EN 50528:2010

Insulating ladders for use on or near low voltage electrical installations

This European Standard is applicable to portable ladders made of non conductive stiles, including accessories (cradle, adjustable foot, adjustable ladder stabilizer, foot leveller device, etc.) used to work on or near electrical systems and installations in the low voltage range (below 1 000 V a.c./1 500 V d.c.). These ladders are used, to provide temporary access, generally on overhead line structures and to undertake electrical operations. They shall be used by one person only These ladders are not intended to be put in direct contact with energized parts nevertheless they provide sufficient insulation level to protect against inadvertent contact with low voltage live parts. The requirements and tests described in this European Standard shall be considered in addition to the EN 131 series. NOTE This European Standard does not cover ladders for applications upper than 1 000 V a.c/1 500 V d.c. These products are separately covered by a specific standard (EN 61478).

Isolierende Leitern für Arbeiten an oder in der Nähe von Niederspannungsanlagen

Diese Europäische Norm gilt für tragbare Leitern mit nicht leitfähigen Holmen und Zubehör (Abstandshalter, verstellbare Füße, verstellbare Leiterstabilisierung, Boden-Ausgleichsvorrichtung usw.), die für Arbeiten an oder in der Nähe elektrischer Leitungen und Anlagen im Niederspannungsbereich (unter 1 000 V Wechsel-spannung/1 500 V Gleichspannung) verwendet werden. Diese Leitern sind im Allgemeinen für den zeitweisen Zugang zu Freileitungsmasten vorgesehen, um elektrische Betätigungen durchzuführen. Sie dürfen nur von einer Person benutzt werden. Diese Leitern sind nicht für den direkten Kontakt mit unter Spannung stehenden Teilen vorgesehen; trotzdem bieten sie ausreichenden Isolationspegel zum Schutz bei unbeabsichtigtem Berühren von unter Nieder-spannung stehenden Teilen. Die Anforderungen und vorgeschriebenen Prüfungen in dieser Norm gelten zusätzlich zur Normreihe EN 131. ANMERKUNG Diese Europäische Norm gilt nicht für Leitern zur Anwendung über 1 000 V Wechselspannung/1 500 V Gleichspannung. Für diese Produkte gilt eine eigene Norm (EN 61478).

Echelles isolantes pour utilisation sur ou à proximité des installations électriques basse tension

La présente Norme Européenne est applicable aux échelles portables constitué de montants non conducteurs et comprenant des accessoires (berceau d’appui poteau, pieds ajustables, stabilisateurs d’échelle ajustables, système de pieds compensateurs de niveau, etc.) utilisées pour travailler sur ou à proximité des ouvrages ou installations électriques basse tension (inférieure à 1 000 V a.c. ou 1 500 V d.c.). Ces échelles sont utilisées pour fournir un accès temporaire, généralement à une structure aérienne et pour entreprendre des opérations électriques. Elles doivent être utilisées par une seule personne à la fois. Ces échelles ne sont pas prévues pour être mises au contact direct avec des parties sous tension néanmoins elles fournissent un niveau d’isolation suffisant pour se protéger d’un contact par inadvertance avec des parties actives basse tension. Les exigences et les essais décrits dans cette Norme Européenne doivent être considérés comme complémentaires à la série EN 131. NOTE Cette Norme Européenne ne couvre pas les échelles pour des applications à des tensions supérieures à 1 000 V a.c. ou 1 500 V d.c. Ces produits sont couverts séparément par une norme particulière (EN 61478).

Izolirne lestve za uporabo na nizkonapetostnih električnih inštalacijah ali v njihovi bližini

Ta evropski standard velja za prenosne lestve, narejene iz neprevodnih trakov iz lesa, vključno z dodatki (podstavek, prilagodljive noge, prilagodljiv stabilizator lestve, naprava za izravnavo nog itd.), ki se uporabljajo za delo na električnih sistemih in inštalacijah ali v njihovi bližini v razponu nizke napetosti (pod 1000 v izmeničnega in 500 V enosmernega toka). Te lestve se uporabljajo za zagotavljanje začasnega dostopa, običajno na nadzemnih strukturah vodov in za opravljanje električnih del. Uporablja jih lahko le ena oseba. Te lestve niso namenjene temu, da se jih postavi v neposredni stik z deli, priklopljenimi na vir električne energije, vendar zagotavljanja zadostno raven izolacije za varovanje pred nenamernim stikom z deli pod nizko napetostjo. Zahteve in preskusi, opisani v tem evropskem standardu, se upoštevajo poleg serije EN 131.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-May-2010
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Apr-2013
• ICS: 13.260 - Protection against electric shock. Live working
• ICS: 97.145 - Ladders
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 78 - Equipment and tools for live working
• Drafting Committee: CLC/TC 78 - Equipment and tools for live working
• Parallel Committee: IEC/TC 78 - IEC_TC_78
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 14-May-2010
• Completion Date: 14-May-2010
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50528:2010 - Insulating ladders for use on or near low voltage electrical installations

Relations

• Replaced By: EN 50528:2024 - Insulating ladders for use on or near low voltage electrical installations
• Effective Date: 23-Jan-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2010
,]ROLUQHOHVWYH]DXSRUDERQDQL]NRQDSHWRVWQLKHOHNWULþQLKLQãWDODFLMDKDOLYQMLKRYL
EOLåLQL
Insulating ladders for use on or near low voltage electrical installations
Isolierende Leiter für arbeiten an oder in der Nähe elektrischer Anlagen
Echelles isolantes pour utilisation sur ou à proximité des installations électriques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50528:2010
ICS:
13.260 9DUVWYRSUHGHOHNWULþQLP Protection against electric
XGDURP'HORSRGQDSHWRVWMR shock. Live working
97.145 Lestve Ladders
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 50528
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2010
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.145;13.260
English version
Insulating ladders for use on or near low voltage electrical installations

Echelles isolantes pour utilisation  Isolierende Leitern für Arbeiten
sur ou à proximité des installations an oder in der Nähe
électriques basse tension von Niederspannungsanlagen

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2010-05-01. CENELEC members are bound to comply
with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified
to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2010 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 50528:2010 E
Foreword
This European Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee CENELEC TC 78, Equipment and
tools for live working. It was submitted to the formal vote and was approved by CENELEC as EN 50528
on 2010-05-01.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN and CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2011-05-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2013-05-01
__________
– 3 – EN 50528:2010
Contents
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Requirements . 7
4.1 Safety requirements . 7
4.2 Functional requirements . 7
4.3 Electrical requirements . 9
4.4 Mechanical requirements . 9
4.5 Markings . 9
4.6 Instruction for use . 9
5 Verification and testing .10
5.1 General .10
5.2 Design, dimensions, construction .11
5.3 Mechanical tests .11
5.4 Marking .12
5.5 Instruction for use .12
5.6 Electrical tests .12
6 Conformity evaluation .13
7 Modifications .13
Annex A (normative) Classification of defects and associated requirements and tests .18
Annex B (informative) In-service recommendations .19
B.1 General .19
B.2 Use and storage .19
B.3 Inspection before use .19
B.4 Maintenance .19
Annex C (normative) General test procedure .21
Bibliography .22

Figures
Figure 1 – Cradle sketch plan (given as an example) . 14
Figure 2 – Test on stiles – Configuration and type of electrodes used . 15
Figure 3 – Examples of foot leveller device, adjustable feet and adjustable ladder stabilizer . 16
Figure 4 – Example of individual standing platform . 17

Tables
Table A.1 – Classification of defects and associated requirements and tests . 18
Table C.1 – Sequential order for performing tests . 21

Introduction
Ladders covered by this European Standard are used to work on low voltage live parts, such as
to perform connector fittings, repair on pole, switching actions. They are also used to carry out
operations prior to dead working, as in the case of voltage detection, earthing and short-
circuiting, etc.
In all these cases the ladders has two main functions, to reach the part of the installation that
needs to be operated on and to protect the worker from risk of electrical injury, by providing the
insulation level and maintaining the safety distance between the worker and the live or
potentially live installation.
Taking the local risk assessment into account, additional protection (either personal or collective)
can be furthermore considered.
This European Standard contributes to the safety of the users provided they are trained to the
operations envisaged.
Additional requirements when using the ladders should be considered to fulfil the European
Directives and national regulations.
The ladder is used in accordance with EN 50110 series.
This European Standard has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of EN 61477.

– 5 – EN 50528:2010
1 Scope
This European Standard is applicable to portable ladders made of non conductive stiles,
including accessories (cradle, adjustable foot, adjustable ladder stabilizer, foot leveller device,
etc.) used to work on or near electrical systems and installations in the low voltage range (below
1 000 V a.c./1 500 V d.c.).
These ladders are used, to provide temporary access, generally on overhead line structures and
to undertake electrical operations. They shall be used by one person only
These ladders are not intended to be put in direct contact with energized parts nevertheless they
provide sufficient insulation level to protect against inadvertent contact with low voltage live
parts.
The requirements and tests described in this European Standard shall be considered in addition
to the EN 131 series.
NOTE This European Standard does not cover ladders for applications upper than 1 000 V a.c/1 500 V d.c. These products are
separately covered by a specific standard (EN 61478).
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 131-1:2007, Ladders – Part 1: Terms, types, functional sizes
EN 131-2:1993, Ladders – Part 2: Requirements, testing, marking
EN 131-3:2007, Ladders – Part 3: User instructions
EN 131-4:2007, Ladders – Part 4: Single or multiple hinge-joint ladders
EN 60068-1:1994, Environmental testing – Part 1: General and guidance (IEC 60068-1:1988 +
corrigendum Oct. 1988 + A1:1992)
EN 61318:2008, Live working – Conformity assessment applicable to tools, devices and equipment
(IEC 61318:2007)
EN 61477:2009, Live working – Minimum requirements for the utilization of tools, devices and equipment
(IEC 61477:2009 + corrigendum Apr. 2009)
EN 61478:2001 + A1:2003, Live working – Ladders of insulating material (IEC 61478:2001 + A1:2003,
mod.)
IEC 60417, Graphical symbols for use on equipment
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
NOTE 1 Further information on terminology is given in EN 131-1.
NOTE 2 The term “ladder” is used in this document for “ladders for use on or near low voltage installations”.

3.1
adjustable foot
adjustable device with anti-skit shoes inserted or secured on the base of the stiles in order to provide a
firmly grip to the ground
NOTE Function can be obtained by mean of rotatable, traversable type or other appropriate constructions.
3.2
adjustable ladder stabilizer
system of support legs fitted to the ladder to reinforce stability when working
3.3
cradle
device designed to rest on the pole on which it is positioned
3.4
fixing straps
device designed to secure the ladder to the structure (pole)
3.5
foot leveller device
device inserted or secured at the base of the stiles that provides stability to the ladder and/or balances
automatically the ground level differences
3.6
individual standing platform
standing surface allowing to stay (and operate) at the working place
3.7
insulated material
conductive material partly or totally coated with insulating material
3.8
non conductive material
material either insulating or insulated
3.9
rung wear devices
devices that reduce the friction and ease the operation of extending ladders by limiting the rung/stile
contact
3.10
stile closures
bottom and upper-ends caps to close the stiles
3.11
sliding guides
sleeves that help to slide sections of extending ladders and avoid rim damage to the ladder stiles
3.12
sliding wheels
roller devices that help to erect extending ladders and to protect walls from dents and scratches

– 7 – EN 50528:2010
4 Requirements
4.1 Safety requirements
The ladders shall be designed and manufactured to contribute to the safety of the users provided
they are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruction for use.
Constructive arrangements shall be such as to prevent any misuse (i.e. ladders set at reverse
side). Construction design shall be such as to minimise the penetration of water and dirt.
The stiles shall be of electrically non conductive material.
The rungs (whatever their length) may be either in conductive or non conductive material.
All items that could reach inadvertently live conductors and having overall dimension exceeding
300 mm shall not impair the electrical properties of the ladder.
Among them are: cradle, individual standing platform.
Any bare conductive parts (see 4.3) of these items shall not exceed 300 mm in length.
This requirement excludes the following items:
• foot leveller device;
• adjustable ladder stabilizer;
• locking device;
• rope(s).
The rungs shall have a non-slip surface. The shape of the rungs shall be designed to ensure a
firm grip for gloved hands and also a support that ensures comfort for
...