What Industrial Extension Ladders Do For You And Why

By Marci Glover


In a manufacturing or construction setting, a ladder is indispensable. There are those who appreciate the ability to get a little higher to work on some piece of equipment or for installing something above their reach. Many will rely on A frame ladders for this, however, the industrial extension ladders have a far higher and more secure reach in most applications.

Depending on what needs to be done, an A frame may be the better choice. These are preferable for working on something that is not close enough to a structure to lean the extension ladder on. There is a major drawback, however, most work can be accomplished with this type of step assistance because most work is conducted at the perimeter of a space.

Safety regulations, enforced in most commercial and industrial situations, forbid personnel from stepping on the top of the A frame ladder. This also applies to the first and second step below that. This reduces the effective range of movement so that a 10 foot unit does not actually give the worker 10 foot of added height. This requires additional height and costs to gain a moderate rate of elevation.

The first thing that is noticed about an extension ladder is its ability to get higher than any normal A frame type unit. Depending on the size of the ladder, from 10 to 12 foot, heights of between 30 and 36 feet are possible. There is a section or more of additional lengths, on rails, attached to the back of the unit. Some units will have two or more of these with an upper limit of three.

The basic ladders have a hand actuated system which has the operator pushing the additional section up by hand. When it is at the correct height, an arm or hook will rest on one of the original rungs, holding it in place. A more advanced system and the more expensive units will use a pulley or set of pulleys, located at the top. The rope will be pulled to move these sections, one at a time, up or allowing them a controlled fall back into place.

The type of material that these units are constructed of will also be an important factor to consider. Most of these are metal, such as aluminum and can be painted to signify their association with a certain area of the plant or site. There are wooden ones, although this has been discouraged in recent years especially for outdoor work. The most popular material for these is fiberglass for very specific reasons.

The largest reason for choosing fiberglass for this equipment is that it does not conduct electricity. When electricians chose ladders, this is the material they get. This material will also not rust, corrode or discolor. This is a criteria that must be considered when your climbing tasks take you into clients home or business locations.

When you need the ability to get higher up than you or your personnel can get standing on the floor, you need this type of ladder. They have the ability to be moved easily and can be extended by only one person. There are even attachable feet that can be deployed to assist on an uneven floor. This is the way to get up there and stay safe while you are doing it.




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