ANSI to Publish A92.5 Update

The Scaffold Industry Association, an ANSI-accredited standards developer for the A92 aerial platform series of standards, announces the approval of ANSI/SIA A92.5-2006 Boom Supported Elevating Work Platforms. According to Linda Tweten, executive vice president of the Scaffold Industry Association, the published standard is expected to be available to the public no later than February 28, 2006.

Brad Boehler, P.Eng., member of the A92.5 subcommittee, said the thrust was to change the language of A92.5 to be in-line with the verbiage used in ANSI 92.6-1999 Self-Propelled Elevating Work Platforms. Using similar language in A92.3, A92.5, and A92.6 creates consistency across the standards, he added.

Examples of changes to ANSI A92.5 include the minimum safe approach distance to energized power lines. Instead of listing the safe distance based on the voltage range of the power line, ANSI A92.5 references CFR 1910.333 and denotes how close an operator can get to the power lines depends on his or her level of training.

Changes to the use of fall protection also have been made, and the use of fall protection is better clarified in the standard. For manufacturers, changes include the addition of stability, dynamic, curb, and depression tests, which is similar to the requirements in A92.6.

As of February 9, 2006, final action from ANSI has been taken on the ANSI/SIA A92.3-2006 Manually Propelled Elevating Work Platforms. Pending approval from the ANSI A92.3 chairman, the standard is expected to be published in March 2006. The manual of responsibilities will be updated and printed at the same time.