5 Approval and Testing
5.1 Each ladder design shall be tested before approval by the maritime safety administration of the country in which the ladder is made. The maritime safety administration may designate qualified organizations independent of the manufacturer, to carry out some or all of the approval functions. Each test shall be carried out by or witnessed by the maritime safety authority or its designated qualified organization.
5.2 A prototype ladder and its components shall be subjected to the tests in Table 2. The ladder used in the tests shall be a fully assembled ladder. No step or other part of the ladder which is permanently deformed as a result of testing shall be used in a ladder which is placed in service.
