---
title: "Adding a Basic Ladder to a Bay"
slug: "adding-a-basic-ladder"
updated: 2026-04-21T09:05:15Z
published: 2026-04-21T09:05:15Z
canonical: "docs.avontus.com/adding-a-basic-ladder"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.avontus.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Adding a Basic Ladder to a Bay

Adding a ladder is a simple process, during which you configure the ladder's characteristics. Once added, you can edit a ladder's characteristics at any time.

To add a ladder:

1. Click the appropriate Bay in the Drawing Page, to select it.
2. Click the **Scaffold** tab and click **Ladders**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/b687aba0-c0b6-4735-a763-3a5f05cb0630.png) The **Scaffold Ladders** dialog appears. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/42fbcc22-cb8b-452b-9ddd-76862c458372.png)
3. Enter the appropriate **Ladder Settings**.
  1. Click the appropriate **Ladder type** radio button: Vertical or Inclined. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/8ec93905-4a8f-44de-901f-c4729ace2876.png)
  2. Click the **Start bay side** dropdown and select the appropriate side. Your options are: T-side L-side B-side R-side ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-7YOWNTCM.png)
  3. Click the appropriate **Side Assignment** radio button: **Left**, **Center** or **Right**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-QU6YEF91.png)
  4. Click the **Ladder placement** dropdown and select the appropriate placement: Your options are: None All Outside All Inside First Inside First Outside If you select First Outside, the **Ladder Angle** radio buttons and the **Ladder Cage**checkbox become active.
    1. Click the appropriate **Ladder Angle** radio button: parallel or perpendicular.
    2. If you want a cage surrounding the ladder, click the **Ladder Cage** checkbox to put a check in it. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-FFE1IQWD.png)
  5. Click the **Ladder alternating** dropdown and select how you want the ladder to switch the placement side. Your options are None Every 2nd Level Every 3rd Level Every 4th Level Every 5th Level ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-LNIFSU0F.png)
  6. Click in the **Start level** text field and enter the level at which you want the ladder to start. This enables the beginning level(s) to be skipped if desired. 0 is the default.
  7. Click in the **Top level** text field and enter the level at which you want the ladder to end. This enables the ladder(s) to end at or below the top level of the Bay. [Top of bay] is the default. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-M6VCVYAK.png)
  8. Click the **Ladder material** dropdown and select the appropriate ladder material. Your options are: ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-8X4B4RZ3.png)
  9. Select the **Ladder** **angle** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-HAP0QBU4.png)
  10. If you want Avontus Designer to place the ladders in identical positions on each Bay, click the **Stack ladders inline** checkbox, to put a check in it.

> [!WARNING]
> **Note: Only available with inclined ladders**
  11. If you want to add a cage around the ladders, click Add ladder cage to put a check in it

> [!WARNING]
> **Note: Only available with vertical ladders**
  12. If you want to add support tubes to ladders, click **Add ladder support tubes** to enable/disable support tubes. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-S38NHXBX.png)
4. Enter the appropriate **Access Options**.
  1. Click the **Outside access type** dropdown and select the appropriate access type. Your options are: Fully Open Partially Open (No Gate) Full Guardrails (Closed) Handrail Only Swing Gate ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-DVI9XPNC.png)
  2. Click the appropriate the **Inside access type** dropdown and select the appropriate access type. Your options are: Open Partially Open Ledger-Ledger mid-Transom Ledger-Deck Transom Deck-Deck Transom Access Deck W/Hatch Door ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-B2INAP37.png)
  3. Set the **Above deck height** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-D36OK280.png)
  4. Click in the **Outside access Size** text field and enter the appropriate access size.
  5. Click in the **Inside access length** text field and enter the appropriate length.
  6. Click in the **Inside access width** text field and enter the appropriate width. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-I77LJWSS.png)
5. Click the **Add Ladders** radio button and click **Apply**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-MVXP4MZN.png) Avontus Designer adds ladder information and details to the **Existing Ladders** table in the bottom of the dialog. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-MILPGAZP.png)

> **Note: Click Default Options and then Save these Current Values as Default to save these ladder settings.**

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-T84B3R8L.png)

> **Note: Click Default Options and then Restore Dialog to Last Saved Options to reset the dialog back to the last saved option.**

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-O4UVHHNR.png) **You can also Restore dialog to Factory Settings.** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-9AYOTNFM.png)
6. Click **OK** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/image-Y44C242X.png) The ladder will be added to your design ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae69c864-58f0-4711-91e1-d1c2f7dff95f/Images/Documentation/dcab0368-86c7-460d-8794-3bd63cc89898.png)

For information about editing existing Ladders, refer to [*Skipping a Ladder*](/wiki/spaces/ADH/pages/2244543244/Skipping+a+Ladder).