In the contemporary commercial, residential, and industrial spaces, safety and efficiency are paramount. Easy and safe roof access is crucial for inspecting rooftops, maintaining HVAC systems, performing routine maintenance, and more. Hence, you must invest in a sturdy and dependable ladder that provides access to roof hatches. Traditional methods of accessing roofs, like makeshift scaffolding and external ladders, pose significant risks. Roof hatch access ladders help minimize such risks by providing a stable and secure path to the rooftop.
Use of Roof Hatch Access Ladders
A roof hatch is among the most high-risk access points installed on a building. They are usually included in the design of multi-family buildings, commercial buildings, and industrial structures where access to the roof is an essential part of building maintenance. These access points are frequently used by workers to install and maintain HVAC systems, antennas, and drainage infrastructure.
Traditionally, roof access was often provided through fixed wall ladders installed on the exterior of buildings. While such an approach works well in certain situations, workers using external ladders tend to be directly affected by environmental conditions like wind, rain, and snow. Therefore, if roof access was required during adverse weather, the odds of slipping or losing balance increased substantially. To minimize slip and fall risk, the use of a roof access hatch and ladder became commonplace.
Roof hatches allow access from inside the building, protecting users from direct exposure to harsh weather while climbing. This internal access approach significantly reduces the need for workers to balance on exterior ladders at dangerous heights. By offering a controlled and more stable transition point to the roof, ladders providing access to roof hatches improve overall safety and convenience.
Common Types of Roof Hatch Access Ladders
Modern manufacturers offer a full line of ladders for access to roof hatches. Here are some of the most common roof hatch access ladders:
- Ships Ladders: Ship ladders are designed to be a fixed, permanent installation by using heavy-duty aluminium brackets. They generally feature flush handrails.
- Folding Wall Ladders: Designed with specially engineered mounting brackets, folding wall ladders are an excellent space-saving solution for both residential and commercial environments. These ladders can be securely fixed to a wall and neatly folded away when not in use, thereby freeing up valuable floor space. Folding wall ladders are equipped with solid, no-scuff feet that provide a firm and dependable grip on various floor surfaces.
- Fixed Wall Ladders: These ladders have heavy-duty mounting brackets and provide permanent access to roof hatches.
- Retractable Fixed Wall Ladders: The space-saving design of such ladders makes them suitable for use in areas with tight access to roof hatches. Retractable fixed wall ladders have specialized mounting brackets that allow the ladder to retract flat against the wall. Such ladders are also usually fitted with non-marking rubber feet at the base, which provide a firm grip on the floor while preventing scratches or damage to surface finishes.
You must opt for ladders that are not only designed keeping the safety of the users in mind, but are also compliant with OSHA regulations.
