AS 1657-1992

AS 1657—1992 Australian Standard Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee SF/13, Platforms, Gangways, Stairways and Ladders. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 9 September 1992 and published on 16 November 1992. The following interests are represented on Committee SF/13: Aluminium Development Council Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia Confederation of Australian Industry Department of Employment, Vocational Education, Training and Industrial Relations, Qld Department of Labour and Industry, Tas. Master Builders Construction and Housing Association of Australia Pacific Power Public Works Department, N.S.W. Royal Australian Institute of Architects Water Board, Sydney-Illawarra-Blue Mountains WorkCover Authority of New South Wales Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editions as necessary. It is important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest ed ition, and any amendments thereto. Full details of all Australian Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australia Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The Australian Standard’, which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications, new editions and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards. Suggestions for improvements to Australian Standards, addressed to the head office of Standards Australia, are welcomed. Notification of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard should be made without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken. This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 90065. Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. AS 1657—1992 Australian Standard Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation First published as AS CA10-1938. Second edition 1963. Third edition 1966. Fourth edition 1971. Revised and redesignated AS 1657-1974. Second edition 1985. Third edition 1992. PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA (STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA) 1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140 ISBN 0 7262 7861 0 Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. AS 1657—1992 2 PREFACE This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Platforms, Gangways, Stairways and Ladders, to supersede AS 1657-1985. Changes to the Standard include — (a) reducing the minimum wall thickness of steel piping which may be used; (b) incorporating a minimum tensile yield stress requirement for aluminium alloys; (c) deleting references to specific aluminium alloys and tempers; (d) updating the dimensions of steel sections other than piping, to reflect current manufacturing practices; and (e) provision of test methods to determine the integrity of guardrail systems, and the strength of the connection between guardrail posts and the supporting structure.  Copyright STANDARDS AUSTRALIA Users of Standards are reminded that copyright subsists in all Standards Australia publications and software. Except where the Copyright Act allows and except where provided for below no publications or software produced by Standards Australia may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing from Standards Australia. Permission may be conditional on an appropriate royalty payment. Requests for permission and information on commercial software royalties should be directed to the head office of Standards Australia. Standards Australia will permit up to 10 percent of the technical content pages of a Standard to be copied for use exclusively in-house by purchasers of the Standard without payment of a royalty or advice to Standards Australia. Standards Australia will also permit the inclusion of its copyright material in computer software programs for no royalty payment provided such programs are used exclusively in-house by the creators of the programs. Care should be taken to ensure that material used is from the current edition of the Standard and that it is updated whenever the Standard is amended or revised. The number and date of the Standard should therefore be clearly identified. The use of material in print form or in computer software programs to be used commercially, with or without payment, or in commercial contracts is subject to the payment of a royalty. This policy may be varied by Standards Australia at any time. Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. 3 AS 1657—1992 CONTENTS Page SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL 1.1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.2 APPLICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.4 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2 STRUCTURAL DESIGN, MATERIALS AND WELDING 2.1 DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.2 MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.3 WELDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 SECTION 3 PLATFORMS, CONTINUOUS WALKWAYS, AND STEPS WITH LANDINGS 3.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3.2 PROTECTION AT SIDES, ENDS, EDGES, AND OPENINGS . . . . 9 3.3 DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 3.4 GUARDRAILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SECTION 4 STAIRWAYS 4.1 WIDTH AND ANGLE OF SLOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4.2 FLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4.3 STAIRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4.4 LANDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4.5 GUARDRAILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4.6 HANDRAILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 SECTION 5 FIXED LADDERS 5.1 CLEARANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 5.2 ACCESS THROUGH HORIZONTAL OPENINGS . . . . . . . . . . . 15 5.3 LADDER LANDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 5.4 GUARDRAILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 5.5 STEP LADDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 5.6 RUNG LADDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 5.7 INDIVIDUAL-RUNG LADDERS (STEP-IRONS) . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 APPENDICES A TYPICAL COMPONENT DIMENSIONS AND SPACINGS FOR GUARDRAILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 B TESTING OF GUARDRAIL POSTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 C TESTING OF GUARDRAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. AS 1657—1992 4 STANDARDS AUSTRALIA Australian Standard Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways, and ladders — Design, construction and installation SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL 1.1 SCOPE This Standard sets out requirements for the design, construction, and installation of fixed platforms, walkways, stairways, and ladders which are intended to provide means of safe access to and safe working at places normally used by operating, inspection, maintenance, and servicing personnel. The Standard does not apply to situations where special provision is made in appropriate building or other regulations, e.g. means of escape from fire. Requirements for portable ladders are not included in this Standard. 1.2 APPLICATION The design, construction, and installation of a platform, walkway, stairway, or ladder shall comply with the appropriate requirements of Section 2 and the specific requirements for the type of structure, as follows: (a) Platforms and walkways: Section 3. (b) Stairways: Section 4. (c) Fixed ladders: Section 5. The application of the relevant Sections and the limits of slope are illustrated in Figure 1.1. Where it is not reasonably practicable to meet the full requirements of this Standard, advice should be sought from the regulatory authority. NOTES: 1 Some structures and vehicles will be unable to comply with all the requirements of this Standard. Special structures include radio masts, towers, portable on farm light-weight silos, and the like. Vehicles include road tankers, waste disposal trucks, and the like. 2 Structures and vehicles which are unable to comply with all the requirements of this Standard should comply with the relevant design Codes for loading. 1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this Standard: AS 1170 SAA Loading Code 1170.1 Part 1: Dead and live loads and load combinations 1170.2 Part 2: Wind loads 1192 Electroplated coatings — Nickel and chromium 1538 SAA Cold-formed Steel Structures Code 1554 SAA Structural Steel Welding Code 1554.1 Part 1: Welding of steel structures 1604 Preservative treatment for sawn timber, veneer and plywood 1650 Hot-dipped galvanized coatings on ferrous articles 1664 SAA Aluminium Structures Code 1665 SAA Aluminium Welding Code 1720 SAA Timber Structures Code 1720.1 Part 1: Design methods 1734 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Flat sheet, coiled sheet and plate 1782 Flooring milled from Australian-grown conifers (softwoods) (excluding radiata pine and cypress pine) 1789 Electroplated coatings — Zinc on iron or steel 1790 Electroplated coatings — Cadmium on iron or steel 1810 Flooring milled from cypress pine 1866 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Extruded rod, bar, solid and hollow shapes 1892 Portable ladders 1892.2 Part 2: Timber 2105 Inorganic zinc silicate paint COPYRIGHT Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. 5 AS 1657—1992 2269 Structural plywood 2796 Timber — Seasoned hardwood — Milled products 3600 Concrete structures 3700 SAA Masonry Code 3990(Int) Steelwork for engineering applications 4024 Safeguarding of machinery 4024.1(Int) Part 1: General principles 4100 Steel structures FIGURE 1.1 LIMITS OF SLOPE 1.4 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Standard, the definitions below apply. 1.4.1 Accepted — accepted by the authority having jurisdiction. 1.4.2 Floor — the surface of a platform, walkway, or landing. 1.4.3 Going — in a stair, the horizontal distance from the nosing of one tread to the nosing of the next tread. 1.4.4 Guardrailing — a structure to prevent persons from falling off any platform, walkway or landing. 1.4.5 Handrail — a rail to provide handhold on a platform, walkway, stairway, or step ladder. It may form part of a guardrailing. 1.4.6 Individual-rung ladder — a ladder without stiles, each rung of which is individually attached to a structure or equipment. 1.4.7 Ladder — a structure with treads or rungs, with or without stiles and handrails. 1.4.8 Ladder cage — a fixed enclosure which encircles the climbing space of a ladder. 1.4.9 Landing — a level area used to provide access to a stairway or ladder, or located at an intermediate level in a system of stairways or ladders. COPYRIGHT Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. AS 1657—1992 6 1.4.10 Nosing — the rounded edge of the tread projecting over the riser. 1.4.11 Pipe — a tubular product made as a production item for sale. It may be round, oval, square, or rectangular in section. NOTE: For the purpose of this Standard, the word ‘pipe’ is synonymous with ‘tube’ or structural hollow section (circular, square, or rectangular) although these words are used for different types of products by different industries. 1.4.12 Platform — an area provided for access or working, which is elevated above the surrounding floor or level. 1.4.13 Reasonably practicable — practicable having regard to — (a) the severity of the hazard or risk in question; (b) the state of knowledge about that hazard or risk, and any ways of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk; (c) the availability and suitability of ways to remove or mitigate that hazard or risk; and (d) the cost of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk. 1.4.14 Regulatory authority — a Minister of the Crown, a government department, commission or other authority having power to issue regulations, orders or other instructions having the force of law in respect of any subject covered by this Standard. 1.4.15 Rise — the vertical height from the top of one tread to the top of the next; also refers to the total height of a flight or series of flights, taken from the top of one floor to the top of the next floor. 1.4.16 Rung ladder — a ladder consisting of stiles and rungs. 1.4.17 Shall — indicates that a statement is mandatory. 1.4.18 Should — indicates a recommendation. 1.4.19 Stairway — a sloping stepped structure having not less than three rises and having a slope within the range of 26.5 degrees to 45 degrees inclusive. 1.4.20 Step ladder — a ladder consisting of stiles, treads and handrails. 1.4.21 Stile — a side member that supports the treads or rungs of a ladder. The terms ‘side rail’, and ‘stringer’, are often used synonymously. 1.4.22 Walkway — a passageway that is either level or sloping from the surrounding floor or level. A walkway may be a continuous structure or steps with landings. COPYRIGHT Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. 7 AS 1657—1992 SECTION 2 STRUCTURAL DESIGN, MATERIALS AND WELDING 2.1 DESIGN 2.1.1 General The design of the structural work comprising the platform, walkways, stairways, ladders, and guardrailing shall comply with the relevant requirements of the following Standards: (a) For aluminium: AS 1664. (b) For concrete: AS 3600. (c) For masonry: AS 3700. (d) For timber: AS 1720.1. (e) For steel: AS 1538, AS 3990(Int) or AS 4100. 2.1.2 Design loadings 2.1.2.1 Floors Floors shall be designed for the dead load of the structure plus a superimposed live loading of not less than 2.5 kPa uniformly distributed, or a concentrated loading of not less than 1 kN at any point, whichever produces the most adverse effect. Where the floor of the platform or walkway or landing is likely to be loaded in excess of the above requirements, the design loading shall be based on the requirements of AS 1170.1. In special cases, where large floor areas or concentrated loads (or both) have to be considered, variation of the design load specified above may be referred to the regulatory authority. 2.1.2.2 Guardrails The guardrailing shall be designed to withstand whichever of the following live loadings produces the most adverse effect: (a) A force of 550 N acting outwards or downwards at any point on the top rail, edge or post. (b) A force of 330 N per linear metre acting outwards or downwards on the top rail or edge. Where appropriate, wind loadings in accordance with AS 1170.2 shall be added to the above live loadings. Where extra severe loading conditions are likely to be encountered, i.e. at points of assembly or where mechanical equipment is used, the guardrailings shall be designed in accordance with the loading conditions set out in AS 1170.1 and AS 1170.2. NOTES: 1 Recommended minimum dimensions for typical components of guardrailing comprising posts and rails are given in Appendix A. 2 Recommended maximum spacing of posts dependent on the material or section of the post and the method of fastening are given in Appendix A. 3 Where the guardrailing may be called upon to restrain people under panic conditions a load of up to 3 kN/m may be exerted. 2.1.2.3 Handrails Each handrail which is not part of a guardrail shall be designed to withstand the following non-simultaneous forces: (a) A force of 550 N applied outwards at the centre of the span. (b) A force of 550 N applied downwards at the centre of the span. 2.1.2.4 Stairways Stairways and integral landings shall be designed for the dead load of the structure plus a superimposed live loading of not less than 2.5 kPa uniformly distributed. Where the stairs are likely to be loaded in excess of the above requirements, the design loading shall be based on the requirements of AS 1170.1. Treads shall be designed for a distributed loading of not less than 2.2 kN per linear metre of stairway width or a concentrated loading of not less than 1 kN, whichever loading produces the more adverse effect. 2.1.2.5 Fixed ladders Every ladder and its fixing shall be designed for a concentrated live loading of not less than 1 kN, or a number of concentrated live loadings of 1 kN, the number of loads and their spacing being dependent upon the expected usage of the ladder. Timber ladders shall also comply with Clause 2.2.3.2. 2.1.3 Fixing of components All components shall be securely fixed so that guardrails, posts, and intermediate rails or infill form an integral structure or system. The system shall be designed so that joints will withstand the design load and the method of fixing or assembly does not weaken the intrinsic strength of the structure or system. 2.2 MATERIALS 2.2.1 General The materials used shall comply with the relevant Australian Standard specifications, where such exist, or in their absence with British Standard specifications, or with other recognized specifications. COPYRIGHT Li ce ns ed to A lst om P ow er L im ite d on 2 4 M ay 2 00 1. S in gl e us er lic en ce o nl y. S to ra ge , d ist rib ut io n or u se o n ne tw or k pr oh ib ite d. AS 1657—1992 8 All timber to be used for any purpose under the terms of this Standard shall either be non-lyctus susceptible or be treated against lyctus attack in accordance with AS 1604. Where it is desired to use material not in accordance with a recognized Standard specification, the use of such material shall be subject to the approval of the regulatory authority. NOTE: Attention is drawn to the corrosion which can occur when dissimilar metals are brought into close proximity with one another under certain conditions. 2.2.2 Piping 2.2.2.1 General Where pipe is used for guard