European rescue rope use CE standard system (EN 1891) static rope, EN1891 standard requires the technical index of static rope more than 10 items, such as the static tensile, 8 knot node first impact, falling, falling coefficient of 0.3 coefficient falls to 1 times (100 kg), sheath-core sliding rate, 50/100 kg tension under extension rate, husk percentage, filling percentage, shrinkage, linear density, material, etc. The diameter of the rope is larger, from 4mm auxiliary rope to 16mm rope, but the diameter of industrial operation and rescue rope is narrower.

Take the line of Beal brand in France as an example, its rescue rope has a diameter of 10 ~ 11mm, and the rescue rope of 12.5mm is mainly aimed at the north American rescue market. The diameter of industrial operation is 10.5 ~ 11mm. The diameter of the military police and other special purpose ropes is 9 ~ 11mm. The diameter of the rope is 10 ~ 13.5 mm. The European IRATA industrial rope operation recommends the CE standard system (EN1891) 1lmm diameter static rope. Because of the 10.5 mm and 11 mm diameter of the static line performance is similar, the difference between the minimum breaking load makes little sense, the current European industrial rope assignments and rope rescue more inclined to use 10.5 mm diameter of the static rope light. With the improvement of production technology, the quality and strength of the rope will increase continuously, and the diameter of the rope will naturally decrease, and now the diameter of the rope used in industrial operation has been reduced to the mainstream range of 10.3 ~ 10.8 mm. The light weight of rope is an inevitable trend of international rope development. The current static rope with a diameter of 10.5 ~ 11mm has the best compatibility and universal universality, which can be compatible with the various modern equipment of CE standard system in Europe.

The north American aid rope USES safety ropes that meet the NFPA1983 standard. NFPA1983 standard performance requirements for the safety rope only the minimum breaking load, three technology such as elongation, high temperature resistant performance indicators, rope diameter ranges from 7.5 to 16 mm, every 0.5 mm for a rope diameter size. The diameter of the escape rope (used as auxiliary rope) is 7.5 ~ 9.5 mm (including the lower limit, excluding upper limit), and the minimum breaking load should not be less than 13.5 kN. The diameter of the light safety rope is 9.5 ~ 12.5 mm (including the lower limit, excluding upper limit), and the minimum breaking load should not be less than 20kN. General safety rope diameter range is 12.5 ~ 16mm (including lower limit and upper limit), the minimum breaking load should not be less than 40kN. When the load reaches 10% of the minimum breaking strength, the rope elongation rate is 1 ~ 10%. Currently, the north American cable rescue technology system mainly USES the lowest 1/2inch (17.7 mm) diameter static rope as the rescue main rope, the minimum breaking load (MBL) is 4000kg.

North America, in contrast, 1/2 inch static rope linear density is larger, heavier rope equipment, rescue operation is relatively heavy, rope knot good not easy, and knot in the gap is bigger, affect the efficiency of rescue and the knot strength, especially for use after a period of time the rope knot problem is more apparent. Matching aid equipment is also relatively unwieldy. The 10.5 ~ 11mm of static rope supporting equipment used in Europe is more lightweight, efficient and safer.

Our rescue rope adopted standards for GA 494-2004 "standard of fire fall prevention equipment", draw lessons from the north American NFPA1983 standards, safety rope performance requirements are only the minimum breaking load, three technology such as elongation, high temperature resistant performance indicators, safety rope diameter range of 9.5 ~ 16.0 mm. There is no clear distinction between static rope and power rope in the GA 494-2004 standard, and the performance index of the rope is too low to meet the demand of actual rescue work.

At present, the use of the spiral line technology and form a complete set of equipment is introduced from Japan in 2000, more than three strands of rope is 12 mm, is one of the most basic rope, outer sheath is not secure, and easy to aging, rescue when prone to wear and tear, especially not suitable for high altitude with rescue rope. The cord does not match with other matching equipment that meets the CE standard.

In the field of rope rescue, domestic equipment has fallen far behind and needs to be replaced in time. Now, our country has introduced the European IRATA technology and north American rope rescue technology, and finally selected the European IRATA rescue technology after practice. From Europe and north American rescue equipment and technology, the European IRATA technology will eventually replace the north American rope rescue technology. The use of lightweight rope to meet the eu CE standards is a major trend in the field of rescue rope.

2. Selection of materials for rescue ropes

According to CE standard and NFPA1983, the rope is made of nylon fiber with static rope or power rope. In the maritime rescue, the object of the rope hauling is the vessel, platform and so on, which requires a large working load. Traditional towing generally adopts the steel wire rope and large diameter of the fiber cable, because of its high weight and diameter of thicker, aid workers in the process of casting and rescue operation is very inconvenient, can't win the precious time for rescue work. The weight of the wire rope, the operation is inconvenient, the rust is easy in the seawater, so it is not suitable for the large-scale rescue work.

With the development of high performance synthetic fiber and the improvement of rope making process, some high and light weight rope is gradually applied to the operation of maritime rescue. These include high molecular weight polyethylene fiber rope, aramid rope and so on.

2.1 high molecular weight polyethylene fiber rope

The currently recognized strength is superior to the best rope for high molecular weight polyethylene fiber rope. The rope can be replaced with a wire rope for equal or greater strength than a steel wire, but only 1/7 of the weight of a wire rope. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber weight is lighter, which can reduce the damage caused by the weight of the rope, reduce the damage of the equipment on deck, and maintain simple and no lubrication, which has the characteristics of torque balance. The rope splice is simple and can be easily repaired.

With the continuous development of high performance fiber, most foreign manufacturers use high performance fiber to make rope production. For example, more than 80% of Samson's products are made from UHMWPE fiber. Samson company used with ropes, directly related to cooperative development, carried out extensive and in-depth research of the rope, developed a series of different performance and application in the field of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber ropes. The widely used ropes include Am Steel - Blue, Saturn - 12, Quantum series, q-12 Defender, etc.

Due to the high performance fiber ropes, especially HMPE fiber rope performance is excellent, Samson company has started its shipbuilding industry in the United States use di nima cable instead of the steel wire rope and the diameter of the cable as a tow line and high strength work spring promotion plan.

Sun Shibin in the use of the high-strength salvage cable - di nima rope and analysis, the article introduced how to use a few di nima successful case of towing rope, think HMPE rope is the most suitable for high strength rope of salvage operations. Through the rescue practice of the north sea rescue 108 rounds and the German xiang wheel, the salvage tug of the salvage fleet is equipped with a rescue tow cable with a diameter of 28mm and a salvage cable with a diameter of 64mm, 72mm and 84mm.

2.2 aramid rope

Aramid fiber is another widely used high performance fiber, which has the characteristics of high temperature, light weight and high strength. Its most outstanding characteristic is that it can resist the high temperature environment. Continuous use very wide temperature range, aramid - 196 ℃ ~ 204 ℃ scope can normal operation for a long time, the shrinkage rate is zero under the 150 ℃, 560 ℃ high temperature decomposition melting, therefore aramid cord has been successfully applied in many fields.

But aramid cord itself is intolerance to flame, in response to needs in the offshore oil transport an emergency rope, Samson company use refractory Technora fiber cooperation has developed a product name is a rope of Vulcan. The rope USES a special fire protection coating that can enhance the fire resistance of aramid. The coating has special expansion characteristics, which can expand into a high density insulation layer in high temperature or fire field, so that the rope can maintain more strength in a certain time. Proved by test, fire retardant coating can protect the flame contact parts from damage and thermal insulation, therefore Vulcan rope can more effectively resist high temperature, and compared with the steel wire rope and so on can make greatly reduce the quality of rope.

Care and use of rope

In any case, to love the rope is to love life. A secure rope requires not only good design, reliable testing, proper use, but proper maintenance. Here are some notes:

First, the first time you use a rope, you need to set up a file for the rope and record it every time you use a rope.

Second, rope used to use the right form a complete set of equipment, as far as possible to avoid contact with sharp edges, grains of sand on the rope wear, increase the necessary protective sleeve for rope, try to avoid contact with chemicals.

Third, clean the rope timely after use, should use neutral detergent when cleaning and wash it in clean water and dry in the shade. When not used, put in a rope bag to avoid damage to the rope during transportation, storage, etc.

Fourth, inspect the surface of the rope carefully before using it for the wear and tear on the surface of the rope. When the rope is overloaded or suddenly falling, or is used in a disused rescue place, it is recommended to replace the rope immediately.