Industrial Roofing
Industrial roofing systems have thousands of configurations. Several types of roof decks are available now for modern buildings. Each roofing system also comes with its own roof membrane and insulation requirements.
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Safety considerations however should not be neglected especially for high rise industrial roofing systems. First of all, your building will not pass regulatory inspection if roof safety requirements are not met. You will be liable for damages and could face expensive lawsuits if the authorities found out that your roofing system does not have enough safety mechanisms.
Common Safety System for Industrial Roofing
Industrial roofing systems are commonly flat with very slight pitch only. With this type of roof, the best safety measures that can be installed are roof guardrails or handrails. Guardrails are typically made from iron bars and installed or fastened around a flat roof. A competent industrial roofing contractor should be able to install roof guardrails that will pass safety standards.
Safety Features of Sloped Commercial Roofs
Building roofs that have higher pitch or slope have different safety systems. Normally, simple guardrails are not enough for sloped roofing systems. Contractors and roofing services normally recommend the installation of roof foot paths or walkways.
Roof walkways are typically made from lightweight aluminum or metal. They are standalone systems and can be easily installed on building roofs. Walkways are also used on flat roofs and domed industrial roofing. Some manufacturers of roof walkways provide built-in handrails in order to enhance the safety of employees.
Safety Measures for High Rise Buildings
In addition to guardrails and walkways, industrial roofs should also have permanently-installed anchor points. These anchor points are used by employees who access the roof to do maintenance or installation jobs.
Anchor points are needed in order to allow the use of personal harness systems. For high rise building and industrial roofing systems with steep slopes, the installation of anchor points is a must.
Construction of industrial roofing systems is strictly regulated by state and federal authorities. You need to know these regulations so you can avoid a legal tussle with building regulators. You should also hire a competent contractor that has a proven track record in the installation of safe industrial roofs.