2. Getting involved
3. Standards Committees
4. DKE

DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies of DIN and VDE

Overview

This document is applicable to portable ladders made only of non-conductive stiles, including accessories (pole leaning device, adjustable levelling device, adjustable ladder stabilizer, etcetera) used to work on or near electrical systems and installations in the low voltage range (up to 1 000 V AC/1 500 V DC). These ladders are used to provide temporary access, generally on overhead line structures, and to undertake electrical operations. They are expected to be used by one person only. These ladders, in conjunction with other protective equipment provide sufficient insulation level to protect against inadvertent contact with live low voltage installations. This document does not cover ladders used for live working on electrical installations at voltages above 1 000 V AC and above 1 500 V DC. These insulating ladders are separately covered by EN 61478. This document does not cover products not made entirely with non-conductive stiles generally called mixed ladders. In this case the EN 131 series apply. This document does not cover step stools, which are covered by EN 14183. These ladders are only for specific professional use. Only skilled persons, after an appropriate training, can use this type of ladder for professional applications. The standard differs from DIN EN 50528 (VDE 0682-712):2011-04 as follows: a) the previous edition (EN 50528:2010) has been written as a supplementary document to the EN 131 series of standards for insulated ladders intended for work on or near low voltage installations. Thus these ladders shall comply with the relevant documents of the EN 131 and EN 50528:2010 series of standards. This edition follows an entirely different philosophy: This document is entirely independent. It is completely independent of the EN 131 series of standards. In this document the requirements adopted from the EN 131 series of standards are listed separately in the respective clause. Thus all of the requirements of the EN 131 series that have been adopted into this document are clearly identified as such and can be found in the relevant clause; specific national deviations that certain European countries have included in their respective national editions of EN 131-1 are no longer automatically applicable; instead, only the specific national deviations specified in this document apply to insulated ladders for work on or near low voltage installations; b) two classes of maximum working load have been introduced: 150 daN and 170 daN; c) types of ladders covered by this document have been clearly defined: stepladders with rungs or steps and stepladders with a platform; straight ladders with rungs (one-piece ladders, extending ladders, ladders with a work platform); multi-purpose ladders with rungs (two-piece, three-piece); d) new type tests have been included: slip test of the ladder foot (5.4.2); weighing test (5.4.8); strength test of the rails (5.5.5); dynamic drop test (5.5.7); testing of hook-in devices and locking devices (5.5.8); torsion test for straight ladders (5.5.16); e) the test voltage is now 36 kV instead of 10 kV (5.6.1) for electrical tests on the rails and rungs; f) the referenced documents have been updated. The products designed and manufactured according to this document contribute to the safety of the users provided they are used by skilled persons, in accordance with safe methods of work and the manufacturer instructions for use (where appropriate). Annex E gives a rationale to explain how a ladder which fulfils the requirements of this document used with correct accessories gives better safety for the user than an ordinary ladder.

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

DKE/UK 214.5 - Ausrüstungen und Geräte zum Arbeiten unter Spannung; Arbeitsgeräte und starre Schutzvorrichtungen