Reaching the Roof: Specifying Fixed Access Aluminum Ladders for Safety and Efficiency

Installed in virtually every commercial structure, fixed access aluminum ladders are a necessary feature for maintaining both building equipment and occupant safety.
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Sponsored by ALACO Ladder Company
Karin Tetlow

Case Studies

While the majority of fixed access aluminum ladders are specified and installed correctly according to code, manufacturers tell many stories of things not going quite right. On one occasion the contractor on the job site removed and reconfigured the ladder brackets to make the ladder fit, thereby making the ladder unsafe. Fortunately, the manufacturer discovered the change before the building was occupied. Other examples reveal the challenges of designing according to code:

Conclusion

Fixed access ladders are necessary tools for the efficient functioning of virtually all commercial buildings and the health, safety and welfare of their occupants. As with all tools, they need to be evaluated in terms of the code standards that govern their use and the how and where they are employed. In centuries past, an image sufficed for understanding the role and purpose of ladders. Today, all ladders, especially fixed access ladders, demand much, much more.



Alaco logo.

ALACO is a manufacturer of special purpose and custom designed ladders to fit a variety of residential, commercial and industrial applications. Established in 1946, ALACO now manufactures over 800 different models of aluminum, wood and fiberglass ladders, including a complete line of commercial and designer rolling ladders. www.alacoladder.com

 

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Originally published in December 2013


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