Can every ladder be used for professional work?

It would seem that ladders are primarily used for work, not for recreational climbing, but not every ladder can be used for professional work. The European ladder standard, EN131, clearly distinguishes between ladders:

• Professional class and
• Non-professional class.

Which ladders are considered professional?

Professional ladders are those used in demanding work environments where requirements for ladder strength and safety are important.

What are non-professional ladders?

Non-professional ladders do not require a ladder to meet its ultimate strength requirements if its use is light and infrequent. However, non-professional ladders are not recommended for use in industrial or commercial settings.

What criteria determines whether a ladder is not considered professional?

To achieve EN131 certification, both professional and non-professional ladders undergo testing. Ladders of both classes are required to withstand a 150 kg load. However, the difference lies in the number of tests. A professional-grade ladder must remain intact after 50,000 tests, while a non-professional ladder is subjected to only 10,000 repeated tests. The standard's strict verdict states that a ladder that fails the required number of strength tests cannot be considered professional.

What tasks are professional ladders used for?

• For climbing to heights on construction sites, in offices, and stores;
• For accessing racks and shelves in warehouses;
• For working at heights, when the worker must frequently ascend and descend;
• When working on a ladder for extended periods;
• For maintenance in commercial premises.

What tasks are non-professional ladders used for?

• For short-term tasks, such as replacing lighting, decorating a room, etc.;
• For home use.

Of course, ladder safety is important for both professional and domestic work, but professional-grade ladders must meet more stringent requirements.

Until 2018, ladders were classified into three classes according to EN131:

• Professional,
• Semi-professional, and
• Domestic.

However, ladder requirements have become more stringent to ensure worker safety.

If you're interested in ladders, we suggest reading our blog article "Overview of Different Types of Ladders."

Contact us if you have any questions about which ladder to buy.

We wish you happy shopping!