Frequently Asked Questions

All fire department ground ladders must be service tested at least annually, in accordance with N.F.P.A. 1932.

Refer to N.F.P.A. 1932 - the three basic tests required involve a center load test for ladder strength, a hardware test to verify hardware functionality and strength, and a roof hook test applicable only to roof ladders. These are all defined in the N.F.P.A. 1932 standard.

There are numerous testing companies capable of performing fire department ground ladder in-service tests at your facility. However, the tests are designed to make it relatively easy and affordable for a department or group of departments to perform their own tests.

Required periodic testing does not adversely affect a good ladder. We at Duo-Safety have put the same ladder through over 1,000 test load cycles and the ladder still continued to meet the N.F.P.A. standards.

Duo-Safety ladders are all designed for the "fly out" application. Ladders constructed to be used "fly out" should not be used "fly in" as the hardware can project through and be a tripping hazard. For a statement from the factory, click here. Contact our office for further information.

The load capacity of fire department ground ladders is spelled out in N.F.P.A. 1932. It is generally 750 pounds on any ladder except folding ladders and pompier ladders. This is based ONLY on the fact that the ladder is set at the proper angle of one-fourth the distance to support point out from the base AND is tied off at the top and bottom to prevent slippage AND has been tested for N.F.P.A. 1932 testing requirements to ensure continued structural reliability.

All Duo-Safety ladder parts are available for field installation. These require a minimum number of readily available tools to accomplish the repairs. Many times, it is not cost effective to repair a ladder and may be more cost effective to replace a section or even to replace the entire ladder.

All Duo-Safety fire department ground ladders meet and/or exceed the requirements of N.F.P.A. at time of manufacture.

Yes, since 1984.

Older hooks, which were five-eighths inch diameter, will not pass the current N.F.P.A. 1932 strength test.

N.F.P.A. now requires 4 (four) heat sensors per each section on a ladder and 1 (one) pair of fire ladder label (danger/electrical/angle indicator) on each base section of a ladder. The Heat Sensors have an expiration date on them and new ones are dated for 5 years. Please contact our office for instructions and proper placement of these labels.

Refer to N.F.P.A. 1932 Standard on Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing of In-Service Fire Department Ground Ladders. Basic care includes regular cleaning/waxing/lubrication at least annually but ideally after each use at a fire is best. Please refer to our "Ladder Care & Maintenance Booklet" provided free. Contact our office for a copy.

Please contact our office to find out current lead times. Generally our lead time is several weeks depending on the time of year.

Special widths/lengths are available, however we do charge an extra fee to manufacture special ladders. Please refer to our current production models listed in our catalog - if at all possible please try to rearrange truck mounts etc. to fit current N.F.P.A. models. Please contact our office for fees and instruction on proper measurements needed for replacement ladders.

Shipping costs are figured by weight and distance the items have to travel - please contact our office if you require help in obtaining the proper information needed to get a freight rate. Duo-Safety is unable to quote freight rates - we are able to provide you with an estimated shipping weight and shipping class and our recommendation on a carrier to your area. Freight costs are also the result of the class we ship ladders at - (as established by the freight carriers) - and damage claims. Please note we make every effort to use carriers that are responsible with our freight, however, damages can occur from time to time. PLEASE ALWAYS INSPECT FULLY YOUR SHIPMENT BEFORE YOU SIGN THE DRIVER'S BILL OF LADING. ONCE THE BILL IS SIGNED - YOU HAVE LOST ANY RIGHT TO A CLAIM.

It is the recommendation from the factory that all rungs be replaced when any rung shows signs of worn/smooth serration's or if any rung is dented, worn through or damaged in any manner. For a statement from the factory, click here.

The 4:1 safety factor used in the design and manufacture of ladders today means that the ladder, once in perfect erected position, is really able to support 4 times the 750 lb. specified load (That is 3,000 lbs.) This is a static load only - nothing moving, no shock loads, no dynamic loads. Once a smaller load starts to move on a ladder, the dynamic load increases rapidly.

Refer to N.F.P.A. 1932, rungs are load tested for 1000 lb each.

Fire service roof ladders are supplied with spring loaded, directionally swiveling and locking hook assemblies capable of 1,000 lb. load per hook/2,000 lb. load per pair.

All of our ladders are designed and MFG for USA Fire Service use only which has a set of regulations and comprehensive training done at time of fire service training/schooling. The purchasing party is responsible for obtaining proper training, care and use instructions for the use of our products from IFSTA and/or NFPA. (these addresses can be found on our website homepage at www.duosafety.com)

That is an "age old question".....There is no way to predict the life span of a ladder. Its life use depends on how many times it is used, heat exposures, environment it lives in and how well it is kept/cared for. As we cannot predict any of those factors for your ladders, there is no way to say 5 yrs, 10 yrs, 15 yrs, 20 yrs. We know of ladders out there that still pass annual NFPA-132 testing that are over 30 years old, so your guess is as good as ours.

Used Fire Department ladders should never be given/sold for non-fire service use. If your department determines new ladders are needed, the old ones should be destroyed to prevent untrained people from using them. Any ladder that does not pass current NFPA-1932 testing should also be destroyed to prevent mis-use or injury.