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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

Using a ladder for a job means you're planning on moving it frequently, otherwise a temporary scaffold tower would be a sturdier and safer option.  The portability of ladders is one of the factors that make them ideal for many tasks.  This got us thinking about the longest amount of time any ladder has been left in the same position.  You might think that a year or two, up a scaffold on a temporarily paused building project would be about right, but in fact the answer is nearly 300 years.   The ladder in question is at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which is shared by six different Christian [...]

Last year the safety standards for mobile scaffold towers changed, from the old EN 1004:2004 standards to EN 1004:2020.  The 2020 date refers to the year the new standards were introduced, but a transition period meant that until November 2021 towers with the older standards could still be sold and used.  Now, almost a year on, it's time to ensure that any new equipment you buy conforms to these standards, and to see whether your existing equipment is compliant for peace of mind.  You can still use equipment that conforms to the older standard as long as it is in good working order, but if there are ways you can stick [...]

We recently reported on a seizure of counterfeit ladders conducted by Trading Standards officers at the Port of Felixstowe; 2,000 telescopic ladders were considered suspicious as they had a CE mark, which is not an approved standard for ladders.  The Test and Research Centre conducted tests on the ladders to assess their dimensions, build quality and load bearing ability and found that shockingly, the ladders weren't able to even complete the tests, as they were so badly made. This led to another joint project to test telescopic ladders being imported at ports, as well as those being sold in online marketplaces (often at a price too good to be true).  The venture [...]

In late May this year, a man in his 60s was badly injured after falling from a ladder at his home in Leicester.  The police believe the ladder was deliberately pulled out from underneath him and are conducting inquiries to find out what happened and who was responsible.  In all our years in the ladder world we have seldom heard about a ladder fall caused deliberately, but it can happen from time to time.  While we don't want to speculate, it could be the case that someone wishing the ladder user harm took the opportunity to injure him when it was presented – it's highly unlikely to be a prank committed [...]