Description

This standard prescribes rules concerning the safedesign, construction, testing, care, installation and useof permanently installed metal or wood, disappearingattic stairways of various types designed to be used foraccess to upper levels such as attics. Household unitswith duty ratings of 250, 300 and 350 lbs., or commercialunits with a rating of 500 lbs. are the only units coveredin this standard. This standard is not intended to applyto any attic stairway covered in any other ANSI A14standards, or disappearing attic stairways intended foruse with ceiling heights in excess of 12 feet. This standardalso prescribes rules and minimum requirements forinstallation instructions and labeling of disappearingattic stairways in order to promote safety under normalconditions of usage.

This standard is not intended to cover requirements forfire separation that may be required by various buildingcodes. It does not apply where training, supervision, orestablished safety procedures are in conflict with, orserve in lieu of, this standard.The purpose of this document is to help provide safetyfor life, limb, and property by establishing standardsfor the design and installation of permanently installeddisappearing attic stairways.

It is not the purpose of this standard to specify all thedetails of construction of disappearing attic stairways.The limitations imposed are for the purpose of providingadequate general methods and testing.