Most ladders you see attached to the sides of commercial buildings are purchased out-of-the-box or pre-fabricated. But what if none of the pre-designed ladders suit your building, or you have an awkward space to work with, or a special need on top of the roof? Well, in any of these cases, we are here to lend a helping hand. Top Peak can create custom fixed ladders for any purpose.
Custom Roof Access Ladders for Colorado Springs and Pueblo
The majority of these steel ladders are put in place to allow maintenance workers an ability to access the equipment (like a heating or cooling unit) that is installed on the roof of the building. This is why these ladders are also referred to as roof access ladders. The ladder structure is permanently attached to the side of the building and mounted in place, creating safe, consistent access for anyone that needs to get onto the roof. Our metal ladders are welded into one piece which brings strength and stability to the whole design.
Lockable Ladder Guards and Access Control Systems
But what about kids or anyone feeling curious? Aren’t these liabilities for people who shouldn’t be using them? This a great question and luckily, one that the industry has spent plenty of time dealing with already. For any access ladders that are installed in public spaces, we can attach a security door to the bottom portion of the aluminum ladder. This door covers several feet worth of rungs on the bottom portion of the ladder and comes with a latch for a padlock. By having this area covered with a flat sheet of metal, it makes the ladder unusable until the security ladder guard is unlocked and opened by the owner.
Roof access ladders are most common in commercial settings but can also be found on newer townhomes that have flat roofs and are built into urban settings where it is most advantageous to set up the HVAC units on the roof. When the homes are sandwiched together, there only needs to be one ladder because the roofs are all connected. No matter what the application is, we’ll make sure to construct a heavy-duty ladder that is usable all year round and will last for decades. From downtown Pueblo to downtown Colorado Springs, and even townhomes around Security-Widefield or other parts of El Paso County, we fabricate all kinds of metal components for a wide range of clients.
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Engineering Fixed Ladders to OSHA Standards
We recommend making all ladders at least 18 inches wide which allows for ease and safety when anyone is ascending or descending the building. By OSHA standards, the rungs of a ladder must be spaced within 10 inches and 14 inches apart. While every building may not require OSHA standards, we find it best to follow their recommendations because safety is their primary concern. By following the guidelines of OSHA when we fabricate our ladders, you should feel comfortable that when any type of contractor uses the equipment responsibly, they will be afforded the best opportunity for a safe experience. Although aluminum and steel should last for many years, please check the joints and wall mounting brackets for rust or excessive wear. If any of your brackets have become loose, make sure they are repaired and attached securely to the wall. While your ladders shouldn’t require maintenance, you should still regularly examine them to make sure outdoor weather does not weaken them over time.
Landing Platforms, Step-Through Exits, and Roof Access Systems
On much taller ladders, it may be necessary to add a standoff landing platform. We can design and install these too. The purpose of a landing platform is to make sure that if a worker falls, the total distance they fall is shortened. This is done by inserting platforms at certain heights and alternating them with the ladders to the left and right to create resting platforms instead of one long continuous climb. The current OSHA standards require rest platforms for any ladder over 24 feet in height.
If you’ve climbed a tall ladder before and wearily stepped from a rung to a roof or had to swing around the ladder, you may be wondering about the safest way to exit when you’re wearing equipment. Many roof access ladders include a walk through or step through at the top for roofs with a parapet. This description is very accurate for what the feature does at the tallest point of the ladder. Handles continue up past the roof to allow the user to continue climbing until their feet or legs are at the height of the building. The user can then easily and safely step through the top portion of the ladder while still holding onto a railing. This great invention prevents a worker from getting onto their knees or swinging their legs over the roof when they are at the maximum height of their climb. Our welding professionals in the Springs are capable of adding step through bars along with any other customizations you may need to make your ladders as safe as possible.
Commercial and residential use ladders are most common, however we also see a need for ladders along tanks where metal stairs might sometimes be used. Fixed ladders can also be used for underground settings such as city projects or within the confines of an industrial factory. No matter what need you have, we’re happy to offer custom solutions with our expert metal work. Whether you have a drawing or not, we’re happy to examine the space and provide you with our best analysis of what can be done, how much it will cost you and how long it can take.
Roof Access Stairs, Ladders, Platforms, and Walkways
Aside from ladders, roofs with multiple platforms may also require custom crossovers, walkways, ramps, and platforms to bridge the various sections. We have the capabilities to design and install any of these systems as well. When it comes to metal and welding, we can
fabricate just about anything you can imagine. This also includes braces and supports for
roof top units that get installed or replaced by cranes. Take a look at our site to discover more options we handle that might help you with your upcoming build. From
structural to miscellaneous metal work, our capabilities are extensive. We look forward to speaking with you soon.