What it is
Rooflights and skylights are one of the most frequently overlooked fall hazards on a commercial roof. The HSE consistently identifies falls through fragile rooflights as a leading cause of fatal falls from height. A rooflight may look solid from above but in many cases is rated only for the weight of the manufacturer’s installation crew, not the weight of a maintenance worker walking across it years later.
Skylight fall protection systems are installed over and around the rooflight to prevent a person from falling through it. There are three principal approaches: rigid steel mesh guards installed over the dome, perimeter guardrails fitted around each rooflight, and walkway systems that route foot traffic away from fragile areas. The right approach depends on the rooflight type, the frequency of maintenance access, and the surrounding roof structure.
Installation is carried out to the ACR (M) 001:2019 test method for non-fragility, with reference to HSE guidance HSG33 (Health and safety in roof work). Any retrofit installation must not compromise the weatherproofing of the rooflight or the surrounding roof membrane, which is one of the most common reasons that DIY or non-specialist installations fail building warranty.
When it applies
- Where rooflights have been identified as fragile or where their non-fragility status cannot be confirmed
- Following a compliance check that has flagged rooflights as a residual risk
- On industrial, warehouse, or commercial buildings with significant rooflight coverage
- Where roof access is frequent and rooflight proximity to access routes is unavoidable
- Following any near-miss involving rooflight access
The process
- Site survey. Engineer attends and surveys every rooflight on the roof. Rooflight type, condition, surround structure, and access pattern documented.
- Specification. Appropriate protection system specified for each rooflight or zone, with reference to ACR (M) 001:2019.
- Quotation. Fixed-price quotation issued covering supply and installation.
- Installation. Carried out by our own engineers without disrupting the building’s normal operation.
- Certification. Installation certificate issued on completion, with photographic record of every protected rooflight.
What you receive
- Installation certificate to ACR (M) 001:2019 and HSG33
- Site survey with annotated roof plan
- Specification document covering product, fixing, and installation method
- Photographic record of every protected rooflight
- 10-year product warranty (typical, varies by product)
- 12-monthly inspection cycle to confirm continued non-fragility status
- Inclusion in the next annual compliance check at no additional survey cost