In the same way that a TV's size is curiously measured at a diagonal, ladders can also seem a little peculiar if you are not familiar with the industry standard and there can be some confusion between how tall a ladder is versus its maximum reach.
Calculating Reach Height
- Reach height is calculated using the height of an average 5’6" person with a 12" reach.
- This person is assumed to be standing on the highest safe step of the ladder.
Example Calculation
- Your ladder advertises a maximum reach of 22 feet. Standing on the ground, a 5'6 person reaching 12" high can reach 6'6. If that same person then climbs a ladder to the third rung from the top, they would be able to reach 22".
Ladder Safety
- Never stand on the top two rungs of a ladder.
Finding Measurements
- Max reach descriptions are often found on temporary labels and displays at retail stores or online.
- The actual height and other important information can be found on a permanent NOTICE label in blue and white.
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