LOW LEVEL ACCESS
41
MARCH-APRIL 2014
access
INTERNATIONAL
Although the UK is the
leading player on the low
level access stage, there
is much to be learned
from it and great scope
for other markets.
Euan
Youdale
reports
standard is positive for the industry, there are
potential drawbacks. “The issue will be whether
the main contractors group specifies only using
PAS250 units on site. If they do then the rental
companies will follow.
There is some criticism. “You can understand
the logic behind PAS250, to make them
safe from overturning.The acid test will be
that in the pursuit of that, it becomes an
unmanageable product,” says Mr Bungay.
Youngman’s preferred option is to have a
small footprint with more ballast.
LOW POWERED
The introduction of powered low level access
equipment followed the introduction of the
HSE’s Work at Height Regulations in 2005,
says Mr Bungay. “There was a substantial
uptake, but then the industry realised you had
to be just as competent and trained in this
equipment as with a podium.Therefore that
peak has come and gone.
“However it did kick start the micro powered
access sector, which is now big. But I do not
think it will take over from podiums.
“I do see a move away from stepladders.
The Work at Height Regulations has seen a
reduction in ladders and a move to low level
access with guardrails.”
Roger Verallo, managing director of Euro
Towers, recently stood down as chairman of
PASMA and was the PASMA representative
on the PAS250 committee. “So now people
have a choice, a podium that has passed all
required tests and those that have not.”
Euro Towers’ Stepfold Podiums 1 & 2, with
respective platform heights of 1 m and 1.2 m
are TUV certified and PAS250 certified.
“I think most construction sites will now
ask if the podiums are PAS250 and their
customers will ask if they are using those,” says
N
ow that PAS250 is a Publicly
Available Specification for low-
level work platforms in the UK,
manufacturers and end users are inevitably
moving towards products that adhere to it.
The specification covers all low-level platforms
with one working platform and side protection,
for use by one person with a maximum
platform height of less than 2.5 m.
John Bungay, business development manager
for manufacturer Youngman, says while the
>
JLG has introduced a new series
of low level access products
with the LiftPod FT140, initially
aimed at the US market.
Topping the LiftPod range, it
offers a platform height if 14 ft
and a 20 ft working height.
The FT140 was launched
at ConExpo in Las Vegas in March.
It is designed as an alternative to
ladders and scaffolding and offers
an aircraft quality, easily stowable
telescoping aluminium mast, says the
manufacturer.
The model has three lightweight
components for simple assembly
and disassembly. Casters on the back
wheels make it easy for one person to
move the LiftPod. When disassembled,
it fits in the back of a pickup truck, van,
or SUV.
The FT140 is powered by a new dual
36V lithium-ion battery system and has
a work tray holding up to 33 pounds of
tools and materials, with a
total platform capacity
of 330 pounds.
NEW SERIES
Mr Verallo.
Euro Towers’ products do not use ballast
tubes, but the Stepfold products have stabilisers
instead.
Lyte has launched its Hipod PAS250
podium step. As sales director Dougie
McCombie explains, it has passed the PAS250
test which involves a 7.5 kg weight placed in
the podium, with an attached pulley system
with a 75 kg weight to the side; if the podium
tips over then it fails the test.
The platform is designed to get through
a standard door. “We did not want to use
stabilisers and add that extra width, because
they need to get though narrow areas,” said Mr
McCombie.The ballast is at the base in four
ballast tubes. So far Hire Station in the UK has
Youngman launched the P1200-AS podium
at the Executive Hire Show in the UK. It has
a 1.2 m height. At the moment the model is
not widely available. It was designed for UK
contractor Travis Perkins. It has anti-surf
capabilities with casters on one end only to
help drivers load their vans.
Power Towers’ Pecolifts in use at
the UK50 million fit-out of the News
Corporation building (Baby Shard),
Southwark, London, UK.
Easy pickings
