In Ontario, a fixed steel access ladder that extends more than 5 m above grade, floor or landing must have a safety cage that starts no more than 2.2 m above the base and continues at least 90 cm above the top landing. The ladder must be vertical, have rest platforms at no more than 9 m intervals with the ladder offset at each one, have side rails that extend 90 cm above the landing, and have rungs at least 15 cm from the wall. These rules come from R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 (Industrial Establishments), section 18, and the matching section 84 of O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects). Roof access ladders also have to meet the Ontario Building Code's anchorage standard, SB-8.
Most online information about steel ladders with cages is written for OSHA in the United States. The Ontario rules are different, and they are what an inspector here will look for.
Which Ontario rules apply to a fixed ladder
Three sets of rules can apply to the same ladder:
| Rule | What it covers | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, s. 18 | Ladder geometry: vertical, cages, rest platforms, side rails, rung clearance | Industrial establishments: under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, office buildings, factories, arenas, shops and offices (other than an office in a private residence) and their land and structures |
| O. Reg. 213/91, s. 84 | The same geometry, plus clear landings and sound rungs | Construction projects |
| 2024 OBC, Article 3.6.1.6. and SB-8 | Design of the ladder's attachment and anchorage | Fixed ladders providing access to a roof |
In other words, the Occupational Health and Safety Act regulations describe how the ladder must be laid out for the people using it at work, and the building code describes how it must be fastened to the building. A rooftop access ladder on a commercial or industrial building usually has to satisfy both.
Ontario fixed ladder requirements
Section 18 of Reg. 851 requires an access ladder fixed in position to:
- Be vertical. An inclined ladder or ship's ladder is a different product with its own design questions.
- Have rest platforms at not more than 9 m intervals, with the ladder offset at each rest platform, so a fall from the upper section lands on the platform rather than continuing to the bottom.
- Have a safety cage where the ladder extends over 5 m above grade, floor or landing. The cage must start not more than 2.2 m above the grade, floor or landing and continue at least 90 cm above the top landing, with openings that let the worker reach rest platforms and the top landing.
- Have side rails that extend 90 cm above the landing, giving a handhold for stepping on and off.
- Have rungs at least 15 cm from the wall, spaced at regular intervals, so there is room for the toes and the rungs are predictable.
Section 84 of O. Reg. 213/91 repeats these and adds that a fixed ladder on a construction project must have an adequate landing surface clear of obstructions at the top and bottom, must be free from defective or loose rungs, and must not be used in an elevator shaft or similar hoisting area while it is being used for hoisting.
There is one exception in both regulations, for ladders on a tower, water tank, chimney or similar structure that have a safety device protecting a worker who falls (a rail or cable ladder safety system, for example). Reg. 851 exempts those ladders from subsection 18(1) entirely; the construction regulation exempts them from the rest platform, offset and cage requirements.
Reg. 851 also says that where frequent access is needed to elevated equipment, permanent platforms must be provided, reached by a fixed stair or a fixed access ladder. If people climb up daily or carry tools and parts, a stair is usually the better answer; see industrial steel stairs and roof access stairs.
Roof access ladders and the Ontario Building Code
When the code calls for a roof ladder
Under Article 3.2.5.3. of the 2024 OBC, a building more than 3 storeys high with a roof slope of less than 1 in 4 must give direct access to all main roof areas from the floor below, either by a stairway or by a hatch at least 550 mm by 900 mm with a fixed ladder. Separately, Sentence 3.3.1.3.(10) allows egress from a roof for people servicing rooftop equipment to be provided by stairways or fixed ladders.
SB-8: how the ladder is anchored
Article 3.6.1.6. says that where a fixed ladder gives access to a roof, its attachment and anchorage system must follow MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-8. The key points:
- Design loads: at least two loads of 1.1 kN each, concentrated between any two consecutive attachments, plus ice, wind, impact and dead loads where they apply.
- Safety factors: at least 4:1 for components in normal use and at least 10:1 for components supporting a fall arrest system.
- Anchors: attachment and anchor bolts at least 12 mm in diameter.
- Spacing: attachment points no more than 3 m apart for a steel ladder with side rails.
- Masonry walls: avoid expansion anchors, because manufacturers' pull-out ratings are usually for poured concrete. Use through-bolted connections, or equivalent, where there is no rated anchor value.
- Top of the ladder: two means of anchoring the top are recommended, for example by fastening the side rail extensions to the roof.
- Existing walls: check that the wall is structurally sound before hanging a ladder on it.
For a fabricator, this means the brackets, anchor holes and side rail extensions are part of the design, not an afterthought. A ladder that is well made but bolted into hollow block with small expansion anchors doesn't meet the standard.
How a caged steel ladder is built
A typical fixed steel ladder with a cage includes:
- Side rails, commonly flat bar or angle, with rungs welded between them.
- Rungs of round or square bar, often with a slip-resistant surface or knurling.
- Wall brackets at the attachment spacing, holding the ladder at least 15 cm off the wall.
- Cage hoops with vertical bars welded around them, starting within 2.2 m of the base.
- Rest platforms with guards where the ladder is long enough to need them, with the next ladder section offset.
- Top access through a hatch or a walk-through at the parapet, with side rails extending above the landing.
- Finish suited to the exposure. Exterior and rooftop ladders are normally hot-dip galvanized.
The cage dimensions, rung spacing and bracket details are set on the shop drawings so they meet the regulations above and any specification for the project. Welds on a ladder carry people, so they should be made by certified welders; see why hire a CWB-certified fabricator.
Ontario rules vs OSHA
Search results for "steel ladder OSHA" are everywhere, and the US rules have changed in ways that don't apply here. Under OSHA's general industry standard (29 CFR 1910.28(b)(9)), fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet installed on or after November 19, 2018 must have a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system, and from November 18, 2036 all such ladders must have one; cages and wells stop counting as fall protection.
Ontario's Reg. 851 and O. Reg. 213/91 still specify safety cages over 5 m. If a client or insurer wants a ladder safety system as well, that is a design choice on top of the Ontario requirements, not a replacement for them. Ask the project's designer or health and safety advisor which approach the owner wants.
Ladders for mezzanines and equipment platforms
Inside buildings, fixed ladders often serve mezzanines, storage platforms and equipment access. The same Reg. 851 rules apply to the ladder in an industrial establishment, and the platform needs guards that meet the building code's structural requirements. Our steel mezzanine guide covers platform framing, stairs and ladders together.
Getting a fixed steel ladder fabricated
We fabricate custom steel ladders, stairs, railings and light supports, with CWB certified welding and shop drawings prepared in-house, and deliver across the GTA and Ontario. Engineering services are available for projects that need anchorage designed.
Send us the height, wall or structure type, photos and any drawings for a free quote. We can prime or galvanize your ladder to suit the job, and installation is by your installer or contractor. See our services for the rest of our miscellaneous steel work.
Frequently asked questions
When does a fixed ladder need a cage in Ontario?
Under Ontario's Industrial Establishments regulation (R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, s. 18) and the Construction Projects regulation (O. Reg. 213/91, s. 84), a fixed access ladder that extends more than 5 m above grade, floor or landing must have a safety cage starting no more than 2.2 m above the base and continuing at least 90 cm above the top landing.
How often does a fixed ladder need a rest platform?
Both regulations require rest platforms at intervals of not more than 9 m, with the ladder offset at each rest platform.
Is a roof access ladder covered by the Ontario Building Code?
Yes, for the anchorage. Where a fixed ladder provides access to a roof, the 2024 Ontario Building Code requires its attachment and anchorage system to follow Supplementary Standard SB-8, which sets design loads, safety factors, minimum anchor size and maximum attachment spacing.
Are ladder cages being phased out?
In the United States, OSHA requires new fixed ladders over 24 feet to have a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system, and cages stop counting as fall protection on November 18, 2036. Ontario's regulations still specify safety cages, so follow the Ontario rules for work here.
