21—90.25 (203C) Maintenance of storage facilities. All licensed storage facilities shall be maintained in such manner as to be suitable for the proper and safe storage of the particular product or products to be stored therein. Safe and adequate means of ingress and egress to the various storage units and grounds of the warehouse complex shall be provided and maintained by the warehouse operator. Sufficient louvers, outlets, overhead ventilation fans, aeration ducts and fans or any combination of these shall be maintained in each storage facility to prevent deterioration or spoilage and to maintain proper and safe storage of stored products.
	 90.25(1) Inspection safety specifications for ladders and lifts on storage units. Storage units having entrances over 20 feet to a maximum of 100 feet above floor level shall be equipped with a fixed ladder, an attached circular or spiral stairway, an alternating tower-type stairway or a safe and adequate lift. Storage units having entrances in excess of 100 feet above floor level shall be equipped with an adequate electric lift. Catwalks or walkways between storage units may be provided in lieu of ladders or lifts between facilities. Rungs on fixed ladders shall be spaced not to exceed 1-foot centers, and there shall be sufficient space between the ladder rung and face of the structure to permit a safe foothold. Any structure required to have a fixed ladder shall have an approved safety cage which shall commence not less than 7 feet or more than 8 feet from ground level. Landing platforms shall be provided for each 30 feet of fixed ladder or fraction thereof for ladders constructed after December 31, 2005. Landing platforms shall be provided for each offset of fixed ladder sections regardless of the length of the ladder sections. Any facilities with a safety cable and belt hookup that were approved for licensing prior to September 1, 1992, shall continue to be approved provided they are maintained in a safe working order. Any facilities with a fixed ladder more than 20 feet in length, but not more than 24 feet in length, that were approved for licensing prior to December 31, 2005, shall continue to be approved provided they are maintained in a safe condition.
	 90.25(2) Catwalks, walkways, landing platforms and stairs. Catwalks, walkways and landing platforms shall be equipped with a top rail 42 inches from the floor and a middle rail. Catwalks, walkways and landing platforms constructed after September 1, 1992, must also be equipped with toeboards which are at least 4 inches in height and which are not more than ¼ inch from the floor. Stairways shall be equipped with handles which are not more than 34 inches nor less than 30 inches in height and of similar construction as catwalk or walkway rails. Catwalks, walkways, landing platforms, stairways, lifts and ladders shall be kept clean and free of grain and other matter which might endanger the safety of persons using them. Guardrails shall be placed around the entrance to any storage facility exceeding 30 feet above the floor, or around a landing platform below such entrance to a facility. At no time shall electrical lines be anchored on or within reach of a ladder or safety cage unless enclosed in conduit. All electrical lines in proximity of the inspection ladder, stairway, walkway or lift shall be enclosed in conduit.
	 90.25(3) Removal of facilities from warehouse operator license. Any storage facility which fails to meet the requirements of this rule shall be called to the attention of the warehouse operator. Failure of the warehouse operator to place the facility in a suitable condition within a reasonable length of time shall result in the elimination of the facility from coverage under the warehouse operator license in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code section 203C.8. However, if in the bureau’s judgment any facility is unsafe to gain ingress and egress at the time of an examination, the products stored in the facility may not be included in the inventory. Any facility which has deteriorated to the extent that it is unsuitable for storage shall be immediately removed from the warehouse operator license in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code section 203C.8, until such time that the facility meets the requirements of this rule and has been reinspected.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 203C.2 and 203C.8.