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| KITEMARKS & STANDARDS FOR LADDERS AND STEPS | |||
|
The
UK
has
three
categories
of
ladder & stepladder strength
- Trade Duty (previously Class 2, but now EN131) ladders are designed for a Maximum Static Vertical Load 150kg ( 23.5 stones) Domestic Duty (Class 3) ladders are designed for a Maximum Static Vertical Load 125kg (19.5 stones) Confusion frequently arises from the use of the term "Duty Rating" on some ladders, where Class 1 ladders are designated a Duty Rating 130kg and Class 3 ladders are designated a Duty Rating 95kg. These figures were arrived at years ago by British Standards from a consideration of the frequency and general conditions of use. They are not an accurate guide to the Safe Working Load. The "Maximum Static Vertical Load" is a more useful measure and gives a more accurate guide to relative strengths. |
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| NOTE: Any standard or kitemark is only a MINIMUM standard. In the UK there are many approved and kitemarked ladders and steps which just about scrape through the tests. There are many others which are built to a considerably stronger specification than the tests require. Our Trade Duty alloy ladders (code: ELT...) are a good example. They are amongst the strongest BS EN131 approved ladders in the UK and many sizes would pass the Class 1 tests. There are some other makes of Trade Duty ladders which are still approved to BS EN131 but are considerable lighter duty and are built to JUST pass the tests. In addition, note that there are several types of ladders and steps which are not covered by any standard - Roof Ladders and Alloy Warehouse Steps for example. These are normally (but not always) made of Trade or Industrial duty materials, but cannot be kitemarked because no kitemark applies to them. |
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| METAL LADDERS & STEPS | |||
| BS2037 CLASS 1 |
INDUSTRIAL DUTY |
Max
safe
working
load - 175kg (27.5 stones) [ Duty Rating - |
The strongest UK category. These ladders and steps are built for the most rugged and frequent use. |
| BS2037 CLASS 2 (now BS EN131 ) |
TRADE DUTY |
Max
safe
working
load
150kg (23.5 stones) [OLD Class 2 Duty Rating |
Our old Class 2 is now replaced by the European-wide EN131standard. In the UK it is known as BS EN131. Ladders and steps manufactured on the continent which are approved to EN131 will often show the French and/or German "kitemark"
It
is
important
to
note
that
because
there
is
no
Class
1
and
Class
3
on
the
continent,
almost
all
continental
ladders
and
steps
are
made
to
EN131.
Manufacturers
often
subdivide
this
standard
into
several
unofficial
strength
categories
from
light
duty
to
heavy
duty
and
produce
ranges
of
ladders
and
steps
of
the
same
general
design
in
each
category.
All,
however,
will
be
"EN131"
standard. |
| BS2037 CLASS 3 |
DOMESTIC DUTY |
Max
safe
working
load
125kg (19.5 stones) [ Duty Rating - |
The lightest duty UK category. These ladders and steps are built for occasional use around the home. They are NOT designed for Trade and Industrial use. Using them in these circumstances may contravene the Health & Safety regulations and will probably upset Health & Safety inspectors - especially if there has been an accident with them! Insurance companies often state that using Domestic Duty ladders and steps for commercial work will invalidate claims for personal injury. |
| TIMBER LADDERS & STEPS | |||
| BS1129 CLASS 1 |
INDUSTRIAL DUTY |
Max
safe
working
load
175kg (27.5 stones) [ Duty Rating - |
The strongest UK category. These ladders and steps are built for the most rugged and frequent use. |
| BS1129 CLASS 2 (now BS EN131 ) |
TRADE DUTY |
Max
safe
working
load
150kg (23.5 stones) [OLD Class 2 Duty Rating |
Old Class 2 is now withdrawn. Very few British makes of timber ladders and steps are approved to BS EN131. The dwindling sales of these timber products means that gaining a kitemark is too costly. Many ladders and steps are still "made to" the old standard but are no longer tested, approved and kitemarked. |
| LOFT LADDERS | |||
| BS7553 CLASS H |
HEAVY USE | Max
safe
working
load
150kg (23.5 stones) |
The strongest UK category but it is worth noting that many loft ladders in the UK are considerably stronger than this requires but are often not approved to any standard. Most are imported from the continent. |
| BS7553 CLASS G |
GENERAL USE |
Max
safe
working
load
100kg (15.75 stones) |
The requirements of BS7553 Class G are not too demanding and most light Domestic Duty loft ladders will meet this standard. |
|
The
British
Standards
for
UK
ladders
are
- EN131 has been recently adopted as a European-wide standard ( known in the UK as BS EN131 ). Here it has replaced the old Trade Duty (Class 2) of BS 2037. |
|||
| KITEMARKS FOR SCAFFOLD TOWERS | |||
| Important
Note: the information below was accurate up until Spring
2005. Since then BS1139 Part 3 ( HD1004 ) has been adopted as a new European-wide standard for Industrial Towers called EN1004 (known in the UK as BS EN1004). In addition, the new Work At Height Regulations 2005 were introduced in April and have superceded the old Construction Regs 1996. The Health & Safety Executive in the UK have used the WAHR to require all users to add extra equipment to BS EN1004 specification alloy towers so that no-one has to stand on a platform without guardrails around them, especially when erecting and dismantling. Consequently a BS EN1004 specification tower will not automatically include sufficient trapdoor platforms and guardrails (horizontal braces) to satisfy the HSE. This is why our price lists for Industrial Alloy Ladderframe Towers have prices for both BS EN1004 specification and the HSE preferred Through-The-Trap ( 3T ) specification, which is now considered to be "Best Practice". Further information and clarification will appear here soon. Meanwhile treat the details below with some caution - not all of it is current!! |
|||
| The British Standard for scaffold towers is BS1139: Part 3: 1994 "Metal Scaffolding: Specification for prefabricated mobile access and working towers" ( also known as HD1004 ) and applies to INDUSTRIAL duty towers. Lightweight Domestic Duty steel scaffold towers will not be made to this standard despite what a few less scrupulous suppliers may claim! | |||
| HD1004 was the Harmonising Document published by CEN, the European Committee for Standardisation in 1992 as the basis for a pan-European standard to be used across 18 different countries. BS1139: Part 3: 1994 is the British implementation of HD1004. In Germany it is called GS DIN4422-1 1992-08. Although given different titles in different counties, the content is the same in each and all national implementations are accepted in all countries. | |||
| IMPORTANT
NOTE: BS1139: Part 3 is a "standard", not a legal requirement. Customers are not obliged by law to use towers which are approved, although it is the policy of many companies to do so at all times. However, "The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996" are a legal requirement on employers and most of the requirements of these regulations are the same as BS1139: Part 3 1994 (HD1004). |
|||
| Both
the
Health
&
Safety
Regulations
and
BS1139
require
towers
to
have
- - some form of ladder access to the platform ( either vertical ladders or inclined ) - a trapdoor platform for safe access from the ladder - toeboards fitted around all working platforms - stabilisers or outriggers fitted where necessary to guard against overturning - double-height guardrails at each platform level |
|||
| There
are,
though,
a
couple
of
areas
where
the
Health
&
Safety
Regulations
and
BS1139
differ
-
BS1139
(HD1004)
-
applies
only
to
towers
with
a
platform
height
from
2.5m
to
12.0m
(indoor
use),
and
from
2.5m
to
8.0m
(outdoor
use). BS1139
(HD1004)
-
requires
a
maximum
vertical
distance
between
different
platforms
of
4.0m
;
a
maximum
vertical
distance
between
the
ground
and
the
first
platform
of
4.4m. |
|||
|
More
detailed
information
is
available
from
BSI
-
British
Standards
Institution Many
Health
&
Safety
publications
are
available
from
HSE
Books |
|||
05/09/07
|
Tel: 0117 935 4664 Fax: 0117 951 5682 e-mail: sales@ladders999.co.uk Lansford
Access
Ltd
Unit
8A
East
Park
Tr.
Estate
Gordon
Road
BRISTOL
BS5
7DR
U.K.
|
B.S.
KITEMARKS
