Stepladders: characteristics, types and operation

Ladders and stepladders are special auxiliary types of structures that are capable of providing human access to the elevation with the subsequent performance of any work. Stepladders are especially convenient devices, they have found their application in various fields.

A stepladder is a folding ladder that can stand on its own without requiring support. This design has a wide range of applications and is used to solve many problems. First of all, it is used in the construction process, to easily reach a certain height. And also stepladders are irreplaceable for electricians. People in this field of activity carry out their work under the threat of voltage and electric current, therefore there are special plastic structures that are equipped with rubber mats for each step.

The functionality of the ladder is determined features of its design... The working height of the product is determined based on human height and platform height. The smallest width between the side rails of the top ladder elements is 11.5 inches or 29.21 cm. Each step must have equipped with a metal spacer with such dimensions and strength, which are enough for high-quality retention of sections.

The production of steps is carried out exclusively from non-slip corrugated material. In this case, the width of the platform should be 0.45 meters. Sliding models must have fixation devices that will prevent the ladder from spontaneously unfolding during operation.

Those models that have wheels, according to the rules, are supplemented with locking latches.preventing movement during operation. One-section stepladders have a small number of steps, and, accordingly, low weight, length and good mobility. Their height usually reaches 4 meters. They are used as attachments for simple jobs.

Most often, the step-ladder consists of 2 or 3 sections, on which there are 6-8 steps. The sections can be pulled out and attached to each other using hooks and clamps. The fastening of steps to metal racks is carried out using rivets. The metal cut is usually covered with plastic.

As for the steps themselves, then their the surface should be corrugated, respectively, have stripes squeezed out in the metal. Sometimes the grooves are replaced by a rubber coating that prevents slipping. The step-ladder is equipped with legs, thanks to which it is able to stand securely in place. To improve safety, they should have rubber or soft plastic tips. To obtain the maximum possible working height, the ladder is laid out into the ladder, using the fasteners provided for by the design to connect the sections.

To additional elements of the product a number of details can be attributed.

• Suspended platforms. Using hooks, this element can be attached with particular ease. The suspended platform is an additional support for the legs, and also serves as a table for inventory. The surface of this structure is covered with plastic or corrugated rubber.
• Additional support devices. These elements can be used to increase the width of the legs, which provides additional stability. The supports are fastened using brackets and screw clamps. These devices have plastic and rubber caps that prevent slipping.
• Rack extension cords. These devices are attached in order to perform work on uneven surfaces. They are fastened with screws to the base of the racks.
• Additional accessories for legs. The casters are attached for easy movement of the ladder.
• Railing. The main purpose of these elements is the ability to easily climb up and down the structure. The railings can be round or flat and are installed with brackets.
• Hooks for loads They are hung on steps, racks and allow you to hang buckets or boxes with inventory.

If you want to make repairs indoors or for construction work, you should use a ladder or stepladder. Without these structures, getting to the ceiling or roof is simply unrealistic. To determine the type of construction that is worth purchasing, it is necessary to accurately determine the goals and objectives. Residents of small apartments will find it inconvenient to use professional ladders, so in such a situation it is worth giving preference to an ordinary ladder. The first option is useful for country houses, major repairs, fruit harvesting.

Stepladders are characterized by strength, compactness and stability, as well as good mobility, which can not be said about the stairs, which are not easy to transfer from place to place. Double sided option useful for people who work in pairs, stairs do not have such opportunities. There are also stepladders that can be transformed into carts and used when transporting goods.

Unlike stepladders, stairs allow a person to climb to a height equal to several floors. At the same time, the possibilities of ladders are limited to only a few meters. Ladders can be single and multi-section. They can only be used by sticking to a vertical surface.

In most cases, the material for the manufacture of stairs is aluminum. These attachments can be used outdoors and can be installed on uneven and unstable surfaces.

Today the consumer is offered a wide selection of ladders. They can be classified according to various criteria.

• By the location of the steps designs are one-sided and two-sided.
• By form and structure ladders are divided into:
  1. classic with an installed working platform;
  2. A-shaped;
  3. L-shaped or folding transformer ladders that are used by specialists;
  4. universal with pull-out sections, they can be folded out and extended in a telescopic way.

• By type of material production.

1. Made of wood. Such ladders are considered not practical enough, as they can be deformed due to the influence of environmental factors. In addition, they are heavy and cannot be used with loads exceeding 100 kilograms.
2. Made of metal. Such models are considered more reliable than the previous ones due to the production of supports from steel as well as iron pipes.This type of construction weighs a lot and has sufficient overall dimensions even when folded.
3. Aluminum. They are characterized by compactness, practicality, they are lightweight, stable and mobile.
4. Combined. This type of ladder has steps and racks made of different materials.

• By the number of steps. This indicator determines the height of the product. The distance between the steps is 0.25 meters.

1. Low ladders consist of 2-3 steps, they are compact and designed for everyday household use, they are characterized by lightness and reliability.
2. High ladders have 4 or more steps in their design. It is beneficial to use them in rooms with high ceilings or when carrying out outdoor work.

There are products for their intended purpose:

• garden;
• for construction;
• for the electrical industry;
• used for painting and repair purposes.

By the nature of the use of stepladders there are:

• mobile;
• portable;
• attached.

Since a stepladder is a useful tool that is almost indispensable in the domestic sphere, its choice should be taken seriously. Having bought a high-quality device that meets all the tasks assigned to it, you can get a good helper for doing your daily work. When choosing a stepladder, the following factors should not be ignored:

• the quality of the fastening of the working platform;
• compliance with the standards of the thickness and quality of the material of manufacture;
• the presence of devices to prevent the structure from overturning and sliding;
• correspondence of the distance between the steps to 25 centimeters;
• equipping with fences and railings of models that have a height of more than 150 centimeters;
• the presence of relief or rubberized surface, which contributes to the stability of the model and its grounding;
• the quality of fastening the steps, the best option is to press them into the racks, it does not allow the structure to break, and is also considered the most reliable;
• no burrs, chips and cracks on the metal surface.

The main criteria when choosing a ladder are its stability, portability, build quality, safety of use, as well as ease of use... Structures made in accordance with GOST are the most reliable, therefore, when buying, it is better to give preference to them. Before purchasing, the user must decide on the required step-ladder height, since buying a higher model will cost more. Plus, large structures require a lot of storage space.

Depending on how and where the structure will be used, you can become the owner of a professional and household step ladder. For home use it is not worth buying a professional device, as its cost is quite high. It will be enough for a household step-ladder, which is characterized by mobility and is easily and simply installed.

For wider applications you should pay attention to professional models. A decent option would be a universal stepladder, for example, a telescopic one, which can be used to perform a variety of tasks.

If the stepladder is purchased for garden work, then you should pay attention to the option with pointed legs. But for household chores, it is worth stopping the choice on models with rubber caps on the legs, such devices do not slip. For frequent movements, you can buy a structure that is equipped with wheels.It is better if the model is supplemented with restraining straps, this feature will prevent unexpected folding of the product.

It would seem that there is nothing difficult in using a step-ladder, but still you should not violate the rules of its operation. The user should remember the following points:

• do not exceed the permissible load on the structure;
• do not move too actively, and also avoid excessive lateral loading on the ladder;
• do not climb the upper steps if the model does not have a working platform and handrails;
• restrict access to the structure for children;
• operate the ladder only in comfortable shoes;
• objects that rise to a height should not have a lot of weight;
• storage of the ladder should be strictly according to the instructions.

Also, the user should remember that before using the ladder, it should be carefully inspected for damage and malfunctions. Operation of a damaged structure is strictly prohibited. Stepladders should be installed on flat and stationary surfaces. You cannot change the location of the structure while on it, and you need to install the device only on the legs.

The stepladder can be called a universal and necessary thing in every home: it is useful not only in gardening, but also in repair, construction and for solving many household tasks.

Our next video will tell you how to choose a stepladder.