ANSI A14.5-2000 pdf download.American National Standard for Ladders — Portable Reinforced Plastic — Safety Requirements.
The purpose of this standard is to provide reasonable safety for life, limb, and property. In order to develop an effective safety program, the standard may serve also as a basis for purchase requirements and for instructions in personnel training, and in the preparation of motiva- tional/instructional material such as safety practices, manuals, posters, and the like. This standard is also intended to provide the manufacturer, purchaser, and user of reinforced plastic ladders with a set of performance and dimensional requirements against which this product may be compared. It is not the purpose of this standard to specify all the details of construction of portable reinforced plastic ladders. The limitations imposed are for the purpose of providing adequate general requirements and testing methods needed for consistency.
2. General
2.1 Rationale A rationale has been developed covering the specifications and performance requirements of this standard. 1
2.2 Application This standard is intended for voluntary use by establishments that use, manufacture or evaluate ladders. It is also designed to serve as a guide to federal and state authorities or other regulatory bodies in the formulation of laws or regulations. The methods employed to ensure compliance with this Standard shall be determined by the proper regulatory or administrative authority.
2.3 Interpretation
To secure uniform application of this standard, it is recommended that suggestions involving changes in the requirements or disputes over its interpretation shall be referred to the following organization:
Administrative Secretariat
American Ladder Institute
401 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Fax: 312.673.6929
www.americanladderinstitute.com
If it is determined that your inquiry requires an interpre- tation of the standard, the inquiry must be submitted in writing and the secretariat will forward the inquiry to the appropriate Subcommittee Chairman for committee response. In view of the many different kinds of ladders and the many different conditions under which they are used, this standard should be liberally construed considering the rationale (see 2.1). In cases of practical difficulty or under special-service conditions, it is expected that the administrative authority will grant exceptions to the literal requirements of this standard or will permit the use of alternate designs or features, but only if equivalent safety is thereby secured.
2.4 Mandatory and Advisory Provisions The word “shall” is to be understood as denoting a mandatory requirement. The word “should” is to be understood as denoting a recommendation.
2.5 Equivalent The word “equivalent” in this standard means a construc- tion, connection, or material providing equal performance.
2.6 Effective Date The requirements of this standard shall become effective one year after the date the revised A14.5 standard is approved by ANSI.
3. Related Standards
3.1 Related American National Standards This standard is intended for use in conjunction with the following American National Standards (see Section 11):
American National Standard Safety Requirements for Scaffolding, ANSI A10.8-2001
American National Standard for Ladders — Portable Wood — Safety Requirements, ANSI A14.1-2007
American National Standard for Ladders — Portable Metal — Safety Requirements, ANSI A14.2-2007.ANSI A14.5 pdf download.