PHP Roofing Blog

A knock on the door for an OSHA inspection is about as welcome as a call from the IRS. OSHA visits can make even the most conscientious contractor break out in a cold sweat. To make them ever more stressful, almost all are unplanned. You can have an inspector show up at your site for a number of reasons, ranging from an employee complaint to a routine inspection. In addition, any accident that results in a death or serious injury (three or more employees requiring hospitalization) will likely prompt an inspection. Here’s what you need to know: 

Your rooftop does a lot more than protect your business from the elements. Your roof can be a platform for HVAC units, vents, antennae, satellite dishes, elevator equipment, skylights, and, for some businesses, even a meeting space. Because rooftops can be such busy places, roof walkways are an important part of protecting both your roof and the people who use it to do their jobs. But you don’t want to turn the entire rooftop into a walkway, so the question becomes where exactly do you need them most? In short, anywhere you need to protect the roof or ensure roof safety for your workers.

Nothing is more frustrating than having to go back and fix an installation that wasn’t done right the first time. When it comes to installing piping or ductwork on a rooftop, the pipe support design and system are the most important elements that often get overlooked. These oversights can result in unnecessary and costly repairs.

Whether there are hurricanes and tropical storms on the coasts, or tornadoes and damaging straight winds inland, high winds have the potential to inflict serious damage on buildings. And rooftop structures are particularly vulnerable to wind damage! As the interface between roof equipment and the building envelope, your roof supports are a critical element to consider in your precautions against high wind events.  

When improper rooftop support systems are designed, engineered, or installed incorrectly, they can have a significant impact on the structural integrity and performance of a building’s entire roof area. In fact, the use of improper or inadequate roof equipment supports is one of the most common causes of roof failure – and don’t think that roofing membrane manufacturers and installers don’t know it too!

The modern commercial rooftop has become a very crowded space recently. One major concern of commercial building owners and the facility management firms that keep them operating is that with this increase in rooftop traffic comes an increase risk. It’s simple: more equipment on the roof means more roofing maintenance will be required – by more people – to keep it operating as it should. Developing a roof safety plan is a must for any commercial or multifamily residential building owner.

Today, as architects, designers, and builders are challenged to continuously increase the efficiency of building performance, it seems that every square inch of building’s space is scrutinized to insure that it can be used to its fullest potential.

A new rooftop is a major investment. Designing and installing a support system for your rooftop pipes and equipment is a critical part of protecting the investment you made in your roof. However, there’s one final piece of the puzzle: roof walkways. Sound like a luxury? It isn’t. Here are 4 reasons roof walkways are a wise investment: