FRP fixed ladders provide permanent vertical access for tank tops and elevated equipment platforms. The non-conductive construction removes the grounding requirements that metal ladders carry, making them especially suited to electrical substations.
Each fiberglass safety ladder is fabricated from pultruded side rails and round rungs, assembled with mechanical fasteners—no field welding. The rung profile includes a bonded silica grit surface, giving a slip‑resistant grip even when wet. Standard rung spacing follows OSHA 1910.23 at 280 mm (11 in) on centre, and side rails are 50 × 50 mm square tube for a rigid, lightweight structure. Because the entire assembly is non‑metallic, there is no conductive path to ground; a single industrial fixed ladder can be bolted directly to a transformer bund wall or a clarifier tank without bonding jumpers or grounding cables.
Installation is straightforward. Pre‑drilled mounting brackets accept 316 stainless steel anchor bolts, and the ladder sections come in 3‑m and 6‑m lengths that connect with internal splice joints. A two‑person crew typically sets a 6‑m ladder against a concrete tank wall in under two hours. There is no hot work, no heavy lifting equipment, and no repainting after the first day—the resin colour is integral through the laminate.
Dimensional & Performance Specs
| Side rails | 50 × 50 mm (2 × 2 in) pultruded square tube, wall thickness 4 mm |
|---|---|
| Rungs | Round tube Ø 30 mm (1.2 in), with integrally bonded grit surface |
| Rung spacing | 280 mm (11 in) — OSHA 1910.23 compliant |
| Ladder width (clear) | 410 mm (16 in) inside rails |
| Section lengths | 3 m (10 ft) and 6 m (20 ft); custom lengths on request |
| Load rating | 150 kg (330 lbs) per rung, uniformly distributed |
| Resin system | Isophthalic polyester (standard); vinyl ester for harsh chemical exposure |
| Fire performance | Flame spread index ≤ 25 (ASTM E‑84) |
| Weight | Approx. 5 kg/m (3.4 lb/ft), about 30% of an equivalent steel ladder |
A FRP access ladder of this configuration is often paired with walkway systems and safety cages supplied by the same manufacturer, keeping the entire vertical‑access system non‑conductive. For facilities that already maintain other FRP access components, using the same resin chemistry across platforms, handrails, and ladders simplifies the spare‑parts list and removes any galvanic corrosion at the connection points.
Proven in Field
“We replaced every external steel ladder on the chemical storage tanks with FRP fixed ladders five years ago. The grounding checks stopped immediately, and the grit‑coated rungs are still as safe as the day they were installed—zero rust, zero repaints, and zero lost‑time slips.”
— Excerpt from Water Treatment Tank Cover & Access Upgrade