AP,
My Werner 40 foot Blue does NOT bend at all. I carried LOTS of 75 pound bundles of shingles up that one, and it was little more bendy that a sidewalk.
I have used some pretty cheap aluminum ladders, and they scared me. I have used some pretty damned good WOODEN ladders, and they have little bounce, and those up to 60 foot, nd they have little spring to them, either.
I am not a Fireman, but I would think that when a wooden ladder catches fire, it is going to lose strength gradually. A "glass" or aluminum ladder is going to melt at once, when it gets hot enough.
I have no idea of the requirement for other ladders, BUT, WOOD ladders have very stringent requirement as to the wood allowed to be used. Sitka Spruce or Douglas Fir, or Southern Yellow Pine (I think is included) are strong woods.
Given length Fibreglass ladder is heavier than an Aluminum ladder of the same rating. I simply do not like Fibreglas ladders.
FibreGlas is NO any more than strands of glass in a plastic matrix, and thet pisses me off no end when I hear the ads for FibreGlas windows.THEY try to sell you that THEIR windows, FibreGlas reinforced PLASTIC, are Oh, So much better than Vinyl "They're made out of "PLASTIC"!!!"
Sumbitch. So are YOURS.
Cheers,
George
