Ordinary Requirement #7e - Ropes

Sizing and Measuring Rope

Requirement 7e (part 1): Know how rope is sized and measured.

• Rope is measured in two ways:
  
  
• By diameter
  
  
• Ropes up to one inch are generally measured by the diameter.
  
  
• By circumference
  
  
• Ropes over one inch by their circumference.
  
  

This must be clearly understood, since a rope one inch in diameter has a circumference of approximately 3 inches, while a rope one inch in circumference has a diameter of 5/16 of an inch.

Other Ways to Measure Rope

• Ropes are also measured by:
  
  
• Tensile Strength (will it break)
  
  
• Specific Gravity (tells you if it will float)
  
  
• Elongation (will it stretch, will it absorb shock)
  
  
• UV Resistance
  
  
• Abrasion Resistance
  
  
• Chemical Resistance (acid, alkaline, oil, gas)
  
  

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Cutting and Heat Sealing Synthetic Line

Requirement 7e (part 2): Demonstrate how to cut and heat seal a synthetic line.

1. Tape the rope around the circumference as illustrated below.
   
   
2. Cut in middle leaving tape intact on each side.
   
   
3. When cutting these fibers witha pocket knife or scissors,the cut ends should befused by a match flameto prevent untwisting.
   
   

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