FRP Industrial Ladder

FRP fixed industrial ladder that meets OSHA 1910.23 geometry, survives the chemical atmosphere, and does not conduct

Pultruded FRP vertical and inclined ladder with integral safety cage. Sized to OSHA 1910.23 fixed-ladder geometry out of the catalog. Non-conductive option for live-electrical equipment access.

Request ladder layout quote Download spec sheet (PDF)

Fixed-ladder geometry

OSHA 1910.23

Volume resistivity > 10⁸ Ω·cm

Non-conductive

Chemical atmosphere

25-yr life

Standard on > 24 ft

Integral cage

What the buyer is trying to solve

Plant safety officers specifying the next access ladder.

The buyers who arrive at this page are plant safety officers and EHS managers who need a vertical or inclined fixed ladder to a process-vessel manhole, a roof access hatch, or a tank-top service platform. The existing painted steel ladder is rusting at the hinge and bracket bolts; the existing galvanized ladder has a corroded safety cage; the existing aluminum ladder has a conductive path to the live equipment on top. They want a ladder that meets OSHA geometry out of the box, holds its color and cage integrity for 20+ years, and is non-conductive when the application needs it.

How the ladder is built

The manufacturing process, in five steps.

1. Sizing review

Receive the climb height, the slope (vertical / 75° / standard), the platform geometry at top and bottom, and any electrical isolation requirement.

2. Stringer and rung pultrusion

Pultruded FRP stringer and rung profiles in vinyl-ester resin, with grit anti-slip surface on the rung top.

3. Cage fabrication

FRP cage hoop and vertical straps bonded to the stringer; standard OSHA {{27}}″ hoop spacing for ladders over 24 ft.

4. Bracket and base

FRP wall bracket and base plate to the existing structure; stainless A4 anchor bolts isolated from the structure rebar.

5. Finish and inspection

Optional integral yellow color on rung nosing; QA per OSHA geometry, dimensional inspection, structural coupon test.

Specifications

Stringer profile	Pultruded FRP channel, {{100 × 50}} mm standard
Rung profile	Pultruded FRP square {{30 × 30}} mm standard; grit anti-slip on top face
Rung spacing	12″ (305 mm) center-to-center, OSHA 1910.23(d) default
Stringer spacing (inside clear)	16″ (406 mm) minimum, OSHA 1910.23(d)(5)
Side-rail extension above landing	42″ (1067 mm), OSHA 1910.23(d)(2)
Cage	Required for climbs over {{24 ft (7.3 m)}}; FRP hoop and vertical straps; {{27}}″ (686 mm) hoop spacing; bottom hoop {{7 ft}} from ground per OSHA
Cage clear distance from rung	{{27}}″ to {{30}}″ (686 to 762 mm), OSHA 1910.23(d)(7)
Slope	Vertical (90°) standard; 75° and standard slope on request
Wall bracket	FRP bracket, {{300}} mm stand-off standard; custom {{200–500}} mm
Top and bottom extension	42″ above top landing; bottom clear per OSHA
Load rating	Single user {{1.0 kN}} concentrated at mid-rung; project-specific loads on request
Color	Standard grey RAL {{7035}}; yellow rung nosing on request
Resin system	Vinyl-ester (FR); isophthalic (economy); phenolic (HL3-rated) on request
UV package	UV-9 inhibitor integral + UV-stable topcoat on visible surfaces
Fire performance	ASTM E84 Class A on request; ASTM D635 self-extinguishing
Volume resistivity	> 10⁸ Ω·cm (non-conductive option)
Operating temperature	{{−50}} °C to {{+90}} °C continuous (resin dependent)
Design life	{{25}} years in chemical atmosphere

When not to specify FRP ladder

Cases where steel or aluminum is correct.

Three cases where we redirect you back to steel

Very heavy loading above {{1.5 kN}} per user. FRP ladder is sized for typical single-user loading. Heavy-tool climbing (e.g., 30 lb tool bag + operator on every rung) approaches the limit; verify on first article.
Architectural metal finish required. If the owner has specified a galvanized or stainless visual in the procurement spec, FRP cannot match it visually. Specify the metal and budget for the paint cycle.
Climbs above 50 ft without intermediate landings. OSHA 1910.23(b)(8) requires intermediate landings for climbs above {{50 ft (15 m)}}. FRP ladder does not include the landing structure; that is by the project architect.

Material comparison

Property	Painted steel ladder	Galvanized steel ladder	Aluminum ladder	Enbuss FRP ladder
Mass per metre (stringer pair + rungs)	~ {{8}} kg/m	~ {{8}} kg/m	~ {{3}} kg/m	~ {{3}} kg/m
Coating cycle in chemical atmosphere	{{12–24}} months	{{24–36}} months	Pitting at welds	None
Cage integrity after 10 yr	Rusting	Rusting at weld	Acceptable	Integral
Electrical isolation	Conductive	Conductive	Conductive	Non-conductive
Site fabrication	Weld + paint	Weld + paint	Weld	Bolt + cut
OSHA 1910.23 compliance	Project-specific	Project-specific	Project-specific	Out-of-the-catalog
25-yr cost (chemical atmosphere)	2–3 replacements	1–2 replacements	Some replacement	No replacement

Customization & OEM

EPC and access-fabricator customers typically need a kit: stringers, rungs, cage, brackets, base plates. We ship the kit labelled to your drawing. First article {{6}} weeks; repeat {{3}} weeks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the typical lead time for a 30 ft climb ladder?

From PO to first delivery, typically {{6–8}} weeks for standard vertical FRP ladder with cage. Custom slope or non-standard rung spacing adds {{1–2}} weeks.

Is the ladder OSHA 1910.23 compliant out of the catalog?

Yes. Standard {{16}}″ stringer clear, 12″ rung spacing, 42″ extension above landing, {{27}}″ cage hoop spacing, and 7 ft bottom hoop satisfy OSHA 1910.23. Project-specific loads and jurisdictions verified on first article.

Can the ladder be non-conductive?

Yes. Specify on RFQ. Volume resistivity > 10⁸ Ω·cm makes the ladder non-conductive; useful for live-electrical equipment access.

How is the ladder anchored?

Wall bracket to existing structure with stainless A4 anchor bolts isolated from the structure rebar. Top and bottom extensions tied to the platform landing.

How is the ladder inspected in service?

Visual at annual walk-around; look for surface damage, UV chalking, or impact cracks. Any visible crack or fiber exposure is grounds for replacement. Inspection interval typically annual.

Can the ladder be supplied with a fall-arrest rail?

Yes. Specify on RFQ; we supply a rigid FRP rail at the top {{6 ft}} of the climb for a removable fall-arrest trolley. Project-specific.

Can the cage be supplied without ladder (replacement cage)?

Yes. Cage retrofit to existing stringers is a standard kit; specify on RFQ.

What documentation comes with each ladder?

Per ladder: dimensional inspection, resin lot certificate, ASTM E84 (if specified), OSHA geometry compliance reference, installation drawing.

Send a ladder layout

Send the climb height, the slope, the platform geometry at top and bottom, and any electrical isolation requirement. We return a kit BOM, a fixed quote, and the OSHA geometry compliance reference.

Email a ladder engineer