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Lansford Access is a proud member of the Ladder Association

Lansford Access is a proud member of PASMA

  B.S. KITEMARKS


This page is intended as an outline guide to the various standards for ladders, steps and scaffold towers.  It is not a thorough explanation.  Customers who require more detailed information should contact the British Standards Institute.

  

KITEMARKS & STANDARDS FOR LADDERS AND STEPS

The UK has three categories of ladder & stepladder strength -

Industrial Duty (Class 1) ladders are designed for a Maximum Static Vertical Load 175kg (27.5 stones).  This will sometimes be referred to as "safe working load".

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.

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.

METAL LADDERS & STEPS
BS2037
CLASS 1
INDUSTRIAL
DUTY
Max safe working load - 175kg
(27.5 stones)

[ Duty Rating -
 130kg/20.5stones
see text at top]

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 
 110kg/17.3stones
but not now used 
see text at top]

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.
Consequently some EN131 products will be just as strong as our Class 1 products and some will be much lighter duty.

BS2037
CLASS 3
DOMESTIC
DUTY
Max safe working load 125kg
(19.5 stones)

[ Duty Rating -
 95kg/15.0stones
see text at top]

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 -
 130kg/20.5stones
see text at top]

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
 110kg/17.3stones
but not now used 
see text at top]

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 -
BS 2037 - applies to metal ladders (Class 1 and Class 3)
BS EN131 - applies to metal and timber ladders
BS 1129 - applies to timber ladders
BS 7553 - applies to loft ladders

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).
The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations apply to all towers with a platform height from 2.0m upwards.

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.
The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations - require a maximum vertical distance between the ground and first platform ( or between different platforms ) of 9.0m.

 

More detailed information is available from BSI - British Standards Institution
tel: 0908 221166 or www.bsi-global.com

Many Health & Safety publications are available from HSE Books
tel: 01787 881165  or www.hsedirect.com
including -
HSE Information Sheet CS10 - Tower Scaffolds (free)
HSE Information Sheet CS47 - Inspections & Reports (free)
HSE Information Sheet CS49 - General Access Scaffolds & Ladders (free)
HSE Information Sheet CS17 - Construction Health & Safety Checklist (free)
for FREE printable copies of some useful HSE Info Sheets
click here for our "PDF Download" page

^

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.

Deliveries to UK only - mostly by FREE NEXT-DAY service. All dimensions & weights are approximate.  All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Prices shown exclude VAT unless otherwise stated. E&OE. ŠLansford Access Ltd 2001