What is the proper ladder pitch described as one foot out from the base for every four feet of elevation?

What is the proper ladder pitch described as one foot out from the base for every four feet of elevation?

• A. One foot out for every two feet of elevation
• B. One and a half feet out for every four feet of elevation
• C. One foot out for every four feet of elevation
• D. Four feet out for every one foot of elevation

Answer: (C)

The ladder should be set at a 4:1 pitch: for every four feet of vertical rise, place the base about one foot away from the wall. This angle (roughly 75 degrees) keeps the ladder’s center of gravity over the base, reducing the risk of tipping or sliding. So, one foot out for every four feet of elevation is the proper rule. For example, at 12 feet high, the base should be about 3 feet from the wall; at 16 feet, about 4 feet. The other distances either make the ladder too steep (risk tipping forward) or too shallow (risk slipping).

The ladder should be set at a 4:1 pitch: for every four feet of vertical rise, place the base about one foot away from the wall. This angle (roughly 75 degrees) keeps the ladder’s center of gravity over the base, reducing the risk of tipping or sliding. So, one foot out for every four feet of elevation is the proper rule. For example, at 12 feet high, the base should be about 3 feet from the wall; at 16 feet, about 4 feet. The other distances either make the ladder too steep (risk tipping forward) or too shallow (risk slipping).