NON-CONDUCTIVE FIBREGLASS LADDERS (GPR)

Ladders are generally constructed from three material types:

• Wood
• Aluminium
• Fibreglass

While each type of ladder has its benefits and trade-offs, a fibreglass ladder does have some additional advantages to consider.

Perhaps the biggest advantage over its aluminium counterpart is that fibreglass is non-conductive so it is ideal for electricians and other tradesmen working with electricity or where there is a risk of electrical shock. Even though a fibreglass ladder may use aluminium rungs, the rungs themselves are kept separated.

• Always cut out power when working on, or near, electricity.
• A fibreglass ladder is constructed from man-made material which gives it an advantage over wooden ladders. Fibreglass beams are uniform and inherently strong. The main drawback of a fibreglass ladder is its weight, the larger the ladder the heavier it gets.
• All products in this range are designed for commercial and professional use. Our range of fibreglass ladders are manufactured to conform to relevant standards.

FIBERGLASS MANUFACTURE

• Fibreglass ladder rails are manufactured by the pultrusion process. Glass fibre in alternate layers of longitudinal fibres and continuous strand mat are impregnated with thermosetting isophthalic polyester resin, which includes an ultra-violet inhibitor. The strand and mat glass layers are drawn through a resin bath in a continuous strip and then die-shaped and cured in one automated sequence.
• The reinforced design yields bi-directional strength in the composite section. There are approximately one million longitudinal fibres per side rail.
• The side rail is engineered to satisfy the range of applications in the electrical, corrosive resistant, outdoor weathering and thermal and structural requirements of the user.
• Lighter than industrial wood ladders, pultruded fibreglass has known structural characteristics – its strength is not dependent upon the grain or random natural fibre distribution.

WEATHERING CHARACTERISTICS

Fibreglass ladder rail will weather when exposed to an outdoor environment. The degradation of surface appearance will be accelerated by warm, moist climates, areas of high humidity and high solar (UV) radiation. Humidity has the greatest effect on the degree of weathering.

GUIDELINES FOR MAINTENANCE TO PREVENT WEATHERING

Wax slows down the entry of water, but does not inhibit ultra-violet (UV).

A pigmented polyurethane two-part coating will screen out a great amount of UV while restricting moisture entry and is also suitable for refurbishing if fibre prominence becomes evident. Application after first preparing the fibreglass surface by hand sanding.

In a chemical environment, periodic inspection and possible coating may be warranted.

CARE OF FIBERGLASS LADDERS

Handle your ladder properly.

• Don’t drop it.
• Don’t crush it.
• Don’t twist it.

Store ladders on racks with good cushion supports properly clamped and with minimum overhang.