Skylight railing
Skylight railing seems to be in most of the cases the only certified solution in accordance with applicable legal provisions. We will show you below why we are so categorical in this particular subject. Unfortunately, many companies offer solutions based on the EN ISO 1263 standard. However, there is no legal basis to do so. Installing skylight railing, you can be sure that your roof meets all the requirements of applicable provisions in this subject.
Skylight railing uses
Depending on the type of roof membrane and the fixing required, we can choose the appropriate skylight railing. When protecting skylights from fall hazards, we usually install:
- freestanding guardrails. When roofing pitch up to 15˚. They are the perfect solution when you do not want to drill the roof membrane. If you want to read more about freestanding railings, just click here.
- metal roof railings. When roofing pitch up to 10˚. If you want to read more about railings fixed on metal roofs, just click here.
By installing VECTACO® aluminium railings, we avoid all maintenance costs that arise when using steel railings. Our standard raw aluminium finish ensures a C3 corrosion category. In addition, VECTACO® railing give a modern design to any building.
Other finishes on request, such as anodized aluminium, thermal varnishing and matched to any RAL colour. Thermal varnishing (powder coating) is a process that ensures adequate protection of the aluminum railings coating. This is recommended by the manufacturer when the guardrail is installed in highly corrosive environments, exposed to chemicals, polluted areas or near the sea.
No special tools or specialists needed to install VECTACO® railings. Most customers do their own assembly. This saves time and installation costs.
Advantages of using skylight railing VECTACO®
- very quick assembly
- only certified solution in accordance with European standards
- no maintenance costs. Once lifetime investment. Forget about fall hazard forever.
- freedom of movement on the roof without limiting the number of users at once.
- perfect roofing watertightness. In the case of freestanding railing, no need to drill the membrane
- short delivery time
Legal basis – European standard EN ISO 14122-3
Skylight railing are the most effective way to prevent fall hazards. As a passive safety system, modular railings allow to secure roof edges without requiring any intervention of roof users. Safety on the roof is thus always guarantee, regardless of the employee’s approach to safety procedures.
Please note that small safety nets certification is impossible based on the EN ISO 1263 standard. At point 5.1 of the EN ISO 1263-2 standard (safety netting) you will find: “In the case of installing S type safety nets, safety net area should be at least 35 m2. In the case of rectangular safety nets, the length of the shortest side should be at least 5.0 m”. On the other hand, EN ISO 1263 standard only deals with “safety nets” used as temporary fall protection mainly during construction works at height. It is not a valid standard for permanent fall arrest systems.
Against the above, we can assure that it is not possible to certify safety nets as a solution for skylights fall hazards under the EN ISO 1263 standard. Please consider that during a fall from a height, this minimum size safety net area required in the above standard must absorb the dynamic energy generated in the fall.
In the event of an accident, the use of small nets that do not comply with the EN ISO 1263 standard may result in an unfavourable legal assessment.
Final conclusions
Skylight railing are the only possible certified solution in accordance with applicable legal provisions. Installing skylight railing VECTACO®, you can be sure that your roof meets all the requirements of applicable provisions in this matter. Very easy assembly allows saving assembly costs by doing it yourself. As a means of collective protection equipment (CPE), the employer is 100% sure that safety on the roof is always guaranteed regardless of the employee’s approach.
If you want to read more about securing your roof with collective protection equipment (CPE), we recommend you reading our guide. You can save a lot of money throughout the entire operating time of the building.
