A simple ladder works wonders when you talk about roof access, as its primary function is to provide a person a way to reach high places like a rooftop or ceiling, for example. Besides a simple ladder, there are other construction tools that can make construction projects a lot easier, including a thermally broken fixed ladder roof hatch.
These roof hatches are ideal with ladders that give safe and efficient roof access to perform repairs and maintenance unbothered by the hot temperature. Roof hatches are helpful and ready to meet your needs, and one roof hatch to take note of is the Bilco Thermally Broken Fixed Ladder Access Hatch, purposely made to provide safe and convenient roof access.
What Are Roof Hatches?
Roof hatches provide the user with secure and efficient access to the roof. It’s safe to say that it acts as a door to the top of a building. Many variations of roof hatches have specific builds for specific purposes to meet every demand. Here are some examples of other variants of a roof hatch:
- Ladder Access
- Ship Stair Access
- Service Stair Access
- Domed
- Electric Actuation
Benefits of the Bilco Thermally Broken Fixed Ladder Access Hatch
Like any roof hatch, the Bilco Thermally Broken Fixed Ladder Access Hatch offers safe access to the ceiling or roof large enough for a human to pass through without needing external ladders. Still, there are also other benefits that this roof hatch gives, and these are advantages.
Performing construction, repairs, or maintenance in a commercial building is taxing because of the reason that most of the time, doing any of these three activities are usually in bulk due to the size of the building, so it’s a good thing that installing these roof hatches provides benefits and advantages.
- Thermally Broken Feature
The unique thing about this roof hatch is the thermally broken feature, which minimizes heat transfer between the interior and exterior metal surfaces, protecting against harmful condensation when the sun is up during your visit to the ceiling or rooftop. Along with its insulation capabilities comes a soundproofing function as it dampens vibrations for better acoustic performance. - Additional Security
Due to the engineering of a roof hatch, roof hatches are reliable and robust enough to become a protective guard of the building from unwanted or unauthorized entries from the roof. If the current feature of your roof hatch is not enough, some vendors can provide customizations to the device where you can add steel hinges and tamper-proof latches acting as another layer of defense. - Extra Protection
One of the main functions of a roof hatch is that it acts as a protective guard of the building from outside elements. These devices comprise protective materials that can withstand extreme weather conditions from their gasketed covers. Other roof hatches have anti-corrosion properties from the materials used, some have exceptional insulation capabilities, and other units have all or most of these protective abilities. - Increased Safety
A roof hatch is durable enough to let a full-grown man pass through unbothered while bringing his tools without compromising safety. These are safety devices that protect the building and the user at the same time. - Eco-Friendly
This roof hatch is an eco-friendly device that promotes energy efficiency with its Ozone-friendly insulation features. This is beneficial in a commercial setting as it is known to have high electricity usage in its daily work. - Aesthetics and Finish
Along with the benefits mentioned above, a thermally broken roof hatch provides the best aesthetics after installation. The mill aluminum finish is perfect as it promotes durability and is easy to paint over.
Safety Precautions on Using Roof Hatches
Roof hatches are effective devices for providing access to the ceiling or rooftops along with their safety features. However, accidents can still happen to those who need to be more careful using them. In a commercial construction project setting, the employers shall provide safety precautions to their employees to create a safer worksite.
Here are some tips that employers can provide their employees regarding safety precautions while using roof hatches:
1.) Protective Construction Gear and Equipment
These protective gear are the responsibility of the employers to their employees as part of safety precautions. Wearing these gears is the most basic form of safety in a worksite. A set of protective equipment must comprise the following; personal fall arrest systems, non-slip gloves and boots, protective goggles, and helmets.
2.) Guardrails
These fixed or stationary systems act as a protective barrier in the roof’s perimeter to protect the employees from falling. The required size of a guardrail is 42 inches above the working level, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA.
3.) Perimeter Warning Lines
Since you are working with the rooftops of commercial buildings, putting perimeters warning lines is a requirement the employer must remember. There might come a situation where the employee, due to fatigue or the scorching heat of a hot afternoon, forgets that they are on the rooftop’s edge, thus having the chance for an accident to happen, and this is a problematic situation; therefore, you must prevent it, so make sure perimeter warning lines are all over the worksite.
4.) Roof Hatch Rails
Working with the roof of the building means working with a roof hatch. According to OSHA, roof hatches provide total protection, but more is needed. The OSHA requires the installation of roof hatch rails to add more safety to the current construction project, thus minimizing the risk of accidents.
The roof hatch rail must contain highly durable materials that can withstand about 200 pounds of downward force. The fence surfaces must not latch to the worker’s clothes or protective skin, so they get a rail that has a smooth surface, according to OSHA.
Final Thoughts
Owning a Roof hatch is a great thing to have due to the tremendous benefits it provides. Commercial buildings are lucky to have this installed as this will help protect and preserve the establishment for many years.
