Thinking about giving your home a quick make-over in time for the holidays and the visitors, or just about to put up lots of lovely Christmas decorations then you may need to use a step ladder for ease and safety. Before starting the work if you already have one dust it off and check the condition, but if you don't have one think seriously about buying one of these inexpensive household accessories as they come in very handy. Every home should have one!
If your home does not already have a step ladder or if it is time to retire an old and worn out step ladder, the following ideas can help you make a sound choice for choosing a new one. Or perhaps you need to use it for work purposes then by evaluating the nature of the work you can choose the model most suited to you. As there are so many models and sizes out there with some great value on the internet it can be difficult to choose hence this essential guide for choosing stepladders.
When you are buying a new step ladder in the UK the first thing to check is that it has the correct certification which for Class 1 Step Ladders should be BS 2037 Certified. This ladder is considered Industrial and has a duty rating of 130kg (20.4 stone) and a maximum vertical static load of 175kg (27.5 stone). Alternative there is the Domestic class which is Class 3 BS2037 which has a duty rating of 95kg (15 stone) and a maximum vertical static load of 125kg (19.5 stone).
In the UK there are three ladder grades according to the safe working load and durability. Testing is done on issues such as rung endurance, ladder hinges, drop testing on loft, comprehensive strength and durability. This class of step ladders are suitable even for industrial use and have a vertical load rating of 175kg and a duty rating of 130kg. If you are in the States it is the ANSI standard you will need to look for which covers minimum requirements for the construction, testing and care of ladders of various categories.
Typically you can expect a choice of what are called treads, essentially the amount of steps including the top, from 3 to 10. In order to choose the best step ladder for your needs whether at home or at work, you will need to assess the kind of work you intend to use it for. If for example it is little tasks around the house where you may have been tempted to stand on a chair before a 3 step ladder could be perfect for the job. Being lightweight and easy to manage this type of step ladder is perfect to help you do those jobs safely and effectively.
However if the tasks have more variation and especially if you intend to paint some of the rooms in your home, then a 5 step ladder is a better option giving you more reach for the work you wish to do. If it is more industrial or heavy duty work that will be carried out then check out heavy duty quality fibreglass platform step ladders. These are specially designed with treads double riveted for strength which are also slip resistant as well as the feet being slip resistant too. Additionally they are insulated up to 30,000 volts plus have tough reinforced glass fibre stiles. This type of step ladder typically comes in a range of 3 to 12 treads.
Author Resource:
Jackie de Burca writes about what to look out for when buying stepladders whether it be online or offline. For especially good deals online there is the chance to buy directly from manufacturer called Towers & Sanders in the UK. http://www.stepladders.co.uk/5-alloy-step-ladders
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