Ladder Lockdown and Ladder Levelizer Tested

By: John Scanlan, Published on Jul 18, 2018

Ladders are a daily necessity for surveillance and security installers, but working on an unstable surface can be extremely dangerous. In addition to selecting the appropriate ladder, it is important to ensure the ladder is safely footed.

Two manufacturers claim to improve ladder safety: 

We bought both ladder devices and tested them. Below is an overview:

We tested both of these devices in real-world conditions to see how they work, examining:

  • Marketing Claims vs Performance
  • Ladder Levelizer Demonstration
  • Ladder Lockdown Demonstration
  • Product Failures / Shortcomings
  • Physical Overview
  • Price

******* *** * ***** necessity for ************ *** ******** installers, *** ******* ** an ******** ******* *** be ********* *********. ** addition *********** *** *********** ******, ** ** ********* to ****** *** ****** is ****** ******.

*** ************* ***** ** improve ****** ******: 

** ****** **** ****** devices *** ****** ****. Below ** ** ********:

** ****** **** ** these ******* ** ****-***** conditions ** *** *** they ****, *********:

  • ********* ****** ** ***********
  • ****** ********* *************
  • ****** ******** *************
  • ******* ******** / ************
  • ******** ********
  • *****

[***************]

***************

*** ****** ******** ** recommended *** *** **** another ****** ** *** available ** **** ** ***** * ladder. *** *** ****** is **** ****** ******** ****** *** be **** ** ****** ground that ******** **** ****-**** pads **** ****** ******* with *** ******. ***** the ****** ******** ** uneven ****** ** **** safe **** ***** * ladder *****.

*** ****** ********* ** *********** for ******* ** ****** ground *** ***** ** advertised, ******** * ***** non-slip **** ** ****** ground ***** *** ********* required **** ********* ***-** leveling **** *** ********* ladders, ***** ***** ** not ****** ** ***** a ****.

*****

*** ****** ********* *** *********** ******** **** *** manufacturer's ******* *** ~$** USD.

*** ****** ******** *** be ********* ******* ************'* ******* *** ~$150+ ********, ***** *** ~$30 ** *** ******. 

Ladder ********* *************

** *** *******, *** Ladder ********* ****** ****, with ** ****** ****** on *** ******, ****** pushed **** *** ****** in **** ********, *** the ****** ****** ** top. ** *** ** issues **** *********** **** placed.

*** ***** ***** ************ using *** ********* ** a ***** *****.

Ladder ******** *************

** *** *******, *** Ladder ******** *** ****** on ****** ********, **** the ****** ******* ** the ******* **** *** contact *** *** ******** strips ** *** ****** of *** ********. ** even ******** *** ** mulch/soil, *** ****** ******** worked ************, **** *** non-slip ****** *** ****** spikes ********* ********* ****.

*** ***** ************ ***** scenarios:

Beware ****** ******** *******

******** ****** ******** ****** it ** *** ***** than * ****** ***** users ** *** ****** Lockdown **** ****** **** the ***** ** ** flat ******, ** **** a ***** **** ** raised **** ** * **** surface **** ***** *** plate ** ***** ****** it **** **** **** a ****** *****.

*** ****** ** *** Ladder ******** *** *** small ***** **** ***-**** ********, ******* the ****** ***** ******* to *****.

** ********* ****** ********, who ******** *** ********* response:

*** ***** ** ***** and **** ***********. ** may ** ******* *** in *** ****** ** even * ******* **** across *** ******. 
** *** ***** ***** the ****** ** ** uneven **** **’* ******** create * **** ***** that ***** ** ******* the ***** ***** ** our ****** ********, ** would ** ****** ** use *** *** ****** or ******* ** *** asphalt ** *** ** use ****** ******** ** that ********* ** ***.  Should *** *** *** ice ****** ** *** cons, *** ***** ** the ******* *** ****** filled ****** ** ******* them **** **** ******.  

** **** ****** **** report ** **** ****** up ** *** ****** change.

******* ** **** *****, Ladder ******** ****** ** advertised, ********* * ***** footing ** **** ** **** ******.

Alternatives ** *********/********

***** *** **** *********** alternatives ** *** ******* detailed *****:

  • ****** *** ********
  • ***** ********
  • ***** ** ****** ******/****/*****

Extension ****** ****** *** ********

**** ************* ***** ******-*** ******** *******, which ******* ** *** lower ******* ** *** ****** ** the *** *** ***** the ******. ***** **** ~$100 *** ** ******* and **** ** ** permanently ******** ** *** ladder, ***** ***** ******** drilling ******** ***** ** the ******, ***** *** (likely ****) **** ******** and ** **** ***** degrade *** ******'* ****** rating.

Extension ****** ******** ********

***** *** **** ******* that ******* ** ***** section ** ********* ******* and ******* * **** dynamic ******** ********** ******** the **** ** **** on ****** ******** *** have *** ****** **** along *** ****-****** ****. This ******* **** *** require ****** ************ ** it ***** ** ** the ****** ** * similar ******* ** *** height ** ******** **** **** locks. ***** *** ********* ~$100-150.

Built ** ****** ******

**** ********* ******* ******* ***** on ***** **** ***** may ** ****** **** the ****** ** **** surface, ******** ** ******** as ******, *****, ** toes. ***** ****** *** also ********** *** ******** variances ** ****** ******* the ****** ******** (**** than ~*"), **** *** spiked cleat pushed **** *** **** on ****** ******, *** the **** **** **** on ***** ******.

*******, **** ****** *** a **** ******* ***** than ***-** *******, **** ~2" ** ****, ******** to *"+ **** ***** leveling **** ** ********.

Comments (16)

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | 07/18/18 02:34pm

*** *** ***** ** ladder ********* *** *** box ****** ********* ***** be ***** '***** *** world...

* ************ ****** *** the *** ** * "3rd-party" ******* **** **** would ** ******* ** a ******* **** ** civil *******?

Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Sean Patton | 07/18/18 08:41pm

* ***** ** ***** be ********* ****, ***** that *** *** * use *** ***** ** on******'******** *** ****** ** factory ********* ** **** installed. *'** **** ** a **** **** *** one **** ***** ******** with *** ****** ***** extended. ** ****'* ***** anywhere.

***, **** ** ******* that *** **** ********* part *** ********* ** a ********* ****** *** the ************'* ***********. * wouldn't ** *** ********* with **** ** * find ** **** ***** a ******* ****** *********** without *** *** ***** products ***** **. **** use * ***** *** as * *** ***** product.

* ********** ******'* *** the ***** ******** ****** in ********* ** **** article. ****, * ****** fiberglass ******* *** **** away **** ******** *******. Commercial **** ****** ** see ********** ******* *******.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Kyle Folger | 07/18/18 08:47pm

*******: *** ******’* *** use ****?

Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/18/18 09:04pm

* ****** ******** **** I *** *** ** multiple *********. *** ****** Levelizer ******'* *** **** of *** ****** * use ******* **** ** spanning ****** **** *** product * ****** ** shows. ** ******* *** worked ** **** **********. The ********* *****'* ****** to *** ** **** as * ***** **** it.

*** ******** ***** ** useful **** *** ****** in *** ****** *** not ** * ****** slightly ****** ******* **** wouldn't *** *** ******. There ****'* **** ********** where * **** * completely ****** *******. *** in *** ******, * find *** ****** ****** built ** *** ****** work **** *** **. If * **** **** stabilization ** *** ****, I ***** ****** **** something **** ********** **** as****. **** ** *** of *** ******* ***** I *** *** *****. 

* **** **** *** use ** ******** * ladder *** ********** *** a ******** ****** **********.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

07/18/18 02:56pm

** ***********. **** ****, *** our **** **** *** pro **** *******.

[**** ****: ***** ******** below]

 

Avatar

Fabian Muyawa

LONTECH SYSTEMS | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 07/20/18 07:12am

*** ******** ****** ***** versatile ******.

Avatar

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 07/20/18 02:06pm

** - ****** *** the ******** *** ****!  That ****** **** * solid *******. *** **** has **** ******* **** using ** *** **** you *** *** ******** / ****** **** **?

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to John Scanlan | 07/20/18 04:50pm

** ****, *** ** have **** ***** *** a **** **** ****, like *****. *** *** engineers **** ** ** the *** ** **** of ***** ***. ** ******** with ** ** ***.

**** *** **** ** health *** ****** *** getting ******* ** ***** we **** *** **** to ** ** ******** but **** *** ******* demonstrate ********** ***** ** mitigate risk. **** ******** **** on ****.

** ******, *** **** to ****** ******* ****** training *** *** ****** checks ** ******.

 

 

 

Avatar

Rich Moore

07/18/18 04:14pm

* **** ** ** a ******* **** ** the ***.  ** ****** carried * *** ** shim **** ** *** from *** ********** ** we ***** ***** ** a **** ** ****** ground.  ** **** ** you **** ****** ** the ******, **'* **** worth **.

Undisclosed #2

07/18/18 04:20pm

* **** ***** *** wobbly ****** *** ***** tripod *******.

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc. | 07/19/18 01:00pm

** *** *** ****** leg ******** (********* ** each ***) *** **** found **** **** **** great. *** **** ******* is **** *** * lot ** ****** *** that ***** ****** ** all ** *** ****. That ***** *** ****** very ******* ** *****. 

**** **** ** ********* to ****** *** ***** that **** ******* ** uneven *******. 

Knut-Eric Andreassen

07/23/18 07:16am

** *** *** ******* by *** ** *** straight ******* **** ** without *********** ** ******. This ** ***********, ** is *** ******* ** use ******* * ***** anymore.

Avatar

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Knut-Eric Andreassen | 07/23/18 01:56pm

****-**** - ****** *** your ***** ******* *** the ***********.

Undisclosed #3

07/23/18 10:43am

** *** ******** **** not **** **** ** uneven ******, *** **** the ********* *** **** on ***** ******?

 

Avatar

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 07/23/18 12:09pm

*******, *** ********* ** not ****** ** ***** ground *** ** **** on **** ****** ** will **** *** ****** tilt. *** ******** **** not **** ** ****** that *** ****** ***** in ** ****** ** the *****, ***** ** does *** **** ****-**** material ** *** ******.  They *** ******* ** change ****.

Carl Kristoffersen

07/23/18 05:25pm

*** ********* ***** **** a ****** *******, ******** I'd **** ** *** a ***** ********* ** the ****** ***.
*** ******** ** *** other ****... **'* **** are ** ****** **** the ******* ** ** flat ********, ****'* * detriment **** *** ******* seen ******* ** ** sliding ***** ** *****.  More ****** **** *** mitigate **** ***********.  ****** non-slip ******** ***** **** immensely.  ** *** ***** or ****, * **** the **** **** ** ladders ** ** **** than ********.  * ******'* see ****** **** *** $25, *** ***** $*** to ** ****. 

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports on Installation

ZK Teco Atlas Access Control Tested on Aug 20, 2019
Who needs access specialists? China-based ZKTeco claims its newest access panel 'makes it very easy for anyone to learn and install access control...
Installation Course - Register Now on Aug 15, 2019
Register Now for the September 2019 Video Surveillance Install Course. This is a unique installation course in a market where little practical...
Milestone "GDPR-ready" Certification Claim Critiqued on Aug 12, 2019
Milestone is touting that its latest XProtect VMS is "GDPR-ready" with a 'European Privacy Seal'. However, our investigation raises significant...
Hikvision 4K Camera Shootout on Aug 02, 2019
With their latest Smart Series 5 cameras, Hikvision is claiming cameras "fully loaded" with "state-of-the-art technology for high performance and...
Responsibility Split Selecting Locks - Statistics on Jul 22, 2019
A heated access debate surrounds who should pick and install the locks. While responsible for selecting the control systems, integrators often...
Dumber Techs, Bad Box Movers, Says Australian Distributor on Jun 10, 2019
Techs today are "dumber" than they used to be, despite better education and training and that makes a typical day "frustrating" for one...
"New" Arecont Fixes Failures "Without A Fight" on Jun 05, 2019
The "old" Arecont was infamous not only for its camera failures but for making their "partners" fight to get them fixed. IPVM drew the ire of...
IndigoVision Control Center VMS Tested on May 30, 2019
IPVM's last test of IndigoVision's VMS was in 2010, which found enterprise VMS features and a simple client interface. but no 3rd party camera...
Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
Maglock Selection Guide on May 16, 2019
One of the most misunderstood yet valuable pieces of electrified hardware is the maglock. Few locks are stronger, but myths and confusion surround...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Anyvision Facial Recognition Tested on Aug 21, 2019
Anyvision is aiming for $1 billion in revenue by 2022, backed by $74 million in funding. But does their performance live up to the hype they have...
JCI Sues Wyze on Aug 21, 2019
The mega manufacturer / integrator JCI has sued the fast-growing $20 camera Seattle startup Wyze. Inside this note: Share the court...
Dahua 4K Camera Shootout on Aug 20, 2019
Dahua's new Pro Series 4K N85CL5Z claims to "deliver superior images in all lighting and environmental conditions", but how does this compare to...
ZK Teco Atlas Access Control Tested on Aug 20, 2019
Who needs access specialists? China-based ZKTeco claims its newest access panel 'makes it very easy for anyone to learn and install access control...
Uniview Beats Intel In Trademark Lawsuit on Aug 19, 2019
Uniview has won a long-running trademark lawsuit brought by Intel, with Beijing's highest court reversing an earlier Intel win, centered on...
Suprema Biometric Mass Leak Examined on Aug 19, 2019
While Suprema is rarely discussed even within the physical security market, the South Korean biometrics manufacturer made global news this past...
Verkada People And Face Analytics Tested on Aug 16, 2019
This week, Verkada released "People Analytics", including face analytics that they describe is a "game-changing feature" that "pushes the...
Dahua OEM Directory 2019 on Aug 16, 2019
US Government banned Dahua OEMs for dozens of companies. The following directory includes 40+ of those companies with a graphic and links to...
Installation Course - Register Now on Aug 15, 2019
Register Now for the September 2019 Video Surveillance Install Course. This is a unique installation course in a market where little practical...
Axis Suffers Outage, Provides Postmortem on Aug 15, 2019
This week, Axis suffered an outage impacting their website and cloud services. Inside this note, we examined what happened, what was impacted...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact