Just stumbled across this NFPA 1001 knot test for firefighters in the USA.
Link: https://www.gov.nl.ca/fes/certification/Firefighter_I_Skills.pdf (refer page 2)
An extract from page 2 is below…
There are seven (7) knots in the test.
It is surprising to me that some crucial detail is overlooked and/or simply assumed. Given that this is a competency test, one would have thought that the performance criteria for determining a firefighters competence would have been more carefully documented.
For example:
#1 ‘Forms the Bowline knot’… seems odd - this is written as if there is only one (1) type of Bowline - presumably #1010 from ‘ABoK’? One wonders why NFPA test authors did not wish to assess a secure Bowline (eg Scotts locked Bowline)? In my view, #1010 is simply a default mindset - a way of thinking that is like a horse with ‘blinders’ / ‘blinkers’ on (ie tunnel vision). It is also left unstated that #1010 is vulnerable to ring-loading, while #1034 1/2 is resistant to ring-loading. Presumably, the risk of ring-loading is not something the NFPA 1001 drafters considered?
#2 ‘Forms the clove hitch’… it is not clear if the firefighter has to tie a clove hitch via a ‘TIB’ method (#1178) or, if the firefighter is permitted to have access to an end (#1245)? Or both methods?
#3 ‘Forms the F8 on-a-bight’ - and here a distinction is made. It is via a ‘TIB’ method. Note that a ‘TIB’ method wont work if tying an end into a harness (like a rock climber). There is no criteria for achieving a symmetrical form. The way this test is written - a firefighter could tie #1047 F8 with any random geometry?
#4 ‘Form the half-hitch’…seems simple enough but typically 2 half-hitches are formed in most instances. This draft is not clear and presumably just one half-hitch is sufficient which seems odd. I am going to assume that these knots could be applied at height - and half-hitches might be a knot securing mechanism?
#5 ‘Forms the becket or sheet bend’… this appears to be wrongly worded. By definition, a ‘becket’ is generally an eye or hook which is distinct from #1431. A ‘becket hitch’ is illustrated at #73, and #1900. The manner in which this test is worded allows the firefighter to either #1431 or #1900. One wonders if the NFPA drafters were thinking in terms of #1431?
#6 ‘Forms the overhand safety knot’…this could be interpreted in different ways - eg in rock climbing, a safety or backup knot usually means a strangle around an SPart to add security.
#7 ‘Forms the water knot’… it is not stated if this knot is to be tied in rope or flat webbing (or both)? Furthermore, it is known that cyclic loading can lead to catastrophic failure due to progressive creep/slip in flat webbing. I always insist that all ‘bends’ (end-to-end joining knots ) be tied with identical tail lengths. This provides a visual reference…if one tail is observed to be shorter than the other, it is an early warning indicator. None of this is captured in the current draft wording of the test.