British Standard Access Steps Explained: What BS EN 131-7 Actually Means

Warehouse steps look like a simple, interchangeable purchase until something goes wrong with a cheaper set. BS EN 131-7 exists precisely because mobile steps and platform steps carry real fall risk, and the standard sets out what a genuinely safe design has to demonstrate before it can carry the certification.

What BS EN 131-7 Actually Covers

BS EN 131-7 is the part of the EN 131 ladders and steps standard that specifically covers mobile platform steps and podium steps, the type used for reaching mid-height shelving and racking. It sets requirements around structural strength, platform stability, guard rail design, and castor locking, going considerably further than the general ladder requirements in the wider EN 131 standard.

Why the Kitemark Matters as Much as the Standard

Meeting a standard on paper is one thing; being independently certified against it is another. The BSI Kitemark is a third-party verification that a product has actually been tested and continues to be audited against the standard it claims to meet, rather than the manufacturer's own self-assessment. IronStor's British Standard Steps Range carries both BSI Kitemark KM 608967 and BS EN 131-7 certification, and is described on its own product page as the only mobile steps range in the UK to hold that particular combination.

What This Looks Like in Practice

In real terms, BS EN 131-7 certification shows up as fully welded (rather than bolted) construction, locking castors that genuinely hold position under load, and a platform rated for a confirmed safe working load rather than an estimated one. The Steptek range is rated to 150kg safe working load across configurations from 2 to 5 treads, reaching a maximum working height of 2.77m.

Matching Tread Count to Actual Reach, Not Guesswork

Buying more tread height than a task needs adds unnecessary risk and cost; buying too little forces overreaching, which defeats the point of using steps at all. The right approach is matching tread count to the actual shelf or rack height being accessed, something worth reviewing alongside our guide to manual handling and shelf height, since awkward reach and unsuitable steps tend to compound the same underlying risk.

Anti-Slip Treads for Wet or Dusty Environments

Certification covers structural safety, but tread surface still matters for day-to-day grip, particularly in catering, washdown or dusty industrial environments. The Steptek range offers both ribbed rubber and anti-slip tread finishes, worth specifying deliberately rather than defaulting to whichever is cheaper.

Final Thoughts

BS EN 131-7 and the BSI Kitemark aren't just certification badges, they're the difference between steps that have been genuinely tested against a real fall-risk standard and ones that simply look similar. When mobile steps are involved, that difference is worth checking before you buy.

If you'd like help specifying the right steps for your site, our team can talk you through the options. Call us: 01782 770100, Email: info@ironstor.co.uk or fill in the form here and one of our team will be in touch.