Ladder

[augie47]

I have a permanently installed ladder on the side of a building for roof access. I notice when climbing, I can not get my foot fully on the rung as my toes hit the wall 1st. Is there a minumum clearance required between the wall and the rung ?
If so, can you cite the Code.

 

[masterinbama]

The minimum perpendicular clearance between fixed ladder rungs, cleats, and steps, and any obstruction behind the ladder must be 7 inches (18 cm), except that the clearance for an elevator pit ladder must be 4.5 inches (11 cm).


http://www.nmsu.edu/safety/programs/gen_saf/OSHA_stair&lad_saf.html

 

[JDBrown]

From the 2010 California Building Code:

1009.11 Ship ladders. Ship ladders are permitted to be used in Group I-3 as a component of a means of egress to and from control rooms or elevated facility observation stations not more than 250 square feet (23 m²) with not more than three occupants and for access to unoccupied roofs.

Ship ladders shall have a minimum tread depth of 5 inches (127 mm). The tread shall be projected such that the total of the tread depth plus the nosing projection is no less than 8¹/₂ inches (216 mm). The maximum riser height shall be 9¹/₂ inches (241 mm).

Handrails shall be provided on both sides of ship ladders. The minimum clear width at and below the handrails shall be 20 inches (508 mm).

After reading and rereading this, I believe this applies to all ship ladders used for access to unoccupied roofs, but I suppose it could be interpreted to only apply in Group I-3.

 

[GoldDigger]

I have a permanently installed ladder on the side of a building for roof access. I notice when climbing, I can not get my foot fully on the rung as my toes hit the wall 1st. Is there a minumum clearance required between the wall and the rung ?
If so, can you cite the Code.

As the two previous posts indicate, the safety aspect can be addressed by clearance behind the ladder in the case of round rungs or by specifying the distance to the wall from the outermost part of the step or rung. The latter standard applies equally well for round and flat rungs and is somewhat less restrictive for the latter case.
If you cannot get at least the ball of your foot and preferably just ahead of the front edge of the heel on the rung it is unsafe. Particularly when slippery!

 

[WorkSafe]

OSHA

1910.27(c)(4)
"Clearance in back of ladder." The distance from the centerline of rungs, cleats, or steps to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder shall be not less than 7 inches, except that when unavoidable obstructions are encountered, minimum clearances as shown in figure D-3 shall be provided.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9719&p_table=STANDARDS