Collective protection equipment takes precedence over personal protective equipment when working atop finished buildings or those under construction. Self-supporting roof guardrails can be used when it’s impossible or complex to affix something permanently to the parapet or the roof surface. Although designed for permanent use, there are so many advantages to using these guardrails that they are also used in temporary work.
#1 Self-Supporting Safety Rails Are Practical
There are permanent self-supporting roof guardrail systems that are modular and flexible and can be installed on the roof without puncturing, penetrating or requiring anchoring on the roof’s waterproofing system, in any way whatsoever. Placed directly on the traffic surface, they do not harm the roof’s waterproofing system and prevent having to reseal the roof due to punctures made by mounting. They are versatile, easy-to-use and economical, and install very quickly without requiring any welding, bending or threading, nor the need to hire a specialized workforce or use special tools. Self-supporting guardrails are also compatible with all kinds of flat roofs, with or without parapets as well as circular roofs or those with changes in level, and can easily be configured to bypass obstacles like machinery or even some sort of guard house or roof entry. They can be put up, torn down and expanded easily using normal assembly techniques, and self-supporting safety rails can also be partially dismantled to allow for sealing work to be completed. Even though they are “permanent”, they are very easy to remove once the work is completed and the site is secure.
#2 They Are Economical
Unlike temporary guardrails, permanent self-supporting models can be reused at future worksites, generating significant savings over the long-term. The equipment is usually warrantied for 10 years, so it pays for itself over time. If buying or storing self-supporting safety rails between two worksites poses a problem, you can always save money by renting them, as renting self-supporting guardrails costs less than investing in temporary guardrails.
#3 Self-Supporting Roof Guardrails Are Safe
Regulations require that any building taller than 3 meters whose roof is accessible is to be equipped with a guardrail, in order to protect people from falling. Beyond the fact you’d be breaking the law and not ensuring the safety of employees and subcontractors, offenders risk paying fines ranging from $15,000 to $300,000 if a worker is seen less than two meters from the edge of a roof of a three-meter high building without the required safety protection. One of the main advantages of permanent self-supporting guardrails is to comply with current safety standards.
Self-supporting roof guardrails are essential equipment to ensure everyone’s safety, they are practical and economical and can be used permanently or temporarily at renovation worksites to help avoid exposure to the risk of employee and subcontractor falls.