Fire Service Ground Ladders (9th Edition)
Chapter 1-Ladder Types & Ladder Terms
"By The Numbers"

• Single ladders range from 6 to 32 feet.
• Roof ladders range from 12 to 24 feet (14 & 16 feet most common).
• Folding ladders range from 8 to 16 feet (10 foot most common).
• NFPA 1931, Standard on Design of and Design Verification Tests for Fire Department Ground Ladders.
• Extension ladders have 2 or 3 sections.
• Extension ladders range from 12 to 39 feet.
• NFPA 1931 requires that all extension ladders over 40 feet or greater to have staypoles.
• Pole ladders have 2 to 4 sections.
• Pole ladders range from 40 to 65 feet.
• Most modern pole ladders do not exceed 50 feet.
• 55 to 60 foot pole ladders were more commonly found on older aerial apparatus.
• Combination ladders range from 8 to 14 feet (most popular is 10 foot).
• Pompier ladders range from 10 to 16 feet.
• The preferred pitch for ground ladders is 75.5 degrees.
• The length label is affixed to the outside of each ladder beam within 12 inches of the butt.