Step ladder height

In Russian, it was customary to call any portable (non-stationary) ladder a stepladder. The name of this inventory comes from the word "stirrup" - a movable device with whose help they sit astride a horse, a kind of movable step, which then rides along with the horse and rider.

Initially, step ladders were designed for libraries with high ceilings and, accordingly, with high shelves for books, sometimes they were even made on wheels for ease of movement between shelves. They did not do without them when lighting candles, and when cleaning and repairing premises. It is not known when and where they first began to use portable ladders with an emphasis for harvesting fruit.

Gradually, with the development of the shape and construction of the stairs, their specialization also took place. So, for domestic needs, when the use is not constant, they began to use relatively low, light and small ladders. And for the needs of professionals, strong, stable, albeit heavier, folding ladders have been developed.

The variety of modern ladders is amazing. They can be distinguished by material, height, construction.

You can still find wooden stepladders. True, now this variety is very rare. Most often, homemade stairs are made from wood.

The advantage of wood as a material for making a step-ladder is its availability and ease of processing. However, this traditional and long-established material also has disadvantages. To make the construction of a wooden staircase really reliable, you will have to use rather thick and massive blanks, and this will add weight to the product. It will be very difficult to assemble a truly compact ladder and it is almost impossible to make it foldable and transportable.

A steel ladder is a very reliable structure. Folding steel stairs with wide steps can be successfully used in everyday life. When folded, they easily fit in the closet of a standard city apartment or on a balcony. Structures can be made of round or rectangular rolled steel. The steps are ribbed and have a ribbed surface to reduce the risk of slipping. More advanced models can have lightweight structural elements reinforced with special wall bends that add additional rigidity.

If you are supposed to use a mobile ladder periodically to get something from the upper shelves or mezzanines, for ordinary cosmetic repairs or cleaning, such a ladder will be a reliable assistant. If an elderly person will have to use the ladder, then a steel one is the best option.

The most common nowadays are aluminum stepladders. In fact, aluminum alloys with reduced ductility, united by the common name duralumin, are more often used.

The advantages of this material are obvious. The main one is lightness. In terms of strength and reliability, aluminum products are practically not inferior to steel ones. And given that, due to the lower mass, structures can be thicker, you can imagine what an advantage aluminum ladders get. In addition, aluminum, unlike steel, is not subject to corrosion, which is very important in conditions of contact with aggressive media that some building materials may become. In the process of work, the protective paint coating is also easily damaged - for an aluminum step-ladder it is not terrible, and this trouble, in general, most often does not have such a coating.

The simplest design of a mobile ladder is an extension ladder. Most often, homemade wooden implements are made just by attachments. The height may vary. With its increase, accordingly, the mass also increases. Folding stepladders with an emphasis are the most common type. The design assumes two movably articulated frames: steps are fixed on one, and the second serves to give stability. The top step, as a rule, is in the form of a platform and is intended primarily for placing tools.

Trapezoidal ladders with one stop made of a metal pipe, equipped with a special shoe to prevent slipping, have the highest height. The material for such stairs can be either aluminum or steel.

Among professionals, double-sided ladders are widespread. You can work on such a ladder together, which is sometimes necessary when carrying out professional construction or repair work. It is possible to use such a ladder alone, with the feet on opposite sides of the ladder. This arrangement allows maximum use of its height, which is difficult to do with one-sided ladders.

By purchasing a ladder, of course, you want to get the most convenient equipment. One of the most important criteria is its height. A ladder that is too low may turn out to be unacceptable from a safety point of view: you will have to climb to the highest step, and this will exclude the possibility of using other surfaces of the ladder as a support. Too high can also be inconvenient, since the platform for tools may be right under the ceiling, and, of course, a ladder that is too high will be unnecessarily heavy and oversized.

First of all, its steps, more precisely, their number, will tell about the height of the ladder. On average, the distance between the steps according to GOST can vary from 30 to 34 cm, most manufacturers try to meet this standard. Wherein the first step can be 40 cm from the base level (from the support shoes). Thus, you can calculate the approximate height, knowing the number of stairs. So, a step-ladder with 6 steps will have a height of about 2 meters, and one with 7 steps will already add about 30 cm in height.

The calculation of the height can be presented in the table.

Of course, these dimensions only apply to standard products. And also it must be remembered that the upper step for supporting the leg is not intended, it most often has a combined function: stiffening the movable structure and platform for placing the tool.

For the correct selection of the stepladder, you must remember a kind of formula: the maximum height of the object of work - for example, the ceiling in the room - minus the length of the worker's arm (approximately 75 cm).

Mobile and sliding ladders, despite the many devices aimed at increasing their reliability, remain a rather dangerous piece of equipment. Of course, as it often happens, ignoring elementary rules turns them into such:

• the steps and the landing of the stairs must have an anti-slip coating, in the most budgetary version - a corrugated surface;
• operation of the ladder without anti-slip footwear is unacceptable;
• a one-way ladder cannot be used for two people;
• placing a ladder next to a window is not recommended;
• the step-ladder cannot be used as a ladder;
• double-sided ladders must be equipped with belt ties, otherwise there is a danger that the supports will disintegrate.

For information on how to choose the right ladder, see the next video.