Know the aerial’s scrub area

By Mark van der Feyst

In aerial operations, the area between the apparatus and the building is known as the scrub area. This is the distance required for the aerial ladder to work. There are times when the aerial ladder must be used in a horizontal position and below 0 degrees. This may be for water streams application or for access to the platform or ladder tip.

When the ladder is completely bedded, it will be a certain length. Knowing this length is what will dictate the scrub area needed between the apparatus and the building. In case the aerial ladder has to be moved 180 degrees horizontally in front of the building, it will have the room to do so. Parking the apparatus to close to the building will eliminate the scrub area. Take a moment during a training night or day to measure the bedded length of the aerial ladder and then figure out how best to accurately gauge that distance needed when arriving at a building.