Step Ladder Building Codes & Rules

- Optimise efficiency with Tools™: Ensure precise Maintenance Access Step Ladder compliant installation. Discover tread size, spacing, & clearance requirements.

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.1

450 to 750^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.1}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

R = 200 to 300^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4 (b) (ii)

clear^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4 (b) (ii)}

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.2.2

Stile can be any shape^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.2.2}

Tread

Fall

Between Stiles

Between Handrails

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

≤ 1 : 8 (7°)^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}

Tools™ Best Practice

Signage^{Tools™ Best Practice}

To advise a user to face the ladder while descending

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (b)

≥ 1m @ 60°

to ≥ 900 @ 70°

(proportionally)^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (b)}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1

≥ 100^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (a)

200

clear^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (a)}

Landing

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

EQ^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}

Front of Tread

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

EQ^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}

Clearance

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4

150

200^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5

≥ 900^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5}

Slip Rating

Slip RATING

NCC 2022 V3

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 D3D15 & HP11.2.4 [2019 D2.14, 3.9.1.4]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D15

NCC 2022 HP, 11.2.4

HB 198:2014, 4.3.2 (Table 3A)

HB 198:2014, 5.2 (Table 3B)

Areas with a risk of slipping due to the surface conditions, to ensure safety and be slip-resistant to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D15NCC 2022 HP, 11.2.4}
Slip Resistance for pedestrian surfaces along stairs, see Table below^{HB 198:2014, 4.3.2 (Table 3A)HB 198:2014, 5.2 (Table 3B)}

Treads

≥ 100mm Tread depth^[1]
200 to 300mm vertical Rise^[2]
Equally spaced^[3]
Top tread level with Landing^[4]

Tread RULES

NCC 2022 V1

Class 2 to 9

NCC 2022 D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (a)

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

Tools™ Best Practice

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.1

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.4

Access to a service platform, rigging loft, and the like, to comply to the NCC^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1}
≥ 100mm deep^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}
200mm foot clearance from front of Tread^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (a)}
Slip resistant tread surface^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}
200 to 300mm evenly spaced Rise, measure vertically^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}
R at base can be reduced by ≤ 90%^{Tools™ Best Practice}
± 5mm^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2} tolerance allowed ± 2mm^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.1} preferred
Top Tread level with or integrated into Landing^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}
If steel, shall be hot-dip galvanised or another effective coating^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}
Securely connected & not rotate^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.4}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

≥ 100mm Tread depth^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1}
200 to 300mm vertical Rise^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}
Equally spaced^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}
Top tread level with Landing^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}

Handrail

Tools™ Best Practice

Ø 40^{Tools™ Best Practice}

Bottom Tread

Allowable tolerance^[1]
≤ 90% reduction to tread spacing allowed for tolerance
Measured from centre line

Tread RULES

NCC 2022 V1

Class 2 to 9

NCC 2022 D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (a)

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

Tools™ Best Practice

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.1

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.4

Access to a service platform, rigging loft, and the like, to comply to the NCC^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1}
≥ 100mm deep^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}
200mm foot clearance from front of Tread^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5 (a)}
Slip resistant tread surface^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}
200 to 300mm evenly spaced Rise, measure vertically^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}
R at base can be reduced by ≤ 90%^{Tools™ Best Practice}
± 5mm^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2} tolerance allowed ± 2mm^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.1} preferred
Top Tread level with or integrated into Landing^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.1AS 1657:2018, 7.3.3.2}
If steel, shall be hot-dip galvanised or another effective coating^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}
Securely connected & not rotate^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.4}

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

Allowable tolerance^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}
≤ 90% reduction to tread spacing allowed for tolerance
Measured from centre line

AS 1657:2018, 2.2 (d)

60 to 70°^{AS 1657:2018, 2.2 (d)}

Tools™ Best Practice

1m^{Tools™ Best Practice}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (b)

≥ 600^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (b)}

Tools™ Best Practice

≤ 1 : 20 (0° to 3°)^{Tools™ Best Practice}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4

550 to 750^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (a)

≥ 900^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (a)}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4

≤ 900^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (c)

≥ 2m^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (c)}

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

Height = (0.9 x R) up to R^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6

≤ 6m^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6}

Fall Risk

> 6m Fall Risk requires a Side Screen, Ladder Cage, or other fall prevention system^[1]

Fall Protection

NCC 2022 V1

Class 2 to 9

NCC 2022 D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.2

Access to a service platform, rigging loft, and the like, to comply to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}
Ladder Enclosure^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.2}
Fall protection must prevent a sideways fall from the ladder
Side Screen Construction
200mm sphere unable to pass through any opening
50 to 90mm clearance to handrail
Height coverage from
≤ 1.1m above bottom Landing to ≥ 1m above top Landing
Depth perpendicular from Stile
≥ 750mm at Ladder slope of 70°, to
≥ 900mm at Ladder slope of 60°
Fitted to 1 or both sides as required

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.2

> 6m Fall Risk requires a Side Screen, Ladder Cage, or other fall prevention system^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.2}

Handrails

≥ 50mm hand clearance^[1]
Ø 30 to 65mm Circular Handrail^[2] (Ø 40mm preferred^[3])
30 to 60mm width Square or Rectangular Handrail^[4]

Handrail Rules

NCC 2022 V1

Class 2 to 9

NCC 2022 D3D23 [D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5

Tools™ Best Practice

AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.1

AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.2

AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.3

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4 (b) (ii)

Handrails for fixed platforms, walkways, stairways, & ladders to comply to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}
≤ 900mm commencement above landing^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.5}
Circular cross section
Ø 30 to 65mm^{Tools™ Best Practice}
Ø 40mm preferred^{AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.1}
Square or rectangular cross section^{AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.2}
30 to 60mm width
70 to 100mm sum of width + height
Other shapes are allowed^{AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.3}
50mm & 240° top area clear for hand movement^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4 (b) (ii)}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4 (b) (ii)

Tools™ Best Practice

AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.1

AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.2

≥ 50mm hand clearance^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.4 (b) (ii)}
Ø 30 to 65mm Circular Handrail^{Tools™ Best Practice} (Ø 40mm preferred^{AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.1})
30 to 60mm width Square or Rectangular Handrail^{AS 1657:2018, 5.6.4.2}

Landings

≥ 900mm deep^[1]
≥ 600mm wide or width of ladder^[2]
≤ 6m between landings^[3]

Landing RULES

NCC 2022 V2

Class 2 to 9

NCC 2022 D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D23

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6

AS 1657:2018, 4.1.1

AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3

Access to a service platform, rigging loft, and the like, to comply to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D2D23}
Spatial Parameters^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6}
≥ 900mm length, measured horizontally from face of bottom rung
≥ 600mm width
≥ 600mm standing space clear of cross traffic, door swings or other obstruction
≥ 2m Headroom
≤ 6m vertical height between Landings
Where the vertical height ≥ 6m separate ladders by^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6}
180° change of direction, or
Staggering successive ladders, or
≥ 1.5m Landing length between
≤ 7° cross fall at bottom^{AS 1657:2018, 4.1.1}
≤ 3° fall in any direction at top^{AS 1657:2018, 7.4.3.3}

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (a)

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (b)

AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6

≥ 900mm deep^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (a)}
≥ 600mm wide or width of ladder^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6 (b)}
≤ 6m between landings^{AS 1657:2018, 7.3.6}