What is the most common type of life safety rope used by the fire service in Canada?

The most common type of life safety rope used by the fire service in Canada is general use rope. This type of rope is designed to provide reliable performance for a variety of tasks in standard firefighting operations, such as rescue, access, or supporting personnel during operations. General use life safety rope meets NFPA standards for strength and safety, making it suitable for various applications while being versatile enough for different situations firefighters might encounter.

Technical use rope, while also significant in the firefighting community, is typically used for more specialized operations such as high-angle rescue and complex technical scenarios. Therefore, it’s less common for everyday firefighting duties.

Severe duty and extreme duty ropes are engineered for even more demanding conditions, often incorporating higher specifications and materials for specific high-stress applications. These types of rope are utilized less frequently as they are more specialized and not required for the typical fire service needs.

Thus, general use life safety rope’s blend of versatility, reliability, and compliance with necessary standards makes it the predominant choice for fire service operations in Canada.