Safety Requirements for Powered Platforms and Traveling Ladders and Gantries for Building Maintenance

AN A ME R ICA N N A T I O N A L S T A N D A R D

ASME A120.1-2014

(Revision of ASME A120.1-2008)

ASME A120.1-2014

(Revision of ASME A120.1-2008)

Safety Requirements for Powered Platforms and Traveling Ladders and Gantries for Building Maintenance

AN AMERICAN NA TIONAL S T AND ARD

Two Park Avenue • New York, NY • 10016 USA

Date of Issuance: February 9, 2016

The next edition of this Standard is scheduled for publication in 2018. This Standard will become effective 6 months after the Date of Issuance.

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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Two Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5990

Copyright © 2016 by

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CONTENTS

Foreword iv

Committee Roster v

Correspondence With the A120 Committee vi

Summary of Changes vii

Mandatory Appendix

I Operating Manual Layout 27

FOREWORD

This Standard provides for the safe design of powered platforms for building maintenance, where window cleaning and related services are accomplished by means of suspended equipment at heights in excess of 35 ft (11 m) above a safe surface, e.g., grade, street, floor, or roof level.

The provisions of the Standard are intended to apply to all known systems used to support suspended maintenance equipment as well as the suspended equipment itself (either permanently installed or transportable equipment). Guidelines are also included for a building’s structural support areas as well as the building surfaces that actually interface with the equipment.

The Standard does not apply to other suspended powered platforms used for remedial renova- tions or modifications to buildings. The safe use of these types of scaffolds is addressed by American National Standard ANSI A10.8. The A120.1 Standard also does not relate to any service performed by persons supported by equipment covered by any of the ANSI A92 Standards.

The purpose of this Standard is to ensure the protection of all powered platform users as well as persons potentially exposed to use of the equipment. In developing this Standard, safety has been held as the primary consideration. The Standard requires that permanently installed or transportable equipment be properly designed by a qualified professional engineer, taking into account specific building features rather than attempting to accommodate the system to a build- ing’s structure and fac¸ade features that may not be suitable for its safe operation. In addition, care has been taken so as not to exclude or render obsolete any existing product or equipment. Operation and maintenance instructions in this safety standard are intended for general applica- tions. The equipment manufacturer and/or installer shall be consulted for specific operating or

maintenance instructions.

This Standard reflects the evolution of a project begun in 1962 by the American National Standards Committee on Window Cleaning Safety, A39. At that time, the Committee recognized that a new method was being developed for cleaning fixed sash windows by means of a special scaffolding. In order to deal expertly with this new development, a new project was established, separate from that handled by the A39 Committee. Following a general conference, the American National Standards Committee on Powered Platforms, ANSI A120, was formed, with the National Safety Council acknowledged as sponsor. In 1965, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was approved as co-sponsor. In 1984, the Building Owners and Managers Association International was approved as secretariat.

A previous edition of the Standard, A120.1-1970, was administratively withdrawn in 1989. This Standard had established safety requirements for the design, construction, installation, inspection, and use of power-operated platforms for exterior building maintenance. The Standard did not apply to temporary equipment used for construction work or to devices raised and lowered manually.

A120.1-1992 was the result of joint action by participating organizations under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). That Standard was approved through two votes of the ANSI A120 Committee, at a meeting in New York City (October 17, 1991) and by letter ballot (dated December 30, 1991).

In 1995, ASME again assumed sponsorship of the Standard. ASME A120.1-1996 was approved by ANSI on April 17, 1996. ASME A120.1-2001 was approved by ANSI on July 3, 2001. ASME A120.1-2006 was approved by ANSI on September 20, 2006. ASME A120.1-2008 was approved by ANSI on July 16, 2008.

This revision was approved by ANSI on March 4, 2014.

ASME A120 COMMITTEE

Safety Requirements for Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance

(The following is the roster of the Committee at the time of approval of this Standard.)

STANDARDS COMMITTEE OFFICERS

C. S. Caulkins, Chair

1. L. Gartner, Vice Chair

   1. Byk, Secretary

W. T. Ayres, W. T. Ayres & Associates

J. W. Boudreau, Power Climber

G. Brickell, Safeworks, LLC

STANDARDS COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

D. E. Johnson, Manntech North America, LLC

1. D. Luttrell, Applied Technical Services, Inc.

   A. G. Teska, Alternate, Applied Technical Services, Inc.

2. D. Bright, International Window Cleaning Association

L. Brijmohan, ENTEK Engineering, LLC

A. Byk, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

J. Capon, Valcourt Building Services

C. S. Caulkins, C. S. Caulkins, Inc.

J. M. Moore, Alternate, C. S. Caulkins, Inc.

L. D. Coleman, JOBS Building Services, Inc.

K. Blasingame, Alternate, JOBS Building Services, Inc.

W. M. Ferguson, April Building Services, Inc.

H. Garcia, HSG Professional Window Cleaners, Inc.

B. Lapham, Alternate, Valcourt Building Services

1. L. Gartner, Weatherguard Service, Inc.

2. W. Gray, Sky Rider Equipment Co., Inc.

M. Villegas, Alternate, Sky Rider Equipment Co., Inc.

J. J. Haigh, Safeworks, LLC

L. B. Herzog, Lee Herzog Fac¸ade Access Consulting, Inc.

T. I. Srioudom, Alternate, Lee Herzog Fac¸ade Access Consulting, Inc.

S. H. Ho, H D & D

D. E. Hoberg, DBM Consultants and Engineers

C. Hogne, R & R Scaffolding, Ltd.

J. D. Horvath, Horvath Reich CDC, Inc.

C. L. Huffman, Martin’s Window Cleaning Corp.

S. P. Lynn, Lynn Safety, Inc.

S. R. Lynn, Lynn Safety, Inc.

L. McCune, State of California

J. Foss, Alternate, State of California

G. McEneaney, Local 32 BJ, Window Cleaning Division

A. Horton, Alternate, Local 32 BJ, Window Cleaning Division

L. A. McMasters, Lerch Bates

K. J. Thompson, Alternate, Lerch Bates

D. F. Ortiz, Olympique Fac¸ade Access Consulting

R. Patel, RDP Engineering, Inc.

C. A. Pedersen, World Window Cleaning Co.

N. W. Pedersen, Alternate, World Window Cleaning Co.

C. H. Schoch, Tractel, Inc.

A. Kanarek, Alternate, Tractel, Inc.

P. D. Shumway, XSPlatforms US

E. Sikorski, Elm Suspension Systems, Inc.

J. E. Stager, Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO

J. E. Storey, Horvath Reich CDC, Inc.

C. J. Theve, Tractel, Inc.

G. Tinker, Tower Safety Services, Inc.

L. Wikstrom, Winstall Corp.

H. Zander, Winstall Corp.

J. A. Zarris, Service Employees International Union, Local 1

R. Zeolla, Sunset Cleaning Co.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE A120 COMMITTEE

General. ASME Standards are developed and maintained with the intent to represent the consensus of concerned interests. As such, users of this Standard may interact with the Committee by requesting interpretations, proposing revisions, and attending Committee meetings. Corre- spondence should be addressed to:

Secretary, A120 Standards Committee

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Two Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016-5990

https://go.asme.org/Inquiry

Proposing Revisions. Revisions are made periodically to the Standard to incorporate changes that appear necessary or desirable, as demonstrated by the experience gained from the application of the Standard. Approved revisions will be published periodically.

The Committee welcomes proposals for revisions to this Standard. Such proposals should be as specific as possible, citing the paragraph number(s), the proposed wording, and a detailed description of the reasons for the proposal, including any pertinent documentation.

Interpretations. Upon request, the A120 Standards Committee will render an interpretation of any requirement of the Standard. Interpretations can only be rendered in response to a written request sent to the Secretary of the A120 Standards Committee at go.asme.org/Inquiry.

The request for an interpretation should be clear and unambiguous. It is further recommended that the inquirer submit his/her request in the following format:

Subject: Cite the applicable paragraph number(s) and the topic of the inquiry.

Edition: Cite the applicable edition of the Standard for which the interpretation is being requested.

Question: Phrase the question as a request for an interpretation of a specific requirement suitable for general understanding and use, not as a request for an approval of a proprietary design or situation. The inquirer may also include any plans or drawings that are necessary to explain the question; however, they should not contain proprietary names or information.

Requests that are not in this format may be rewritten in the appropriate format by the Committee prior to being answered, which may inadvertently change the intent of the original request.

ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of any interpretation when or if additional information that might affect an interpretation is available. Further, persons aggrieved by an interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME committee or subcommittee. ASME does not “approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse” any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity. Attending Committee Meetings. The A120 Standards Committee regularly holds meetings and/or telephone conferences that are open to the public. Persons wishing to attend any meeting

and/or telephone conference should contact the Secretary of the A120 Standards Committee.

ASME A120.1-2014 SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Following approval by the ASME A120 Committee and ASME, and after public review, ASME A120.1-2014 was approved by the American National Standards Institute on March 4, 2014.

ASME A120.1-2014 includes editorial changes, revisions, and corrections identified on the pages by a margin note, (14), placed next to the affected area.

Page Location Change

1–4 1.5 Updated

1.6 (1) Definitions of anchor, anchorage, base, pedestal (davit/outrigger), shunt carriage, and socket (davit/outrigger) added

(2) Definitions of dropline and lifeline

revised

INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

ASME A120.1-2014

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR POWERED PLATFORMS AND TRAVELING LADDERS AND GANTRIES FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE

1. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND DEFINITIONS

   
   

   1. Scope

      This Standard establishes safety requirements for powered platforms (scaffolds) for buildings where win- dow cleaning and related services are accomplished by means of suspended equipment at heights in excess of 35 ft (11 m) above a safe surface (e.g., grade, street, floor, or roof level). Additionally, this Standard establishes safety requirements for permanent traveling ladders and gantries (TLG).

      It pertains to either permanently installed or trans- portable equipment meeting the requirements of this Standard.

      Powered platforms and TLGs may be used or operated by one or more persons engaged in services such as normal building maintenance. The equipment may also be used for tasks such as caulking, metal polishing, reglazing, or other building repairs.

      This Standard does not apply to other suspended powered platforms used for remedial renovations or modifications to buildings. The safe use of these scaf- folds is included in ANSI A10.8-2001, Safety Requirements for Scaffolding.

      This Standard does not relate to any service performed by persons supported by equipment covered by any of the ANSI A92 standards.

      
      

   2. Purpose

      The purpose of this Standard is to ensure the protec- tion of powered platform users and traveling ladder and gantry users, and persons exposed to equipment used with the previously described maintenance of buildings. It is also intended for use by architects, engineers, designers, manufacturers, inspectors, purchasers, build- ing owners, and others associated with the installation of powered platforms and traveling ladders and gantries. Additionally, it is recommended for use by enforce- ment agencies having jurisdiction over the installation of powered platforms and traveling ladders and gantries to ensure that the platforms meet the safety provisions

      of this Standard.

   3. Application of This Standard

      1. Applications. This Standard applies to the installation of all powered platforms and traveling lad- ders and gantries.

      2. Deviations. Deviations from the requirements of this Standard may be granted by the enforcing author- ity if it is determined that a specific requirement creates practical difficulty or excessive hardship, or where the specific requirement prevents the use of a novel design, only when equivalent safety is provided.

      3. Alterations

         1. Any existing building being serviced may con- tinue to be serviced until the building is altered, requir- ing a modification of the installation. Alteration of the building and equipment modification shall then be made to comply with the applicable parts of this Standard.

         2. If the authority having jurisdiction believes that hazards exist to warrant a change in an existing installa- tion, the authority may require compliance with any part of this Standard. If a qualified person deems that a hazard exists, the hazard shall be corrected, and the correction shall be in compliance with this Standard.

         3. Once a building permit is issued or modified, the current version of the Standard shall apply.

   4. Applicable Units

      This edition of the Standard uses U.S. Customary units with acceptable metric (SI) units shown in parentheses.

      NOTE: The metric values stated may not be exact equivalents to the U.S. Customary units.

      Information on the usage of SI units and their conver- sion from U.S. Customary units is contained in the IEEE/ASTM SI 10-1997, Standard for the Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System; or ASME Guide SI-1, Orientation and Guide for Use of SI (Metric) Units.

   5. References

When a nationally recognized standard, other than that specifically referred to in para. 1.1, is referred to and is superseded by a revision, the edition current at the time of acceptance of this Standard shall apply.

(14)

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