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Industrial Structure Information Blog

Author Archives: Brett

Inspection Platform With Custom Support Columns

Recently, a customer contacted us with a problem. They needed a safe way to inspect and clear their conveyor chute. The plan was to fabricate an inspection platform, enclosed with railing, with a caged ladder for access. The top of the ladder would require a self-closing gate in order to meet OSHA requirements for guarding at ladder way openings, as the ladder was not offset from the platform.

Designing the Inspection Platform

As we started with concept drawings, we realized that the traditional fabrication of a post in each corner would not work with their application. The leading edge of the inspection platform extended into the aisle-way and a post in that corner would encroach on forklift traffic.

Drawing of inspection platform, ladder and MLG ladder safety gate

Upon consulting our PE, it was decided that we could use a short knee brace at the corner in question, and utilize a bolt-on kicker off the rear post for reinforcement. The kicker was designed to nest underneath their existing equipment.

As the installation location is open to the elements, and there is a high likelihood of debris, the inspection platform utilizes an open bar grating deck. This allows dirt and water to fall through the treads instead of collecting on top of a solid surface deck.

Platform Shipping and Installation

Photo of flat packed inspection platform

Inspection platform packed knocked down for shipping cost savings

The inspection platform shipped knocked down for freight savings. A smaller load takes up less space on a truck and costs less to ship. It also allows for smaller, lighter pieces that are more easily maneuvered at tough to access locations. Installation required basic tools and no hot permit was required.

All components are designed for bolt together installation with basic hand tools. This eliminates the need for field welding, hot permits, and additional finish touchup around weld areas. Installation for the platform and ladder requires two men and one day. As the height is under 12 ft high, a forklift and A frame ladders or a scissor lift are all that are required for install.

Photo of inspection platform installed with ladder

Inspection platform installed with ladder and MLG ladder safety gate

With the new platform in place, this customer can now safely inspect and perform maintenance on their chute at any time without impeding regular business activity in the area. Fabrication lead time for the platform, ladder, and gate was quoted at 5-7 weeks after approved drawings were returned. The material was shipped at right on time at 5 weeks. Pricing was also what the original estimate was. On time. On budget. Contact A-Mezz for help with your next project.

Let A-Mezz Help Tackle Maintenance Projects That Have Been On Hold

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With the challenges that COVID-19 has caused, many companies are experiencing unexpected and historic slow downs. While on shutdown, this is the perfect time to review your facility’s maintenance needs.

Do you have ladders that do not have the safety gates that are required by OSHA? Our MLG gates are versatile, durable, and economical.

Does your facility need a lockable tool crib to prevent tools from walking off? Our welded wire partitions can provide limitless customizable options at an affordable price.

Quarantined Delivery & Visitor Entry Cage

Do you have a quarantined area for delivery drivers to keep your facility secure from wanderers? A-Mezz can help with a wire partition equipped with pass-through service windows, hinged doors with push bars, and electric strikes for wiring to RFID card readers.

Are your employees properly guarded from your machines? Are your machines properly guarded from mobile equipment? We have many options of machine guarding whether you need framed mesh panels, trimmable welded panels, or heavy duty guardrail in both single rail heights and double rail heights. Now is the time to not only protect your employees around your machines, but to also install proper guards to protect your machines from forklift trucks and other mobile machinery.

These are difficult times for everyone, but let’s not waste the opportunity we’re given to finally tackle those maintenance issues that have been pushed off. A-Mezz is here to help ensure you get in a better position for success than where you were before COVID-19.

Pedestrian Traffic Control Signs Mounted on Gates

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While our Mezzanine Stair and Ladder Gates (MLG safety gates) are designed to meet OSHA fall protection requirements, they also work great as pedestrian traffic control gates. Below you can see that the design lends itself very easily to control pedestrian traffic flow to restricted locations. They are also a great way to get your message out.

304 stainless steel MLG gate used for pedestrian traffic control with mounted signage

Your Message… Right Where You Need It

Our customer above had custom signs printed up that they riveted onto our stainless steel gate. After mounting the sign to our MLG gate, their message is front and center – right where they need it. Do you have cost concerns about using these at your location? It is easy to incorporate an advertisement for a local business with its logo/slogan to offset the cost of the gate and sign printing. While A-Mezz does not offer graphic printing, we have heard from customers that they have had it done for $30-100 per sign – depending on what material and options they choose, such as di-cutting they had selected from their printer.

Rear view of MLG 304 stainless steel safety gate mounted to stairs with pedestrian traffic control sign.

MLG gates are also a great place to have important safety information such as at the top of a ladder that accesses a confined space.

Stairwell Interruption Gate

Our MLG gates are also often used to comply with NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code as a stairwell interruption gate. The 2018 edition of NFPA 101 stipulates 7.7.3.2: “Stairs and ramps that continue more than one-half story below the level of discharge shall be provided with an approved means to prevent or dissuade occupants from traveling past the level of discharge during emergency building evacuation”.

When descending a stairway, A-Mezz MLG gates are used where the stairs continue past the emergency exit. The gates stop panicked occupants from continuing down the stairs, past the exit point. When ascending the stairs from below, anyone can simply walk through the gate to safety. Many customers have aluminum signs printed stating there is no exit past the gate and an arrow pointing to the exit location.

While they were designed for fall protection applications, our MLG gates are much more versatile. Featuring quick shipping times, in-stock status, and low cost, MLG gates are ideal for many uses. Contact A-Mezz today for more details and a quote.

Roof Stack Access with A-Mezz Catwalks and Ladders

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A company contacted us because they needed safe roof stack access. The EPA required them to do regular tests on their stacks to comply with the Clean Air Act, but they had no permanent, safe means of access.

When we went out to the site for a preliminary review, accessing their stack was no easy feat. We needed to use a lower extension ladder to reach the lowest roof and bring up another extension ladder to use on the lower roof to access the middle roof.

To make matters worse, once we were on the middle roof, it wasn’t made with regular foot traffic in mind. We had to constantly be mindful of our step. Each metal roof panel groaned and flexed with each precarious step we took. Our goal was to keep the solution simple. It gets really easy to over-engineer a solution, but all that does is increase costs while not always providing a better product for the conditions.

What Were Our Options?

Our first thought was to have a fixed ladder extend from the lower roof to the middle roof, similar to their existing lower to upper caged ladder. We decided against that for a couple of reasons. The first was that there was no back wall to mount a walk-thru ladder. This would make us need to increase materials and engineering time, creating a custom solution which would just add costs to the project. Another option was for mounting a ladder on the same wall as their existing ladder and having it exit onto the side. We chose against this because the exit location was far from the stack needing access and that would have greatly increased the size of the catwalk needed, thus increasing costs.

Fixed ladder from upper roof to middle roof for roof stack access

An Economical Solution

We decided that the best solution was to utilize their existing ladder from the lower to upper roof. We then would fabricate a ladder to access the mid roof from the upper roof, as they would already have a need to be on the upper roof to inspect stacks there. The upper roof had a low parapet that the client didn’t want people stepping on. Our fixed ladder had a step-across platform incorporated into it so their workers could step onto that instead of the parapet, allowing for safer access to the ladder while protecting the parapet flashing.

Our installed roof stack ladder and catwalk provides safe access under customer’s budget

We also fabricated a short catwalk and platform surrounding their stack. We designed the framing for the platform to mount onto their existing purlins with elongated supports as the platform extended to compensate for the roof slope. This allowed for a level, safe platform for their testing team to work from, eliminating the fear of slips in inclimate weather that can come from an iced up, sloped catwalk system.

A Quick, Permanent Roof Stack Access Solution – Under Budget

Ultimately, we relocated the access ladder from original plans which allowed us to utilize our mostly standard ladder design. The location change also allowed for a smaller platform which allowed us to complete the project under the customer’s budget. This project took 9 weeks from the date we got approval drawings in the customer’s hands to the completion of installation.

Tool Cribs Cut Down Lost Time and Tools – A-Mezz

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Do you want your workers to act and feel like professionals, or DIYers? Cut down lost time and tools with A-Mezz tool cribs.

A-Mezz can help you increase productivity and decrease waste with our lockable wire parts lockers and tool cribs. Made of high strength welded wire, our secure storage options will save you time and money and make your shop look more professional and clean.

Why are lockable tool cribs important?

There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a project and realizing someone walked off with the tool or parts you need. While your productivity was at its peak, you had to stop what you were doing and locate the missing items. Lost items that aren’t quickly found need to get replaced, causing you to waste even more time – and money – going to the store or searching the web to source the replacements. If the replacement tools or parts are not readily available you then have to table the in-process project until the replacements come in, greatly increasing the chance for additional components to get misplaced.

A lockable tool crib is a must to ensure your workers have what they need, when they need it. Expensive tools will stop going missing – either through misplacement or employee theft. You will spend less money replacing items, spend less time looking for items that “walk away”, and spend more time making money.

What options are available?

A-Mezz can help you configure a layout that works for you and your site. We can supply small multi-tiered lockers for parts and tools all the way up to large tool cribs. Pretty much anything is possible. There are available sliding doors, hinged doors, service windows, electronic keypad entry systems, keycard locking systems, padlock hasps and cylinder locks. If you have a special lock you prefer, such as one tied to a facial recognition system, we can supply an electric strike on the door to tie into your system.

Lockable tool crib located under elevated platform with sliding door access

My install location isn’t standard shaped/sized – can I still use a tool crib?

The great thing about tool cribs is that there are no rules. Size is whatever you need and they can go literally anywhere. We have installed lockable parts storage for maintenance and tool cribs above mezzanines, below mezzanines and out in the middle of shop floors.

Contact A-Mezz and let us help you increase productivity and increase your margins by decreasing waste and project hours.

Floormatstore.com Comfort Kitchen Mats

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With the holidays just past, many of us have spent what seems like days in our kitchens, preparing cookies, baking pies, stuffing turkeys, and glazing hams. It’s not just the food coma that leaves us kicking our feet up at the end — those hours standing on unforgiving flooring takes its toll on our joints, and they don’t magically recover the next day. I remember my grandmother laying down carpet runners in her kitchen to cover every corner she would be standing on. They certainly were not comfortable, but I suppose they were a step above standing on tile all day. In the end, they always seemed to become grease magnets and would be pushed around, layered together, tossed aside and replaced time and time again. Because of this, no one was allowed in that kitchen except her!

There is not much of a choice on that any longer, though. This is the age of open concept kitchens – and for good reason! They allow a free sight line for the grandparent to check in on the grandkids while keeping the soup from foaming. They let the chef still be a part of the party, mingling with guests while staying close to the oven timer. But with these open concept kitchens, we have to take a long look at what exactly our kitchens say about us. I knew even as a kid that my grandmother did not want people to see those old mats, and why should she?

We like clean lines, open air, and sunlight. More importantly, I want to relax after a holiday because I want to, not because I feel exhausted from standing on uncomfortable floors during the preparations. Our Comfort Kitchen mats bring you the clean line look and feel of polyurethane with an adaptive design. They are full ¾” thick with nearly 30 designer surface options. They have been specially designed to stimulate circulation in feet, legs, and lower backs while being built to last in commercial situations. Why continue to feel that exhaustion at the end of the day from cooking when you can so easily fix the situation and continue on with the party?

~ Reese
www.floormatstore.com

Using Welded Wire Partition Panels Around Site Obstructions

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We were called out to a site that needed a lockable wire partition in their facility. The wire partition needed to split a long, below grade area into two secure and separate partitions. Access to a common entry door and light switch needed to be maintained. The location also had low, uneven ceiling dimensions due to obstructing support beams, conduit, gas lines, etc..

Common entrance and light switch with proposed entry way marked out on ground

Our welded wire partition system was perfect for this project. Other framed woven and welded systems need to have a custom, factory made panel with exact, framed cutouts. Those require additional engineering costs and manufacturing costs – due to custom setups. They also often have higher material costs as the panels need to have a post at each side of the obstruction to support the custom panels.

A-Mezz welded wire partition allows for cut-outs where necessary to work tight around existing obstructions.

A-Mezz’s welded wire partition systems feature an unframed, 8 gauge galvanized welded wire panel. The panels are able to be trimmed to length, eliminating the need for custom sizes. This saves on the additional costs associated with doing a one-off on the manufacturing line. The panels can also be notched out around obstructions. This allows a tight, clean look while also providing flexibility in the field to deal with known (and unknown) obstructions.

Cutting a woven wire panel will leave a jagged, unraveling edge. Not only is it not a clean look, but it is an easy way to have a workplace injury if clothing snags on the unraveling wire or an employee is cut by it.

Cutting a woven wire partition panel produces sharp edges

When we arrived with material for the install, the first thing we did was lay it all out and double check our interferences. The critical locations were all marked – clearing the light switch and ensuring doors are installed where the floor was flat enough to swing freely. With the hump in the floor ensured that we had enough sweep (clearance under the door) to clear the hump, as well as enough overhead clearance to miss any of the low overhead obstructions.

A-Mezz Installed welded wire partition including custom cut-outs to remain tight around site obstructions

With our layout all marked we worked from the critical locations out to ensure there would be no issues. A crew of two was able to complete the install in less than a day. This included all of the cut-outs required for a tight fit. The end result was a clean, secure wire partition that allowed the customer flexibility with their open space. Whether used for a tool crib, tennant storage, or machine guarding, A-Mezz can supply you with our welded wire partition, giving you the flexibility of a totally customized system at a much lower price.

OSHA 1910.28 Ladder Change is Live

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OSHA’s November 19, 2018 fixed ladder changeover has officially come on their standard 1910.28. What do you need to know to ensure you are meeting OSHA fall protection standards for your fixed ladders? If you have an existing fixed ladder more that 24’h that was installed before November 19, 2018, it should already have a cage on it. The previous OSHA standard 1910.27 required cages on all ladders over 20’h. You have until November 18^th, 2036 to retrofit the caged ladder with a personal fall arrest system. Until then, you are grandfathered in under the OSHA standard that was in place at the time of install. If your climb is 24’ or less, you do not need to retrofit the ladder at any time with a personal fall arrest system.

A-Mezz Personal Fall Arrest System Meets OSHA 1910.28

Note that if you modify or replace an existing ladder (over 24 feet high) that was installed before November 18, 2018, you will need to retrofit the ladder with the personal fall arrest system at that time. Replaced ladder sections are not grandfathered in under the prior OSHA standards – 1910.27.

Any new ladders over 24’h will need to be installed with a personal fall arrest system. You can still have a cage installed on the ladder “provided it does not interfere with the operation of the system” (1910.28(b)(9)(iv)).

These changes pertain to “fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet (7.3 m) above a lower level.” The big change for lower ladders is that a fall arrest system is now not required until you are over 24 feet, whereas the code used to require cages or personal fall arrest systems for climbs over 20’ (1910.27(d)(1)(ii)).

You can also now run your ladders a maximum 150’ in a single climb if using a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system (1910.28(b)(9)(ii)(B)).

The previous OSHA fixed ladder standard had stipulated a 30’ maximum climb before landing platforms were used to break your climb up into shorter climbs. I.e. before November 18^th, 2018, a 150 foot climb would require five separate caged ladders and four separate landing platforms. OSHA 1910.28 will let you now have just one ladder with a personal fall arrest system, cutting fabrication costs, delivery costs, and installation costs.

Please contact us at A-Mezz Industrial Structures to get more information on our fixed ladders, our ladder cages, and our ladder personal fall arrest systems.

Fiberglass Step Covers

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By Reese @ Floormatstore.com

Fiberglass Tread Covers

We have some very exciting news from the Floor-Mat Store to share with you! We’ve just added a new member to our stair tread selection: fiberglass. Some jobs just require a little bit more, don’t they? Maybe more color options, more grit, or more versatility. These are designed to help with all of those extra needs.

Fiberglass tread cover color chart

Floor-Mat Store fiberglass step covers can come in both a standard 90 lip, or bullnose, with lengths up to 10’ so that you no longer have to deal with butting two treads up to each other. Our fiberglass treads have thirty-four color options, which gives you over sixty different possible combinations to choose from. Looking for a school system and want to breathe a little school spirit into your design? We can do that. Just decided on a new company color? Perhaps even a bright or neon one that you can’t seem to find anywhere? We can do that.

Super Coarse Grade

Super Fine Coarse

Our fiberglass stair treads are manufactured in six different grit coarsenesses, from Super Coarse, which is great in areas prone to slippery conditions, to Super Fine, used for locations needing both slip protection and a gentle touch for bare feet.

Attachment details

Installation is quick and easy for use on every base material. We have fastener kits for applications onto wood, concrete, diamond plating, and open grating, along with our moisture cured urethane adhesive for the simplest tight hold install. Whatever your need, our fiberglass treads are designed to take away the stress and supply you with the solutions for your obstacles.

A-Mezz Rigid Track Personal Fall Arrest System

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Personal fall arrest systems are causing cages to go out of vogue with OSHA. As of November 2018 they will not count as fall protection on new fixed ladders and they will only count as fall protection on existing ladders until November of 2036. Note that if an existing ladder is modified at anytime, that modified section of ladder must be retrofitted with a personal fall arrest system at that time.

Personal fall arrest system with body harness and trolley

Personal fall arrest system in use with body harness and trolley

We now carry a rigid fall arrest track that, when used in conjunction with a trolley and body harness, will meet OSHA’s new requirements for fall protection. The rigid track and trolley allow the climber to move freely up and down the track without needing to push, pull, or even touch any part of the fall arrest system.

Should an accident happen, your foot slips or you fall, the trolley on the fall arrest system will automatically lock onto the rigid rail, stopping your fall.

Tracks are available in 316 Stainless Steel or Aluminum with an anodized finish. The trolleys are designed for a single user and have a capacity of 310 lbs. Note: Two users are permitted to use a single track when used for rescue purposes, but never the same trolley. With that in mind, we suggest the single track and two harnesses and trolleys.

One track/trolley may get you by for most things, but if you ever need to have more than one person on the roof at the same time you will need to have a harness and trolley for each climber. If you do not, the first climber has to get to the roof, remove the trolley and harness, lower it by rope to the lower person who then has to put on the harness and climb up. Likewise, when work is done, one person has to climb down with the harness and trolley and then remove it, tie it to a rope for the upper climber to pull up, put on the harness and climb down… It doesn’t make much sense to us either.

Close up view of A-Mezz personal fall arrest systems utilizing rigid track.

The rigid tracks are installed in the middle of the climbing side of the ladder rungs. The fall arrest system clamps around the ladder rung every 4’ to 6’ to secure and can have multiple pieces of rigid track spliced together to accommodate long climbs without requiring a single long rail to be shipped, which saves on shipping costs. Often the increased cost of the system is offset almost entirely by the fact that the ladder does not need to have a cage anymore. Cages are costly to manufacture and especially to ship. Taking up 4’x4’x34’ of space on a truck isn’t cheap. We have seen some freight costs come back almost 1/7th what they were compared to caged ladders.