Roof safety netting during hall roof installation – the RAND+ system
Roofing installation on industrial, logistics, and commercial halls involves working along open, unprotected building perimeters. This is the moment when a hall structure is at its most dangerous stage: the primary framework is erected, roof cladding is not yet laid, and workers navigate purlins over a multi-meter void. The roof edge remains completely open along the entire building perimeter, offering no structural attachment points for traditional guardrails. The RAND+ system is a temporary edge protection solution in which the barrier is a safety net stretched vertically on steel brackets. It creates an enclosed working zone — a barrier that prevents falls from height during roof installation. The system is erected for the duration of roofing works and dismantled upon completion. Support brackets are fixed to the supporting structure—whether steel columns, precast concrete columns, or glued laminated timber (glulam) girders—using versatile mounting methods, including completely non-drilling options. Below, we explain the core principles of the system, anchoring configurations, testing results under EN 13374 Class C, and inspection guidelines.
Why does hall edge protection require a dedicated collective system?
During industrial hall construction, fall hazards exist in two directions: inward through uncovered roof bays and outward over the open perimeter edge. Equipping workers with personal fall arrest equipment (harnesses and lanyards) along edges severely restricts the mobility of sheeting and sandwich panel installers, drastically slowing down construction progress. Furthermore, standard rigid clamp-on guardrails (Class A/B) are often unsuitable for hall edges due to girder overhang geometry and their inability to absorb dynamic impact forces if a worker slips down a sloped roof surface.
The RAND+ system eliminates these operational limitations:
- Dynamic catch barrier: the safety net is suspended from the upper bracket ring and runs vertically along the edge, with its lower border tensioned against the building structure. That is how the barrier is formed. Support brackets extend beyond the building footprint, creating a protective buffer zone that safely catches a falling worker.
- Unobstructed working area: the whole assembly is fixed to the columns or girders from the outside, leaving 100% of the upper roof plane completely clear for cladding crews.
- Protection against falling objects: unlike a metal railing (which feature gaps between rails and toe-plates), a 100 mm mesh safety net leaves no gap: catching both workers and tools or materials dropped during cladding installation. Where smaller debris poses a risk, a fine-mesh dust net can be overlaid. Read more on our dedicated page about protection against falling objects.
System RAND+ forms a complete perimeter shield around the building envelope. To achieve total fall protection across the entire building under construction, perimeter edge protection is combined with horizontal System S safety nets installed beneath open roof bays inside the hall. Workers are then protected from every angle: internal System S nets arrest falls into the building interior, while the RAND+ system secures the outer roof edge.
Additional applications for RAND+ edge protection system
The versatility of the RAND+ mounting system allows it to be deployed across various high-risk construction scenarios:
- Work on pitched roofs, including steep slope angles,
- Perimeter edge protection for floor slabs and upper building storeys during multi-storey construction,
- Edge protection on civil engineering structures, an application detailed separately on our page for bridge and viaduct protection.
A key distinction must be highlighted: RAND+ is a temporary collective protection measure designed for the weeks during which a roof edge is open and active work is underway. Once roof construction is complete and permanent access is required for long-term maintenance, permanent roof guardrails—rather than safety nets—should be installed. For overall safety regulations, consult our main guide on fall protection from height.
How the RAND+ system works
The RAND+ system is engineered with a minimal component count, allowing rapid manual assembly without crane assistance:
- Base socket — the primary anchorage component fixed to the supporting structure.
- Swivel adjusting socket — allows the bracket arm to be set at different angles, according to geometry and roof pitches of the site.
- Lower 1 m and upper 1,5 m steel brackets — Interlock to form the vertical net-supporting frame.
- EN 1263-1 safety net 100 mm mesh — the primary energy-absorbing fall barrier.
- High-strength tie-down straps or a tie rope — Tightly secure the lower net border flush against the host structure.
- Coupling rope — to join the nets into a continuous run.
(Note: Where standard $1.0 m + 1.5 m bracket arms are insufficient for specific architectural profiles, extended bracket arms with wider post spacing are available for low-slope roofs. Selection depends on roof pitch and required net height above the edge).
All steel components are hot-dip galvanized for long-term reusability across multiple job sites.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Max. bracket post spacing | Up to 7 m |
| Bracket arm lengths | 1 m (lower) + 1,5 m (upper) |
| Safety netting | System S according to EN 1263-1 (100 mm mesh) |
| Maximum roof pitch | 45° or 60°, if the fall length < 5 m |
| Mechanical or chemical anchors | 4 × M14, min. 15 kN each (tension and shear) |
| Tie-rod sleeve diameter | Ø 20 mm |
| Min. strap breaking strength | 55 kN |
| Lower edge tie rope securing | 2 × 15 kN, ties at max. 0,5 m intervals |
Zero drilling anchoring – three installation methods
The modular design of RAND+ base sockets and swivel brackets allows mounting to steel, concrete, or timber hall frameworks:
- Konstrukcje stalowe (słupy IPE / HEB)
- Żelbetowe słupy
- Dźwigary z drewna klejonego
Sposób zakotwienia dobiera się do obiektu, a nie odwrotnie.
High-strength ratchet straps – non-invasive anchoring
The base socket is clamped around the column or girder using heavy-duty webbing straps with a minimum breaking strength 55 kN. This non-invasive solution works identically on steel columns, concrete columns, and glued laminated timber (glulam) beams. The host structure remains entirely undamaged—no drilling, no welding, and zero trace after dismantling. Plastic corner protectors are mandatory to prevent web abrasion over sharp structural edges.
Mechanical or chemical M14 anchors
The adjusting socket can also be fixed directly to the supporting structure with four M14 anchors — mechanical or chemical. Each anchor must provide a minimum tensile and shear capacity of 15 kN.
Through-bolted Tie-rods
For structural sections that permit through-drilling, tie-rods are passed through Ø 20 mm sleeves drilled through the supporting column or beam. This configuration offers the most uniform load distribution across the entire assembly. Based on structural site drawings, our engineering team selects the optimal anchorage configuration that aligns with your construction sequence.
EN 13374 class C – testing & dynamic performance
Temporary edge protection relies on two key European standards:
- EN 13374 – temporary edge protection systems for buildings. Governs structural load requirements for support posts, brackets, anchorage methods, and overall system performance under static and dynamic forces. Same standard as conventional guard railings are classified.
- EN 1263-1 – governs the netting panel, border ropes and coupling lines integrated into the barrier assembly.
Class C certification under EN 13374 is specifically designed for steep roof slopes and high dynamic fall forces, requiring the barrier to absorb and dissipate heavy impact kinetic energy rather than simply offering static resistance.
Laboratory dynamic test results
The RAND+ system successfully passed EN 13374 Class C dynamic compliance testing at the AIDICO Construction Technology Institute in Spain (ENAC testing Accreditation No. 25/C-PR226):
- Dynamic drop test: A 75 kg test mass was released on a 60° inclined plane, striking the net system after a 5 m drop delivering 3,200 Joules of kinetic impact energy.
- Multiple impact sequence: Four consecutive drop tests were performed across two configurations (two impacts between support posts and two impacts directly onto a bracket arm) without replacing or repairing any component between drops.
- Test outcome: The system successfully arrested the test mass in all four impacts. Maximum dynamic deflection measured 1,800 mm on the initial impact and 1,265 mm on the second. The test report confirmed that energy absorption was distributed across the entire system—combining elastic netting elongation and controlled bracket deflection.
Whatever the standards say, an overriding principle applies, set out in European Directive 89/391/EEC: collective protection equipment takes absolute priority over personal protective equipment.
System inspection, maintenance and service life
Throughout construction, the edge protection system requires routine visual inspections checking:
- Intact mesh strands (absence of severed, abraded, or heat-damaged fibers).
- Correct upper border rope knotting around top bracket rings.
- Strap tensioning and zero gap between the roof edge and lower net border.
- Ratchet strap condition (no cuts, thickness loss, or hardware corrosion; legible labels).
- Base socket anchor security and absence of weld cracking or deformation on steel brackets.
Safety nets have a standard 1-year service life from the manufacture date printed on their sewn label. Integrated barcoded test meshes allow annual laboratory breaking strength testing to verify UV degradation and extend certified operational lifespan according to EN 1263. High-strength ratchet straps have a maximum 4-year lifespan from first installation under proper care. Steel components are replaced after a fall has been arrested, after an object heavier than 25 kg has fallen, and whenever there are visible signs of corrosion or damage to the material.
FAQ – frequently asked questions about hall roof edge protection
What is the difference between EN 13374 and EN 1263?
EN 13374 governs the entire temporary edge protection assembly—including brackets, anchoring and the installation method. It divides them into classes A, B and C according to the kind of load the system has to take. Class C (system RAND+) is engineered to arrest dynamic falls on steep slopes (up to 45°/60°) by absorbing impacts up to 3,200 J. EN 1263-1 governs the manufacturing and testing of the safety net itself. System RAND+ combines an EN 13374 Class C structural frame with EN 1263-1 certified safety netting.
What is the maximum roof pitch for the RAND+ system?
Up to 45° or 60° provided the fall distance along the slope does not exceed 5.0 m, as specified under EN 13374 Class C criteria. For roofs of gentler pitch a variant of the system with longer brackets and a wider spacing is available.
Can the RAND+ system be installed on glued laminated timber or concrete columns?
Yes. System RAND+ features universal mounting sockets. Steel columns and glued laminated timber girders are normally done with 55 kN high-strength straps and their clamping buckles, with no intervention in the structure at all. On reinforced concrete columns the choice is wider: straps, four mechanical or chemical M14 anchors, or through tie rods — depending on what the structure allows.
Does the system require drilling into the building frame?
Not necessarily. The primary mounting option uses non-invasive 55 kN ratchet straps clamped around columns or girders, leaving zero holes or marks after removal. Where mechanical anchoring is preferred, M14 anchors (15 kN) or through-bolted tie-rods can be used.
Is a crane required to install the RAND+ edge protection?
No. All the steel components (the cassette base, the adjusting cassette, the 1 m lower bracket and the 1.5 m upper bracket) and the nets themselves are lightweight and designed for manual assembly from mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs).
Need Edge Protection for Your Hall Construction Project?
Are you erecting an industrial, logistics, or commercial hall and need compliant perimeter edge protection? Send us your structural drawings and column details—our engineering team will specify the optimal RAND+ bracket layout, anchoring method, and net dimensions for a tailored quote. Contact us today!
Roof edge protection is one application of safety nets. You will find the full picture — the S, T, U and V systems, edge protection systems and protection against falling objects — in our guide: every safety net arrangement used on a construction site.