ANSI-Compliant Products

2.5 (Definition for Gate) A swinging or portable member, which acts as a safety barrier. It is Commonly used at roof openings, floor openings, ladder openings, and hatchways, through which people might fall.

3. PROTECTION OF FLOOR OPENINGS AND FLOOR HOLES, ROOF OPENINGS AND ROOF HOLES

3.1 Stairway Floor Opening. Every stairway floor opening shall be guarded by a guardrail system as specified in Section 5.4. The guardrail shall be provided on all exposed sides, except at entrance to stairway.

E3.1 A load bearing cover or guardrail system is required over infrequently used stairways which are located in passageways (such as aisle spaces). The guardrail system would then require the use of removable railing systems on all exposed sides, except at entrance to stairways. The removable railing system should be hinged or otherwise mounted so as to come into position automatically with the opening of the cover.

3.2 Ladderway Floor Opening. Every ladderway floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a guardrail system with toeboards on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the opening. The entrance way shall be guarded so that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.

E3.2 Methods of guarding may be offsetting the opening through use of a guardrail system of by a self closing gate swinging in the direction away from the ladder.

3.3 Hatchway and Chute Floor Opening. Every hatchway and chute floor opening shall be guarded by one of the following:

3.3.1 A load bearing cover and permanently attached railing system guarding the opening with only one side left exposed. When the opening is not in use, the cover shall be closed or the exposed side shall be guarded at both top and intermediate position by removable railing system.

3.3.2 A removable guardrail system with toeboard along all sides of the opening as required by usage and a fixed railing system with toeboards on all other exposed sides. The removable guardrail systems shall be kept in place when the opening is not in use.

3.3.3 Where operating conditions require the feeding of material into a hatchway or chute opening, protection shall be provided to prevent a person from falling through the opening.

E3.3.3 Types of protection to consider may include PPE (adequately installed fall arrest or restraint) or barrier protection for protection from falling

3.4.1 Warning labeling shall comply with requirements set forth in ANSI Z535, Safety Color Code, and shall be tested for durability in expected environmental conditions. Labels identifying the manufacturer, date of manufacturer shall be placed on all skylights, so as to be readable when installed.

E3.4.1 Warning labels should be legible for the life of the product and remain attached unless forcibly removed. There is a Z535 family of American National Standards addressing signs and symbols. Please refer to the series for the appropriate standard to use.

3.5 Floor Opening or Hole. Every roof, floor opening, or hole into which persons can accidentally walk, shall be guarded by either a railing system with toeboards along all exposed sides or a loadbearing cover. When the cover is not in place, the roof, floor opening, or hole shall be protected by a removable guard railing system or shall be attended when the guarding system has been removed.

3.5.1 Every roof, floor opening, or hole into which persons cannot accidentally walk (e.g. because of pipes, fixed machinery, equipment, or walls) shall be protected by a securely fastened cover or toeboards that leave no openings which permit tools or objects from passing through.

3.8 Floor Opening or Hole. Every roof opening, floor opening, or hole into which persons can accidentally walk, shall be guarded by either a railing system with toeboards along all exposed sides or with a load-bearing cover secured in place. When the cover is not in place, the roof opening, floor opening, or hole shall be protected by a removable guard railing system or shall be attended when guarding system has been removed.

E3.8 The provision of administrative controls, such as providing an attendant, should not be used in lieu of proper engineering controls such as railings, covers or other methods discussed in this standard. Attendance at a floor opening is only intended to provide an oral warning by the attendant to stay a safe distance (preferably) from the opening until a barrier or cover has been placed in position to adequately secure the opening from fall through hazards. Floor openings designed into restricted walkways such as catwalks should not be placed so as to obstruct the walking surface.

5.4 Guardrail System. A railing system shall consist of top rail, intermediate rail or equivalent protection, and posts, and shall have a minimum vertical height of 42 inches (1.1m) from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform, runway, stair landing, or ramp level. The top rail shall be smooth surfaced throughout the length of the railing. The intermediate rail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway, stair, or ramp. The ends of the rails shall not overhang the terminal posts, except where such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard. Spacing between guardrail system(s) and adjacent structure(s) shall not exceed two inches (51mm), where a fall hazard exists.

E5.4 Generally speaking, guardrails are 42 inches to 45 inches in height. However, guardrails that are higher than 42 inches may need additional horizontal intermediate rails. Guardrail systems are for guarding open-sided floors, platforms, ramps, runways, and stair landings. Where vertical or horizontal barriers are not effective a personal fall arrest system should be considered.

5.6 Railing System Design Requirements. Minimum requirements for railing systems are as specified in the following subsections.

5.6.1 The anchorage of posts and framing members for railing systems of all types shall be designed using standard engineering practices and safety factors. The completed railing systems shall be designed using standard engineering practices and safety factors. The completed railing systems shall be designed and constructed for its intended use to preclude system failure. As a minimum, it shall withstand a concentrated load of 200 pounds (90.7kg) applied in any direction, except upward, at the midpoint between posts without exceeding maximum allowable deflection The intermediate rail shall be capable of withstanding a horizontal load of 160 pounds force applied perpendicularly at midpoint and midheight without exceeding the maximum allowable deflection of three inches (76mm). The end or terminal post shall be capable of withstanding a load of 200 pounds (90.7kg) applied in any direction at the top of the post. The above loads are not additive.

E5.6.1 For more information please reference ASTM E985-00e1, Standard Specification for Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings, Section 6, for metal railings. Horizontal test would be applied at potentially weakest point of ornamental railing systems. From a safety viewpoint, a residual deflection in excess of one half inch may indicate potential failure.

5.6.2 A removable railing system constructed of a flexible material, chain, or wire rope, shall be anchored by rigid supports spaced no more than eight feet (2.44m) apart. The maximum deflection of the flexible barrier, prior to the load application, shall be three inches (76mm). All members shall be capable of withstanding a concentrated load of 200 pounds (90.7kg) applied at any point, in any direction except upward.

E5.6.2 Reference ASTM E985-00e1, Standard Specification for Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings, Section 6.2, for deflection criteria. Once the horizontal flexible material is properly attached and anchored to withstand forces noted in Section 5.6.1, the sag at midpoint should be maintained at less than three inches (76mm). Rope, chain, or cable are acceptable materials in certain applications where deflection requirements are meet.

5.7 Toeboard. A toeboard shall be a minimum three and one-half inches (89mm) in height and securely fastened in place, with not more than one-fourth inch (6mm) clearance above floor level. Toeboards shall be made of a substantial material, either solid or with openings not over one inch (25mm) in their greatest dimension. The height of the toeboard shall be increased if materials are stored adjacent to the railing and additional protection is required. Additional toeboards shall be added above the required unit, or metal screening of at least 18-gauge thickness shall be installed between the floor and the intermediate or upper rail.

E5.7 A curb may be used in lieu of a toeboard. Toeboards are used with guardrails to reasonably help prevent debris, tools, nuts, and bolts, etc. from falling to a lower level and provide protection to workers below.

5.12 Barrier for Wall Opening. Wall opening barriers shall be of such construction and mounting that, when in place at the opening, the barrier is capable of withstanding a load, as specified in 5.6.1

6.3.3 Ladder Access Protective Swing Gates shall be installed at each ladder opening on elevated platforms to provide fall protection on new fixed ladder installations. The ladder access swing gate shall be a hinged gate or equivalent that is self-closing and does not restrict the ladder access width clearances for entry and exit. The ladder access swing gate construction shall be capable of withstanding the guardrail strength test requirements.

6.4.1 All gates that provide access through guards must meet the strength and attachment requirements of Section 8.4.

6.4.2 All gates that provide access through guards must be at least 42 inches high and have a kick plate on the open side in accordance with Section 6.5.

6.4.3 Any gate that provides an access opening through the guards for the purpose of loading and unloading material onto a work platform shall be designed such that the elevated surface is protected by the guards at all times. Gates that swing open, slide open, or lift out leaving an unprotected opening in the guarding are not acceptable.

6.4.4 Gates that provided access through openings through guards for purposes other than Section 6.4.3 above may swing, slide, or lift-out leaving an unprotected opening are permissible provided the worker on the elevated surface is protected by other means than the guarding.

6.5 Kick plate: All areas requiring guardrails in accordance with the above paragraphs (previous Section 6.4) shall be provided with a solid kick plate that extends a minimum of 4 inches above the walking surface with no more than a ¼ inch clearance above the floor. There shall be no horizontal opening in the kick plate in excess of 1 inch.

8.3 Handrails and Guards

8.3.1 Handrail assemblies and guards shall be designed to resist a uniformly distributed load of 20 pounds per linear foot and a concentrated load of 200 pounds, acting non-concurrently, applied in any direction at the top rail and to transfer this load through the supports to the structure.

8.3.2 Components.
Intermediate rails (all those except the handrail), balusters, and panel-fillers shall be designed to withstand a horizontally-applied load of 50 pounds on an area equal to 1 square foot. Reactions due to this loading are not required to be superimposed with those of Section 8.3.1.

8.3.3 Stress Increase
Where handrails and guards are designed to in accordance with the provisions for allowable stress design (working stress design) exclusively for the loads specified in Section 8.3.1, the allowable stress for the members and their attachments are permitted to be increased by one-third.

8.4 Gates that provide access through guards shall be able to resist the same loading as the guard.