29 Sep
0
16
If we conjure
up a mental image of a ladder, the chances are that we see ourselves standing
at the bottom of the ladder ready to climb up, rather than at the top ready to
descend. It's true that the majority of
the time we ascend before we descend a ladder but there are ladders which we
always descend before ascending. Manhole and
shaft access ladders are one such model, as they provide access down into the
sewers and underground infrastructure that lies silently beneath our feet. These ladders are fixed into place on the
side of the shaft so that they can be accessed in emergencies – no-one has to
remember to bring a ladder to enact an underground rescue (or in the case of
Hollywood, an audacious escape). Ships ladders
are usually descended before they are climbed up. From the main emb..
22 Sep
0
37
The internet
never disappoints when it comes to amusing, and sometimes downright dangerous
evidence of ladder use that didn't quite go to plan, but this image[1]
of a conifer that didn't quite get the haircut it needed made us chuckle. It had the same effect on many commenters,
with a lot of people seeing a Spongebob Squarepants pineapple house, and a few
comparisons to the well-loved Sesame Street character Ernie with the addition
of some eyes and a nose. This half-job
was the result of the ladder not being quite long enough for the job, and we're
thankful that we got a laugh out of it and that the topiarist didn't put
themselves in danger by over-reaching or climbing onto the very top rungs of
the ladder they used. Although we don't
know whether they were using a special tripod garden ..
15 Sep
0
40
Zarges are
renowned for their vast range of height access solutions, making everything
from telescopic ladders, to adjustable staircase ladders, electricians’ ladders
and everything in between. They excel in
the mobile work platform market, with their range of single and double sided
access platforms offering flexible height access equipment for many industries. You will find Zarges products used for
maintenance, assembly, food production and in other manufacturing plants where
employees regularly need to access a range of heights for the production
process. While these
single and double ended access platforms are perfect for use in manufacturing
contexts, whether as part of the process or for maintenance (or both), they
don't fold down. This means there must
be adequate space for the p..
08 Sep
0
93
Large scale
projects in potentially hazardous environments need specialist access equipment
– although fibreglass ladders are great for most tasks there are many
situations in which a fibreglass access tower is the best piece of equipment
for the job. For any tasks at heights
over around 3.5 metres, and where two people may be required for completion, a
double width fibreglass access tower is the go-to option. The BoSS Zone
1 access towers come in both single and double width options, but it's the
double width that allows the space for two people at the same time. The towers
are suitable for a working load of 220kg (including equipment). There is also the option of double length
platforms, so if you need a big working space for any reason these towers can
accommodate that. If you're ins..
01 Sep
0
102
We're always
on the lookout for impressive ladder feats – while the humble ladder is most
often used in a workplace or DIY setting it's great to see ladders being used
for other things, and there are few more exciting than China's Sky Ladder, a
purpose built parkour course in Hunan province that was created for an
international competition. It may be
called a Sky Ladder, but there are also several ladder style obstacles within
the course, which includes over 100 different features for contestants to
interact with in the way that they see fit.
The beauty of parkour is partly in the speed and agility, but also relies
heavily on the individual style of the free runners who will all choose
different ways of using each obstacle to progress. The Sky
Ladder is almost 300 metres long with a verti..
25 Aug
0
93
Ladders are
responsible for around 40% of all falls from height, with the remainder caused
by falling from a roof, platform, vehicle or other structure. While the height
from which a person falls makes a big difference to the severity of the
injuries they sustain, and whether it is likely to be deadly or not, research
has found that age is a significant contributing factor in the outcome of a
fall from height. The reason
height is a factor is due to the impact the body sustains (and partly the
surface) when acceleration is abruptly stopped.
Since most falls in the construction industry, and in the domestic
arena, are onto hard surfaces the risk of injury is great even from lesser
heights (those under 6 feet). There is
also the risk of falling onto something sharp or solid that can cause ..
18 Aug
0
85
If you enjoy
the beautiful summer weather but you want more space to relax and entertain in,
a roof terrace could be the answer, especially if you are considering an
extension to your home anyway. A roof
terrace built on top of a flat roof extension is a very efficient use of space,
and of your budget since you can build two spaces for only a shade more than
the price of one within the same footprint.
A roof terrace will also add to the value of your home – you can expect
to add at least 10% to the asking price, rising to 25% in sought-after areas. An existing
extension, or even an outbuilding or other flat roof structure on your property
can be easily converted to add to a space for outdoor dining, socialising and
relaxing. You will need to check that
the walls and structure below can ..
11 Aug
0
51
Tripod
ladders are the standard design for use in orchards; sometimes known as fruit
picking or orchard ladders they use three legs for added stability on soft
ground (it being easier to attain balance with three legs than four) and are
tapered at the top to allow access into even the tightest crowns. With a wide flared base these are incredibly
stable ladders and have been used for decades in commercial and domestic
orchards alike. The world's
tallest tripod ladder, as certified by The Guinness Book of Records, stood in a
cherry orchard in Summerland, California.
Commissioned by Dwayne Dickinson in 1997, it was measured in 2000 and
stood over 30 feet high (9.19 metres).
This incredible ladder wasn't built to be used for real at the Dickinson
family P.Y.O. fruit farm, but was inte..
04 Aug
0
98
The Little
Giant Ladder Company has a reputation for quality and innovation – their
classic model is the leader in the multi-purpose ladder market, having 24
separate configurations possible from what looks like an unassuming step
ladder. Their new Stadium steps are just
as impressive and demonstrate their commitment to worker safety in a quality
product. The Stadium
steps have sturdy sides made from fibreglass, making these ladders suitable for
electrical work as well as any construction and maintenance jobs. The bright green fibreglass also adds
excellent visibility, vital for a busy site.
There's no need to worry about accidental knocks from the ground; if the
bright colour wasn't enough to make people aware there's a ladder there, the
stabilising bars at the rear widen the footprint..
28 Jul
0
75
People who
are about to get onto the first rung of the property ladder, or who are about
to take that next step up, should take a real ladder with them for
viewings. No, it's not some kind of
metaphor or good luck charm – a ladder can help answer a lot of questions, and
show up some very important things that could help you avoid putting your hard
earned capital into a property that ends up eating your money. A ladder can
reveal all sorts of hidden surprises that can sway you one way or the
other. In a home without a built in loft
ladder you'll be hard pushed to check whether the loft is insulated properly
and to what extent it is boarded out (if at all). The seller won't want anyone using their
ladders, so bringing your own means you can see into spaces that you can't from
the fl..