Parapet Guardrails Fixed to the Side of the Wall
Parapet guardrails VECTACO® VA-VAD are the most effective protection against falling from the roof. As a passive safety system, parapet 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 (collective protection equipment). Parapet guardrails VECTACO® VA-VAD are an economical solution to secure edges roofs. A wide range of fixings available allows you to install VECTACO® safety railings to any type of parapet (even on insulated parapet walls). VECTACO® safety railings are a structural element of a building. Therefore, they do not require annual inspections or training of roof users as traditional lifelines or anchor points EN ISO 795.
Installation and Use of VECTACO® VA-VAD Guardrails on Parapet Walls
Parapet guardrails VECTACO® VA-VAD can be fixed directly to the parapet from outside as well as on the inside parapet wall. Depending on whether the parapet is insulated or not, we will choose the proper fixing element.
The VA model is designed for parapets without flashing cap and without insulation. The railing base is fixed directly to the parapet wall.
If there is a cap flashing or a thin insulation layer on the parapet wall, then we use the standard VAD model with a 60mm offset. Depending on the need, we can even distance the railing upright inside the building up to 116mm.
If there is a thick insulating layer on the parapet wall, then we can use a special support bracket. This piece is tailor made depending on the thickness of the parapet wall insulation layer.
The greatest advantage of our parapet guardrails is how easy they are to assemble. That allows most of our customers to carry out the installation themselves. Our technical department advises clients on how to perform the installation according to the PN EN 14122-3 standard.
Benefits of Side-Mounted Parapet Safety Railings
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- is a very economical solution to secure roof edges
- the employer is 100% sure that safety on the roof is always guaranteed regardless of the employee’s approach. Collective protective equipment (CPE). We ensure a safety environment on the roof regardless of the employee’s approach to safety procedures.
- no maintenance cost of the fall protection system. Unlike traditional EN ISO 795 lifelines systems, safety railings are a “once and for all” investment that requires neither annual inspections nor training of roof users.
- freedom of movement on the roof without limiting the number of users at once.
- companies operating the equipment or performing works on the roof, as well as employees, do not need to have additional qualifications to work at height. Safety railings securing the roof edge are treated as a structural element of the building.
- fixing kit ensure complete watertightness of parapet wall
- short delivery time. Very quick and easy assembly.
Aluminum Parapet Guardrails – Lightweight Design and C3 Corrosion Resistance
VECTACO® safety railings are made of aluminium. Compared to steel railings, our aluminium roof railings provide greater resistance to adverse weather conditions, including corrosion. Our railings are classified according to EN ISO 12944-2 as corrosion class C3. This is a medium corrosivity class – ‘urban and industrial atmospheres, moderate sulphur dioxide (IV) pollution, e.g. coastal areas with low salinity.’
These roof railings give a modern design to any building thanks to their raw aluminium finish. Other finishes on request, such as anodized aluminium, thermo-lacquered and matched to any RAL colour.
Depending on the needs, we can install a standard straight upright or an inclined upright. The inclined upright is mainly intended for situations where the investor does not want the railing to be visible from the bottom of the building. Also in some situations, it can be useful to use a railing folding system.
Legal Regulations and HSE Standards for Parapet Railings Installation
VA-VAD VECTACO® safety railings are certified in accordance with the European standard EN ISO 14122-3 date December 2007 regarding safety of machinery – permanent means of access to machinery – part 3: stairs, stepladders and guardrails.
If the workplace is more than 1 m above the surface, regulations require us to protect edges with safety railings. European Directive 89/391/EEC, which lays down the principles of preventive action, prioritizes CPE over personal protective equipment (PPE). The regulations clearly state that lifeline safety systems and anchor points EN ISO 795 should only be used when it is not possible to use collective protection equipment, such as parapet guardrails.
Parapet guardrails are the most effective protection against falling from the roof. 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.
Comprehensive Fall Protection Systems – AITANA SAFETY
AITANA SAFETY has been a pioneer in using Collective Protection Measures to prevent falls. We have been designing and installing both roof railings and other roof safety devices for over ten years. All our systems are tested by notified bodies in accordance with European standards.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Side-Mounted Parapet Wall Guardrails
What standards must Side-mounted Parapet Wall guardrails meet in Europe?
In accordance with health and safety regulations, roof safety railings used as collective protective equipment (CPE) must comply with the European standard EN ISO 14122-3 – permanent means of access to machinery – Part 3: stairs, stepladders and guardrails. VECTACO® roof guardrails have successfully passed all static and dynamic tests required by the above-mentioned standards. It should be noted that European Directive 89/391/EEC, which lays down the principles of preventive action, gives priority to collective protective measures (CPE) over personal protective equipment (PPE). The regulations clearly state that rope safety systems and anchor points in accordance with EN ISO 795 should only be used when it is not possible to use collective protection equipment, such as safety railings securing the roof edge.
Do roof safety railings require annual technical inspections?
Unlike lifeline systems and anchor points (PPE), roof safety railings are treated as a permanent structural element of the building. This means that they do not require annual paid inspections or specialist training for staff.
Who is authorised to install side-mounted parapet guardrails?
No manufacturer’s authorisation or specialist training is required to install side-mounted roof railings. Simply follow the installation instructions for the relevant model to comply with the requirements of standard EN ISO 14122-3. It is a modular system that consists of a small number of components, making installation quick and easy. Most of our customers carry out the installation themselves using the instructions provided, saving on the costs of external contractors.
How quickly can parapet roof safety railings be installed?
In the case of side-mounted parapet guardrails, two people can install 100 metres in just an 8-hour shift. You must add to this, the time needed to carry the components up to the roof and position them along the edge roof to secure.
How do you install safety railings when the parapet is insulated?
If there is a thick layer of thermal insulation on the parapet wall, we use a special VECTACO® VAD model with a custom-made support bracket (connector). This allows for stable installation of the safety railings to the side of the parapet wall without damaging the roof insulation layer. If, however, the thermal insulation layer is not too thick, we use standard fixing elements.
Does side-mounted parapet railings compromise the waterproofing of the parapet wall?
No. The specially designed VECTACO® side anchoring kit ensures complete safety and guarantees the total waterproofing of the parapet wall, eliminating the risk of water seepage or damp.
What is the warranty period and the conditions for maintaining it in the case of roof guardrails?
Roof safety railings are covered by a 10-year warranty on aluminium (and steel) components and a 2-year warranty on other components, such as plastic parts. In order to maintain this warranty, simply install and use the barriers strictly in accordance with the supplied installation instructions or layout installation plans, and carry out an annual visual inspection of the installation yourself (checking fixings, alignment of sections and the absence of visible damage).
Summary – Cost-Effective Edge Protection for Every Parapet Wall Design
VECTACO® VA-VAD parapet guardrails are a means of collective protection equipment (CPE). Thanks to this, we exclude the employee’s decision to secure himself or not. It is a very economical solution to secure roof edges. In addition, safety railings for parapets do not require annual inspections or training of roof users. In this way, they allow you to save a lot of money during the entire life of the building.
Do you want to select the most cost-effective and secure guardrails for your facility’s parapet wall, regardless of the insulation thickness? Contact us today. Our engineering team will prepare a customized safety railings project layout and price offer tailored to your parapet wall free of charge.