Annex A
(informative)
Recommended production control tests and inspections
A.1 Sample selection and testing of steps
Steps should be separated into lots of 100 steps or less. Steps of different types should be in separate lots. One step selected at random from each lot should be subjected to the step strength test described in Table A.1. If the step fails the test, ten more steps should be selected at random from the lot and tested as described in Table A.1.
If any of the ten steps fails the test, each step in the lot should be tested before it is used in a ladder.
A.2 Sample selection and testing of ladders
A visual examination as described in Table 2, and the tests in Table A.1, should be conducted by the maritime safety administration or its designated qualified organization at least annually on a ladder taken from the production line to ensure that it complies with the requirements of parts 4 and 5.
A.3 Sample selection and testing of ladders
The manufacturer should have a quality assurance system in place acceptable to the approving maritime safety administration, to ensure that ladders are produced to the same standard as the original prototype ladder.
