In short: ISO 14122 sets access rules for machinery: walkway width, headroom, stairs and guard-rails. BS 4592 is the UK series for industrial flooring and stair treads, with parts for GRP open-bar and molded gratings, including a deflection limit of 10 mm or span/200. AS 1657:2018 is the Australian standard for fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders. They overlap but are not interchangeable: name one standard, and its edition, on the drawing.
FRP grating, stair treads and handrail are often specified "to ISO 14122", "to BS 4592" or "to AS 1657". Buyers are sometimes unsure what each standard actually covers, and whether a product can "comply" with all three. This guide summarizes each one and shows selected requirements side by side. It is a summary, not a substitute for the standard text, which you should buy from the publisher.
ISO 14122: permanent means of access to machinery
ISO 14122 has four parts. Part 1 covers choosing the means of access; Part 2 covers working platforms and walkways; Part 3 covers stairs, stepladders and guard-rails; Part 4 covers fixed ladders. It applies to access to machinery, and is widely used in Europe, where it is harmonized with the Machinery Directive, and in many other countries.
- Walkway clear width at least 800 mm; 600 mm only for occasional use (less than 30 days a year and less than 2 hours a day); 1000 mm where several people pass regularly.
- Headroom 2100 mm (1900 mm allowed with padding and warning signs).
- Openings in floors must not let a 35 mm sphere pass, or 20 mm above areas where people work.
- Guard-rail height 1100 mm; toe plate at least 100 mm high.
BS 4592: industrial flooring and stair treads (UK)
BS 4592 is a series. Part 0 (2006) sets common design requirements for industrial flooring and stair treads; Part 4 (2006) covers GRP open bar gratings; Part 6 (2008) covers GRP molded open mesh gratings. Other parts cover metal gratings and plates. Part 0 sets a deflection limit for flooring under the design load of 10 mm or span/200, whichever is less, and a maximum level difference of 4 mm between adjacent panels.
BS 4592 is about the floor itself: loads, deflection, slip resistance and fixing. It does not replace the access rules for the platform as a whole. For slip testing, see slip resistance testing.
AS 1657:2018: fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders (Australia)
AS 1657:2018 covers the design, construction and installation of fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders for operating, inspection, maintenance and servicing personnel, including permanently installed roof access. Selected requirements: walkway width at least 600 mm (900 mm for two-way traffic or carrying materials), headroom 2000 mm, handrail height 900–1100 mm, toeboards at least 100 mm high, and guardrails designed for a 600 N single force or 350 N/m.
Key parameters at a glance
| Item | ISO 14122-2/-3 | BS 4592-0 | AS 1657:2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Access to machinery | Industrial flooring and treads | Fixed platforms, walkways, stairs, ladders |
| Walkway width | 800 mm; 600 occasional; 1000 several people | — | 600 mm; 900 two-way |
| Headroom | 2100 mm | — | 2000 mm |
| Guardrail height | 1100 mm | — | 900–1100 mm |
| Toe plate | 100 mm min | — | 100 mm min |
| Floor deflection | — | 10 mm or span/200 | — |
| Floor openings | 35 mm sphere; 20 mm above work areas | — | — |
A dash means the item is not the main subject of that standard, or was not checked for this summary. Always read the current edition.
Can one FRP product meet all three?
A grating panel can often be selected so that it meets the floor requirements of BS 4592 and the opening and load rules of ISO 14122 at a given span, while the platform design meets AS 1657. But compliance belongs to the whole installation, not just the panel. The platform designer must check widths, guardrails, ladders and loads against the standard the project names. Ask the supplier for load tables and test reports, and check them against the standard's criteria. See designing FRP platforms.
Other standards you may meet
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D in the USA, for walking-working surfaces; see OSHA and ADA stair nosing.
- ASTM F3059 for FRP grating on ships; see our guide to marine approvals buyers ask for.
- EN 13706 for pultruded profiles; see EN 13706 explained.
How to specify
On the drawing or data sheet, state the standard and edition, whether access is frequent or occasional, design loads for floors and guardrails, the deflection limit for the grating, and any slip test required.
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FAQ
What does ISO 14122 cover?
Permanent means of access to machinery: choice of access (Part 1), platforms and walkways (Part 2), stairs and guard-rails (Part 3) and fixed ladders (Part 4).
What is BS 4592-4?
The part of BS 4592 for GRP open bar gratings. Part 6 covers GRP molded open mesh gratings.
What deflection does BS 4592 allow?
BS 4592-0 limits deflection under design load to 10 mm or span/200, whichever is less.
What walkway width does AS 1657 require?
At least 600 mm, or 900 mm for two-way traffic or carrying materials.
Can a grating panel be certified to ISO 14122?
Compliance applies to the whole access installation. The panel must be chosen so the installation meets the standard.
Related guides
Sources
- ISO 14122-2:2016, Safety of machinery — Permanent means of access to machinery — Part 2: Working platforms and walkways, https://www.iso.org/standard/61281.html
- ISO 14122-3:2016, Safety of machinery — Permanent means of access to machinery — Part 3: Stairs, stepladders and guard-rails, https://www.iso.org/standard/61282.html
- BSI, BS 4592-0:2006 Industrial type flooring and stair treads — Common design requirements; BS 4592-4:2006 (GRP open bar gratings); BS 4592-6:2008 (GRP molded open mesh gratings), https://knowledge.bsigroup.com
- Standards Australia, AS 1657:2018 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation (available from Standards Australia)
- A stair nosing manufacturer, AS 1657-2018 handrail and guardrail summary
- An Australian height safety supplier, AS 1657:2018 summary