This Standard provides for the safe design of powered platforms for building maintenance,
where window cleaning and related services are accomplished by means of suspended equipment
at heights in excess of 35 ft (11 m) above a safe surface, e.g., grade, street, floor, or roof level.
The provisions of the Standard are intended to apply to all known systems used to support
suspended maintenance equipment as well as the suspended equipment itself (either permanently
installed or transportable equipment). Guidelines are also included for a building's structural
support areas as well as the building surfaces that actually interface with the equipment.
The Standard does not apply to other suspended powered platforms used for remedial renovations
or modifications to buildings. The safe use of these types of scaffolds is addressed by
American National Standard ANSI A10.8. The A120.1 Standard also does not relate to any service
performed by persons supported by equipment covered by any of the ANSI A92 standards.
The purpose of this Standard is to ensure the protection of all powered platform users as well
as persons potentially exposed to use of the equipment. In developing this Standard, safety has
been held as the primary consideration. The Standard requires that permanently installed or
transportable equipment be properly designed by a qualified professional engineer, taking into
account specific building features rather than attempting to accommodate the system to a building's
structure and facade features that may not be suitable for its safe operation. In addition,
care has been taken so as not to exclude or render obsolete any existing product or equipment.
This Standard reflects the evolution of a project begun in 1962 by the American National
Standards Committee on Window Cleaning Safety, A39. At that time, the Committee recognized
that a new method was being developed for cleaning fixed sash windows by means of a special
scaffolding. In order to deal expertly with this new development, a new project was established,
separate from that handled by the A39 Committee. Following a general conference, the American
National Standards Committee on Powered Platforms, ANSI A120, was formed, with the National
Safety Council acknowledged as sponsor. In 1965, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
was approved as cosponsor. In 1984, the Building Owners and Managers Association International
was approved as Secretariat.
A previous edition of the Standard, A120.1-1970, was administratively withdrawn in 1989. This
Standard had established safety requirements for the design, construction, installation, inspection,
and use of power-operated platforms for exterior building maintenance. The Standard did not
apply to temporary equipment used for construction work or to devices raised and lowered
manually.
A120.1-1992 was the result of joint action by participating organizations under the auspices of
the American National Standards Institute. That Standard was approved through two votes of
the ANSI A120 Committee, at a meeting in New York City (October 17, 1991) and by letter ballot
(dated December 30, 1991).
In 1995, ASME again assumed sponsorship of the Standard. ASME A120.1-1996 was approved
by ANSI on April 17, 1996. ASME A120.1-2001 was approved by ANSI on July 3, 2001. ASME
A120.1-2006 was approved by ANSI on September 20, 2006.
This revision was approved by the American National Standards Institute on July 16, 2008.
| ANSI : | ANSI Approved |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 760 KB |
| ISBN(s) : | 9780791831465 |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 34 |
| Product Code(s) : | A1420U, A1420U, A1420U |
| Published : | 09/05/2008 |
