This Standard prescribes the rules governing the safe construction of portable reinforced plastic ladders of various types including, but not limited to, step stools, portable extension, step, trestle, sectional combination, single, and platform ladders. A14.5 also prescribes rules and minimum requirements for labeling.

The purpose of this standard is to provide reasonable safety for life, limb, and property. In order to develop an effective safety program, the standard may serve also as a basis for purchase requirements and for instructions in personnel training, and in the preparation of motivational/ instructional material such as safety practices, manuals, posters, and the like.

This standard is also intended to provide the manufacturer, purchaser, and user of reinforced plastic ladders with a set of performance and dimensional requirements against which this product may be compared. It is not the purpose of this standard to specify all the details of construction of portable reinforced plastic ladders. The limitations imposed are for the purpose of providing adequate general requirements and testing methods needed for consistency.