Jeff,
This is a standard info letter I send out in regard to our PSS system. If you need to speak to me about more info , drop me an EMail or Call. Your Department should learn by what we went thru instead of suffering your own tragic loss...Your training issues are on a smaller scale and should be easier to accomplish.

My name is George Grammas I am assigned to FDNY Ladder Co. 102 in Brooklyn. I along with about 15 other core group members were gathered together after the Bronx tragedy on 1/23/05 to investigate and come up with a personal escape system for each firefighter from Battalion chief down to firefighter to have on them, in the event self rescue was needed and this task was to be done as quickly as possible. A special emergency purchase fund was set up for the equipment needed and special training that would be required. We have at this time trained all 13,000 members and are in Phase 2 refresher training for all members
As for your questions lets start with the rope. It is a Sterling 50 ft. 7.5 Technora sheath and core rope with a rated strength of about 5,600 lbs. It is very resistant to heat and very abrasion and cut resistant. It was one of 4 manufactures that had qualifying ropes that met our specs.
It is a static rope with very little stretch.
This also means it does not absorb shock load very well, however the descent device chosen the Petzl EXO does absorb shock load and keep it well below industrial standard maximum of 8 kn.

The Petzl EXO is a modified Gri-Gri which has been in the rock-climbing / mountain climbing sport for over 16 yrs. Petzl embraced the FDNY task of finding a descent device that would A) Stop a firefighters fall automatically if he couldn't keep his hand on the rope. B) Absorb shock load if he tried to descend with too much slack in the rope as he goes out the window. C) Be able to pay out rope quickly if he was able to tie off remotely from the exit point. D) Work in both wet and dry conditions. E) Had to be small , light weight, and packagable.
Petzl worked with us and came up with the EXO after modifications were made to work with a 7.5 rope, and much testing, it does all the above and does it well. It out preformed all other devices we tested even when wet and we tested many.

The rope is attached to the Anchor Hook with a sewn Eye which has aprox. 90% of the rope strength. It is also sewn with Technora thread.
The Hook/Anchor was developed by the FDNY and Crosby To meet our requirements and gives us many options for anchoring, from a remote tie off around a substantial object ( we tie around the anchor to the saddle of the hook with a special clove hitch, easily tied with a little practice even when its black down to the floor.. ) ,to hooking around a riser pipe ,to ultimately just hooking to the corner of a windowsill and rolling out head first and descending to a safe point. It is made of drop forged steel and has a hardened single point , which digs in and holds the anchor /hooks the position very well in a variety of materials, wt. 13 oz.
All of these techniques we have packaged into an 8 hr. training day we put all ranks of our members thru from BC down to firefighter.
All this is packaged in a 7"x 8" x 1- 1/2 " w specially designed easy to deploy Nomex bag, worn pre-attached to the firefighters Class 2 harness. The harness we ware is made by Gemtore and stays on our bunker pants with Velcro and snaps and gets donned for every run. The device is preattached to a" D" ring that runs along the right side of the "A" frame.

The testing we did on this system was overseen by Rich Wright, of Wright Rescue Systems who our Tech. advisor and an Engineering firm Exponent, who oversaw all testing from repels to payouts to rope strengths and all other component tests. And of course we have and endless supply of members willing to help test. The PSS system we have works and is deployed in seconds, because it is pre-attached which is a large benefit when your having probably the worst day of your career...
This was quite a job and we came up with the best we could considering the short time and I think we did well, and other departments will I hope benefit from our research and PSS system development.
I hope I gave you information you find helpful in your decision of equipment for your escape system , drop me an email if you need more info or if you would like to talk on the phone about any component or training detail of this system. You are able to purchase this equipment thru one of Petzl's distributors, you can contact Petzl directly for more info or Rich Wright of Wright Rescue Systems
Yours Truly,
George Grammas
FDNY L-102
firesburn@msn.com