Regulations, statutory requirements, and health and safety recommendations often demand the installation of roof edge protection for numerous structures and operations, including maintenance, inspection, plant access, and work at height.
The Definition of Roof Edge Protection
A roof edge protection system is an enclosure built around a roof’s perimeter that shields people from potential falls from dangerous heights. For safety reasons, it is common practice to install some clamp-on-edge protection along a roof’s periphery. When working at a hazardous height is unavoidable, roof guardrail systems create a protective barrier between workers and the roof’s edge.
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When Should Roof Edge Protection Be Used?
Performing maintenance or repairs on a roof is dangerous because of the inherent dangers of working at a great height. Workers must do all temporary or permanent roofing work with the hazards and precautions covered by adequate protective equipment.
When working on a roof, you must install proper roof edge protection to prevent workers from falling off the roof’s edge. Fortunately, there is no hard and fast rule dictating the height at which roof edge protection becomes mandatory. Because of their elevated status from the ground, rooftops provide a significant fall hazard and require edge protection whenever work or access is performed on the roof.
What Kinds of Roof Edge Guards Are Available?
One can choose from a variety of sizes and styles of roof edge protection. Some roof edge protection methods are superior to others, depending on the application, roof design, and project management.
Scaffolding
Typically, scaffolding is erected around the roof’s edge to prevent employees from falling off. On the other hand, it is not a permanent fix and is not recommended for anyone outside the construction industry.
Rooftop Handrails
Regarding compliance and ease of use, handrails are a terrific safety option. Stronger and more stable than scaffolding, with a more aesthetically pleasing finish, they can sometimes present problems with the roof membrane.
You can secure handrails to the parapet of a building or the steel or concrete decking of a roof, but make sure you don’t puncture the waterproofing.
Roof Clamp System
It’s important to take all necessary safety measures before installing solar panels or doing any sort of maintenance on a roof. You and your employees will benefit from the temporary edge protection provided by our roof clamp systems. In contrast to permanent railings or scaffolding, a roof clamp-on-edge protection system can hold its weight.
Things to Know About Roof Edge Protection Systems
Roof guardrails present a more aesthetically pleasing alternative for older structures where curb appeal is paramount. Freestanding roof guardrails have a sleek metallic appearance, a uniform frame, and a discreet design. A collapsible version is available if the client or architect prefers that the handrails not be seen from the ground. Before doing any work on the roof, the maintenance staff can raise these. This railing is perfect for permanent edge protection on rooftops in all industries where regular access is needed for maintenance and inspections.
They work wonderfully on the roofs of schools and hospitals, two examples of heavily-visited buildings. When access to a roof is infrequent yet necessary, it is recommended that a roof clamp on edge protection system be installed so that the building’s owner may rest easy knowing that any maintenance employee can securely operate on the roof without falling. Maintaining the maximum efficiency of solar panels may need periodic cleaning and inspection, and a roof clamp system can facilitate this.
