Fixed Roof Access Ladders are ladders fixed to the overall structure or facility they are used at. It is quite common to find them in commercial buildings, as law mandates them, as a safety feature, per building codes. They are an absolute necessity for individuals that work on rooftops and elevated places, as they are necessary safety feature.
Fixed Roof Access Ladders generally comprise of 3 basic parts and depending on the type of ladder, two additional parts namely, the Rails, the Rungs, and the Brackets, and the additional parts being the cage or the well. Rails are the bars in the structure of the ladder that run parallel to each other horizontally. They form the outer structure of the ladder. The rungs are the steps that run horizontally between the two opposite rails and join the Rails together.
The Brackets are an addition to normal ladders that convert it into a Fixed Roof Ladder. They are the joints that connect and keep the ladder attached to the building or structure they are associated with. Now, depending on the type of Fixed Access Ladder, it might also have either a Cage, which is a circular structure around the top of the ladder, or it might have a well, which again is a circular structure, but unlike a cage, it is enclosed from the sides.
Types of Fixed Roof Access Ladders
There are five types of Fixed Roof Access Ladders with various sub styles, namely:
- Angled Fixed Ladders: These ladders are angled at a preferred pitch between the ranges of 75 to 90 degrees. 90 degrees is the maximum pitch allowed as per the regulation and the minimum pitch is 60 degrees. Though, an Angled Fixed Ladder between the pitch ranges of 60 to 75 degrees is considered to be below par as per the standards. These are great for accessing places with different elevations. Generally, Angles fixed ladders come in three varieties i.e. Angled Fixed Ladder with Handrails, Angled Fixed Ladder with Parapet Mount, and Angled Fixed Ladder with Lead on Handrails.
- Standard Fixed Ladders: These are Fixed Roof access Ladders at a straight 90 degree angle. These ladders have a simple design but are most effective for accessing roofs from the ground. These come in three varieties; Vertical Access Ladder with Grabrails, Vertical Access Ladder with Parapet Platform, Vertical Access Ladder with Walkway, Vertical Fixed Ladders with Roof Hatch Access.
- Caged Ladders: Caged Ladders are a kind of Fixed Roof Access Ladder that has a Cage Built around the Ladder, as a fall protection feature. The common varieties of Caged Ladders include; Caged Access Ladder with Grabrails, Caged Access Ladder With Parapet Mount, Caged Access Ladder With Lead On Handrails, Caged Ladder for Roof Hatch Access.
Quality Parameters for Fixed Roof Access Ladders
Any deficiency in the quality could prove to be the cause of a major accident. Therefore, the following quality and safety parameters need to keep in mind while installing Fixed Roof Access Ladders.
- Fixed Roof access ladders must be sturdy enough to handle 2 weights of approximately 114 kilograms each in addition to any other anticipated loads resulting out of using the ladder.
- The rungs or steps attached on the rails need to be spaced at a gap of minimum 10 to maximum 14 inches from each other.
- Any Ladder extending more than 7.5 meters needs to have the essential ladder safety measures and devices such as rest platforms or Cage/Well for safety purposes.
- Ensure that every step or rung of the ladder is able to support a minimum weight of 114 kilograms.
- Fixed roof ladders need to stretch out to at least 42 inches above the level that it leads into.
There is nothing more important than safety of the individuals using a Fixed Ladder. Thus, ensure that all necessary safety precautions and quality standards are adhered to in installing the fixed ladder.
