By Katherine A roof access walkway is a complicated and technically challenging specification. It requires considerations about safety, performance, and installation. Here are 10 tips to help you decide on the best design and installation.
1 Choose a lightweight material
A walkway’s weight is crucial as roofs are fragile substrates that have a lower load-bearing capacity than other floors. A lightweight material should be able to handle light pedestrian traffic.
2 Make sure there is a safe walkway
Safety is paramount when a walkway surface has anti-slip features. There are many ways to achieve this. Timber is not recommended for flooring as the timber’s surface water makes it slippery.
3 Make sure that your walkway is free from water
Water pooling can pose a danger to pedestrians, particularly if the roof is exposed to the elements. A walkway should have enough drainage to prevent pooling. You can do this by using a combination of cross-bars with longitudinal bearers that provide safe foot contact and trainability.
4 Add a suitable guardrail/handrail to where it is needed
When the roofing structure is made of fragile substrates, it must be protected, especially in areas where there are valleys or parapets. You can use walkways in conjunction with a suitable handrail or management system to add additional safety. Because walkways are not larger than 600mm wide, loading is dependent on the protection that must be provided.
5 Refer to the installation requirements.
Another benefit of roof access systems is its speed and ease of installation. The complexity of the fixing process can result in a lengthy and costly job. Avoid any system that requires hot work (e.g. Welding will be used to attach the components or install them on the roofing. A walkway should offer a simple fixing system that can easily be installed by a roofing/maintenance contractor. Some manufacturers have their teams of installers.
6 Inspect that the fixing method does not damage the roof membrane
Be sure to fit a walkway to roof structures without damaging its waterproof membrane. If the walkway cannot be clamped to the roof profile, it should not penetrate the sheeting. But if that is the case, the fixing system should offer a secure fixing with minimal penetration. This applies to both handrails and the walkway. Some systems even include handrails as an integral part.
7 Examine the system’s suitability concerning the roof pitch
When installing pitched roofing structures, you must check the suitability and compatibility of the walkway with the installed gradient. Some systems are unsuitable for pitched roofing, while some systems can be placed on gradients of as high as 10 degrees. You should check with the manufacturer to confirm that the system has been properly tested to meet your particular installation’s pitch requirements.
8 Avoid excessive maintenance
If you are providing access to roof maintenance, it is sensible to ensure that the walkway will not need much maintenance. The material used should be both non-combustible as well as corrosion-resistant. Aluminum can provide both of these characteristics – it forms a protective orange coating that is corrosion resistant. You can further enhance the system with surface treatments, such as anodizing. Each modular component can be removed and replaced without disassembling other parts.
9 Make sure the supplier has the required expertise
Specialized knowledge is required to design roof access walkways. It is essential that you have the right expertise and advice from your supplier, manufacturer, or distributor in order to ensure a successful installation.