Ladders and access equipment

It is vital that access equipment from ladders, mobile access towers to timber access boards are capable of supporting the correct loads in line with its intended use.

In the UK, portable access equipment should comply with the appropriate specification such as BS EN 131 covering ladders and step ladders constructed from aluminium, steel, plastics or timber, BS EN 1004 for mobile access towers, BS EN 14975 for loft ladders and BS EN 14183 for step stools.

The HSE recommend that all portable ladders and step ladders on construction sites meet the requirements of BS EN 131.

BSI offers Kitemark certification on all of these ladder standards. Rigorous ladder testing to standards including BS EN 131-2 includes rung, stile and component connection strength, drop testing on loft ladder hinges, overall deflection of mobile access towers and stability of low level work platforms. Testing can be undertaken both at our testing facilities and/or at the manufacturer’s premises. Our testing can also involve working closely with clients, testing new products at the developmental stage.

List of standards for ladders and access equipment:

• BS EN 131 
  Ladders
• BS 8630
  Portable stagings and folding trestles
• BS EN 14975
  Loft ladders. Requirements, marking and testing
• BS 2482
  Timber scaffold boards
• BS EN 1004
  Mobile access and working towers made of prefabricated materials
• BS EN 14183
  Step stools