

Shim Thin, tapered piece of material used to fill gaps.

Shoe Metal plate used at the bottom of heavy timber columns.

Splice To join two ropes or cables by weaving the strands together.

Stops Wood or metal pieces that prevent the fly section of a ladder from being extended too far.

Temporary Deformation Alteration of form or shape that disappears entirely after a load has been removed.

Tenon Projecting member in a piece of wood or other material for insertion into a mortise to make a joint.

Tie Rod Metal rods running from one beam to the other.

Toe Rod A steel rod that is installed just above the butt spurs.

Toggle The attaching device for staypoles on pole ladders which allows for swiveling of the poles.

Tongue Rib on the edge of a ladder beam that fits into a corresponding groove or channel attached to the edge of another ladder beam. Its purpose is to hold the two sections together while allowing the sections to move up and down.

Torsion The act of twisting or being twisted.

Visual Damage Damage that is clearly evident by visual inspection without recourse to optical measuring devices.

Visual Inspection Observation without recourse to any optical devices except prescription lenses; may include physical and mechanical examination.