Roof access hatches provide a safe ladder or stairway access to building roof areas, usually determined by structure type and size, affecting hatch sizes accordingly.
Roof hatches are essential features in commercial buildings. They allow access to the rooftop for maintenance work or installation of large equipment safely and conveniently, making maintenance much simpler and quicker.
Safety
Ace roof access hatches provide building maintenance professionals with an efficient and safe method for accessing the rooftops of buildings. Workers can gain entry without climbing ladders or walking on slippery surfaces.
However, they also pose certain risks. For example, the ladder can be fatal for workers; therefore, the roof must hatch with safety features meeting OSHA standards selected for maximum worker protection.
OSHA mandates that any roof access within 10 feet of an edge be secured by guardrails attached to the hatch and extending 42 inches above landing points.
Installing a roof hatch in a commercial building requires taking the safety requirements of OSHA into account. Aside from guardrails, additional safety measures should be implemented to ensure workers stay safe when working on the roof.
Roof access hatches should include lift assistance to enable maintenance professionals to open them from inside while standing on a ladder or stairs with tools or equipment. It will prevent the lid from closing suddenly and keep user safety in mind during design.
Furthermore, it would be best to choose a hatch with springs that lift the lid no matter how heavy the cover is – this helps prevent it from slamming shut and potentially injuring maintenance professionals.
Finally, it is also crucial that you select an energy-efficient hatch. Such models should feature fully welded corners and insulation between the curb and cover to improve thermal performance.
A roof hatch must have an overlapping cover and a full perimeter gasket to protect against leaks. It will increase your hatch’s weatherproofing while decreasing maintenance costs over time.
As part of your safety precautions, installing a ladder safety post that ties directly onto the top two rungs of a fixed ladder in your hatch is also a good idea. It will help ensure it remains stable and prevent workers from falling off. In addition, choose roof access hatches made from aluminium or stainless steel for optimal corrosion resistance.
Security
If you plan on installing a roof access hatch in your building, it must remain secure. While hatches provide convenient means of accessing rooftop areas, they also pose the risk of being breached by unwelcome visitors or intruders.
Choose Ace roof access hatches with good security features, such as a padlock hasp. It will prevent intruders from breaking in, damaging, or stealing materials and equipment inside your structure.
Many roof hatches we sell are designed with safety in mind, helping reduce accidents during construction and maintenance projects. It includes features like guard rails, posts and nets incorporated into their design to keep workers safe while entering or exiting roof hatches.
Energy Efficiency
Ace roof access hatches are essential for maintaining and repairing equipment installed on flat roofs in commercial buildings and multi-family projects, providing personnel quick and safe access to perform their duties quickly and effectively.
Insulated hatches come in various materials, from galvanised steel and aluminium to stainless steel and eco-white water-based paint finishes.
Standard models feature welded, reinforced covers and curbs insulated with polyisocyanurate insulation to maximise thermal performance, and include slam latches with interior and exterior turn handles and compression spring operators for lift assistance.
Other features that contribute to improving the energy efficiency of hatches include an overlapping cover design, fully welded corners on both cover and curb corners, a closed-cell EPDM rubber gasket to minimise condensation, and high thermal insulation in the joint area to avoid icing and moisture formation.
Hatches should feature a lift assistance feature to make them easier for workers to operate and an automatic hold-open arm to secure safe egress.
Ladder access hatches provide quick, convenient access to rooftop areas intended for HVAC equipment and solar panels, making installation, service and maintenance staff’s jobs much more straightforward and allowing gear to be easily installed or removed from rooftop areas on schedule. They also enable maintenance staff to perform this function more efficiently than possible.