If the working height of an extension ladder is 12 ft, how far out should the base be from the surface in which the ladder is leaning?

When determining how far out the base of an extension ladder should be from the surface it is leaning against, a common guideline is to maintain a ratio of the height of the ladder to the distance from the wall. Specifically, for every 4 feet of ladder height, the base should be about 1 foot away from the wall it is resting against.

In this case, if the working height of the ladder is 12 feet, you would divide that height by 4 to get the distance that the base should be from the wall. So, 12 feet divided by 4 equals 3 feet. This means that the base of the extension ladder should be positioned 3 feet away from the surface it is leaning against to ensure stability and safety.

This guideline helps prevent the ladder from tipping over and ensures that it is at a safe angle, minimizing the risk of accidents while using the ladder.