.........

They work better than horizontal ladders.

__________________
Chad Fabry, Rochester, NY
StructureSmart Home Inspections, Inc.
www.structuresmart.com

Ladder access is allowed to storage areas only. The safety issue would be if proper barriers werre installed at the top.

Local codes may vary. May depend on the year built as it would be grandfathered. I would point out the hazards and the limitations of use and recommend consulting with local code enforcement as to OK or not OK.
Definately a NO GO on a bedroom up there, Or below if the furnace is not enclosed, with outside air for combustion. The 70's were real big on lofts and ladders to "HIGH" places. Whats the year of the home?

Here you go Chad, its safer now..

Attached Images

horizontalladder.jpg (23.7 KB, 86 views)

Dan,

I would use this

OSHA Stairways & Ladder Safety

__________________
badair http://www.adairinspection.com Garland, TX 75042
Residential-Commercial-Construction-EIFS-Infrared Thermography
life is the random lottery of events followed by numerous narrow escapes

i see these sorts of ladders everywhere, roof access scuttles, water towers, antenna towers, sometimes going up 50 feet. I can't see how they could be prohibited.

Due to the potential for unknown construction techniques, fasteners and material conditions I never use these during an inspection. If I can't get my equipment to access locations they are inaccessible and reported as such.

Work and arrive home safely

__________________
badair http://www.adairinspection.com Garland, TX 75042
Residential-Commercial-Construction-EIFS-Infrared Thermography
life is the random lottery of events followed by numerous narrow escapes

Boy, I'm with you on that one Barry...

I do not use the wooden/vertical ladders. I use my ladder to enter or none at all.

Most municipalities no longer allow the wood ladders, wood decked storage areas-- they are mostly requiring metal structured with a designed weight rating.

One thing comes to mind here with the vertical wooden ladders... can most women climb these safely? My answer would have to be no!

rr

__________________
"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.

I thought the question was about vertical ladders, not wood ladders. As far as I know there is no rule against vertical ladders.
What does gender have to do with the ability to climb a ladder? I must have missed that day in HI class, I'm sure some of the female home inspectors, linemen, etc. may take exception to that comment. Or is the assumption that all florists are female?
These are OSHA approved Hatch Access Vertical Ladder–Light Duty

Fritz,

A couple of things come to mind...
1) The laddes are not installed for the HI or linemen. They are installed for the use by employees to access these area of the building. If they cannot effectively and safely access these without the possibility of exceeding physical capabilities (think secretary, shipping clerk, etc...) they are a liability that should not be used. As far as someone taking exception to common sense, then so be it.
2). The ladder in the photo posted is of a *WOOD*/ stick-built ladder. So that part did not take any inspector Kluso to identify that part of it...
3) No assumption was make about the gender of florists as a group. But those that *ARE* female must have equally safe access to stored items. Usually, those lofts are used as storage.

Again, it is a common sense concern not some hair-brained notion of gender discriminatory remark.

__________________
"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.

A lidttle common sense applied to decypher the (obviously) encripted message by Chad would have identified that post to be absolutely useful and probably the most accurate posted so far.

The only thing you can say about he VERTICAL ladder in that picture is that it works better than a HORIZONTAL-type.

__________________
"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.

AAARGH!
"Are vertical ladders allowed in either residential or commercial buildings?"
Is not the same question as "Is the ladder in the picture safe? How should I report it?" I assumed Dan would know the answer to the second question and that is why he didn't ask it!

No, except Emergency Escape and Rescue window wells 1026.5.

Yes, under special conditions:
- In 502, EQUIPMENT PLATFORM. An unoccupied, elevated platform

used exclusively for mechanical systems or industrial
process equipment, including the associated elevated walkways,
stairs and ladders necessary to access the platform (see
Section 505.5).
- 505.5

- 1015.3 Boiler, incinerator and furnace rooms
- 1015.4 Refrigeration machinery rooms
- 1015.6 Stage means of egress
- 1019.2 Helstops
- and some others

One of which may apply (505.5) - HOWEVER, that ladder does not look like it would meet any requirements for ladders.

__________________
Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )
EastWestData (www.EastWestData.com )

Clay,

Is the ladder Permanently Attached?

__________________
It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie!
Billy J. Stephens HI Service
Memphis TN.

As a kid growing up the home we lived in had a "vertical" ladder mounted directly to the drywall.

It was great when we weighed 55 lbs. but now I'd pull that thing directly off the wall trying to crawl up it. As Richard Rushing said when I see these type of ladders I still use my own personal ladder to gain access into the attic space.

What I hate more than anything is going up a ceiling mounted pull down ladder and then when you ready to come back down, the lower section has popped up and is not in contact with the ground due to the tension springs being to tight. Having to stand on the ladder and trying to get it back in the down position is a biotch sometimes.

rick

I love it when standing on the pull down stairs and find out bubba used those brittle drywall screws in about half the required locations! I have this vision of it sheering off and folding me up in it just about the time I hit the floor. I won't even attempt to climb those homemade ladders though.

__________________
Jim Luttrall
Mr. Inspector.net, Inc.
Allen, Texas 75002

It has been so long since I saw 55 or even 155 lbs, I forgot what it looks like.

__________________
Jim Luttrall
Mr. Inspector.net, Inc.
Allen, Texas 75002

Jim,

One of our best friends had an attic ladder completely collapse from a ceiling while retriving the Christmas stuff from her attic.

She broke both knee caps and was down for quite some time before anyone found her. Believe it or not, her own homeowners insurance paid for all of her hospital expenses.

Know what you mean about the wood screws, but I've seen worse. Standing on one once and noticed all they had used was finishing staples. That that will get you moving quick.

rick

__________________
Rick Hurst
Home Works Inspection Co.
5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions

Rick, Jim ...

Or ... suck in some air and "hold your breath" ... as if that will make me "lighter" ...

Well now ... I know that it does ... a belly or chest full of 'hot air' just HAS to "weigh less" !!!!

I've been on about six attic access stairs in the past two weeks ... all of them were "cut too long" .... backward bending at the middle hinge point and then you see the cracks in the legs and you being to say a prayer and "get light" ...

__________________
Cheers - Nolan E. Kienitz, PMP
Dallas Home Inspector
www.NolansInspections.com