LADDERS
Some can extend your risk
Household ladder injuries are one
element of sweat equity you may not
hear about on home-improvement
shows. While human error may
explain some of the roughly 180,000
emergency-room visits and 150
deaths reported each year by the
Consumer Product Safety Commission, so might lax safety rules
and questionable designs.
Six telescoping and seven tall
multiuse ladders we evaluated presented risks that were serious enough
for us to judge them Not Acceptable
(see SafetyAlert on facing page). All 13
compete with regular extension ladders for taller tasks. Threats we found
include crushing hazards to hands and
fingers, ladder feet that slid out during
testing, and injury risks when we tried
to use some models fully extended.
We also found some less-robust models among 6-foot stepladders, which have
occupied the highest rung in sales. While
there are no mandatory safety rules for
consumer ladders, manufacturers typically assign them maximum weight ratings from 200 pounds (Type III) to 300
pounds (Type IA) based on a voluntary
standard published by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI). All
the ladders in our Ratings met that stan-
and weight-shifting typical when
painting or sanding. The Davidson
W-2212-06S tipped and swayed more
than others of the same kind.
A steeper learning curve. Multiuse
ladders have climbed fastest in sales as
manufacturers tout their compactness
and versatility. But the complexity created by having to lock various parts
into place explains their mediocre
ease-of-use scores. Adjusting the Jaws
JJT14 involves a lengthy process of
loosening and tightening.
TOUGHER STANDARDS NEEDED
Ladders must resist bending under
CAVING UNDER PRESSURE The Werner FIA06
step-load tests with weights up to four
is one of four stepladders in our Ratings whose
times their weight rating as well as
steps bent under our higher-weight version of
side-twisting tests as part of meeting
the ANSI test (shown in progress above).
the ANSI standard. But some experts
dard. But four stepladders we rated have
believe that the standard falls short.
steps that bent under the higher weight
Harold Stillman, who chaired the
we used to help account for the stresses of
ANSI task force that most extensively reclimbing and weight-shifting (see Guide
vised ladder standards, notes that sideto the Ratings on page 44 for details).
stability tests haven’t been substantially
Other ladders proved less stable, and
updated since 1980. “The tests provide an
some scored low overall despite their high
easy out for manufacturers—they can
weight ratings. Here are the details:
stick with old designs that easily pass.”
Some walked and wiggled. Even the
James Glancey, associate professor of
most stable stepladders twisted enough
mechanical engineering at the University
for their feet to “walk” slightly when we
of Delaware, sees a common
stood on them and simulated the twisting
theme in many ladder-
First things first. Choose a ladder type based on the kinds of chores you do most around the house.
STEPLADDERS
MULTIUSE LADDERS
EXTENSION LADDERS
Best for their light weight
and uncomplicated use for
tasks nearer the ground. A
shelf holds tools or paint.
But they work only one
way and won’t work on
stairs. Not as rigid as
multiuse ladders. Some
may have pinch points
at spreader bars.
Price $25 to $250.
Best for versatility. Can be an extension or stepladder, or a scaffold, and
can be used on stairs. More rigid than
stepladders. Easier to store than
conventional extension ladders and
better for jobs below 17 feet.
But they’re heavier and pricier
than other types and harder to
set up. Some taller models
can pose safety risks when
fully extended.
Price $100 to $500.
Best for projects above 17 feet.
These ladders are light for their
size, easy to set up, and more
rigid than multiuse models when
used as a straight ladder.
But extension ladders work only
as straight ladders and, unlike
multiuse ladders, offer no other
configurations. They also require
ample storage space.
Price $70 to $250.
42
C O N S U M E R R E P O RT S
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S E P T E M B E R 2006
•
Expert • Independent • Nonprofit
youneedtoknow
injury trials on which he has consulted.
“By far, the most common failure is where
one of the side rails bends inward right
below the lowest step,” he says.
Glancey says that spotting such siderail failure would require a dynamic test
not currently included in the standard.An
ANSI-compliant ladder, he says, “should
pass more realistic dynamic loading in
more than one direction at a time.”
The American Ladder Institute, the
industry’s major trade group, recently
attributed the high number of ladder injuries mostly to misuse and improper selection. Yet the Consumer Product Safety
Commission questions that claim. “While
we think that those are primary factors,
we have no hard data to say that for certain,” says Scott J. Wolfson, a CPSC
spokesman. “That information comes
from no CPSC study that I know of.”
Consumers Union, publisher of
CONSUMER REPORTS, believes that meeting
ladder safety standards should be mandatory, a position the American Ladder
Institute’s Ron Pietrzak endorses, and
should include updated tests. We also believe that the four existing ANSI consumerweight classifications are troublesome
because it’s hard to predict who will use a
ladder and how. Instead, we advocate one
rating for consumer ladders to meet Type
IA standards.“While that may mean more
weight and fewer bargain-priced ladders,
the added margin of safety is worth it,”
says Don Mays, senior director for product safety at Consumers Union.
HOW TO CHOOSE
See First Things First on the facing
page to determine which type of ladder
works best for you. Then check our
Ratings and CR Quick Picks for models
that blend strength and ease of use. Also:
Look beyond the label. Don’t buy by
weight rating alone.Two Type IA stepladders walked more than others, and several Type I ladders scored lowest in our
tests. Check our Ratings for Type IA models that scored well. For taller tasks, we
suggest a traditional extension ladder.
Consider the material. Aluminum
ladders weigh the least but shouldn’t be
used near power lines or other voltage
sources. Choose a fiberglass or wooden
ladder where electricity is a factor, and
remember that any ladder can conduct
electricity when it’s wet.
Try before buying. For stepladders,
climb three steps and try shifting your
weight; the ladder shouldn’t deform, tip,
or walk. For multiuse models, check how
easy the ladder is to adjust and lock at the
store, and ask if you can return it if it
proves more challenging than you thought.
• Read and follow all of the instructions.
• Angle straight ladders 75 degrees from
the ground (1 foot out for every 4 feet up).
• Always face a ladder when climbing and
descending it, and don’t go beyond the
labeled highest step recommended.
• Be certain that a stepladder’s spreaders are fully open and locked.
• Extend straight ladders 3 feet beyond
the roof or work area for proper stability.
safetyalert
WE JUDGE 13 LADDERS
‘NOT ACCEPTABLE’
Some tall multiuse and telescoping extension
ladders can escalate your risk of injury as they
extend your reach aloft.
In our single-person use tests, several
problems prompted us to judge seven 22- to
26-foot multiuse models from Cosco, Little
Giant, and Werner Not Acceptable. In our
tests, we found it extremely difficult for one
person to safely lift, maneuver, and fully
extend those ladders. All of those multiuse
models also posed a crushing hazard to hands
and fingers between the ladders’ upper and
lower sections as we attempted to extend
them and then collapsed them for storage.
We believe that you’re better off choosing
a conventional, Type IA extension ladder for
taller around-the-house projects that are 17
feet high or higher above the ground.
We also judged six 121⁄2-foot telescoping
extension ladders Not Acceptable. Five
Telesteps models include instructions for
slowing their descent when you collapse
them. But it’s all too easy to allow all sections
to collapse quickly, posing a crushing risk to
hands and fingers. Our tests of the Xtend &
Climb 770 show that the ladder feet could
easily slide out from under you on smooth
surfaces. A secondary concern: We found it
difficult to tell whether sections were locked.
RAPID DESCENT Telescoping models
from Telesteps include lowering instructions on the ladder. But users might not
follow those instructions, subjecting
themselves to substantial risk.
Within types, in alphabetical order.
Brand & model
Safety risks we encountered in our use tests
NOT ACCEPTABLE Multiuse ladders that extend beyond 17 feet.
These were extremely difficult for one person to safely set
Cosco 20221-TIA
up and fully extend in our single-person use tests; loss of
Little Giant M 22 Types I and IA aluminum;
control may cause them to fall onto people or property.
M 22 Type IA fiberglass; M 26 Type IA aluminum Fingers can be crushed between upper and lower sections
Werner MT-22; MT-26
while attempting to extend or collapse ladder.
NOT ACCEPTABLE Telescoping extension ladders that extend to 12 1⁄2 feet.
Crushing hazard to hands and fingers. It’s all too easy to
Telesteps 1205 Types IA, I, and II Ï ;
allow all sections to collapse rapidly and for rungs to become
1600 Types IA and I
nearly flush when locking pins are pulled, as users might do.
Xtend & Climb 770
Ladder could easily slide out from under user on smooth
surfaces. No positive locking indication.
Ï Discontinued but may still be available.
S E P T E M B E R 2006
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w w w. ConsumerRepor ts.org 43
Ratings
ladders
F
G VG
E
Walking
100
P
Ease of use
Test results
Strength
0
&X
&
X
&
C
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&X
&
C
&
X
&
C
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
C
&
X
&C
&
X
&
X
&
C
&
C
&
C
&
V
&
C
&
V
&
V
8 Gorilla 01-46001-00 ¤
50
21
II/225
46
63
9 Davidson Regal 6’ Ï ⁄
90
20
II/225
46
60
10 Davidson W-3012-06 ¤
Giant
11 Little
1A Model 13 11460
12 Werner FIA06 ¤
70
19
IA/300
46
59
&Z
&
Z
&
Z
&
Z
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
C
320
22
IA/300
46
56
&X &V &C &C
90
21
IA/300
46
55
13 Werner FS206 ¤
50
15
II/225
46
14 Davidson W-2212-06S
30
13
II/225
46
15 Werner 356
35
13
II/225
46
16 Gorilla ASL-1-6 Ï
50
16
I/250
46
17 Husky ASL 1-6
50
16
I/250
46
18 Werner 366
45
14
I/250
46
&V
&
C
&
C
&
V
&
V
&
V
&
B
1
Cosco 2061A
$80
17
IA/300
45
2 Werner W396 ⁄
120
33
IA/300
43
73
3 Telesteps 605AF
260
28
IA/300
54
70
78
60
22
II/225
46
67
5 Davidson 486-06 ¤
90
19
IA/300
46
65
BEST
BUY
6 Husky 01-46002-00 ¤
90
23
IA/300
46
64
100
22
IA/300
45
63
7 Bauer 30406 ¤
54
47
46
41
41
32
&X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&X
&
X
&
V
&
C
&
C
&
C
&
X
&C
&
C
&
V
&
V
&
V
&
V
&
V
MULTIUSE LADDERS More versatile and complex; these reach 12 to 15 feet as straight ladders.
19 ClimbTek CT412
160
31
IA/300
42
75
20 Cosco 20213
100
27
II/225
35
75
BEST
BUY
21 Gorilla AL-13
100
29
IA/300
35
74
BEST
BUY
22 Werner MT-13
120
29
IA/300
34
72
23 Gorilla FL-13 ¤
Giant
24 Little
1 Model 17 10302
25 Werner M1-6-12
180
41
IA/300
35
69
&Z
&
Z
&
Z
&
Z
&
Z
340
32
I/250
58
68
&X &C &X &C
150
33
I/250
43
67
33
65
&Z C
&
&
X
&
C
&
Z
&
V
&
C
&
C
26 Jaws JJT14
290
21
I/250
⁄ Wood. ¤ Fiberglass. Ï Discontinued but may still be available.
&X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&
X
&C
&
X
&
C
&
C
&
C
Overall score is based on strength, ease of use, and resistance to tipping, swaying, and walking. Overall score for multiuse ladders is based on their stepladder mode. Strength is based
on whether a model met the ANSI-standard tests for resistance to step and side-rail bending
by type. All met the ANSI standards; the Werner (12, 18), Gorilla (16), and Husky (17) did not
pass our tougher version of the ANSI step-strength test. Ease of use denotes a ladder’s ease
of setup, use, and folding based on panelists’ judgments. Tipping/swaying denotes how stable each model felt when panelists climbed it and reached to the sides. Walking reflects panelists’ judgments of resistance to moving across the floor as the panelists twisted the ladders
to mimic work stresses. Type/rated load denote the ANSI weight classes according to maximum working load. Weight reflects our measurements. Max. height is our measure of the
highest point at which you can stand. Price is the approximate retail.
Free: For more safety information,
go to www.ConsumerReports.org/ladders
FROM OTHER SOURCES
Consumer Product Safety Commission
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/ladder.html
S E P T E M B E R 2006
&C
&
C
&
C
&
C
&
V
Guide to the Ratings
FROM CONSUMER REPORTS
&Z
Overall score
4 Werner W366 ⁄
For more information
C O N S U M E R R E P O RT S
B
Poor
BEST
BUY
If you want a multiuse ladder:
44
B
V
Fair
STEPLADDERS These 6-foot models are aimed at tasks relatively near the ground.
BEST
BUY
1 Cosco $80
5 Davidson $90
6 Husky $90
The aluminum Cosco combines top performance with easy carrying. Consider
the fiberglass Davidson and Husky where
electricity is a factor; both are lighter than
the wooden Werner (2). The telescoping
aluminum Telesteps (3) adds some height,
and its A-frame design adds safety by
eliminating the need to hold its sides as it
folds. But it’s both heavy and pricey.
19 ClimbTek $160
2 1 Gorilla $100, CR Best Buy
22 Werner $120, CR Best Buy
All three of these aluminum multiuse ladders performed comparably. Paying more
for the relatively pricey ClimbTek buys
you some added working height. While
the fiberglass Gorilla (23) also performed
competently overall in our tests and won’t
conduct electricity when dry, it’s heavy
and its sliding ends didn’t slide smoothly.
B
C
Good
Tipping/
swaying
Best for most; top-scoring stepladders,
reasonably priced; all are CR Best Buys:
All models are
aluminum except
where noted.
Specifications
Max. height
as a stepladder
(in.)
CR Quick Recommendations
Price
Type/rated
load (lb.)
Brand & model
21 Gorilla
Climbing any ladder involves added risk.
Models that scored higher help minimize
that risk by being stronger, easier to use,
and less prone to tipping, swaying, and
moving across the floor as you work.
The Ratings rank ladders by overall
score. Quick Picks lists ladders that combine performance and value with the
added safety typical for Type IA models.
B
X
Excellent Very
good
Within types, in performance order. Blue key numbers indicate Quick Picks.
Models with equal scores are listed alphabetically.
Weight (lb.)
1 Cosco
BEST
BUY
Key number
BEST
BUY
Z
• Availability Most models at stores through
December 2006.
•
Expert • Independent • Nonprofit