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• Standard Number: 1926.450

January 20, 1981 

MEMORANDUM FOR:     BRUCE HILLENBRAND
                   Director, Office of Federal
                   Compliance and State Programs

THROUGH:            JOHN MILES, JR.
                   Director, Office of Field Coordination

FROM:               JOHN A. GRANCHI,
                   ARA, Office of Technical Support

SUBJECT:            29 CFR 1926.450(b) and ANSI A14.4-1973
Your attention is invited to 29 CFR 1926.450(b)(8) detailing the size of lumber to be utilized for side rails of job-made ladders:

"(8) 2-inch by 4-inch lumber shall be used for side rails of single cleat ladders up to 16 feet long; 3-inch by 6-inch lumber shall be used for single cleat ladders from 16 to 30 feet in length."

The 3-inch by 6-inch lumber alluded to in the last half of the paragraph is not available except by special order through saw mills. This particular size lumber is not now, nor has it ever been, available at conventional lumber outlets.

Additionally, ANSI Standard A14.4-1973, paragraph 4.4, which refers the reader to Tables 2 and 3, excludes 3"x6" lumber from use.

There is another conflict in the same above referenced standards in that 1926.450(b)(8) allows job-made ladders up to 30 feet in length while the ANSI Standard 4.2 as well as Tables 2 and 3 allow a maximum length of 24 feet.

As the issue outlined above is national in scope and impacts the standards of the State Plan states, request that the National Office issue an interpretation and/or guidance to resolve this apparent anomaly in our standards.

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