To what NFPA standard should personal escape rope systems be rated?

Personal escape rope systems should be rated to NFPA 1983. This standard specifically governs life safety rope and equipment designed for emergency services and includes requirements for the construction, performance, and testing of personal escape systems. It's essential because escape ropes must meet certain strength and durability standards to ensure the safety of firefighters and other personnel during emergency egress situations.

NFPA 1982 relates to personal escape devices but does not encompass the full range of considerations outlined in NFPA 1983 for ropes used in escape scenarios. NFPA 1971 deals with protective clothing for structural firefighting, not escape ropes. NFPA 1001 defines the professional qualifications for fire service personnel but doesn’t address equipment ratings. Thus, NFPA 1983 is the appropriate standard for evaluating personal escape rope systems in terms of safety and effectiveness.