In order for a telescopic ladder to pass the En 131-6 guidelines they have to follow the following criteria: Rungs have to be attached at least two feet on the frame end of the ladder and angled at least ten degrees. Rope extensions also have to be installed securely, in accordance with manufacturer's installation instructions, so that safety is not compromised. Attached ladders that are used for work on soft ground such as carpets or grass should not be used where there is heavy frost. If using a telescoping ladder that is intended for use by people with physical disabilities, then at least one riser bar should be provided. Risers are available from most suppliers.
All of the best telescoping ladders meet these criteria; however, it is important to look at the details. The framework has to be constructed of sturdy steel, with a crossbar reinforced with galvanized finishes and securely attached to the frame using galvanized bolts. The riser should be at least ten inches in depth for persons who are standing. Risers that are too deep can compromise safety. At the same time, the ladder has to be made of a sufficiently stiff yet lightweight material.
Staircase sections must be made of heavy-duty steel or high-carbon steel alloy for optimum strength and durability, as well as, the ability to withstand the most punishment. The ladder head and rungs must be powder coated to prevent corrosion and rusting. The ladder frame itself has to be made of rust-resistant steel, but of course, this criterion is subject to local building codes. The locking mechanism, or mechanisms, need to be made of high quality and durable materials. Ideally, you should be looking for good quality stainless steel for reliability and long-lasting operation.
To achieve the utmost stability possible for telescoping ladders, they should be made with non-slip treads as detailed on choicemart. This is especially important if you will be walking along the rungs while working on your project. The depth of the rung should also be taken into consideration. The higher the rung, the less likely it is that you may slip.
Usually, telescopic ladders come with a removable, lockable padded neck strap. The strap should be made of a high grade nylon, and the actual strap itself should be of high quality. In addition, it should be padded to ensure that your neck is not injured in case of an accidental fall. Check the height of the ladder by placing your hand above its rails while holding onto both the actual ladder itself and the lock/strap, to check its height. This is not usually a problem, but if you feel that the ladder tip may be higher than normal, then this could be causing discomfort to your body.
When purchasing telescopic ladders, the manufacturers would usually recommend the use of their locking system, which is one of the most advanced locking systems in use today. Although, many older models may already have a locking system on them. If so, you should upgrade to the latest in security technology, which is a non-slip rubber pad, which is placed on each rung of the ladder. You would need to purchase a separate locking pad to attach to the top rung of the ladder.
The actual locking mechanism of a telescopic ladder, which is normally made out of non-slip polyester, should be carefully inspected. The rungs should be securely attached to each other using a cable tie strap. If not, it should be tightened correctly, prior to installation. The bottom rung should be locked first, prior to tightening the other rungs. It is imperative that each rung is correctly tied down, as a slip of any rung can cause the ladder to fall to the ground.
Some models of telescopic ladder are now available with a "one-button retraction", which means that when you press the button on the side of the ladder, it will retract all the way to the bottom step. This feature offers more safety and flexibility and prevents against inadvertent triggering of the safety brake. The advantage of this type of locking system is the simplicity of having just one button to depress, which prevents the possibility of misclicking the side button. The cost of this type of system would depend on the amount of space available for storage, and the size of the button itself. In selecting this model, one should make sure that it is compatible with the aircraft-grade aluminum, since the material can expand slightly after heavy use. You should also pay attention to the length of the rung.