Choosing the right roof hatch and ladder

Whether you are working on a commercial or residential project, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding on a roof hatch and associated ladder to ensure a safe and compliant application throughout the building’s life cycle.

Lucy Harrison, Technical Specialist at Surespan Covers, explains the key areas to consider.

Purpose of access

Whether for the education, health, leisure or commercial sectors, Roof hatch To ensure permanent and safe access to the roof area, privacy walls are required. To ensure you select the right system for your project’s unique needs, you must first identify the primary reason you need roof access.

Is it just for mainte­nance reasons? Or is secure access also required for the regular assembly and disman­tling of devices on the roof?

You should also determine what tools and equipment need to be trans­ported through the access hatch or whether the work required will only be carried out by one person. Consider the frequency of access and the expertise of those who will regularly use the hatch.

Frequency and product specification

Once you know you have a fixed ladder, it’s ideal to find out why you need safe access to the roof. Then you will under­stand which roof hatch and ladder system is best suited to the needs of your project.

The first consid­er­a­tions when speci­fying a ladder for roof access are the location where the ladder is to be mounted and the requirement for additional safety features to ensure the person’s continued safety when using the system. If a ladder is to be mounted outside to access a roof, it must be equipped with a safety cage and railing to ensure safe access.

For a small roof hatch like the Surespan SRHP75, which has standard sizes from 600 x 600 mm to 1200 x 1200 mm, a fixed ladder should be chosen. This type of ladder is also best for projects with limited space.

The SRHP75 offers several unique features that make it an excellent choice for various appli­ca­tions:

1. Thermally broken lid and upstand with 75mm polyiso­cya­nurate insulation, providing a U‑value of 0.26W/m²K
2. Gas spring assisted opening for easy operation
3. Robust stainless steel latch with inside and outside handles
4. Lockable internal and external options for greater security
5. IPX6 water ingress and IP6X dust ingress ratings for excellent weather resis­tance

In cases where space is at a premium, an extendable ladder would not be recom­mended as the angle of the ladder would hinder easy access if a person moved closer to the hatch. However, retractable ladders are ideal for use in areas such as schools and hospitals where the roof hatch, measuring around 1500mm, is more important and the floor area must always be kept clear.

To ensure easy and safe access, a minimum head clearance of 120mm is required in accor­dance with BS4211‑7.2 and the maximum single rise should not be more than 3m.

If regular access to the roof is required for profes­sionals who need to transport tools and equipment through the hatch, a roof hatch with a fixed staircase, also called a roof hatch with a service staircase, should be specified with a compan­ionway ladder or a fixed staircase. The compan­ionway ladder is a 75 degree angled rigid ladder that provides permanent access to a roof hatch up to 2440mm.

As detailed in Building Regula­tions Part K, the roof hatch must be suffi­cient to maintain a headroom of 2000mm.

When speci­fying an extendable ladder, you need to know the height of the space between the ceiling and the roof, more commonly known as the roof void. This ensures that the ladder box liner will fit into the space once retracted. Calcu­lating the floor height to the bottom of the roof hatch should also be done at the initial stage to ensure that the ladder is short enough and long.

Regardless of the size of the roof hatch, the system must be operated quickly and safely with one hand in accor­dance with the require­ments of the Manual Handling Regula­tions, allowing the person to maintain three points of contact with the fixed ladder.

To ensure safe and unobstructed access, the ladder must be positioned opposite the hinge during instal­lation.

Tailored requirements

To success­fully meet the criteria, the more compre­hensive roof hatch and ladder options should be considered.

For example, ladders that have appro­priate fire ratings and are equipped with vertical back panels with steps and a handrail for greater safety should also meet applicable building codes.

Larger access openings or double-wing config­u­ra­tions should also be considered if access for larger equipment or tools is required. The SRHP75 range offers sizes up to 1500 x 750 mm, covering different access require­ments. Motorized options allow the person to safely maintain contact with the ladder when entering or exiting the hatch.

Other features of the SRHP75 that may be beneficial for specific project needs include:

1. External curb lining for improved weather protection
2. Double continuous bubble and blade seal on lid for improved insulation
3. Optional European deadbolt lock with internal knob and external key lock
4. Custom colors are available to match the building aesthetic

Regardless of the type of project, all instal­la­tions should be subject to an individual risk assessment. In addition, compre­hensive training should be provided for all profes­sionals, supported by method instruc­tions on how to use the access solutions installed safely and correctly.

For more infor­mation on speci­fying the right roof hatch for your upcoming project, download the Surespan Covers product catalog: