When your teams work at height, choosing the right aerial platform does not depend only on working height, outreach, or the type of carrier vehicle. The work environment also plays a decisive role, especially when an electrical risk is present.
There is often confusion among operators, who tend to associate a fiberglass basket with an insulated aerial platform. At first glance, the connection may seem logical, since glass-fiber-based composite materials can have insulating properties depending on their composition. However, this reasoning is not enough to qualify the entire aerial platform as insulated.
An insulated aerial platform is not defined by the basket material alone. It is based on an overall design, a declared insulation level, appropriate testing, and precise conditions of use. This is the difference we want to clarify.
Points to remember before making your choice
An aerial platform with a fiberglass basket is not automatically an insulated aerial platform.
The basket is only one component. It may offer useful properties depending on its design, but it does not define the authorized electrical use of the machine on its own.
An insulated aerial platform is equipment designed for a specific use, with a boom, basket, components, and operating manual suited to this context. The NF EN 61057 standard specifically covers insulating aerial devices mounted on chassis and used for live working above certain voltage thresholds. Source used – AFNOR, NF EN 61057.
Why does this confusion exist?
In common understanding, fiberglass is associated with a non-conductive material. This association is not unreasonable, since FRP composites, or fiber-reinforced polymers, are described as having low conductivity or non-conductive properties depending on their formulation. Source used – ACMA / Composites UK, guide on FRP products.
But an aerial platform cannot be reduced to a single material. It is a mobile machine made up of a basket, a boom, controls, mechanical connections, a chassis, hydraulic equipment, and a specific work environment. Electrical risk must therefore be assessed at the scale of the entire machine.
This is where the distinction matters. A fiberglass basket describes one part of the aerial platform, while an insulated aerial platform describes a regulated operational capability.
What is a fiberglass basket on an aerial platform?
A fiberglass basket is a basket made from a composite material. It is usually a polymer reinforced with glass fibers. The basket carries the operator during work at height.
This type of basket may be chosen for several reasons.
- It can reduce the need for a metal basket.
- It can offer good resistance to certain external constraints.
- It may provide insulating properties depending on its composition.
- It may meet specific requirements in certain environments.
The point of caution remains the same. The basket does not qualify the entire aerial platform by itself. A machine fitted with a fiberglass basket should not be presented as an insulated aerial platform if the complete equipment has not been designed, tested, and documented for that use.
What is an insulated aerial platform?
An insulated aerial platform is a machine designed to reduce the risk of electrical conduction under defined conditions. It does not rely only on the basket. It concerns the full architecture of the machine.
In the case of an insulated van-mounted aerial platform, several elements must be examined.
- The boom.
- The basket.
- The insulating components.
- The controls.
- The declared insulation level.
- The tests performed.
- The limits stated in the manufacturer’s operating manual.
The NF EN 61057 standard applies to insulating aerial devices intended to be mounted on a chassis and used for live working on electrical installations above 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC. Source used – AFNOR, NF EN 61057.
This definition shows that insulation is a complete equipment logic. It cannot be reduced to the presence of a basket made from composite material.
Why is the basket alone not enough?
During an operation, electrical current is not limited to the place where the operator stands. The boom, chassis, tools, humidity, surface condition, machine movements, and work environment can all affect the risk assessment.
This is why an aerial platform that is not qualified as insulated must be approached with caution in an electrical environment. The basket may be made of fiberglass, but the machine may still be unsuitable for work near a live electrical network.
Example
A team is working on public lighting. The basket is made of fiberglass. However, if the boom is not insulated, if no insulation level is stated, or if the operating manual does not allow this type of use, the machine must not be considered an insulated aerial platform.
In this case, the machine should not be chosen based on the appearance of the basket. The choice must start from the actual risk, the voltage involved, the work environment, and the manufacturer’s instructions.
