An attic ladder (US) or loft ladder (UK) is a retractable ladder that is installed into an

attic An attic (sometimes referred to as a '' loft'') is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building. It is also known as a ''sky parlor'' or a garret. Because they fill the space between the ceiling of a building's t ...

door/access panel. They are used as an inexpensive and compact alternative to having a stairway that ascends to the attic of a

building A building or edifice is an enclosed Structure#Load-bearing, structure with a roof, walls and window, windows, usually standing permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, a ...

. They are useful in areas with space constraints that would hinder the installation of a standard staircase. Attic ladders typically consist of a ladder with wider steps and a steep slope. A drawstring will hang down to allow the ladder to be manually extended. Attic ladders are usually made of wood, metal, aluminum, or fiberglass. Also, fire departments carry attic ladders on fire apparatus for use to locate and extinguish fires in attic spaces. They are in a single ladder that is often used by

firefighter A firefighter (or fire fighter or fireman) is a first responder trained in specific emergency response such as firefighting, primarily to control and extinguish fires and respond to emergencies such as hazardous material incidents, medical in ...

s for interior attic access and have hinged rungs, which allow them to be folded inward so that one beam rests on the other, with the rungs hidden away in the middle. This compatibility allows it to be carried in attic scuttle holes, narrow passageways, and small rooms or closets. Folding ladders are usually found in lengths between , while the greatest length is usually . These ladders must also have footpads attached to the butt end in order to prevent slipping on hard and soft surfaces.IFSTA, 2008 p. 1327.

Gallery

Image:Attic ladder closed.jpg, A retractable attic ladder in its closed position. Image:Attic ladder opening.jpg, A retractable attic ladder halfway open. Image:Attic ladder open.jpg, A retractable attic ladder fully extended.

References

Sources

*IFSTA (2008). "Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations 5th Edition" Architectural elements Firefighting equipment Ladders {{Firefighting-stub