CPD Specifier May 2015 issue September 2014 | Page 29

Roofs

Bilco improves safety with
fixed ladders
Roof access products manufacturer, Bilco,
provides a range of some of the safest ladders
in the construction industry, to make working
at height safer for roofers, builders and
ongoing facilities management maintenance
operatives. With a range of fixed, retractable
and companionway ladders, Bilco offers a
tailored approach to safer ladder access to roof
hatches, and smoke vents both for maintenance
and secondary access. For added safety, Bilco
also offers its trademark LadderUp® Safety
Post which helps to ensure three points of
contact on the ladder while entering or exiting
an access hatch. Details can be found on www.
bilcouk.com, from which NBS specifications and
installation guides can be downloaded.
Bilco’s industrial standard, fixed ladder range
comprises robust fixed vertical ladders which
can be installed on their own, or used in
conjunction with a Bilco roof access hatch.
Bilco supplies both galvanised mild steel
and aluminium versions for ceiling heights of
between 2 and 6 metres as standard, however,
bespoke heights can be manufactured on
request. Bilco offers options for the fixed ladder
alone, ladder with safety cage or ladder with a
cage and safety rail. Bilco’s LadderUp® Safety
Post is also designed for use with fixed vertical
ladders, making entering and exiting roof
access hatches safer and easier for the user.
All Bilco fixed vertical ladders comply with the
requirements of BS4211:2005 + A1 2008. Bilco

also provides CAD drawings for its fixed ladder
range at www.bilcouk.com
In applications where a fixed vertical ladder is
not needed all the time, a retractable ladder
from Bilco’s range is an ideal option, particularly
for accessing hatches not situated next to
a wall. Industrial standard Bilco retractable
ladders are designed for easy use with a roof
hatch. Manufactured from die-cast aluminium
alloy to EN 14975 (DN 4570) standards, the
ladder comes with a backboard fabricated from
18mm block wood for easy installation. Bilco
also provides the option of a ladder complete
with a trap door which neatly encloses the
ladder between the closed trap door and the
roof hatch. Ladders have heavy duty counter
balancing strips to ensure that they provide safe
and controlled operation for the end user. Once
lowered into place, the gradient of the ladder
makes it simple to use, especially for operatives
carrying tools or maintenance equipment.
Provided there is a minimum roof opening of 1
metre, the ladder can be supplied with or without
a telescopic hand rail.
In applications where the rise from floor to
roof level is less than 3 metres, Bilco offers
companionway ladders designed for use with
Bilco roof access hatches manufactured from
either galvanised steel or aluminium. Although
technically a fixed vertical ladder, with a 75
degree gradient, Bilco’s companionway ladders

offer a sturdy, safe,
easy to use means
of gaining access
to the roof hatch.
Companionway
ladders are supplied
with two grab rails
as a means of
maintaining three
points of contact for
the entire length of
the ladder. All Bilco
companionway
ladders are
manufactured in
accordance
with BS 5395: Part 3.

Bilco gains membership of the
Single Ply Roofing Association
Bilco UK Ltd has become a member of the
Single Ply Roofing