On 11/03/2015 02:37 PM, EXT wrote:

I have a 16-ft. "every-which-way" ladder that I've had for maybe 20
years, so when I saw what was described as a "22'" multifunction
ladder (Keller KMT-22) advertised at a considerable discount, I
thought it might be worth upgrading. BUT when I looked at the detailed
specs. it turns out that it's really only 18-ft 3-in. long: the
claimed "22'" is the height one can reach when standing on the highest
permitted rung; this, I am told, is the "industry-standard" method of
labeling ladders.

I guess that if we didn't have decent regulations, we'd have 3-qt.
"gallons" of milk and gasoline, and 40-ft. reels of electrical wire
labeled as "50-ft."

I didn't buy the ladder.

I always understood that an extension ladder was measured by the sum of
the two lengths separately. A 22 foot ladder would be two 11 foot
lengths, but when put together for a long reach would have some overlap
that reduced the useable length to something like 18' 3". I suppose the
manufacturer of a "multifunction ladder" uses the same criteria (excuse)
to compare the ladders and to others. This would be the same as air
compressor manufacturers who boast of 5 horsepower with a motor that
draws 7 amps. Impossible.

But look he

http://www.kellerladder.net/view/PRO.../T10700/T10718

The "reach height" of that ladder is also 22 ft. (the same as that of
the ladder I considered buying -- and by the same manufacturer), but it
is *not* described as a 22 ft. ladder: it is described as an 18 ft.
ladder, which is its *true* height.

And here is an extension ladder from the same manufacturer:

http://www.kellerladder.net/view/PRO...rs/3100K/3116K

This is described as a 16 ft. ladder, but even the "reach height" is
less than the advertised length of the ladder: only 15 ft.

Perce