How high should guardrails be?
For preschoolers, guardrails are recommended for platforms 21 to 30 inches high. For school-age children, guardrails should be installed on platforms 31 to 48 inches high. Guardrails on elevated surfaces should begin no more than 23 inches above the platform for preschoolers; 28 inches above the platform for school-age children. The upper part of the guardrail should be no more than 29 inches high for preschoolers and 38 inches high for school-age children. • Are overhead rungs spaced properly? Adjacent rungs of horizontal overhead ladders should be more than 9 inches apart so that a childs head cannot become trappe. Rungs used by preschoolers should be a maximum of 12 inches apart; those used by school-age children should be a maximum of 15 inches apart. No rung should turn when grasped. March 2000 (Recommendations of U.S.