Standards Development

Scope

This British Standard specifies requirements for portable roof ladders specifically designed solely to provide temporary access to pitched roofs with angles between 25° and 65° for tasks that are of short duration and low risk.

In particular, it specifies:

a) general design features, requirements and test methods;

b) the supporting elements, the bearers and ridge hook, and their connections to the ladders, including how a ladder is supported and located by the ridge of a pitched roof;

c) the pitch, dimensions and form of a roof ladder’s climbing surfaces, according to the intended angles of use;

d) the wheels used to manoeuvre a roof ladder into position on a pitched roof; and

e) markings and user instructions.

Roof ladders conforming to this standard are only intended for use on pitched roofs with angles between 25° and 65° and for no other purpose. They are not intended for use as leaning or standing ladders.

This British Standard covers single section roof ladders, extending roof ladders, roof ladders with hinge (articulated) joints, roof ladders with telescopic joints and multi-part (sectional) roof ladders.

It is not applicable to:

1) aftermarket accessories which are intended to convert leaning ladders into roof ladders;

2) roof ladders for use on mono-pitch roofs, e.g. a pent roof;

3) roof ladders used with personal protection equipment intended as a means of fall arrest unless the roof ladder is part of a proprietary system designed for that purpose; or

4) crawling boards for use on roof angles less than 25°.

Purpose

The B/512 Ladders committee have agreed a revision of BS 8634:2017 (+A1:2022) should be progressed, with areas of note such as instructions for use and with further testing into use of roof ladders at varying angles to ensure safe use. The committee would like to gather industry feedback on the existing standard prior to revising.