DECISION PRINCIPLES FOR ASCENT SUPPORTS IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

Ladders are the ascent system most commonly used to scale up a building, due to the low initial costs compared to other ascent equipment. The insufficiency of this approach is shown in an economic comparison of ladders, stair towers, and scaffoldings with integrated ascent support. Based on empirical studies, cost data and the current state of scientific knowledge, the ascent support with the highest economic value can be determined by considering safety, cost, time, stress, physical stress and strain, and frequency of use. A survey evaluated vertical transport routes, the ascent systems ladders, stair towers, and scaffoldings with integrated ladders. The findings indicate that from an economic point of view, ladders should be used only on construction sites where less than 54 ascents were performed each day. This leads to the assumption that for typical construction sites, with at least 6 ascents per person per day and a site usage for a period longer than one week, the operation of ladders is uneconomical.