Skylights in industrial roofs are designed to allow natural light into industrial buildings, factories, warehouses, and other structures. While they improve interior lighting and can reduce the need for artificial lighting, skylights must also be considered a critical safety feature for work and movement on roofs .
A skylight can present a significant risk if a person walks on a roof without first identifying fragile areas or without having adequate systems in place to ensure safe passage.
In this article we explain what a skylight is, what types exist, what their main risks are and how to improve safety in industrial roofs with skylights .
What is a skylight?
A skylight is a structural element installed on a roof that allows natural light to be used to illuminate the interior of a building .
It is typically made of translucent materials, such as polycarbonate, plastics, or specialized roofing systems. It is especially common in industrial buildings, factories, warehouses, and commercial buildings .
Skylights can be integrated into different types of roofs and can take on different shapes and dimensions.
Its main function is to take advantage of natural lighting, but from the point of view of occupational risk prevention , its presence must be taken into account when maintenance, inspection, cleaning or equipment installation work is carried out on the roof.
Discover more: Difference between a skylight and a rooflight
Types of skylights in industrial roofs
There are different solutions for natural lighting on roofs. Among the most common are:
Continuous skylights
They are translucent elements that extend along a significant portion of the roof.
They are common in large industrial facilities because they allow natural light to be distributed evenly.
Individual skylights
They are installed as independent elements on the roof and allow natural light to be introduced into specific points of the building.
Sawtooth roof skylights
This type of solution combines different roof planes and can incorporate translucent surfaces oriented to promote the entry of natural light.
Polycarbonate skylights
Polycarbonate is commonly used in natural lighting solutions because of its properties and its ability to transmit light.
However, just because a material is translucent or seemingly resistant does not mean that a surface can be used as a passageway .
Why are skylights a risk on roofs?
One of the main risks associated with skylights is falling through fragile or non-trafficable surfaces .
Over time, certain materials can degrade due to factors such as:
- Ultraviolet radiation.
- Temperature changes.
- Humidity.
- Corrosion of fasteners.
- Material aging.
- Accumulation of dirt.
- Previous impacts or damage.
Furthermore, from roof level it can be difficult to visually differentiate a walkable surface from one that is not.
Therefore, a skylight should be considered an area of special attention when there is worker traffic on a roof .
Risks of walking on a skylight
Walking directly over a skylight can lead to various risk situations.
Fall from a different level
This is one of the main dangers. If the surface is not designed to support a person’s weight, it can break and cause a fall.
Discover more: Types of personal fall protection
Surface break
The aging or deterioration of the material can reduce its performance and increase the risk during work on the roof.
Discover more: Falls from heights
Slips and trips
Humidity, dirt, dust, or condensation can increase the risk of loss of stability.
Lack of identification
Workers accessing a roof must know in advance the location of fragile elements and the areas where they can walk.
Is it possible to walk on a skylight?
As a general rule, you should not walk directly on a skylight if it is not specifically designed and certified to withstand foot traffic.
Skylights intended to provide natural lighting should not be confused with surfaces designed for passage.
When there is a need to move around a roof with skylights, a safe and clearly defined route must be established , preventing the worker from having to walk directly on fragile surfaces.
The solution must be adapted to the characteristics of the roof, the type of work and the existing risks.
How to protect skylights on an industrial roof?
The protection of skylights should be part of the overall roof safety strategy.
Among the measures that can be studied are:
- Technical Walkways to create safe transit zones.
- Specific protections for fragile elements.
- Railings in areas where there is a risk of falling.
- Fall protection systems when necessary.
- Signage and identification of risk zones.
- Access and transit procedures on deck.
- Periodic inspections of the condition of the roof and its components.
The choice of solution should be made taking into account the actual configuration of the roof and the work to be carried out.
Discover more: Collective protection systems on roofs
Technical walkways for roofs with skylights
One of the most effective ways to organize traffic on an industrial roof is to create specific pedestrian routes using technical walkways .
Instead of allowing workers to move freely across the entire surface of the roof, a technical corridor allows a defined route to be established between different access points, maintenance areas, or facilities.
This is especially interesting in covers that incorporate:
- Skylights.
- Photovoltaic installations.
- Air conditioning equipment.
- Ducts.
- Chimneys.
- Maintenance teams.
- Different levels or slopes.
CAREX: technical walkway for industrial roofing
CAREX® Technical Safety Walkway is designed to facilitate the safe passage of people over industrial roofs.
Its use allows the creation of defined passage routes and the separation of areas intended for transit from those that may present risks or elements that should not be stepped on.
CAREX is made of S350 steel with Magnelis® ZM620 coating , in accordance with UNE-EN 10346, and has a surface designed to improve grip during movement.
In addition, the system incorporates a joining solution between sections that facilitates the continuity of the route.
Discover more: CAREX Products
Skylights and solar panels: a combination that requires planning
Installing solar panels on industrial roofs increases the need to properly plan maintenance routes.
A photovoltaic roof can simultaneously incorporate:
- Solar panels.
- Skylights.
- Cabling.
- Investors.
- Electrical equipment.
- Maintenance areas.
- Water evacuation elements.
- Fall protection systems.
For this reason, the design of an industrial photovoltaic installation should not be limited to calculating the distribution of modules.
It is also necessary to study how workers will access the equipment and how they will perform inspection and maintenance tasks safely .
A technical corridor can help define these transit zones and avoid unnecessary movement through potentially hazardous areas.
What to consider when designing a safe route around skylights?
Before installing a walkway or technical corridor, it is advisable to analyze:
1. Location of the skylights
The first step is to identify all fragile or non-trafficable elements of the roof.
2. Access to the deck
It must be determined where the workers will access the site from and what their usual route will be.
3. Equipment that needs maintenance
The position of panels, air conditioning, electrical equipment and other elements will determine the route layout.
4. Type of cover
Not all roofs have the same characteristics. It is necessary to analyze the construction system, geometry, slopes, and load-bearing capacity.
5. Existing protection systems
The technical walkway must be integrated with existing collective protection solutions and fall protection systems where necessary.
6. Maintenance frequency
The more frequently an area is accessed, the more important it becomes to have a clearly defined and safe route.
Skylights and occupational risk prevention
The existence of skylights must be included in the risk assessment when work is carried out on roofs.
In maintenance, cleaning, inspection or equipment installation work, planning must consider both the risk of falling from the perimeter of the roof and the risk associated with fragile elements or gaps existing in it .
Therefore, the safety of a roof should not be considered solely from the perspective of access.
It is also necessary to analyze how the worker moves once he is on the deck .
This concept is especially important in large industrial buildings and photovoltaic roofs where maintenance work can be repeated for many years.
Is a lifeline sufficient for working on a roof with skylights?
Not necessarily.
A lifeline is a system designed to provide protection against certain fall situations , but it does not automatically turn the entire surface of a roof into a safe walking area.
If the worker has to move around on a roof with skylights, the need to establish safe routes and clearly defined passageways must also be studied .
Therefore, in certain projects it may be necessary to combine different solutions:
Safe access = technical corridor + collective protection + fall protection system , according to the characteristics and risk assessment of each installation.
Discover more: Lifeline in front of technical corridor
Best practices for working on roofs with skylights
Before carrying out work on an industrial roof:
- Identify skylights and other fragile elements.
- Analyze the state of conservation of the roof.
- Define the transit zones.
- Avoid walking directly on surfaces not designed for walking.
- Establish safe routes to work areas.
- Assess the need for technical corridors.
- Determine the necessary collective protection measures.
- Use fall protection systems where appropriate.
- Inform and train the workers.
- Periodically review the installed security systems.
Recommendation: Skylights should be integrated into the roof safety design.
Industrial skylights are an effective solution for taking advantage of natural lighting , but their presence introduces conditions that must be considered in the planning of roof work.
In an industrial building with skylights, photovoltaic installations and maintenance equipment, safety should not be limited to installing a fall protection system.
It is essential to define where workers can move around and which areas should be avoided .
Technical walkways like CAREX allow the creation of specific transit routes on industrial roofs and can be integrated within a global protection and prevention strategy.
The key is to design the roof with future maintenance in mind, not just the installation.
Frequently asked questions about industrial skylights
What is a skylight?
A skylight is an element installed in a roof that allows natural light to enter the interior of a building. It is common in industrial buildings, factories, warehouses, and commercial buildings.
Is it possible to walk on a skylight?
You should not walk on a skylight unless it is specifically designed and certified to withstand foot traffic. Translucent roof surfaces can be fragile and pose a fall hazard.
What is the main risk of a skylight?
The main risk is falling through a fragile or non-trafficable surface , especially during maintenance, inspection or installation work on roofs.
How can a skylight be protected?
Depending on the characteristics of the roof, solutions such as specific protections, railings, technical walkways, signage and fall protection systems can be used.
What is the difference between a skylight and a walkable roof?
The primary function of a skylight is to allow natural light to enter. A walkable surface, on the other hand, is designed to withstand foot traffic. Therefore, a skylight should not be considered walkable simply because it is integrated into a roof.
Why are technical walkways important in roofs with skylights?
They allow defining specific routes for the transit of workers and reducing the need to move directly through risk zones or near fragile elements.
Can technical walkways be installed near solar panels and skylights?
Yes, provided that the solution is compatible with the configuration and characteristics of the roof and an adequate study of the route, access points, maintenance areas and existing elements is carried out.
Does a lifeline replace a technical walkway?
Not necessarily. They are solutions with different functions. A lifeline is part of a fall protection system, while a technical walkway establishes a specific surface and route for pedestrian traffic. Depending on the risk, they can be complementary.
