Warehouse steps are an essential part of any industrial or storage environment, providing safe access to high shelving and storage areas. Ensuring these steps meet recognised safety standards is crucial, and the BS EN131-7:2013 standard specifically covers mobile ladders with platforms, commonly known as warehouse steps. This standard sets clear requirements for working height, platform size, load capacity, and overall design, ensuring that steps are both safe and reliable for everyday use. Understanding what the BS standard entails and why it matters can help businesses make informed decisions when choosing the right warehouse steps for their operations.
What is BS EN 131-7?
BS EN 131-7 is the relevant British Standard for mobile steps with a platform, commonly referred to as warehouse steps or aircraft ladders. This technical document outlines the specification, code of practice and guidelines for mobile safety steps with a working height of up to 5 metres, a platform area of up to 1 square metre, and a maximum load capacity of 150 kilograms.
Why Is The BS Standard Important?
Falls from height are a leading cause of injury or death in the workplace, and contributed 8% of all recorded workplace absence in 2023/24. BS EN131-7 is an integral factor of employing safe working practices when working at height. The Kitemark is an indicator that the product has been designed and tested against the strict guidelines set by the British Standards Institute, making products fit for purpose and safe for use in demanding environments.
How are BS Standard Warehouse Steps Accredited and Tested?
For a product to achieve Kitemark accreditation, it must meet the specifications required by the British Standards Institute, and be independently tested. West Midlands based manufacturer Redhill Manufacturing hold the only British Kitemark for products falling under BS EN 131-7. Steps like Redhill BS Warehouse Steps have been thoroughly tested and designed to stringent requirements, more information of which can be found below.
Design - The steps must have a minimum tread depth of 80 mm, with tread spacing between 200 mm and 250 mm to ensure safe ascend and descend. The standard outlines a minimum and maximum platform size of 400mm2 to 1000mm2. Toe boards, with a minimum height of 50 mm, must be fitted on at least three sides of the platform to prevent overstepping the platform when in use. Additionally, handrails should be between 950 mm and 1,100 mm in height and must be tested for both strength and deflection to keep the user safe on the platform.
Stability and Torsion testing – BS EN131-7 steps must have passed stability testing including a 750 N sideways pull (external test) and a 300 N sideways pull (internal test). The castors on BS approved mobile warehouse steps are also tested and must remain stable when a 200 N load is applied. The Safe Working Load for kitemarked steps is 150kg. The kitemark also dictates products should display permanent markings and user instructions, alongside manufacturer details.
Why Do More Suppliers Not Provide BS Certified Warehouse Steps?
There are a number of constraints preventing manufacturers from certifying their product against BS EN 131-7.
Design constraints: Firstly, their product may not meet the specifications required of the kitemark, and therefore accreditation would not be possible. Some manufacturers state their steps are ‘designed to conform’ but without the stability and torsion testing carried out by the independent testing body, they cannot sell their product as compliant. To meet the precise dimensional and load-bearing requirements set out in the standard, manufacturers may be required to undertake significant product redesign.
Stringent testing costs: Achieving compliance with BS EN 131-7 requires rigorous independent lab testing, twice yearly audits, and continuous compliance with Quality Management systems, which are costly business activities.
Market awareness and price: Demand for British Standard certified products is growing, thanks to education around Working Safely at Height and development of internal health and safety policies amongst UK companies. Despite this increased awareness, many organisations prioritise cost over long-term safety compliance. Unfortunately, in some cases, businesses only consider switching to certified equipment after a serious incident involving non-compliant products.
Summary
While BS EN 131-7 certified warehouse steps may not be the most cost-effective option initially, they offer proven safety, long-term reliability, and peace of mind. Choosing steps that bear the EN 131-7 Kitemark is not just about regulatory compliance; it’s about actively protecting your workforce.
If you have any questions about working at height or require further clarification on relevant standards, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or speak directly with our expert team on 01204 590232.
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