Building a catwalk?

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Im an industrial pipe welder. Somehow I've found myself working as a maintenance mechanic/welder for a college. Anyway, after having to fab and weld some handrails, they throw me a job to build a catwalk to circle a generator that sits up too high on the roof. Something so the other mechanics will be able to access the controls and crap easier. This is obviously something I've never done. I'm not a fabricator but I'm halfway decent at winging it. Since this is going to support a person, I'd like to get some information if anyone here has done this before. Things like materials selection, maybe help on the design. I've got the welding part down. I imagine this will be square tubing, angle, and grating. A handrail maybe 42" high with a mid rail. Either a ramp or stairs up to the catwalk.
Reply:Got a picture of where it' supposed to go and what it will attach to?Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Not at the moment. I haven't been to check the site yet. I'll get some up before the day is out.
Reply:Most of the ones I made were 3" x5" x1/4" angle, 5" leg up for a toeboard. 1/8" x 1" bargrating or walkway mesh. 1.5 " x1/8" square tube laid out like you described for handrail. Cross members for the walkway are usually the supports for mounting to the structure. The bar grate typically comes in a nominal 3' x20' size. So the walkway is made about 37" wide when possible to avoid cutting.
Reply:Thank you for the info MJD. That is very helpful. Also along the same track I was thinking so I'm glad to know I'm not a complete moron. This will be floor supported. I'm laying down a sheet of steel to the roof to avoid digging/sinking and give me a flat surface for the base. Am I using the same square tubing for the handrail as well as the support legs and cross members or would that be a different spec? This thing has to be free standing. No wall to mount on or anything.
Reply:I don't know any details but you would need larger size and most likely thicker wall tubing for the legs. Depending on the height diagonal bracing on the support legs would most likely be needed.
Reply:We build catwalks at work, we use 6" or 8" channel for the stair stringers and the catwalk. 1 7/8" round tubing for the handrails.
Reply:Originally Posted by akabadnewsA handrail maybe 42" high with a mid rail.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPNo! 42-inches high is a fact of life. Mid rail, at the mid point. And a 6-inch tall toe board is also a requirement. All hand rail has to be able to withstand a 200-pound man falling into it.
Reply:Sounds like a design project for the schools engineering department. The college used to throw us these projects all the time. Students would research codes etc. and come up with a design.  One of the PE prof's would do a final review.Takes the liability for all of it off you.  Are you sure the roof has enough structure to handle the weight?  Is the structure where you need it?  Let someone else who needs the practice do the leg work for you.Multimatic 200Ellis 1800Haberle S225 9" cold sawMM 300;  Spoolmate 30A w/ WC-24TB 302GDynasty 280 DX Tigrunner
Reply:Good news is I have some existing beams to tie into. It's actually a big *** air handling unit. There's no engineering department, per se. It's a medical university and I work in the engineering and facilities department. Which is really maintenance, a/c shop, boiler shop, locksmiths, etc. All the leg work has to be done by me or my supervisor, who is worthless for this sort of thing. We've got an engineer but he works for the hospital zone maintenance and apparently it's an us vs them situation. Really a **** job.
Reply:1 7/8 x .188" round for rails and legs5" x 1/4" angleBar grating/grating treads for platform and stairs8" channel for stair stringers and dog legs
Reply:Originally Posted by akabadnews1 7/8 x .188" round for rails and legs5" x 1/4" angleBar grating/grating treads for platform and stairs8" channel for stair stringers and dog legs
Reply:I believe I have the OSHA guidelines for platforms, stairs and railing at work. I could post them up if that helps. If your planning on any steps you'll need to plan them so the height of your platform is correctSent from my XT1080 using TapatalkAWS 17.1, D1.1 and ASME IX (GTAW)Miller Syncrowave 350LX, Maxstar 150sth, Maxstar 200DX and  Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 30aMiller buzz box with Lincolin TombstoneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38