Multi-lock hinges
Four spring-loaded locking hinges with twin release buttons. Each joint locks positively at 0°, 90° and 180° and gives an audible click when the pin seats.
Four hinged sections, four steps each — 16 steps of aluminium that fold from a compact 1.3 m bundle into a 4.7 m straight ladder, a 2.35 m A-frame, a stair ladder or a low scaffold trestle. One ladder for the painter, the electrician, the fundi and the homeowner.
The Fundi FFL44 is a four-section multi-purpose folding aluminium ladder. The "4 x 4" in the name describes the build: four hinged sections, each carrying four steps, for a total of 16 steps. Heavy-duty multi-lock hinges join the sections, and because each hinge locks independently at 0°, 90° and 180°, the same ladder becomes four different tools — a double-sided step ladder, a straight ladder, a stairway ladder and a trestle for a scaffold plank.
It is the size most Kenyan tradesmen reach for when the FFL43 (4 × 3 step) is a little short and a full extension ladder is too bulky to carry on a matatu or fit in a saloon car boot. Folded, the FFL44 is roughly the length of a rolled carpet and light enough at about 13.5 kg for one person to carry up a stairwell. Opened straight, it reaches gutters, water tanks, ceiling boards, streetlight fittings and first-floor slabs.
Every part of the ladder that carries load is aluminium alloy — it will not rust in Nairobi's wet season, it will not rot like timber, and it weighs roughly a third of the equivalent steel ladder. The rungs are serrated flat treads rather than round bar, so the sole of a work boot sits flat and the ladder is comfortable to stand on for a full day of painting or wiring.
Four spring-loaded locking hinges with twin release buttons. Each joint locks positively at 0°, 90° and 180° and gives an audible click when the pin seats.
Flat, ribbed treads instead of round rungs. Comfortable underfoot, grippy when dusty or wet, and wide enough to stand on while working with both hands.
A-frame step ladder, straight ladder, staircase ladder and double-trestle scaffold base — one purchase replaces three separate ladders.
About 13.5 kg of aluminium alloy carrying a 150 kg rated load. One person can move it between rooms, floors and sites without help.
Four moulded non-marking end caps grip screed, tile and tarmac without scoring polished floors, and shed water so the ladder does not skate on wet concrete.
Collapses to roughly 1.30 m × 0.50 m × 0.28 m — fits a pickup bed, a station-wagon boot or a store corner without a rack.
Complete specifications for the Fundi FFL44 4 × 4 step folding aluminium ladder. Dimensions are nominal and may vary slightly between production batches.
| Identification | |
| Brand | Fundi |
|---|---|
| Model / Part number | FFL44 |
| Product type | Multi-purpose folding ladder (articulated / multi-position) |
| Configuration | 4 sections × 4 steps per section |
| Total number of steps | 16 steps (serrated flat treads) |
| Category | Ladders & Access Equipment → Folding Ladders |
| Materials & construction | |
| Frame material | Aluminium alloy (6000-series extruded profile) |
| Stile (side rail) profile | Rectangular box section, riveted / swaged rung joints |
| Step type | Flat, ribbed anti-slip aluminium treads |
| Hinge type | 4 × heavy-duty multi-position locking hinges with twin push-button release |
| Hinge lock positions | 0° (folded), 90° (A-frame / trestle), 180° (straight) |
| Feet | 4 × moulded non-slip, non-marking end caps |
| Finish / colour | Natural mill-finish silver aluminium with black hinges and caps |
| Corrosion resistance | Rust-proof — will not corrode outdoors or in damp stores |
| Electrical note | Aluminium is conductive — not for live electrical work; use a fibreglass ladder near live conductors |
| Dimensions (nominal) | |
| Extended straight length | Approx. 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| A-frame (step ladder) height | Approx. 2.35 m top step height |
| Practical working height (A-frame) | Approx. 4.1 – 4.3 m reach with arms extended |
| Practical working height (straight) | Approx. 5.6 – 5.9 m reach with arms extended |
| Trestle / scaffold plank height | Approx. 1.10 – 1.20 m platform height |
| Section length | Approx. 1.20 m per section |
| Step (rung) spacing | Approx. 290 – 300 mm |
| Ladder width (outside stiles) | Approx. 450 – 480 mm |
| Folded / storage size | Approx. 1.30 m (L) × 0.50 m (W) × 0.28 m (D) |
| Performance & rating | |
| Maximum static load | 150 kg (user + clothing + tools + materials) |
| Duty classification | Trade / heavy domestic duty |
| Reference standard | Manufactured to EN 131 style multi-purpose ladder geometry |
| Recommended set-up angle (straight) | 75° — the 4 : 1 rule (1 m out per 4 m of height) |
| Net weight | Approx. 13.5 kg |
| Users at a time | One person only |
| Commercial | |
| Warranty | 12 months against manufacturing defects (hinges, welds, rivets) |
| Availability | In stock — Rongai branch and Tuala branch |
| Price | Quoted on request — call 0741 042484 / 0745 554008 for today's price |
| Trade & bulk | Contractor, fundi and bulk-order pricing available |
| Delivery | Rongai, Tuala, Kiserian, Ngong, Karen, Kitengela and greater Nairobi on request |
| Payment | Cash, M-Pesa, bank transfer |
Note on dimensions: ladder heights above are nominal manufacturer figures. Reach heights assume an average user of 1.7 m with a comfortable arm reach of 0.5 m above the standing step. Always confirm the exact carton figures at the counter before buying for a specific height.
Each hinge locks independently, so the two halves of the ladder do not have to mirror each other. That is what lets one ladder cover the jobs below.
Fold the two centre hinges to 90° and stand the ladder as a self-supporting double-sided step ladder about 2.35 m tall. The everyday setting for ceiling boards, curtain rails, bulbs and painting.
Lock all hinges at 180° for a rigid 4.7 m straight ladder. Lean it at 75° against a wall for gutters, roof edges, water tanks and first-floor access.
Set one side long and one side short so all four feet land squarely on stair treads. This is how you reach a stairwell ceiling or a high landing window without stacking crates.
Lock into a symmetrical M-shape and bridge a rated scaffold plank between matching steps for a low working platform — ideal for skimming a wall or running conduit along a long run.
Fold the bottom section flat against a wall or over an obstruction so the ladder can stand close to a plinth, planter, machine or stair nosing that a normal ladder cannot straddle.
A multi-position ladder is only as safe as its hinges are locked. Work through the sequence below every time you set up, and the FFL44 will give you years of service.
Lay the folded ladder down and look along both stiles for bends, cracks or splits. Check that all four hinges move freely and that the release buttons spring back fully. Confirm the four feet are present and not worn smooth. Wipe off oil, paint or mud — a slippery tread is the most common cause of a fall.
Set the ladder on a hard, level, dry surface. Never on loose murram, soft soil, a stack of blocks or a table. If the ground slopes, level the base with a proper ladder leveller or move to firm ground — do not pack stones under one foot. Keep the ladder away from doors that can be opened into it.
Press both release buttons on a hinge at the same time, swing the section to the angle you want, then release the buttons and rock the joint gently until the locking pin drops in with a clear click. Repeat on every hinge, on both stiles. Do this with the ladder lying flat or standing on the ground — never while any part of your weight is on it.
Walk round the ladder and check each hinge visually — the pin should be fully seated and no red or unlocked indicator showing. Push down firmly on the ladder from the side to confirm nothing folds. A half-locked hinge feels solid until it takes load, so never skip this check.
Use the 4 : 1 rule — the base sits one metre out from the wall for every four metres of ladder height. A quick field check: stand with your toes at the feet of the ladder and stretch your arms straight forward; your palms should just meet a rung at shoulder height. When climbing onto a roof or slab, the ladder must project about one metre above the landing so you have something to hold.
In step-ladder mode, open the two halves until the hinges lock at their stop and both pairs of feet sit flat. A partly opened A-frame slides outwards under load. Never lean an unopened A-frame against a wall — lock it into straight mode instead.
Face the ladder. Keep three points of contact — two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand. Carry tools in a belt or pouch, or hoist them on a line; never climb with a paint tin in one hand. Keep your belt buckle between the stiles: if you have to reach past that, climb down and move the ladder.
Do not stand on the top step or the top cap of the A-frame, and do not stand on the top three steps of the straight configuration. In trestle mode, use a scaffold plank rated for the load and span, seat it on matching steps on both trestles, and keep the platform below 2 m.
Release each hinge in turn and fold the sections back together, keeping fingers clear of the closing joints. Store the ladder flat or hung on brackets in a dry place — not standing loose against a wall where it can be knocked over, and not outdoors in the sun where the feet perish.
Every few months wipe the ladder clean, put a drop of light oil on the hinge pins and work them a few times, and check the rivets at the rung ends for movement. Replace worn feet as soon as the tread pattern disappears. Retire any ladder with a bent stile, a cracked weld or a hinge that will not lock — aluminium does not bend twice safely.
The 4 × 4 step size is the sweet spot for buildings up to a first-floor slab: tall enough for gutters and tank stands, compact enough to carry indoors and use in a corridor.
| Model | FFL43 — 4 × 3 step | FFL44 — 4 × 4 step |
|---|---|
| Total steps | 12 steps | 16 steps |
| Extended straight length | Approx. 3.5 m | Approx. 4.7 m |
| A-frame height | Approx. 1.75 m | Approx. 2.35 m |
| Folded length | Approx. 1.0 m | Approx. 1.3 m |
| Weight | Approx. 10.5 kg | Approx. 13.5 kg |
| Best for | Flats, shops, standard 2.7 m ceilings | Maisonettes, gutters, tank stands, high ceilings, first-floor access |
Rule of thumb: if you only work at ceiling height indoors, the FFL43 is enough. If you ever need to reach a gutter, a tank stand, a signboard or a first-floor window, buy the FFL44 — the extra 1.2 m of reach is the difference between doing the job and hiring scaffolding.
Come and open the ladder on the shop floor before you buy — we will show you the hinge lock, the four positions and the folded size so you know it fits your vehicle and your store.
Magadi Road, Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County
Phone: 0741 042484
Landmark: On Magadi Road, in the heart of Ongata Rongai town
Serving: Rongai, Kiserian, Ongata, Nkoroi, Karen, Ngong
🗺️ Get Directions on Google MapsTuala, past Africa Nazarene University, Magadi Road
Phone: 0745 554008
Landmark: Just past Africa Nazarene University, along Magadi Road
Serving: Tuala, Kandisi, Kware, Kiserian, Kitengela road side
🗺️ Get Directions on Google MapsCall, WhatsApp or email Shabbiri Hardware for current pricing, stock at each branch, trade rates and delivery. We also stock scaffold planks, ladder stabilisers, tool belts and safety harnesses.
| Brand | Fundi |
| Model | FFL44 |
| Category | Power Tools |
| Availability | In stock |
| Sourced by | Shabbiri Hardware Kenya Limited |
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