National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 131‑1:2015+A2:2025. It supersedes BS EN 131‑1:2015+A1:2019, which is withdrawn.

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags. Tags indicating changes to CEN text carry the number of the CEN amendment. For example, text altered by CEN amendment A1 is indicated by .

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee B/512, Ladders.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 November 2015.

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 31 July 2019 and includes Amendment 2 approved by CEN on 11 June 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

European foreword

This document (EN 131‑1:2015+A2:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 93 “Ladders”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2026.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 2019-03-29.

This document includes Amendment 2 approved by CEN on 2025-06-11.

This document supersedes EN 131‑1:2015+A1:2019

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags .

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags .

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association.

deleted text

EN 131, Ladders, is one of a series about ladders:

— Part 1: Terms, types, functional sizes [the present document];

— Part 2: Requirements, testing, marking;

— Part 3: Marking anduser Instructions;

— Part 4: Single or multiple hinge-joint ladders;

— Part 6: Telescopic ladders;

— Part 7: Mobile ladders with platform.

The standards of this series are listed in Clause 2 and in the Bibliography.

Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

1 Scope

This European Standard defines terms and specifies the general design characteristics of ladders.

It applies to portable ladders designed for general professional and non-professional use.

This standard does not apply to portable ladders which by their design and instructions are intended and limited only for a specific professional use and as a result are not for general professional or non-professional use.

NOTE 1 For multiple hinge joint ladders EN 131‑4 applies.

NOTE 2 For telescopic ladders EN 131‑6 applies.

NOTE 3 For mobile ladders with platforms EN 131‑7 applies.

NOTE 4 This standard does not apply to step stools for which EN 14183 applies.

NOTE 5 For ladders to work near high voltage installations, EN 61478 applies and for working near low voltage electric installations, EN 50528 applies.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Functional sizes

4.1 General

4.2 Leaning rung ladders

4.3 Standing rung ladders

4.4 Combination ladders

4.5 Leaning step ladders

4.6 Standing step ladders

4.7 Standing rung and step ladder

Bibliography

BS EN 131-1:2015+A2:2025

Ladders - Terms, types, functional sizes

Current

Published:

31 Aug 2025