Crossover Stairways
Kammerer Dynamics designs and fabricates crossover stairways for manufacturers, warehouses, and OEM operations that need a safe, permanent way for workers to get up and over a facility obstacle. As a third-generation, family-owned metal fabricator in Kendallville, Indiana, we bring that same hands-on engineering to every crossover stairway, building a purpose-built solution for the exact obstacle sitting in your workers' path.
What Is a Crossover Stairway?
A crossover stairway is an elevated stair structure built to carry foot traffic up, over, and back down the other side of an obstruction, rather than routing workers around it or asking them to step over it directly. It's a distinct category from a general access stair or catwalk: an industrial crossover platform is sized and configured around the obstacle itself, not just the floor-to-floor rise a standard staircase handles.
Crossing Your Facility's Toughest Obstacles
We build crossover stairways to fit the obstacle you're working around:
- Conveyor crossover stairs are sized to your belt height and width, keeping product flow uninterrupted while workers cross safely above it.
- Pipe crossover stairs are configured around pipe racks, dike walls, and process piping, so maintenance and operations staff aren't climbing over live lines.
- Rooftop crossover stairs carry personnel over parapets, ductwork, and equipment curbs, so maintenance and HVAC crews aren't climbing over roof obstructions to reach the next section.
OSHA-Compliant Crossover Stairs
Every crossover stairway we build is engineered to OSHA standards:
- The fixed industrial stairway standard (29 CFR 1910.25) sets a maximum 9.5-inch riser height, a minimum 9.5-inch tread depth, a minimum 22-inch width between rails, and a stair angle between 30 and 50 degrees.
- Guardrails and handrails follow 1910.28, with a 42-inch top rail and balusters spaced no more than 19 inches apart.
- Stairs can carry at least five times the expected live load, with a minimum 1,000-pound concentrated load rating.
Because a crossover stairway routes people directly over machinery, piping, or a live conveyor, getting these numbers right matters more than on a typical access stair, and it's built into our design from the first drawing.
Materials Built for Your Environment
A crossover stairway installed over a corrosive process line or exposed to weather on a rooftop needs different materials than one inside a climate-controlled plant. We fabricate crossover stairways in carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, or aluminum, with decking options including steel checker plate, galvanized bar grating, and anti-skid grating. That range lets us match the platform to the specific environment it's crossing.
Why Kammerer Dynamics
Every crossover stairway is designed, fabricated, and finished under one roof at our Kendallville, IN, facility, backed by three generations of structural metal fabrication experience and in-house capabilities, including:
- Laser and CNC plasma cutting
- MIG, TIG, and robotic welding
- Custom steel forming
- Powder coating finishing
You'll see engineering drawings before a single piece of steel is cut, and it's the same standard we hold across our full line of catwalk systems.
Let's Design Your Crossover Stairway
Tell us what you're crossing, its height, and its location. We'll spec a crossover stairway built to your facility and engineered to OSHA standards from the first drawing.
Crossover Stairways FAQs
Why use a crossover stairway instead of a standard access stair in the same spot?
A standard access stair handles a floor-to-floor elevation change. A crossover stairway is built around an object, such as a conveyor, a pipe rack, or a piece of equipment. It needs enough rise on both sides to clear the obstacle plus a landing sized to whatever is running underneath it. Using a standard stair design in that spot usually means guessing at clearance instead of engineering it, causing compliance problems and clearance issues later on.
Can a crossover stairway be installed without shutting down the conveyor or line underneath it?
In most cases, yes, though it depends on your layout and how much clearance you have to work with. Because the stair and platform sections are fabricated and fit-checked in our shop before they ship, on-site work is largely assembly rather than cutting and welding around a live line. We'll walk through your clearance and shutdown constraints during the design phase so installation is planned around your production schedule.
How do you determine the right height and configuration for a crossover stairway?
It starts with the obstacle, not a standard stair chart. We need the exact height, width, and length of what you're crossing, whether that's a conveyor belt, a pipe rack, or rooftop equipment, along with the clearance available on both sides and how many people need to cross at once. From there, we configure the rise, landing, and layout (straight, L-shaped, or U-shaped) to fit your footprint.
Browse Our Product Gallery
For a closer look at our diverse range of metal products and to discuss your project requirements, please contact us today. We look forward to partnering with you and delivering exceptional solutions that drive your success.
Why Choose KDi?
Elevate your business with a custom catwalk. Contact us today to discuss your project needs, and let us create the perfect industrial catwalk system that enhances your workspace and supports your operational success.
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Ready to start your metal fabrication project? Contact us now to discuss your requirements, get a quote, and experience the Kammerer Dynamics, Inc. difference. We look forward to becoming your trusted partner for all your metal fabrication needs.
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