SIST EN 14396:2004

Fixed ladders for manholes

This standard applies to permanently fixed ladders in manholes. It specifies the performance criteria for the mechanical stability and resistance providing protection against falling.
The ladders specified in this European Standard are suitable for use in sewage, rainwater, surface water and, subject to the requirements of national regulations, potable water environments.

Ortsfeste Steigleitern für Schächte

Echelles fixes pour raccords

Pritrjene lestve za vstopne jaške

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2004
• ICS: 93.030 - External sewage systems
• ICS: 97.145 - Ladders
• Technical Committee: IOVO - Water supply and waste water engineering
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-May-2004
• Due Date: 01-May-2004
• Completion Date: 01-May-2004
• Directive: 305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
• Directive: 89/106/EEC - Construction products
• Mandate: M/118 - Mandate to CEN/CENELEC concerning the execution of standardization work for harmonized standards on waste water engineering products
• Ref Project: EN 14396:2004 - Fixed ladders for manholes

Overview

EN 14396:2004 - Fixed ladders for manholes is a CEN (European) standard that specifies performance criteria for permanently fixed manhole ladders. It defines mechanical stability, resistance to falling, materials, design types and testing requirements to ensure safe access into manholes used in sewage, rainwater and surface water systems - and, where national regulations permit, potable water environments. The standard also covers marking, installation instructions and conformity assessment (including provisions related to CE marking).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and definitions: Clarifies ladder types (fixed ladders with one or two stringers, movable top extensions, ladders with fall arrest provisions), components (rungs, stringers, stays, handholds, rest platforms) and symbols used for design loads.
• Materials: Acceptable materials include hot‑dip galvanised structural steel (to EN ISO 1461), austenitic stainless steels (EN 10088), glass‑reinforced plastics (EN 13706) and suitable aluminium alloys. Materials must be selected for the environment (corrosion, UV, potable water considerations).
• Design and dimensions: Specifies dimensional requirements, minimum stand‑off, spacing of rungs, distances to stays and handhold heights. Types A–E describe common ladder configurations (e.g., one‑stringer vs two‑stringer; with or without fall arrester).
• Load‑bearing and strength: Requires calculation and/or testing for vertical rung loads, stringer strength and anchor point pull‑out forces. Annexes describe standardised test procedures (vertical loading of rungs, strength tests of stringers).
• Durability testing: Includes ageing tests for composites, impact and bending tests, and requirements for welded/threaded joints.
• Marking, documentation and installation: Manufacturers must provide assembly, use and maintenance instructions. Conformity assessment procedures (type testing, factory production control) and requirements for CE marking are covered in informative Annex ZA.

Applications and users

EN 14396 is intended for:

• Municipal and utility engineers specifying safe manhole access (sewage, stormwater, surface water, potable water where permitted)
• Manufacturers and suppliers of manhole ladders and access systems
• Installers, contractors and maintenance teams responsible for safe entry and confined‑space access
• Safety engineers and compliance officers assessing conformity with European product and PPE-related provisions

Practical benefits include improved worker safety, standardised procurement specifications, clearer testing protocols and easier regulatory compliance.

Related standards

Relevant referenced standards include EN 353‑1, EN 365 (fall arrest/PPE), EN ISO 1461 (galvanising), EN 10088 (stainless steels), EN 13706 (pultruded composites) and EN ISO 4892 / EN ISO 14125 (materials testing). These should be consulted alongside EN 14396 for complete design, testing and PPE integration.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Fixed ladders for manholesPritrjene lestve za vstopne jaškeEchelles fixes pour raccordsOrtsfeste Steigleitern für SchächteTa slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 14396:2004SIST EN 14396:2004en97.14593.030ICS:SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 14396:200401-maj-2004

EUROPEAN STANDARDNORME EUROPÉENNEEUROPÄISCHE NORMEN 14396January 2004ICS 97.145English versionFixed ladders for manholesEchelles fixes pour raccordsOrtsfeste Steigleitern für SchächteThis European Standard was approved by CEN on 28 November 2003.CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this EuropeanStandard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such nationalstandards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translationunder the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the officialversions.CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATIONCOMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIONEUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNGManagement Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels© 2004 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reservedworldwide for CEN national Members.Ref. No. EN 14396:2004: E

Ageing test of composite materials.16A.1Principle.16A.2Preparation of the samples.16A.3Ageing test.16A.4Shock test.16A.5Bending test.17A.6Acceptance criteria.17Annex B (normative)
Vertical loading test of rungs.18B.1Apparatus.18B.2Procedure.18B.3Test report.18Annex C (normative)
Strength test of stringers of fixed ladders with two stringers and fixed ladderswith one stringer.20C.1Test equipment.20C.2Procedure.20

Strength test of the stringer for fixed ladders with one stringer.21D.1Test procedure.21D.2Test report.22Annex E (normative)
Calculation of strength of anchor points.23E.1Fixed ladders with two stringers without fall arrester.23E.2Fixed ladders with one stringer.24Annex F (normative)
Calculation of the fixed ladder.25Annex ZA (informative)
Clauses of this European Standard addressing the provisions of the EUConstruction Products Directive.27ZA.1Scope and relevant characteristics.27ZA.2Procedure for attestation of conformity of fixed ladders for manholes.28ZA.3CE marking and labelling.29Bibliography.32

It can comprise one or moreunits3.1.5handholdhand grips provided at the top of the ladder or at the point of entry to the manhole3.1.6connectormechanical device as insert or fishplate to join sections together3.1.7sectionmodules consisting of single or double stringers and rungs designed to join together to produce full height ladders3.1.8stringervertical structural element to support rungs3.1.9stayelement to support and distance a ladder from the manhole wall3.1.10rungsolid or tubular element fixed to the stringer(s) to provide a foot or handhold3.1.11treadtop surface of a rung to accommodate a foot or hand3.2 SymbolsL climbing height of ladderF design load for calculation of strength for fixing at anchor pointsF1 vertical load at rungF2 design load for calculation of the fixed ladder systemF3 load for strength test of stringers (0,4 kN)F3'load for strength test of stringers multiplied by the safety factorg safety factor

Maximum distance between two staysL5 Distance from ground level to the top of the first rungL6 Height of handholdL7 Distance from the bottom rung to the benchingFigure 1 — Ladder with two stringers, fall arrester and handholdTable 3 — Dimensions for laddersDimensions in millimetresToleranceL1L2L3L4L5L6L7min.250300150——1000max.300——bL1 a—£ L1aIn special cases (e.g. where the manhole design so requires). For the installation national provisions valid in the place of useshall be taken into account.bTo be stated by the manufacturer (see clauses 5 and 6 and ZA.3), but not more than 3000 mm.

Distance between two staysL5 Distance from ground level to the top of the firstrungL6 Height of handholdL7 Distance from the bottom rung to the bottom of theshaftFigure 2 — Ladder with one stringer4.3.3 Surface conditionsLadders according to this standard shall be free from visible defects, protrusions or sharp edges.The surface of rungs shall conform to 4.3.6.4.3.4 Threaded jointsThreaded joints shall be designed so that fasteners cannot work loose.

1,75 for steel and aluminium,¾ g
= 4 for GRP.When testing ladders as shown in Figure C.1 they shall withstand a test load of F3' = F3
´ g , where F3 is 0,4 kN.The permanent deflection shall not exceed 0,3 % of the relevant length (0,5 L4 ).4.4.3.2.2 Strength test of ladders with one stringerThe strength test of ladders with one stringer shall be verified by torsion testing according to annex D, by fixing theladder on 3 stays with at least one connector at the least favourable point and applying a pair of forces of 0,4 kNeach, as illustrated in Figure D.1.
These loads shall be applied vertically opposed at the least favourable point oneach end of the rungs and at a distance of
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