A Guide to Roof Crossover Stairs Over Pipes and Ductwork
Safety and security is the number one priority for any company and service team where maintenance on rooftops is part of the routine. When hazardous systems or obstacles, such as piping or ductwork, are in the path of a technician or service team, it would be wise to consider – and could be mandatory – the addition of roof crossover stairs.
When routine maintenance becomes obstructed or dangerous, roof crossover stairs make the difference. Maintenance work becomes streamlined, technicians are in an safe environment, and companies are adhering to OSHA compliance.
Learn more from Metallic Ladder’s guide to roof crossover stairs with a focus on cross over pipes and ductwork. We detail when stairs should be implemented, best design practices, and how to ensure OSHA standards are followed.
When Roof Crossover Stairs are Necessary
Identifying when roof crossover stairs are necessary accounts for when there is a blockage in a routine maintenance path and forces service teams to either climb, step over, duck under, or walk too close to a potentially hazardous system such as commercial or industrial outdoor HVAC systems.
A simple trigger or best practice to think of is, if a technician consistently needs to cross a pipe or duct to reach an area that needs serving, consider that path as a spot where a roof crossover stair system would make the job easier.
Central Design Considerations
The optimal design of a crossover stair system to get over obstacles and potentially dangerous or hazardous environments should be in the rooftop plan.
It’s critical to factor in the system that’s being crossed over, not just the staircase itself. That can start off by obtaining measurements of the peak point of pipe insulation, duct, flanges, valves, and any anticipated future insulation. It is paramount to not only factor in the bare pipe or visible duct work.
Gathering information on required clearances should also take place during the design process. This means maintaining a safe vertical clearance over and across the given obstacle where the crossover stairs will serve.
Additionally, ensure that there is enough headroom over the stair path. Per OSHA guidelines, at least 6 feet, 8 inches of vertical clearance above stair treads to overhead obstruction is needed.
The shape of the stairs also needs consideration. Once again, OSHA standards drive what’s acceptable and what isn’t. Stairs need to be at least 22 inches in width and 9.5 inches in maximum riser height. Those numbers can be adjusted in the appropriate direction as needed, but should be done so accordingly and always in adherence to OSHA standards.
Factoring the rooftop and any interfaces is important. Roof crossover stairs shouldn’t penetrate the rooftop, and they should feature ballasted bases. This means avoiding point loading, membrane abrasion, blocking drainage, and incompatible materials.
Code Coordination
Roof crossover stairs can be featured in multiple environments, not just over rooftop piping and ductwork. Because of this, and the given nature of these crossover stairs and how they are applicable for service teams in an area, specific building codes must be adhered to, starting with OSHA compliance.
Letting OSHA compliance metrics drive your crossover stairs program, it allows for design considerations and engineering capabilities to protect against worker falls, avoiding regulatory fines, while protecting building assets from improper weight distribution and stair layout over dangerous systems such as piping and ductwork.
Key OSHA requirements include hand or guardrails that are at least 42 inches high and can handle at least 200 pounds of pressure. Stairs must be at least 22 inches wide and whole structures must be able to support at least 1,000 pounds in load bearing applications.
Beyond having OSHA compliance, there might be scenarios when building codes, mechanical codes, fire codes, and owner standards placing additional requirements into the build. This is commonplace when the stair route acts as roof equipment or rooftop occupancy.
Partner with Metallic Ladder, Experts in Roof Crossover Stairs in All Applications
Metallic Ladder is one of the United States’ premier high-end aluminum ladder and platform products manufacturers since our doors opened in 1948. We take pride serving the United States and Canada with our Made in the USA ladder solutions, all of which takes place in our Randolph, New York, facility.
Roof crossover stairs, also referred to as rooftop crossover bridge or ship ladders, are part of our manufacturing capabilities. Our team of designers, engineers, and technicians work together to create the crossover stairs where easy access across rooftop curbs, lines, conduits, dedicated outdoor air systems, air handler units, and any additional outdoor HVAC systems is achievable.
Our crossover stairs feature our adjustable leg system which accounts for virtually any roof slope imaginable, ensuring your bridges are stable and adhere to OSHA compliance for service teams. Crossover stairs from Metallic Ladder are shipped directly to you, often fully assembled for easy, fast, and inexpensive installation
Metallic Ladder is a proud member of the American Ladder Institute as well as the American National Standards Institute, which serves as both a quality backing and informational standard for our team to ensure we stay ahead of the curve when it comes to design, engineering, and manufacturing.
Does your team need a roof crossover stair? Metallic Ladder is here for you. Contact our team today and we’ll set up an initial consultation to review your needs and begin drawing up the solution that works for you and your team.