Cage ladders. Fixed steel ladders with safety cage, OHSA-compliant.
Vertical fixed steel ladders for tank-top, silo, process-equipment, and rooftop access — with welded safety cage, intermediate rest platforms above 30 ft, and the rung spacing and clearance distances the regulations require. Defaults to hot-dip galvanized for outdoor installations.
Where they fit
Vertical access where stairs don't.
Above ~70° pitch, an inclined stair becomes impractical and a vertical fixed ladder is the right tool. Common applications: tank-side service access, silo cap-deck, exterior building access between rooftops, process-equipment platforms above grade. For low-traffic equipment access at lower pitches, see ship's ladders.
Common applications
- Tank and silo access — exterior galvanized ladders to tank-top fittings or silo cap-deck.
- Rooftop access (no penthouse) — interior wall-mounted or exterior ladder where a stair won't fit.
- Process equipment platforms — service access above grade, often paired with a stair to a lower platform.
- Crane / hoist runway access — overhead service routes.
Detail decisions
- Cage start height — typically 7-8 ft (2.1-2.4 m) above grade.
- Cage hoop spacing — 4 ft maximum vertical spacing.
- Rest platform interval — every 30 ft for ladders > 30 ft total height.
- Top extension — side rails extend 42" above the upper landing as a hand-hold.
- Surface clearance — 178 mm (7") rung-to-wall for fingertip grip.
- Anchor pattern — engineered to wall composition; same as our fire-escape work.
Typical parameters
- Rung spacing12" on centre
- Cage hoop4 ft max vertical spacing
- Cage start7 ft above grade
- Rest platformsevery 30 ft (ladders > 30 ft)
- Live load1.3 kN concentrated, single-rung
- Finishhot-dip galvanized (default outdoors)
- Lead time4 – 6 weeks from sign-off
Related
- All steel stairs & industrial stair systems
- Ship's ladders — steep-pitch alternative below ~70°
- Roof access stairs — when a stair fits