FIXED LADDERS
Fixed Ladders: Permanent Access That Meets Code
Fixed ladders give your facility permanent, bolt-in access to the places people reach every day, from rooftops and mezzanines to tanks, pits, and loading docks. Because a fixed ladder becomes part of the building, it must be built and installed in accordance with current OSHA rules. We carry steel, aluminum, and stainless steel models in caged and wall-mounted configurations, plus specialty designs like drop-down and retractable units, and we build custom fixed ladders when a standard size won't clear your opening or meet local code requirements.
Fixed ladders may be ideal for the following applications:
Roof Access
Mezzanines
Lofts
Pits
Elevated Platforms
Docks
Choosing the Right Fixed Ladder for the Job
The right ladder comes down to how high it climbs, what the environment throws at it, and how the top landing is arranged. Pinning those details down before you order is what keeps you from paying to retrofit for fall protection or code down the road.
Height and Fall Protection
Once a ladder climbs past 24 feet, OSHA requires a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest, and new installations can no longer rely on a cage by itself. We can spec a compliant run or fit a ladder safety system so your fixed access ladders pass inspection instead of flagging one.
Material and Environment
Painted steel is the economical, most popular pick for dry interiors. For corrosive or wash-down areas, 304 or 316 stainless holds up well, and our aluminum access ladders cut weight where rust resistance or easier handling matters, such as tank and rooftop work.
Top Landing and Mounting
Wall-mount ladders can include rail extensions that rise 42 inches above the landing for a safe grab-on and step-off. Where a permanent climb would block a walkway or invite unwanted access, drop-down and retractable models keep the ladder out of the way until someone needs it.
Why Buy From Platforms and Ladders
Since 2014, we've helped purchasing teams across the country order access equipment that fits and passes inspection. We pull from many manufacturers rather than a single catalog, so you're matched to the fixed ladder your application needs instead of the closest stock item. All of our Fixed Ladders are OSHA compliant. Our staff will talk through OSHA requirements with you and will often match a lower price on an identical ladder. We shop freight on your behalf, too, so that's one less time-eater in your day. Our GSA contract and MBE certification make us a simple vendor to set up for public and enterprise orders.
Get Help Speccing Your Fixed Ladder
A fixed ladder is easier to buy when someone checks the height, load, and code details with you first, and any custom build starts with a drawing you approve before production. Send the team at Platforms and Ladders your measurements and a photo of the opening or wall, and we'll match you to a standard ladder or quote a custom one, then shop freight to your dock. Reach us through our contact page or call (888) 802-3651 to get started.
Please call and speak to our helpful, well trained staff for answers to your product questions, get a freight quote to your location or to purchase a Fixed Ladder.
Fixed Ladder FAQs
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Not the way they once did. For ladders over 24 feet installed on or after November 19, 2018, a cage no longer counts as fall protection on its own, and OSHA requires a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest. Existing caged ladders over 24 feet must be retrofitted by November 18, 2036. Shorter ladders can still use standard guarding.
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Rungs must be uniformly spaced 10 to 14 inches apart and at least 16 inches wide, with a minimum of 7 inches of clearance behind the ladder so your boots have room. We build to these dimensions, and every custom fixed ladder is drawn to your exact rise before anything is fabricated.
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Most facilities reach a roof via a wall- or parapet-mounted ladder with rail extensions above the landing. Roof ladders are often paired with a roof hatch or a gliding rooftop unit where space is tight. Aluminum is a common choice up top because it withstands weather and keeps the ladder light.
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Yes. When a permanent climb would invite unauthorized access or block a path, a drop-down counterbalanced ladder or a retractable model stays up out of reach and lowers only when needed. We also carry pull-down secure ladders and pivoting units for tight mechanical spaces.