Fragile roofing represents one of the greatest risks in working at heights within the industrial, logistics, and energy sectors. Every year, serious accidents occur due to falls through materials that appear strong but cannot support a person’s weight .
In this article we analyze what a fragile roof is, what Spanish regulations say, how to identify it and what the most effective protection solutions are .
What is considered a fragile roof?
A fragile roof is any deck surface that cannot safely support the weight of a person or a workload .
These types of roofs are common in:
- Industrial buildings
- Logistics warehouses
- Agricultural buildings
- Rooftop photovoltaic installations
The most common materials that create fragile areas in roofs are:
- Aged fiber cement boards
- Polycarbonate or translucent PVC
- Skylights or rooflights
- Damaged sandwich panels
- Thin metal sheets without support
In many cases, the greatest danger is not the main roof, but the skylights , which visually appear sturdy but can be easily broken.
What is a skylight? Find out here.
Main risks when working on fragile roofs
Working on a fragile roof without adequate protection systems can cause falls from heights greater than 10 or 15 meters.
The main risks are:
- Falling through fragile skylights
- Breakage of fiber cement boards
- Lack of anchor points for work on deck
- Absence of safe circulation Walkways
For this reason, legislation requires that a fall risk assessment be carried out on fragile roofs before accessing a roof .
Regulations on fragile roofs in Spain
Spanish legislation requires preventive measures to be taken when working at heights.
The main regulatory references include:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (INSST)
- ** Law 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention
- ** Royal Decree 1215/1997 on work equipment
Furthermore, INSST technical documents such as NTP 1218 Individual fall protection systems reinforce the need to use appropriate fall protection systems when there is a risk of falling on a roof .
The regulations state that:
- Access to fragile areas should be avoided.
- Collective protective measures should be installed whenever possible
- If this is not feasible, certified fall protection systems should be used.
How to identify a fragile covering before working
Before starting any work, it is essential to carry out a technical inspection of the roof .
Key aspects to review:
1. Cover material
Identify if there are fiber cement boards, skylights or deteriorated panels.
2. Age of the roof
Many materials lose strength over time.
3. Presence of skylights
They are the most critical point in industrial roofs .
4. Lack of security systems
If there are no railings, walkways, or lifelines, the risk increases significantly.
Safety solutions for fragile roofs
The best way to work safely is to combine collective protection and fall protection systems .
1. Technical walkways for fragile roofs
Non-slip technical walkways allow for the creation of safe circulation routes, avoiding stepping on fragile areas.
Advantages:
-
- They distribute the load over the deck
- They avoid stepping directly on fragile plates
They allow for safe equipment maintenance - They allow for safe equipment maintenance
They are especially useful in:
-
- Photovoltaic installations
- Air conditioning maintenance
- Technical roof inspections
Platform, corridor, or walkway for safety? Discover the difference here.
2. Lifelines on industrial roofs
Horizontal lifelines allow working with a harness, preventing falls into the void.
They are used when:
-
- Railings cannot be installed
- Deck mobility is required
- There are multiple work points
3. Skylight protections
One of the most effective measures is to install fall protections or grates on skylights , preventing falls through them.
Fragile roofs in solar installations
The growth of solar energy has increased the number of photovoltaic installations on industrial rooftops , many of them old.
This creates new security challenges:
- Installers working on fiber cement roofs
- Solar panel maintenance near skylights
- Technicians walking through areas not designed for traffic
For this reason, more and more companies are choosing to install:
- technical corridors on solar rooftops
- safe maintenance areas
- certified fall protection systems
Best practices for working on fragile roofs
To reduce the risk of accidents, it is recommended to:
- Conduct a risk assessment before access
- Install collective protection systems
- Use certified fall protection PPE
- Mark fragile areas
- Train workers in working at heights
CAREX and Fragile Covers
Fragile roofs on industrial buildings remain a leading cause of accidents when working at height. Correctly identifying risk zones and installing appropriate fall protection systems is essential to comply with regulations and protect workers.
The combination of technical walkways, lifelines, and skylight protections allows a hazardous roof to be transformed into a safe working environment.
Do you need technical walkways?
Contact us!
