The roof pull-down ladders come with the proper installation instructions which are usually stamped on the frame or inside the cover panel. The specifications of size fasteners are indeed required for securing the ladder frame to the well opening and this shouldn’t be ignored under any circumstances.
The other faulty installation methods & the normal deterioration of the roof pull-down ladder as the same ages will likely to cause certain safety issues. Here is a discussion on some of the common defects which can cause a roof pull-down ladder to be hazardous.
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| Roof Pull-Down Ladders |
- Inserting of Incorrect Fasteners at The Frame – Most of the manufacturers specify the 16d nails or the lag screws to be ideal. Because the extra drywall screws are easy to find around a specific Jobsite and sometimes used instead of securing the frame at the well opening.
- Not Enough Fasteners – The fasteners should be placed at all the indicated locations.
- Loosing or Missing Nuts – The roof pull-down ladder rods are threaded at the ends & are secured to the stiles with a nut at each end. With passing time & repeated usage, some of them may become loose. The nuts at this section’s hinges loosen overtime in several instances. The experts recommend checking them and tightening them necessarily at regular intervals.
- Cracked Lumber at Tread or Stile – Any minor crack will sure to become bigger with the usage of a roof pull-down ladder & eventually fail at one point of time. The temporary repairs stand void the warranty.
- Damaged Hinges – The twisted or bent hinges will eventually fail & should be replaced without any delay.
- Bottom Stiles Are Not Trimmed to Fit at The Floor – The bottom stiles of the roof pull-down ladder shouldn’t be cut back at the correct angle while in the process of installation. So, the stiles have full bearing on the floor.
- The Ladder Which Is Too Short Or Too Long – The roof pull-down ladders are not engineered for hanging free at the bottom & should not be used if the bottom stiles are not angle-cut in order to securely bear the same firm on the floor. All the sections of the ladder should align when in an open condition. If the last section is very long, this will sit at a shallower angle & put too much stress on the first hinge set. Also, the ladders should not be trimmed back at the hinge connection which creates an uneven space between the steps and is a fall hazard.
- Failed Spring – You should be aware of opening a roof pull-down ladder that has been latched in place at the side of the opening. This is likely that the springs are missing or damaged and the whole assembly will fall open when the latch is released.
- Inadequate Clearance/Access – A minimum of eighteen inches of head clearance above the roof pull-down ladder opening is very necessary to safely enter the attic. This is best if the entry point faces toward the ridge of the roof...
- Unsafe Location - If the base of the roof pull-down ladder lands onto stairs or the edge of a stair landing and this is not acceptable. Here is one which was installed in the opening path of a garage door &, of course, the top panel of the garage door was damaged from opening the same while the ladder was down.
Conclusion
The adherence to these parameters as mentioned above will help you in using the roof pull-down ladder safety without any accident. Therefore you need to read the article carefully before laying your hands on the roof pull-down ladder.
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