Section 1.3
FINDING A SUITABLE LOCATION
Before Proceeding: You must have: a suitable ceiling and joist structure, tools and materials
Goal:
To find a location free of hazards and
obstructions that will provide room for the
installation and use of the attic ladder.
Avoid installing attic ladder over other stairs.
Step 1. Pick a potential location for installation.
Check that the size of rough opening matches
what is listed in Table 1 for the model being
installed.
Step 2. If there is no ceiling and the attic ladder will
fit between the joists so that no joists need to
be cut, go to Section 1.6, page 13, "FRAMING
THE ROUGH OPENING" . If there is no ceiling,
but one or more joists need to be cut, go to
Section 1.5, page 12, "CUTTING THE CEILING
JOISTS" . If there is a ceiling at this location, you
will need to inspect the area above this location
as described in steps 3 and 4.
Step 3. Go into the overhead space and find the area above your chosen location.
This area may be located by:
A) Listening for tapping from below
B) Measuring distances from walls or other objects common to the overhead space and
the room below.
WARNING
Do not drive metal nails or other
conductive objects into the ceiling
unless you are sure they will not
contact electric wires. Contact with an
electric wire can be deadly.
needed, and a level flat location in the ceiling.
Model #*
W2208
W2210
W2508
W2510
WU2210
*Products sold in Canada will have model numbers ending in "CA".
Rough
Ceiling Height Range
Opening
W Series/WU2210 Model (Load Rating: 250lbs./113 kg)
22 ½" x 54"
(0.57 m x 1.37 m)
(2.30 m x 2.67 m)
22 ½" x 54"
(0.57 m x 1.37 m)
(2.67 m x 3.15 m)
25" x 54"
(0.64 m x 1.37 m)
(2.30 m x 2.67 m)
25" x 54"
(0.64 m x 1.37 m)
(2.67 m x 3.15 m)
22 ½" x 54"
(0.57 m x 1.37 m)
(2.41 m x 3.15 m)
FC
SC
LS
2' *
Landing
Space (1)
84" - 105"
54"
(1.37 m)
105" - 124"
63"
(1.60 m)
84" - 105"
54"
(1.37 m)
105" - 124"
63"
(1.60 m)
95" - 124"
63"
(1.60 m)
Description:
FC - Floor to
ceiling height
SC - Swing
clearance
LS - Landing
space
* Recommended
spacing to climb
ladder
FIGURE 3
Swing
Clearance (2)
64"
(1.63 m)
74"
(1.88 m)
64"
(1.63 m)
74"
(1.88 m)
74"
(1.88 m)
TABLE 1
9