AS 1657-1992

1 - AS 1657-1992 FIXED PLATFORMS, WALKWAYS, STAIRWAYS AND LADDERS - DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
6 - SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
6 - 1.1 SCOPE
6 - 1.2 APPLICATION
6 - 1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
7 - 1.4 DEFINITIONS
7 - 1.4.1 Accepted
7 - 1.4.2 Floor
7 - 1.4.3 Going
7 - 1.4.4 Guardrailing
7 - 1.4.5 Handrail
7 - 1.4.6 Individual-rung ladder
7 - 1.4.7 Ladder
7 - 1.4.8 Ladder cage
7 - 1.4.9 Landing
8 - 1.4.10 Nosing
8 - 1.4.11 Pipe
8 - 1.4.12 Platform
8 - 1.4.13 Reasonably practicable
8 - 1.4.14 Regulatory authority
8 - 1.4.15 Rise
8 - 1.4.16 Rung ladder
8 - 1.4.17 Shall
8 - 1.4.18 Should
8 - 1.4.19 Stairway
8 - 1.4.20 Step ladder
8 - 1.4.21 Stile
8 - 1.4.22 Walkway
9 - SECTION 2 STRUCTURAL DESIGN, MATERIALS AND WELDING
9 - 2.1 DESIGN
9 - 2.1.1 General
9 - 2.1.2 Design loadings
9 - 2.1.2.1 Floors
9 - 2.1.2.2 Guardrails
9 - 2.1.2.3 Handrails
9 - 2.1.2.4 Stairways
9 - 2.1.2.5 Fixed ladders
9 - 2.1.3 Fixing of components
9 - 2.2 MATERIALS
9 - 2.2.1 General
10 - 2.2.2 Piping
10 - 2.2.2.1 General
10 - 2.2.2.2 Galvanized pipe
10 - 2.2.2.3 Ungalvanized pipe
10 - 2.2.3 Timber materials
10 - 2.2.3.1 Platforms, walkways and stairways
10 - 2.2.3.2 Ladders
10 - 2.2.4 Bolts
10 - 2.2.5 Concrete
10 - 2.2.6 Protective coating
10 - 2.3 WELDING
11 - SECTION 3 PLATFORMS, CONTINUOUS WALKWAYS, AND STEPS WITH LANDINGS
11 - 3.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
11 - 3.1.1 Platforms
11 - 3.1.2 Continuous walkways
11 - 3.1.3 Steps with landings
11 - 3.1.4 Minimum vertical clearance
11 - 3.1.5 Width
11 - 3.1.5.1 Platform
11 - 3.1.5.2 Walkways
11 - 3.2 PROTECTION AT SIDES, ENDS, EDGES, AND OPENINGS
11 - 3.2.1 Sides and ends
11 - 3.2.1.1 Guardrailing
12 - 3.2.1.2 Toe-board
12 - 3.2.1.3 Exceptions
12 - 3.2.2 Unguarded edges and openings
12 - 3.3 DESIGN
12 - 3.3.1 Floors
12 - 3.3.1.1 General
12 - 3.3.1.2 Protection
12 - 3.3.1.3 Timber floors
12 - 3.3.1.4 Metal plate floors
12 - 3.3.1.5 Grated floors
12 - 3.3.1.6 Concrete floors
12 - 3.4 GUARDRAILING
12 - 3.4.1 Design
13 - 3.4.2 Infill
13 - 3.4.3 Toe-board
13 - 3.4.4 Testing
14 - SECTION 4 STAIRWAYS
14 - 4.1 WIDTH AND ANGLE OF SLOPE
14 - 4.2 FLIGHTS
14 - 4.2.1 Shape
14 - 4.2.2 Straight flights
14 - 4.2.3 Curved stairways
14 - 4.3 STAIRS
14 - 4.3.1 Rises and goings
14 - 4 3.2 Minimum vertical clearance
14 - 4.3.3 Nosing
14 - 4.4 LANDINGS
14 - 4.5 GUARDRAILING
14 - 4.6 HANDRAILING
14 - 4.6.1 Provisions of handrails
15 - 4.6.2 Dimensions and clearance
17 - SECTION 5 FIXED LADDERS
17 - 5.1 CLEARANCES
17 - 5.2 ACCESS THROUGH HORIZONTAL OPENINGS
17 - 5.3 LADDER LANDINGS
17 - 5.4 GUARDRAILING
19 - 5.5 STEP LADDERS
19 - 5.5.1 General
19 - 5.5.2 Treads
19 - 5.5.3 Spacing of treads
19 - 5.5.4 Width
19 - 5.5.5 Handrails
19 - 5.6 RUNG LADDERS
19 - 5.6.1 General
19 - 5.6.1.1 Angle of slope
19 - 5.6.1.2 Distance between landings
19 - 5.6.1.3 Ladder cage
21 - 5.6.2 Timber ladders
21 - 5.6.3 Extension above landings
21 - 5.6.3.1 Step-through ladders
21 - 5.6.3.2 Side access ladders
21 - 5.6.4 Fastenings
22 - 5.6.5 Stiles
22 - 5.6.5.1 Width
22 - 5.6.5.2 Cross-section
23 - 5.6.6 Rungs
23 - 5.6.6.1 Rungs
23 - 5.6.6.2 Spacing of rungs
23 - 5.6.6.3 Rung dimensions
23 - 5.6.7 Ladder cages
23 - 5.6.8 Handrails
23 - 5.7 INDIVIDUAL-RUNG LADDERS (STEP-IRONS)
23 - 5.7.1 General
23 - 5.7.2 Rungs
23 - 5.7.3 Spacing of rungs
23 - 5.7.4 Width
23 - 5.7.5 Fixing
28 - APPENDIX A - TYPICAL COMPONENT DIMENSIONS AND SPACINGS FOR GUARDRAILING
28 - A1 SCOPE
30 - APPENDIX B - TESTING OF GUARDRAIL POSTS
30 - B1 SCOPE
30 - B2 PRINCIPLE
30 - B3 APPARATUS
30 - B4 GENERAL GUIDANCE
30 - B5 PROCEDURE
31 - APPENDIX C - TESTING OF GUARDRAILS
31 - C1 SCOPE
31 - C2 PRINCIPLE
31 - C3 APPARATUS
31 - C4 PROCEDURE
31 - C5 CRITERIA

Specifies requirements for the design, construction and installation of fixed means of access to, and safe working at places normally used by operating, inspection, maintenance and servicing personnel. Included in Appendices are methods for testing guardrails and posts, as well as typical component dimensions and spacings for guardrailing.

This Standard sets out requirements for the design, construction, and installation of fixed platforms, walkways, stairways, and ladders which are intended to provide means of safe access to and safe working at places normally used by operating, inspection, maintenance, and servicing personnel.The Standard does not apply to situations where special provision is made in appropriate building or other regulations, e.g. means of escape from fire. Requirements for portable ladders are not included in this Standard.

First published as AS CA10-1938.
Second edition 1963.
Third edition 1966.
Fourth edition 1971.
Revised and redesignated AS 1657-1974.
Second edition 1985.
Third edition 1992.