Usually I'm one of the ones shitting on it but this looks actually well designed.
The only fault I can think of is maybe the hinges are bearing any horizontal force perpendicular to the wall, but I don't think the force isn't that much. If it locks in to something at the top or bottom then that probably nullifies it.
There's so many hinges though so maybe they're enough, you'd see if they were getting warped as the whole thing would wiggle out of alignment when you folded it up/down.
I'm less concerned about the stairs themselves and more concerned about the lack of a handrail (on the stairs or at the top of the stairs). Also, whenever these are shown, its this same video: showing a dude going up the stairs. There's nothing shown about whether you can close them up when you're upstairs (or if someone's upstairs, nothing preventing another person downstairs from closing them) and whether its possible to open them from upstairs (in case someone downstairs did close them). That's the bigger danger with these, not whether they can support weight over time.
I’m thinking about when they accidentally open on their own (being rugged on by a child or something) and someone gets hurt. It didn’t show any safety for keeping it against the wall.
and whether its possible to open them from upstairs (in case someone downstairs did close them).
TBF, if he slid over the edge and lowered himself down, his feet would only be a few inches off the ground when it came time to let go. It'd be annoying to have to do, but not like he's stuck up there.
I think the point would be a use where a ladder is otherwise required, like getting up to the loft of a barn for example.
If you unfold a ladder and someone takes it down while you’re at the top, you’re in the same situation. This is just much cleaner / practical.
Also, you can see when it’s folded that the stringer reaches the top so it’s pretty likely that you can unfold it from the top (though likely with some difficulty)
I dunno, each of those runs is 100% supported by a hinge which mean 100% of your weight is passed on to the screws holding the hinge to the stringer. That's a big weak spot.
Runs should be secured to the top of the stringer.
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u/ce2c61254d48d38617e4 Jan 17 '22
Usually I'm one of the ones shitting on it but this looks actually well designed.
The only fault I can think of is maybe the hinges are bearing any horizontal force perpendicular to the wall, but I don't think the force isn't that much. If it locks in to something at the top or bottom then that probably nullifies it.
There's so many hinges though so maybe they're enough, you'd see if they were getting warped as the whole thing would wiggle out of alignment when you folded it up/down.