Ladders For Installers Guide

By: IPVM Team, Published on Sep 25, 2018

Ladders are one of the most important pieces of worksite equipment for the surveillance technician. Too often, however, even highly experienced technicians are using old or defective ladders in an unsafe or inefficient manner.

As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states, "Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. This guide will show you how to choose the right ladder for the job and how to use it safely, whether you are a brand new apprentice or a crew supervisor.

Inside this guide, we provide detailed information including videos on:

Step ladders vs extension ladders vs articulated ladders
Duty ratings
One-person ladder carrying techniques
Ladder safety
Fiberglass vs Aluminum vs Wood

Readers should also see our other installation training guides:

Ladder Types

There are three types of ladders commonly used in surveillance and security installs:

Step ladders
Extension ladders
Articulating ladders

As well as variants of each. We review these types below.

Step Ladders

Most common are step ladders, which consist of an A-shaped frame with steps for rungs on one side (or rarely both sides). They are available in many sizes, from small 2' step stools to high reach ~20' models, and are popular for their ease of use and often, but not always, lighter weight. They are best for heights ~16 or less, but may also be necessary when lifts or extension ladders are not an option, such as servicing a ceiling mounted camera at ~20', not uncommon at big box stores. In addition to standard step ladders, there is a less common variant call the podium ladder, which removes steps in order to create a larger work platform. This allows users to work in all directions, including behind them, not (safely) possible on a stepladder.

Extension Ladders

Extension ladders are used when greater reach than step ladders provide is required. They are typically made of two (or more) sections.

Bed: The bed section consists of round (not flat) rungs attached to a beam, and composes the base of the ladder.
Fly: The fly section is the bit that extends from the bed section when you pull the rope (called the halyard). The halyard is threaded through a pulley.

Rung locks lock the fly into place and prevent it from moving so that ladder can be climbed or moved. The bottom of the ladder has a moving assembly with a flat, non-slip surface called the foot pad as well as spikes called teeth or cleats. Extension ladders are best for heights between 16' and 32', beyond that lifts are recommended.

Proper Extension Ladder Set Up

When setting up an extension ladder, a proper angle is important:

Setting the ladder at too steep an angle may result in kick out, where the feet / bottom of the ladder slide away from the wall.
Conversely, setting the ladder more straight up and down with the feet too close to the wall can result in the user falling backwards away from the building.

There is a process for generally determining if a ladder is set at the right angle:

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Comments (15)

Abaas Mahroos

Al Aswar Trading Group
IPVMU Certified | 09/25/18 07:44pm

Great topic to cover.

One of our clients (an integrator) had one of their staff pass away from a fall off a ladder. It was no more than 2m in height, landed on the back of his head. He wasn't wearing a helmet.

I still find it scary that one can die from a seemingly routine task.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

09/25/18 08:12pm

Not an exciting topic. A seemingly simple topic. But people do well to head as a reminder everyone now and then.

Shannon Davis

TED Systems
09/26/18 04:07pm

To expand upon this due to insurance and contractor requirements in many facilities or job sites you can no longer use a step ladder over 4' to 6' without being tied off. On some construction project we have been on lately unless you can reach what you are working on with a 4' ladder then you have to use a lift. This is really important to know when bidding a project the safety requirements of the site. Not having the price of a lift in your bid could tank a small job. More importantly the use of extension ladders is becoming even more prohibited on some sites.

Kyle Baker

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Shannon Davis | 09/20/19 01:06am

Thanks for sharing this. I had not heard of those requirements anywhere yet. But I will be sure to look out for them now.

Shannon Davis

TED Systems
In reply to Kyle Baker | 09/20/19 01:16am

You will know because it will be mandated either by the customer or the general contractor. The main thing is to know before you bid a project.

Daniel Tyrrell

In reply to Shannon Davis | 09/20/19 02:01pm

I did some brief work at a gold mine years ago that had this crazy ladder rule. Basically couldn't use ladders of any height, unless it had a platform and railing. But some how using rolling scaffolding was fine. Strange rules out there.

Shannon Davis

TED Systems
In reply to Daniel Tyrrell | 09/20/19 03:14pm

We have been asked to start using the ladders with a platform but we have held off on that for now.

Rob Dunham

Tailored IT Solutions
11/01/18 09:50pm

Aluminium ladders do not meet code in most locales when you are working with cabling. Code almost always requires non-conductive ladders.

Shannon Davis

TED Systems
In reply to Rob Dunham | 11/02/18 02:40pm

Also most aluminum ladders are not that stable either. Those types are typically very light construction other than say a Little Giant. I used to carry a Little Giant all over the place. Back breaking but very reliable and versatile. There is a fiberglass version as well.

Dustin Hoffman

01/21/20 04:05am

"Many will tell you to throw the ladder with the fly out so that it faces towards you when you climb it. Those people are wrong. Ladder manufacturers will tell you to throw the ladder with the fly in, facing the building. "

What am I reading this wrong fly out is wrong? What even in the demonstration video the fly is out towards the climber. This can't be right.

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Dustin Hoffman | 01/21/20 03:08pm

Dustin - thanks for the comment. This report was an older report that we heavily rewrote and missed that. I have updated that section. It is more common now to find ladders designed for fly out use, like the one I demonstrate in the video.

Dean Kozak

05/20/20 12:01am

They actually make fiber glass multi ladders nowadays , werner and little giant both..

Werner:

Werner 22 ft. Reach Height Multi-Purpose Fiberglass PRO Ladder with 300 lbs. Load Capacity Type IA-FMT-22 - The Home Depot

Little giant:

Little Giant Conquest Ladder | Type 1A | Conquest Ladders

I also recommend using a dolly or cart with ladder storage or carry hooks for easier transport of the low to mid height ladders as it save time going back and forth to truck van or job site storage , but also easier on the lower back.. and Id say for also if you do access control then really cart is a must have set up

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Tan Tharp

08/12/20 10:19pm

I never knew the handy trick about having the ladder be 1 additional foot away from the wall for every four feet high. Once growing up I had a ladder slip out from under me, and now I can see why.

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Tan Tharp | 08/13/20 05:43pm

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Daniel Tyrrell

08/13/20 12:20pm

Anyone use the Little Giant King Kombo ladder? Seen it all over Instagram, looks like a neat little ladder...

NOTICE: This comment has been moved to its own discussion: Anyone Use The Little Giant King Kombo Ladder?

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