Editing Ladder (section)

===Rigid ladders===
[[File:Ladder aluminum.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|An aluminum stepladder, folded]]
Rigid ladders are available in many forms, such as:

* [[Accommodation ladder]], portable steps down the side of a ship for boarding.
* [[Assault ladder]], used in siege warfare to assist in climbing walls and crossing moats.
* [[Attic ladder]], pulled down from the ceiling to allow access to an attic or loft.
* {{visible anchor|Bridge ladder}}, a ladder laid horizontally to act as a passage between two points separated by a drop.
* [[Boarding ladder]], a ladder used to climb onto a vehicle. May be rigid or flexible, also boarding step(s), and swim ladder.
* Cat ladder (US chicken ladder), a lightweight ladder frame used on steep roofs to prevent workers from sliding.
* Chicken ladder, a ladder comprising a single central stile with each rung projecting on either side and used by chickens to climb into a coop.
* Christmas tree ladder, a type of boarding ladder for [[Underwater diving|divers]] which has a single central rail and is open at the sides to allow the diver to climb the ladder while wearing [[swimfins]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techdivetools.com/boat/ladders.html |title=Diving Equipment Specialties |publisher=Techdivetools.com |access-date=2014-03-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207091106/http://techdivetools.com/boat/ladders.html |archive-date=2013-12-07 }}</ref>
* {{visible anchor|Counterbalanced ladder}}, a fixed ladder with a lower sliding part.  A system of counterweights is used to let the lower sliding part descend gently when released.
* Extension ladder or "telescopic ladder", a fixed ladder divided into two or more lengths for more convenient storage; the lengths can be slid together for storage or slid apart to expand the length of the ladder; a [[pulley]] system may be fitted so that the ladder can be easily extended by an operator on the ground then locked in place using the [[Dog (engineering)|dogs]] and [[pawl]]s. 65&nbsp;ft (20&nbsp;m), 50&nbsp;ft (15&nbsp;m) and some 35&nbsp;ft (10&nbsp;m) extension ladders for [[fire service]] use "bangor poles", "tormentor poles" or "stay poles" to help raise, pivot, steady, extend, place, retract and lower them due to the heavy weight. 
* [[Fixed ladder]], two side members joined by several rungs; affixed to structure with no moving parts.
* {{visible anchor|Folding ladder}}, a ladder in the step ladder style with one or more (usually no more than three) one-way hinges. Ideal for use on uneven ground (e.g. stairs), as a trestle or when fully extended a Fixed ladder. Some variations feature a central one-way hinge with extensible locking legs.
* [[Hook ladder]] or [[pompier ladder]], a rigid ladder with a hook at the top to grip a windowsill; used by firefighters.
* [[Mobile Safety Steps]] are self-supporting structures that have wheels or castors making them easy to move. They sometimes have a small upper platform and a hand rail to assist in moving up and down the steps.
* [[Fruit picking|Orchard ladder]], a three legged step ladder with the third leg made so that it can be inserted between tree branches for fruit picking.
* {{visible anchor|Platform ladder}}, a step ladder with a large platform area and a top handrail for the user to hold while working on the platform.
* {{visible anchor|Retractable ladder}}, a ladder that looks like a drainpipe but can be deployed instantly when required.
* [[Roof]] ladder, a rigid ladder with a large hook at the top to grip the ridge of a pitched roof.
* {{visible anchor|Sectional ladder}}, also known as a builder's ladder, has sections that come apart and are interchangeable so that any number of sections can be connected.
* Step ladder, a self-supporting portable ladder hinged in the middle to form an inverted V, with stays to keep the two halves at a fixed angle. Step ladders have flat steps and a hinged back.
* [[Swim ladder]], a ladder used by swimmers to get out of the water, often on boats.
* {{visible anchor|Telescoping ladder}}, commonly used to refer to a hybrid between a step ladder and an extension ladder with 360-degree [[hinge]]s; has three parts and can be taken apart to form two step ladders; e.g. [[Wing Enterprises|Little Giant]].
* {{visible anchor|Trestle ladder}}, an "[[A-Frame]]"-style ladder with a telescoping center section.
* [[Turntable ladder]], an extension ladder fitted to rotating platform on top of a fire truck.
* Vertically rising ladder, designed to climb high points and facilitate suspending at said high points.
* X-deck ladder, a US patented ladder design that is a combination ladder and scaffold.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2011/week33/TOC.htm |title=Patent and Trademark Office Notices |publisher=Uspto.gov |access-date=2014-03-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601031203/http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2011/week33/TOC.htm |archive-date=2013-06-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docstoc.com/docs/55667416/Collapsible-Platform-For-Maintenance-Tasks---Patent-7204343 |title=Collapsible Platform For Maintenance Tasks – Patent 7204343 |publisher=Docstoc.com |date=2010-09-27 |access-date=2014-03-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305211438/http://www.docstoc.com/docs/55667416/Collapsible-Platform-For-Maintenance-Tasks---Patent-7204343 |archive-date=2014-03-05 }}</ref>

[[File:NY Fire escape 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Ladder of a [[fire escape]] in [[New York City|New York]]]]
Rigid ladders were originally made of [[wood]], but in the 20th century [[aluminium]] became more common because of its lighter weight. Ladders with [[fiberglass]] stiles are used for working on or near [[overhead electrical wire]]s, because fiberglass is an electrical [[Electrical insulation|insulator]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2007-155/ |title=Workplace Solutions: Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Contacting Overhead Power Lines with Metal Ladders |publisher=[[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] |date=September 2007 |doi=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2007155 |access-date=16 January 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528195430/http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2007-155/ |archive-date=28 May 2015 |doi-access=free }}</ref> [[Henry Quackenbush]] patented the extension ladder in 1867.<ref name="Improved extension-ladder U.S. patent">{{cite web|title=Improved extension-ladder patent|url=http://www.google.com/patents/US70016.pdf|access-date=20 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>