People performing inspection, repair or maintenance work on the roof near edges, sky domes or continuous roof lights need to be protected from falling.
The planner of the safety concept of a building may apply various regulations and standards by occupation cooperatives and institutes (e.g. BGR / BGI / DIN) which offer various approaches depending on the number of people using the building or the type of work done in the building etc.
EVERLITE continuous roof lights and sky dome systems provide different approaches to ensure safety of people:
For continuous roof lights:
Construction phase, to ensure safety of craftsmen until completion of building (for a period of maximum 6 months after installation of continuous roof lights):
Currently (as of March 2014) most of the Everlite continuous roof light systems are tested for fall-through protection according to GS BAU 18 (German regulation on fall-through protection on buildings) because of the execution of the structure and the choice of respective polycarbonate glazing.
Utilisation phase - The safety of people working on the roof and who approach continuous roof lights without further protection may be ensured by the following measures:
- The personal fall arrest safety unit is attached to an anchorage point of high quality steel according to DIN EN 795. (Additional factors must be considered, e.g. potential height of drop, fixing point required for safe access to anchorage point at roof light)
- Permanent fall-through protection prevents people from falling into the hall and no further safety equipment is required (according to directives in GS Bau 18). The additional equipment on / in the continuous roof light protects a person from falling inside:
1. Aluminium tubes are attached to the frame carrying the continuous roof lights at a distance of about 23 cm. These tubes are attached over the entire surface i.e. below the entire continuous roof lights so that no additional protection is needed for opening flaps and front wall and ridge of continuous roof lights. This also provides higher protection against burglary. Since the tubes are aligned parallel to the bracing for pull and tension required for static reasons an optically homogenous impression is created. The exterior appearance of the roof lights remains intact.
2. Four aluminium rails are attached parallel at the outside of the continuous roof lights in the area of the eaves. These rails protect people in the peripheral area of the continuous roof lights from falling-through and no further measures are required. The condition of the polycarbonate glazing does not affect protection. Opening flaps and front wall require further protection against falling.
3. Four aluminium rails are attached parallel along the inside of the continuous roof lights near the struts in the area of the eaves. They protect people in the peripheral area of the continuous light roofs from falling-through and no further measures are required. The condition of the polycarbonate glazing does not affect protection. Opening flaps and front wall require further protection against falling.
The following measures help to protect people on the roof who need to be able to access the area of light domes without further protection:
Aluminium struts are attached in the upper area of the curb and provide protection. This safety measure also works with an open flap. It also increases protection against burglary. Since these are attached in one line they do not cause a grid effect as steel mesh fabric. The exterior appearance of the light domes remains intact.