PHP Roofing Blog

Rooftops are inherently dangerous places. The reports are out there: Falls from high places are one of the most common accidents in the workplace. These falls can also be extremely costly. According to OSHA, the incurred claims costs of falls from elevation average approximately $54 million per year. Medical care accounted for roughly 2/3 of those benefits.

Protecting your roof and your workers means knowing when you need expert help. That requires recognizing both the type of problem you have and the seriousness of the situation, and that can only happen when you’re carrying out regular inspections of your rooftop supports and know what to look for.

Safety should be a primary concern in all areas of a commercial building. And your roof is an especially important area to implement safety protocols. In addition to building maintenance personnel, other individuals including contractors and repair people, security guards, insurance agents, inspectors, and window washers may all need access to your roof from time to time. Having a rooftop safety protocol in place will help prevent unnecessary accidents and their accompanying financial costs.

Most roofing professionals recommend twice-yearly roof inspections. And this is not just about their bottom line! Regular roofing maintenance and inspections have been proven to increase roof longevity significantly. Not inspecting can in some cases even void your roof warranty.

If you live in a part of the world that is susceptible to earthquakes, it is absolutely imperative that you take steps to insure that the roof pipe supports are up to the challenge. While it’s always a good idea to work with an experienced pipe support design professional when mapping out any new (or retrofitted) rooftop support system, this is especially important when the building is located in an area with frequent seismic activity.

Earlier this month, we wrote an article about some of the most common pipe hanger and support installation mistakes we often see in the field and suggested fixes. Now, we'd want to expand on that article and talk about another issue we often see in the field: improper roof equipment supports installation. Specifically, heavy equipment supports including those for  AC units, signs, solar panels, telecom equipment, air handlers, and chillers.

No matter what type of building you are planning to construct – a commercial warehouse, industrial or manufacturing facility, hospital, or school – designing reliable, functional rooftop support systems are essential to protecting the health and safety of occupants and the service men and women responsible for maintaining the equipment located there. 

Together you and your client have conducted research, evaluated your options, and have finally made an investment in pipe hangers and supports. The last step is to install the rooftop system. We know how important it is to get the job done right the first time and avoid costly mistakes.  To help you avoid installation issues we have created a list of the most damaging mistakes we have seen made.  Check out the following tips and red flags before installing your next project: