EN 131 is the British and European product standard for portable ladders, published in the UK as BS EN 131. The marking is the maker’s claim that the ladder was designed and tested to it. Its main parts were substantially revised in updates published between 2015 and 2018, and the Ladder Association says the revised standard came into force in January 2019. It replaced the old classes (Class 1 industrial, the older EN 131 trade rating and Class 3 domestic) with just two: EN 131 Professional and EN 131 Non-Professional. Both carry a 150 kg maximum total load, but Professional ladders must pass tougher strength and durability tests. For work, buy EN 131 Professional.
At a glance: Nexis CPD offers a £9 CPD-accredited online Ladder Safety Awareness course — 100% online, with an instantly emailed, employer-verifiable certificate. Any three courses cost £18, and teams of 5 or more pay £6 a course place.
The revision also made leaning ladders more than 3 metres long wider at the base, for example with a stabiliser bar, and added new slip and durability tests. The British Standards behind the old classes, BS 2037 and BS 1129, were withdrawn by BSI in October 2019.
This guide is about choosing the right ladder. For how to use one safely, see our ladder safety rules. General information, not legal advice.
What does EN 131 mean on a ladder?
It means the manufacturer says the ladder meets EN 131. The Ladder Association, the industry body for ladder safety, describes BS EN 131 as the UK’s version of the single British and European product standard covering all types of portable ladder: stepladders, extending ladders and combination ladders.
EN 131 is a family of parts. Part 1 sets the types and sizes, including minimum base width; Part 2 sets the requirements and tests; Part 3 covers the safety markings and user instructions; later parts deal with particular designs. The Ladder Association is clear that a ladder marked EN 131 must meet all the relevant requirements in all the relevant parts. A telescopic ladder, for example, must meet Part 6 and the other parts for dimensions, testing, labels and instructions.
The standard covers ladders for general professional and non-professional use, not specialist ladders such as fire brigade ladders. Step stools, roof ladders and loft ladders have their own standards, as do insulating ladders for work near live electrical installations. The table shows the current UK editions in BSI’s catalogue and on the Ladder Association’s standards page, checked on 20 October 2026.
| Part | What it covers | Current UK edition |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Terms, types and functional sizes, including base width | BS EN 131-1:2015+A2:2025 |
| Part 2 | Requirements, testing and marking | BS EN 131-2:2010+A3:2025 |
| Part 3 | Marking and user instructions | BS EN 131-3:2018+A1:2025 |
| Part 4 | Single or multiple hinge-joint ladders | BS EN 131-4:2020+A1:2025 |
| Part 5 | Accessories | Pending |
| Part 6 | Telescopic ladders | BS EN 131-6:2019+A1:2025 |
| Part 7 | Mobile ladders with platform | BS EN 131-7:2013 |
The 2025 amendments are not a rewrite. The Ladder Association says parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 were amended by CEN, the European standards body, in August 2025 as a result of an administrative change. Its guidance on the Professional and Non-Professional classes is unchanged.
What happened to Class 1 and Class 3 ladders?
They have gone. For many years, UK ladders were sold under three ratings. Class 1 ladders were made to BS 2037 (aluminium) or BS 1129 (timber) for industrial use. EN 131 ladders were rated for trade and industrial work. Class 3 ladders, made to the same British Standards, were for domestic use only.
The revised EN 131 ended that system. The UK edition of Part 2 that introduced the new classes, BS EN 131-2:2010+A2:2017, was published by BSI on 31 May 2018. The Ladder Association explains that the ladder parts of BS 2037 and BS 1129 had to be withdrawn because British Standards cannot conflict with European ones, and manufacturers were given a transition period. BSI’s catalogue lists BS 2037:1994 and BS 1129:1990 as withdrawn on 30 October 2019.
The Ladder Association’s guidance shows the old and new systems side by side, and the table follows that chart. It shows the closest current class, not a claim that an old ladder meets today’s tests.
| Old rating | Old intended use | Closest current class | Suitable for work? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS 2037 or BS 1129 Class 1 | Industrial | EN 131 Professional | Can stay in use if in good condition, regularly inspected and the inspection recorded; replace with EN 131 Professional |
| Older EN 131 (before the revision) | Trade and industrial | EN 131 Professional | As above; it will not have the wider base now required on longer leaning ladders |
| BS 2037 or BS 1129 Class 3 | Domestic | EN 131 Non-Professional | No: rated for home use only |
| Unknown (no label or record) | Cannot be confirmed | None | No: the Ladder Association advises you stop using it and replace it |
What is the difference between EN 131 Professional and Non-Professional?
Durability and strength, not maximum load: both classes carry the same 150 kg. The Ladder Association says Professional ladders face tougher durability requirements because they are expected to take more demanding use, so they may be heavier and cost more. Professional ladders must be used in the workplace, and can also be used at home. Non-Professional ladders are for lighter, occasional home DIY only, and are not intended or suitable for work.
DIN, the German standards body, says the 2017 revision of Part 2 based the classification on different strength requirements and, for stepladders, durability. Its summary of the changes also lists:
- strength tests carried out with the ladder in its position of use
- a stepladder durability test based on the method in CEN/TS 16665
- new tests of the feet’s resistance to slipping on the ground
- a strength test for lateral stabilising devices, and a torsion test for single ladders
The numbers show how far apart the classes are. In the strength test for telescopic ladders, the Ladder Association’s 2025 test report gives a load of 2,250 newtons (about 229 kg) for Non-Professional and 2,700 newtons (about 275 kg) for Professional. Ladder maker Zarges gives the same two loads for its stile strength test, and describes the durability test as 50,000 load cycles for Professional against 10,000 for Non-Professional.
Better slip resistance does not remove the need to secure a ladder: the Ladder Association says securing it is still the best way to stop it slipping. Our Ladder Safety Awareness course covers ladder types, inspection and set-up, and the ladder safety rules guide explains the options for securing one.
Why do ladders over 3 metres need a stabiliser bar?
Because a wider base makes a leaning ladder more stable. Stepladders and combination ladders have been wider at the base for years. The revised EN 131 extended this to leaning, telescopic and hinge-jointed ladders longer than 3 metres, which must now also be wider at the base.
The required width depends on the ladder’s height and width, and the method is left to the manufacturer. The Ladder Association shows three designs: a stabiliser bar across the bottom, stiles that splay outwards towards the base, or stabilising legs that project outwards. A 2019 Ladder Association conference presentation, quoting the standard, explains that the width must be permanently built in, not provided by removable accessories, although a device may be supplied for the user to fit with tools. If the user can adjust the width temporarily, for example to work close to a wall, Part 3 requires instructions and markings explaining how.
For buyers, it is a quick visual check: a leaning ladder over 3 metres long sold as EN 131 with a plain narrow base should raise questions. In its 2025 tests of telescopic ladders, the Ladder Association found that most samples failing the base-width requirement had clearly been designed without it.
What is the maximum weight for an EN 131 ladder?
150 kg for both classes. The Ladder Association defines the maximum total load as the most the ladder is designed to support when set up as the manufacturer instructs, including the user, their clothing and protective equipment, tools and materials.
Regulation 7 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 requires employers to choose equipment suited to the work and the foreseeable loadings. If a task means taking heavy materials up a ladder, the answer is usually different equipment, not a stronger ladder. Our guide to the hierarchy of control for work at height explains that choice.
What markings should an EN 131 ladder have?
Permanent markings on the ladder, plus user instructions. Suffolk Trading Standards’ guidance for importing ladders (a Word document) lists what must be marked:
- the producer or distributor’s name, address and a website for information about the ladder
- the type of ladder, its modes of use, maximum length in use and maximum standing height
- the class: “professional” or “non-professional”
- the standard: EN 131, or the specific part for designs such as telescopic (Part 6) or multi-hinge ladders (Part 4)
- the month and year of production, or a serial number
- the ladder’s weight and maximum total load in kilograms
Safety pictograms must also be fixed permanently: read the instructions, inspect the ladder on delivery and before every use, do not use a damaged ladder, do not exceed the maximum load or number of users, do not use it on an uneven or soft base, and do not overreach. The highest rung or step you may stand on must be marked.
One mark should not be there. The Ladder Association says a portable ladder cannot lawfully carry a CE mark, and Trading Standards says ladders imported into Great Britain must not carry the CE or UKCA mark, because no UK regulations allow those marks on them. On a portable ladder, either mark is a warning sign. If a work ladder’s labels are gone and there is no record of what it is, the Ladder Association advises taking it out of use.
Is a Kitemark required on a ladder?
No. BSI says achieving a Kitemark for a product is voluntary, and the Regulations covering work ladders do not mention it. It is one way of showing a ladder has been independently certified to EN 131; BSI’s ladder services include UKAS-accredited testing to BS EN 131-2.
The Ladder Association advises buying ladders certified by a recognised, accredited certification body, naming BSI, the Test & Research Centre (T&R) and TÜV as examples. Ask the supplier for a copy of the certificate, and if you cannot get one online, shop elsewhere. A test report only shows that one sample passed a test; certification from an accredited body is linked to ongoing assessment of production quality.
Are telescopic ladders safe to use at work?
They can be, if made to EN 131-6 and properly certified, but they are the main focus of the Ladder Association’s warnings about unsafe ladders. The Ladder Association notes that telescopic ladders have more safety-critical moving parts, and HSE warns that some important parts are inside, where you cannot see them. Before every use, HSE says to check that the ladder works correctly and the locks on each section are working, and if in any doubt, do not use it.
In the Ladder Association’s October 2025 study, 18 telescopic ladders bought online and from DIY retailers were tested against key parts of EN 131-6 with its testing partner, the Test & Research Centre:
- Only 4 of the 18 (22%) passed every test; 14 (78%) failed.
- 10 buckled under load, and 4 of those buckled at or below 150 kg.
- Of the 14 failures, 12 (86%) falsely claimed compliance with EN 131.
- 5 displayed CE markings on their labels or packaging.
The Ladder Association says every ladder in its studies so far sold by a third-party seller through an online marketplace has failed. The supplier matters as much as the label. There is a legal point too: Schedule 6 of the Work at Height Regulations says no interlocking or extension ladder may be used unless its sections are prevented from moving relative to each other in use.
What standard covers combination and multi-purpose ladders?
It depends on the design. Multi-hinge ladders, often sold as multi-purpose ladders, fall under EN 131-4. BSI says its 2020 revision introduced the professional and non-professional classes and strength testing in the position of use. Other combination ladders, such as three-part ladders that convert from an A-frame to a leaning ladder, are covered by Parts 1 and 2. Either way, the label must show the class, and in leaning modes these ladders must meet the minimum base width.
Because they change shape, the locks matter. HSE says to check every locking mechanism is engaged before use, and recheck it whenever the set-up changes. On three-part combination ladders, never extend the top section beyond the limit marked on the ladder. The joint HSE and Ladder Association guide, LA455, adds that in stepladder mode you should not stand on the top four rungs.
Can you still use old Class 1 ladders at work?
Yes, if they are in good condition and properly inspected. HSE’s guidance on ladder product standards says that while BS 2037 and BS 1129 have been withdrawn, ladders made to them before withdrawal may still be used, subject to following user instructions and guidance on safe use.
The Ladder Association agrees that product standards are not retrospective: ladders of the correct classification that are in good condition, inspected regularly, with the inspection recorded, can continue in use. Three limits follow:
- Class. Class 1 and older EN 131 ladders were rated for work. Class 3 ladders were rated for home use and do not belong on a work site.
- Condition. When old ladders are worn out or damaged, or you need more, buy only ladders that meet the latest EN 131.
- Identity. If you cannot tell which standard a ladder was made to, because there is no record or the labels are gone, the Ladder Association advises stopping use immediately and scrapping it properly.
Hired ladders need the same care. The Ladder Association warns that a hire company’s ladder may be made to an earlier version, so specify the current standard if you want it. Under regulation 12(5) of the Work at Height Regulations, equipment obtained from another business must come with physical evidence that its last required inspection was carried out.
Does the law say work ladders must be EN 131?
No. Neither the Work at Height Regulations 2005 nor the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) names EN 131 or any other ladder standard. The duties are about suitability, condition and inspection, and the standard is how you show you have met them:
- Justify the ladder. Schedule 6 allows a ladder for work at height only where a risk assessment shows more suitable equipment is not justified, because of the low risk and either short duration or site features that cannot be changed.
- Choose suitable equipment. Regulation 7 requires equipment suited to the work and foreseeable loads, and PUWER regulation 4 requires work equipment to be suitable for its purpose.
- Keep it in good repair. PUWER regulation 5 requires work equipment to be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
- Inspect and record. Regulation 12 of the Work at Height Regulations requires equipment exposed to deterioration to be inspected at suitable intervals, with results recorded. Where it applies, PUWER’s general inspection regulation does not.
For an employer, a certified EN 131 Professional ladder in good condition, with inspection records, is the clearest evidence of a suitable choice. These Regulations apply in England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland has its own equivalents, including the Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005. Our guide to who needs working at height training covers the competence side.
What should employers check before buying a ladder for work?
This checklist draws on the Ladder Association, HSE and Trading Standards guidance above:
- A risk assessment shows a ladder is justified, rather than a tower, podium or other equipment.
- The label says EN 131 and “Professional”, and names the right part for the design, such as Part 6 for telescopic ladders.
- The 150 kg maximum total load covers the heaviest user plus tools and materials.
- A leaning ladder over 3 metres long has a built-in wider base, such as a stabiliser bar.
- The supplier can provide a copy of independent certification from an accredited body, not just a test report.
- There is no CE or UKCA mark, and the producer’s details, date of manufacture or serial number, and the ladder’s weight are marked.
- Clear English user instructions cover use, maintenance and storage.
- For electrical work, the ladder is non-conductive, as HSE advises.
- The ladder is added to your inspection register before first use.
The Ladder Association recommends writing the requirement into your purchasing policy, so replacements are EN 131 Professional by default.
How often should work ladders be inspected?
HSE expects a pre-use check by the user at the start of each working day, which need not be recorded, plus detailed visual inspections by a competent person at fixed intervals, which the employer must record. Intervals, checks and storage are covered under “Storage and inspection” in our ladder safety rules. Record each ladder’s standard and class in the same register.
Do you need training to use an EN 131 ladder?
Not training specific to the new standard: the Ladder Association says people already trained do not need retraining to use current EN 131 ladders. But anyone using a ladder at work must be competent, or supervised by someone who is. HSE says competence comes from training, practical and theoretical knowledge, and experience, including knowing which type of ladder to use. A user who can read the label and spot a Non-Professional ladder is less likely to climb the wrong one.
Nexis CPD courses are awareness-level CPD. They do not replace practical ladder training, such as the Ladder Association’s user and inspection courses, or an inspection by a competent person. Three courses fit together for anyone who uses or buys access equipment:
- Ladder Safety Awareness: the law and your duties, hazards and risk assessment, inspecting and setting up a ladder, safe use, and maintenance, inspection and storage; 1.5 CPD hours
- Working at Height Awareness: the Work at Height Regulations, risk assessment and planning, and choosing between ladders, towers, MEWPs and scaffolds; 1.5 CPD hours
- Manual Handling Awareness: the avoid, assess, reduce approach, lifting technique, team handling and handling aids, useful for anyone carrying long, awkward items such as ladders; 2.5 CPD hours
Together they cost £18 rather than £27 under the pay-for-2-get-3 offer. Employers training 5 or more staff can buy team places at £6 a course place, with places lasting 12 months.
£9 per course. CPD accredited, 100% online, verifiable e-certificate. Pay for 2, get 3 — any 3 courses for £18.
Frequently asked questions
What does EN 131 Professional mean on a ladder?
It means the ladder is made to the current EN 131 standard for professional use, so it is intended for use at work. Professional ladders face tougher durability and strength tests than Non-Professional ones, though both share a 150 kg maximum total load. The Ladder Association says Professional ladders must be used in the workplace.
Can I use an EN 131 Non-Professional ladder at work?
No. The Ladder Association says Non-Professional ladders are designed only for domestic users in their homes and are not intended or suitable for use in the workplace. They are built for lighter, occasional use. Buy EN 131 Professional ladders for any work use.
What is the maximum load for an EN 131 ladder?
150 kg for both Professional and Non-Professional ladders. That is the maximum total load, covering the user, their clothing and protective equipment, tools and any materials carried, when the ladder is set up as the manufacturer instructs.
Can I still use a Class 1 ladder at work?
Yes, if it is in good condition. HSE says ladders made to BS 2037 or BS 1129 before those standards were withdrawn may still be used, subject to following user instructions and guidance on safe use. The Ladder Association adds that they should be inspected regularly, with records kept, and replaced with EN 131 Professional ladders when worn out.
Do ladders over 3 metres need a stabiliser bar?
Leaning, telescopic and hinge-jointed ladders over 3 metres long made to the current EN 131 must be wider at the base. A stabiliser bar is one common way to do this, but splayed stiles or outrigger legs also meet the rule. The wider base must be built into the ladder, not a removable accessory.
Is it a legal requirement for work ladders to meet EN 131?
No law names EN 131. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and PUWER require employers to provide suitable equipment that is maintained and inspected. Buying certified EN 131 Professional ladders is the clearest way to show a ladder is suitable for work.
General information, not legal advice. This guide summarises Ladder Association, HSE, BSI and Trading Standards guidance as checked on 20 October 2026; standards are amended from time to time, so check current editions with BSI or the Ladder Association. The Regulations cited apply in England, Scotland and Wales. Nexis CPD courses are CPD-accredited awareness training: they do not replace practical ladder training, a risk assessment or a competent person’s inspection.