What is Roof Edge Protection?
Roof Edge protection refers to the collective protective equipment which is used to protect a worker from falls and injuries whilst working at height on a roof. Roof Edge Protection is placed around the ‘edge’ of the roof to help prevent people or materials from falling.
Different Roof Edge Protection Classes
There are 3 different classes of roof edge protection. Each class is based on differing roof gradients and resistance to dynamic loads; the requirements are as follows:
- Class A – refers to edge protection used on flat roofs and surfaces that are pitched up to an angle of 10 degrees. Edge Protection must provide resistance to static loads and be able to support a person leaning against, walking beside and stumbling against the protection itself. This class does not support a suddenly applied impact or dynamic load and must include a guardrail at a minimum height of 1100mm and a toe board.
Examples of Edge protection which meets this class includes:
Class B – This is protection for use on flat surfaces and pitched roofing up to an angle of 30 degrees. Edge Protection must provide resistance to static and low dynamic loads and be able to support a person leaning against, walking beside, stumbling against or sliding down a sloping surface towards the edge protection. This class must include a guardrail at a minimum height of 1100mm and a toe board.
Class C – This protection is for pitched surfaces up to 30-45 degrees without limitation of the falling height, OR 45-60 degrees, and the falling height is less than 5 metres. This edge protection is designed to hold high dynamic forces and stop the worker from sliding or falling down a steep surface.
Common Roof Edge Protection Systems
Different edge protection systems are often used in conjunction with each other to provide a comprehensive roof edge protection system. Some of the systems available are:
Net and Steel Mesh Barrier Systems – Utilising a combination of steel guardrails and netting or Steel mesh with built in toe board. These systems are excellent for providing high levels of containment, reducing the risk or falling persons or materials.
Counterweight Systems – Commonly made up of a tubular guardrail or Steel mesh, optional toe board and steel lever arm with counterweights attached. These weights can be smaller separate weights or one larger weight with the weight placed at each vertical upright. Freestanding Edge Protection Barriers commonly feature this type of edge protection solution.
Tubular Guardrail Solutions – This system uses a tubular guardrail, very similar to those used in scaffolding. These systems are very versatile and with some design work can provide a solution for meeting the requirements of Class A, B and C roofs.
Protective Fans – Also known as Catchfans featuring a double layer of net with an overlay. These come in differing sizes of 4M or 6M and can be moved up a building in order to provide secondary protection to workers at all stages of a build.
