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American Ladder Institute / 30-Apr-2010 / 33 pages

This standard prescribes rules concerning the safe design, construction, testing, care, installation and use of permanently installed metal or wood, disappearing attic stairways of various types designed to be used for access to upper levels such as attics. Household units with duty ratings of 250, 300 and 350 lbs., or commercial units with a rating of 500 lbs. are the only units covered in this standard. This standard is not intended to apply to any attic stairway covered in any other ANSI A14 standards, or disappearing attic stairways intended for use with ceiling heights in excess of 12 feet. This standard also prescribes rules and minimum requirements for installation instructions and labeling of disappearing attic stairways in order to promote safety under normal conditions of usage.

This standard is not intended to cover requirements for fire separation that may be required by various building codes. It does not apply where training, supervision, or established safety procedures are in conflict with, or serve in lieu of, this standard. The purpose of this document is to help provide safety for life, limb, and property by establishing standards for the design and installation of permanently installed disappearing attic stairways.

It is not the purpose of this standard to specify all the details of construction of disappearing attic stairways. The limitations imposed are for the purpose of providing adequate general methods and testing. 

Contents

vi

8. Tests    .   . . . . . . . . . . . 5

8.1 General      . . . . . . . 5

8.2 Tests for Disappearing Attic Stairways   . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

8.3 Labeling Tests    .   6

9. Labeling / Marking     . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

9.1 General      . . . . . . . 6

9.2 Product Data Information Markings    6

9.3 Specific Labeling / Marking     . . . . . 6

10. Revision of American National Standard Referred to in this document  . . 7

Tables

Table 1 Minimum Wood Dimensions     . . . . . 8

Table 2 Test Loads    .   . . . 8

Figures

Fig. 1 Handrail location and grip obstruction    9

Fig. 2 Rail Test     . . . . . . . 10

Fig. 3 Hinge Opening      . 11

Fig. 4 Top Support Test     . 11

Fig. 5 Step Bending Test     12

Fig. 6 Rail Test Load Block Location Detail   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Fig. 7 Lateral Rigidity Test    . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Appendicies

Appendix A Danger and Caution Labels    . . 14

Appendix B Product Labeling    . . . . . . . . . . 15

Fig. B.1 Hinge Alignment Diagram     . . 15

Appendix C Recommended Minimum Instructions for Household Rated Stairways  . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Fig. C.1 Projection Space     . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chart 1 Landing Space and Projection Space   . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chart 2 Rough Opening and Ceiling Height   . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Fig. C.2 Rough Opening Construction – Parallel to Joist   . 17

Fig. C.3 Rough Opening Construction – Perpendicular to Joist  . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Fig. C.4 Temporary Support Slats    .  . . 18

Fig. C.5 Bolt or 16d Nail Position Guide   . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Fig. C.6 Rail Cutting Length    . . . . . . . . 18

Fig. C.7 Hinge Alignment Diagram     . . 19

Appendix D Formula for Determining Dimensions    . . . . . . . . 20

Appendix E Classification of Various Species of Wood   . . . . . 21

Comment Form     . . . . . . 24