(c) 2015 Stairbuilders and SMA level I Code Certification - - PDF document

SMA level I Code Certification www.stairways.org 1

Please see the included description of the Complete SMA Certification Program in the course materials. This course is the initial step in a process that will involve all essential areas

• f a company to acquire Company Certification. All participants must

successfully complete the level I test before taking the Level II and level III tests. Company certification requires that the Level I certification is attained by employees in the positions of Stair part sales, detailers/estimators, stairbuilders, installers or other positions fulfilling the responsibilities of: part

• nly sales/selection, part take-offs/estimates, fabrication to specified design.

Please see the additional requirements for Level II & III certification that must be fulfilled to apply for company Certification.

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This two fold purpose was described by the founding members of the SMA and remains in the by-laws to this day.

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For more than twenty years the SMA has made a significant difference. Without the work of the SMA it is likely you would be involved in another or entirely different profession. The concerted efforts of SMA members has provided for the improved regulation of Curved stairs, Post to Post Stair systems, Type II Handrails, Ornamental Balustrades and many other essential elements of our craft would have been simply dismissed as unsafe without scientific cause. The SMA’ s efforts have brought the need for sound scientific reasoning to the forefront and the SMA in providing such has reinforced our concerns for safe stairways and held the code reform process to understand the need to regulate by changes in design factors that are proven improvements.

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Each of these point to the Goal of all SMA Certification Programs to elevate

• ur crafts and members by:

Providing certification of education, and skill development by offering viable SMA branded certification programs to the stair industry that are recognized by the public as representing valuable professional accomplishments.

SMA level I Code Certification www.stairways.org 4 (c) 2015 Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association

SMA level I Code Certification www.stairways.org 5 (c) 2015 Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association

Why do we need building codes?

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Fire protection.

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Protection in the event of natural catastrophes…

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Seismic engineering codes might have prevented this

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Extremes of nature…

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In addition to the protection of property today’ s codes also considers

• ccupant safety.

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The first codes come from the ancients.

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Early codes provisions were mostly related to building safety with consequences that were easily understood. However Life safety issues were a long time to come. These are excerpts from a section of the Code of Hammurabi one of the earliest written laws of governing civilization.

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These actions were directed following the London fire in 1666 to prevent/reduce the loss of property.

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No surprise our founding father’ s, concern for personal freedom and well being also related that building standards could provide for Human health and safety as well as property protection.

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But it would be many years…

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and many incidents of catastrophic loss that finally brought public attention and support of the development of the first codes in the US.

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Code development was lead by the Insurance companies’ need to reduce property loss. Today’ s life safety codes are a relatively new development. But this attention to how people use and inhabit the built environment is the basis for most codes related to stairways. Stairway codes are considered Life Safety Codes. Stairways are a major component of the means of egress (the path and components of a structure used to exit).

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In the US three major regional organizations developed model codes that were widely accepted each with a particular geographical sphere of

• influence. The world grew “

smaller” . As interstate commerce and communication became an essential part of daily life these regional

• rganizations lost their independent value and became cumbersome and

their own competition complicated their mission in light of the Nations needs.

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This reasoning was the result of the National Conference of States on Building Code Standards.

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At first the combined efforts of BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO resulted in one set

• f model codes in the year 2000. Within a few years a complete merger of

the three organizations would be the glue to bond their efforts. Phasing out the older codes would be a matter of attrition as jurisdictions updated and adopted the new ICC codes.

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Although the efforts of the model code authorities to develop the ICC codes

• riginally included the NFPA they stepped aside and unsuccessfully tried to

develop their own building code. Today their participation in building code development seems for the most part limited to the same issues that caused them to part from the effort. Thankfully we are well on the way to the adoption of one Model Code across the US. This picture was taken as those in attendance at the ICC Final Action Hearings in Minneapolis voted on the Residential Sprinkler Issues. This ballot included thousands of firefighters who came just to vote on Sprinklers. Moments before less than 500 were in the room.

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Model codes are developed, maintained, and published by organizations like the International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association. An enforcing jurisdiction, sometimes a state, but where there is no state code, a county or city, as the enforcing jurisdiction, will review a model code for adoption.

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The Adoption process usually involves the decision to make some amendments for any number of reasons ranging from technical, administrative, or political, etc. For this reason it is likely that local codes vary from the Models. Particularly in the stair section it is still rare that either the riser height or tread depth or both is not changed. Other common changes affect guard design or opening limitations, or winder treads and curved stairways.

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Falls represent the largest segment of home injuries with falls in the home accounting for the majority of all fall accidents.

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Stairway accidents are attributable to many causes and are significant. Understanding through research and testing enables the SMA to provide sound reasoning for code and standard development and Stair Safety Education that augments our professional experience. The SMA can share the credit for the decreasing stair accident rates due to its efforts in code reform, and for consistent Interpretation and understanding

• f the code.

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Code compliance must be at the start of the process.

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Code Compliance must be considered a foundation upon which you build. It cannot be raised as an after thought like an umbrella.

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What do you and your customers understand and expect? How many of your customers come in asking for a safe stairway? Chances are stairway safety is not discussed… a safe stairway is a likely expectation. But if they did ask…would you phrase your response like that above, or would you be able to tell how you excel in providing for safety as well. Why wait until your asked? Stair Safety is a major factor in the design process. It is to your benefit to let them know you are responsibly aware of your role.

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Designing and building to be compliant with the code only assures the minimum levels of safety. If you had a discussion with customers that are expecting more than minimal quality and service what are the chances they would expect more than a minimal level of safety. As an professional SMA member of the stair industry you should be aware that your potential to succeed may be related to exceeding the minimum code requirements as well. Whenever possible you should relay such

• pportunities to your customer.

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Whether people, furniture, laundry, tools, building materials, or fire hoses the stairway is the essential transporting connector between the levels of our built environment. Every factor of stair design is regulated directly or indirectly by codes and standards. Codes and standards must be considered as an integral part during each step of the design, manufacture, and installation. For this reason SMA Company Code Certification includes each of these areas.

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If our work incorporates our understanding of the particular needs of the young and old, the groups with the highest rate of accidents, we certainly will build-in safety. Recommending two handrails on a stairway, trying to mount the required handrail as low as possible, recommending gates for young families are good habits. Distribute a stair safety check list . In the design phase, whenever possible coach customers on locating the stair and landings, its layout/orientation, lighting , and flooring options (especially how the stair should and should not be carpeted) should always be discussed.

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This is the definition of Stairway in the 2009 IRC.

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This is the definition of Flight in the IRC and IBC. Important examples: Handrails, riser height and tread depth, uniformity are regulated within the flight not the Stairway. Headroom is regulated throughout the stairway. An understanding of the use of these defined terms and others is essential to understanding the context and intent of the code.

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This question was asked of 35 architect participants after walking the stair pictured in slide 35.

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This stairway was fabricated to determine if people could detect which stair was constructed uniformly. None of the he 35 seminar participants were allowed to measure or gauge the steps. The 3/16 and 3/32 variations were not detectable. Nor could more than 60 employees of the company where the stair was built detect a variation by walking the stairs.

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Eye and foot coordination is quite remarkable. So much so that surprisingly the residence stairway is perhaps the most dangerous. As you can see in the photo- left by Jake Pauls in support of an ICC code change the landing tread was not installed and the carpet was wrapped over the floor edge. All the remaining steps in the stair have a consistent nosing projection. The top step, the worst place to fall from, has none. This is prohibited in the code but widely misunderstood and often the result of poor coordination and follow- up

• f overlapping responsibilities of the stair and floor installers. You should

always provide and/or install the landing tread at the top of the stair to assure compliance with the code or be able to cite the customer’ s refusal in your contract.

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This stair could have been easily changed by having the upper flight located

• n the opposite side. The bedroom door just out of view at the top of the stair

(lower right) would not be so close and would greatly reduce the possibility of a sleepy nighttime slip and fall.

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Handrail locations should not always be a default at the top of a required

• guard. Good design will consider the most common path in the stairway and

provide a handrail within reach. Handrail locations also determine stair width requirements in the code. The portion of posts extending above the handrail may actually encroach on the required width.

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Yes these are winders but winders are not only divisions of a 90 degree

• corner. Nor are they a type of stairway.

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Older codes tried to regulate stairs by defining different types of layouts i.e. circular, spiral, winder. This lead to many misinterpretations. By introducing the correctly defined term of winder as a tread it greatly simplified the regulation of stair layouts and educated all that a winder is a type of tread and that winders are not a type of stairway. Flier is an older term and makes sense when you consider the origin of the term flight. The code calls them rectangular treads.

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Circular stairs are now called Curved stairs in the code. Both made of winder treads but curved stairs may not be forms of a true circle.

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This is the plan of the stair in slide 41. This might be considered circular by

• some. But is the next one.

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This circle seems to Flare on both sides at the bottom?

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Technically speaking (that is what the code does) it is much easier to get consensus that this is a curved stair rather than circular because it has a form than cannot be described in plan by the geometric form of a true circle with all points equidistant from a centerpoint.

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In particular the varied forms of stairways like these and those in the next slide benefit from being understood to be types of curved stairs. But all are easily regulated for the walking safety of the occupants by the regulation of the tread depth of winders and fliers.

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See notes on slide 45.

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Winder treads must be 10 inches in tread depth. In the 2006 IRC you measure square to the leading edge at the walkline and have a minimum depth of no less than 6 inches at any point. This drawing clearly illustrates the problem with measuring winder tread depth in this manner. In 2009 the SMA was able to get the code changed to correlate with the equal divisions

• f the walkline at the intersections of the nosings.

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The 2006 code and all codes prior failed to provide a consistent method to determine the location of the walkline.

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These drawings show various interpretations of the 2006 and prior codes as to the location of the walkline. The 12 inch dimension is a conservative average dimension taken from the center of the handrail to the inside foot when persons of various size and sex stood on a stair with their hand on the

• rail. Here it is compared to several common interpretations possible prior to

the 2009 IRC and IBC when SMA code reform became effective providing a specific location allowing for consistent interpretation. The location is still not subject to the centerline of the handrail because the IRC requires a handrail

• n only one side of the flight and would restrict its location to the side of the

stair where the treads narrow.

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This definition of Handrail appears in both the IRC and IBC however the definition does not recognize all the functions of a handrail as it is used on stairs and ramps. Use by pulling oneself up a stair or ramp is quite common especially as the angle steepens. Many persons never use a handrail in ascent or descent but almost anyone falling reaches out in a reflexive attempt to arrest a fall.

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The code provides for THREE types of handrails. Generally speaking: Type I = those with perimeters less than 6-1/4” ; Type II = rails greater than 6-1/4” in perimeter with certain graspable recesses; and the third type are those rails that are determined to be equivalently graspable by the enforcing jurisdiction’ s inspector or building official. The example shown is an asymmetrical design that falls outside the definition of either Type I or Type II profiles.

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Early tests of very limited shapes found that 1-1/2” round rail performed well when pushed and pulled by persons standing at the top of a stair and restrained to a backboard.

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SMA funded testing provided the basis for determining that certain shapes with graspable recesses could perform as well or better than the minimum standard accepted for Type I handrails.

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These conclusions are the basis for of the parameters for the Type II handrail standard.

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Type II rails were first accepted in the 2001 supplement to the IRC 2000. In 2007 the IBC also adopted the Type II standard for residential applications. The test above was developed by the SMA and appears in the SMA Visual Interpretation of the IRC. It provides a consistent way to determine if a handrail section is in compliance with the code. It is available for members in .dwg and .dxf format for use in CADD programs.

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The drawing above illustrates some of the allowed exceptions to Continuity. It also shows that with handrails set at the lowest height allowed of 34 inches the height of stock fittings in continuous rail (over the post) systems exceed the 38 inches maximum. Since within this same section posts are allowed to interrupt the handrail entirely it was considered reasonable and interpreted by most to be allowed but without an exception for handrail height this was not always the case.

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Especially in areas where the Uniform Building Code of ICBO was enforced fittings were often required to meet the height requirement. The language of the uniform code used in the west and southwest was different than the other

• codes. Its interpretation although not clear often required that the allowed

fitting be within the required range of handrail height*. To clarify this similar exceptions were added to the handrail height section. *The UBC interpretation was the primary reason for the development and use of a hybrid “ ascending” easing with volutes that could be cut to pitch to accommodate the height differential. This stock rail fitting, although more costly than a conventional volute with easing, provided a lower cost alternative to hand carving a pitch specific wreath.

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Space below the handrail is insignificant to Firemen with air packs and hauling of hoses. The minimum width above the handrails for arms/shoulders is essential. The dimensions at and below the handrail are functions of the allowed handrail projection of 4-1/2 inches.

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The following slides are excerpted “ Highlights” from the SMA Visual Interpretation of the 2009IRC for presentation purposes while students utilize the 2009 IRC VI document. Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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Headroom is required throughout the “ stairway” including above landings. Please reference and study the full text of the code and additional pictures found in the 2009 IRC VI.

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In some jurisdictions partial open stairs were being disallowed due to the projection of the ceiling above into the area over the nosings where headroom is required to be measured. This exception allows the ceiling to project up to 4¾ inches over the nosings from which the headroom is determined.

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In 2009 the walkline location was defined as being measured from the widest clear width of the stair at the surface of the tread. To find the walkline at winders:

• 1. Find the side of the stair where the winder treads narrow.
• 2. Find the widest clear stair width of the adjacent winders at the tread surface.
• 3. Measure 12 inches on the surface of the tread from side where the winders

narrow at the point of the widest clear stair width. This identifies the point to measure from on that portion of the tread accessible for

• walking. Shown in the drawings as the baluster when attached to the tread or the

stringer/skirt board/wall when a curb or full wall is present.

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Regardless of opinion, right or wrong, tread depth and riser height will enforced consistently because it is now measured without regard to controversial measurement of carpet thickness. This code applies to all requirements in the tread and riser section including nosing profile and projection as well as tread depth and riser height.

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Riser height and Tread depth are among the most frequently modified requirements when jurisdictions adopt codes. The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) with specific concerns for the need to provide economical, smaller homes endeavors to maintain 8-1/4” x 9” step geometry that significantly reduces the size and cost of homes. They have been successful in educating the adopting authorities of their concern especially in statewide jurisdictions adopting the code. The SMA supports the 7-3/4 inch x 10 inch step geometry in the IRC model. These parameters were, after years of significant research and debate, determined to be an economically feasible and reasonable minimum standard of safety for residential occupancies. More recent testing recommending a 9-13/16 inch (250 mm) tread depth provide a sound scientific basis as a more than reasonable minimum standard. Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the SMA 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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This code provides that winder treads are compared to winder treads. Fliers (rectangular treads) are compared to fliers. However good stairway design should consider s should be designed with “ All Treads” equal at the walkline.

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Although not shown in this illustration the nosings at landings must be uniform with all stair treads in the flight.

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These pictures published in the ICC code development process, illustrate a commonly accepted solution for handrail continuity. Although not regulated keeping such transitions below the line of the ceiling assures the handrail can be used as intended.

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Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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The code allows for three catagories of handrail profiles but only specifically mentions two TYPES , The “ third type” would be any profile determined to be equivalently graspable by the enforcing authority. Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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In 2009 if any point within 36”

• f the edge of an open side exceeds 30”

above the floor or grade below a guard is now required. This change further clarifies that if the required handrail is provided on the opposite side that portion of the open side of the stair does not require a guard until the height above the floor exceed 30 inches allowing for stacked steps like that pictured

• n one side of the stair without a guard or handrail. Please see the

definitions of “ guard” and “ handrail” in the IRC 2009 VI. Although the top of a guard may be allowed to function as a handrail, it is very important to understand that guards and handrails are as alike as apples and oranges and have entirely different functions and requirements that are well defined in the code. The ICC definition of handrail was discussed in slide 52. Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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Please see the definition of guard in IRC 2009 VI. Although the top of a guard may be allowed to function as a handrail, it is very important to understand that guards and handrails are not the same and have entirely different functions and requirements that are well defined in the code. The

• nly time a guard has a maximum height is when the top of it serves as a
• handrail. The ICC definition of handrail was discussed in slide 52.

Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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The 2009 code now recognizes that adjacent seating effectively reduces the guard height by the height of the seat. Although more common on decks fixed seating next to guards requires the guard height to be measured from the seat surface. Don’ t forget that inside window seats and dining areas near stairs need to be considered. Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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Opening limitations prevent the most common guard related injuries due to fall “ through”

• r entrapment.

Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2009 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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If the openings in a guard exceed the sphere rule limitations described in the code, “ fall-through” accidents or entrapment can occur. The sphere rule limits have been established based on the head size and chest depth of a child in the 95th percentile of size in the “ Sitting up” development stage. It is reasoned that although not crawling the child could sit up then fall through. Such children are not likely to be left unattended on a stair so the opening limitation for stair guards is allowed to be slightly larger still preventing those susceptible from fall-through and entrapment. Entrapment often leading to death is most common when the child goes through the guard feet first and then strangles. Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2006 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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Please reference and study the full text of the code found in the 2006 IRC VI with additional pictures not included here.

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The Code Technology Committee was established to study and examine in detail, issues of controversy, new technology and materials that cannot be done justice in the minimal time allowed for discussion in code hearings. One of the first issues the Committee was assigned was the hotly contested “ ladder effect” language and its removal from the code. There was concern with the elimination of this widely interpreted/misinterpreted term that language should be developed to limit the climbability of guards. The CTC findings and general recommendations related to climbable guards are noted above.

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