Painting the tips of ground ladders

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Elston on January 27, 2010 at 4:31pm

At my department we recently painted the tips of our ground ladders. We used high visibility orange paint to paint the tips and the balance points, then a strip of reflective tape around the beams at the beginning and end of the balance point.

Permalink Reply by Eric Myers on January 29, 2010 at 11:35am

That is a great idea. I am going to try and implement that in my department. Good advice. Thanks.
eric

Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on January 30, 2010 at 12:53am

-I am curious as to which NFPA directive is recommending painting the tips of ground ladders?

Permalink Reply by Erick Mohn on January 30, 2010 at 9:25pm

I believe it is 1932, something like 6.2 off the top of my head. States something like 18" from the tip.

Permalink Reply by Erick Mohn on January 30, 2010 at 11:08pm

Michael, It's not a directive but we just want to improve the visibilty of the tips of ground ladders. NFPA states that only a certain portion of the tip can be painted if you paint them.

Michael Bricault said:

-I am curious as to which NFPA directive is recommending painting the tips of ground ladders?

Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on February 6, 2010 at 12:48am

-I am not familiar with many departments that paint ground ladders, especially if they are using aluminum ladders. Generally speaking it is usually wooden ground ladders that are painted and that is, in fact, what the NFPA standard was referencing.
-Moreover, painting ladders is much like painting a hand tool; it covers up and potentially hides any imperfections or problems/defects that have developed with the ladder.
-If you are truly seeking to improve the visibility of the top end of the ladder I would suggest using one inch reflective tape placed on the back side of the beams, nothing more. Painting aluminum ladders is inappropriate.

Permalink Reply by John M. Scheibel on February 18, 2010 at 1:30pm

Good day...To add some Valuable incite I received many years ago..How do ONE insure that the DAWGS, are locked and loaded when we raise our ladders into place..A Wily Old Truck Veteran told me to place REFLECTIVE TAPE on the plates of the inside of the DAWG Covers.. Using your Flashlight in that Dark Alley in the Rear.. You can quickly spot those DAWGS and make sure that they are in place and locked..

Permalink Reply by Wayne Benner Jr on March 20, 2010 at 10:36am

We dont paint the tips however have looked at putting some type of relection tape on them. More so for our extions that would rise above the roof.

As for the middle point thats a great idea as we use our ladders as staging for our vent and RIT ops we carry all the equipment on them to the are of use.