With so many day-to-day demands of facility management, it’s easy for rooftop traffic to get pushed to the back of your mind.
Especially for flat commercial roofs with HVAC equipment, ventilation, satellite dishes, electrical boxes, and more, rooftop traffic is a fact of life. Why spend so much time worrying about it when you know multiple people need regular access to walk on the roof?
Thinking this way can be dangerous. Believe it or not, regular foot traffic will take a serious toll on your roof and can cause damage if not managed properly.
If you don’t have a rooftop traffic strategy in place, you’re missing out on an opportunity to squeeze more life out of your investment. Now is the time to plan for keeping rooftop traffic in check.
There’s nothing you can do about regular roof maintenance. In fact, it’s a major factor in maintaining the integrity of your roof. While you (hopefully) won’t see any damage in the first months and years of regular maintenance, 5-10 years of unchecked walking and work can gradually cause damage.
A few ways that traffic can lead to rooftop damage include:
These may seem like disaster scenarios for rooftop damage. However, they require careful planning of traffic management to maximize longevity of any commercial roof. Here’s what you can do to curb the effects of rooftop traffic.
One of the biggest factors in minimizing damage from rooftop traffic is actually designing and retrofitting with it in mind.
What exactly does that mean? Whether it’s a brand-new roof or you’re trying to get more out your current investment, there’s supporting systems that can increase protection.
Regular foot traffic for basic inspections should take the same general paths. Adding rooftop walkways on these common routes can alleviate the stress placed on roof membranes and prevent any accidental damage. These walkways also solve the snow/ice/frost problem because they get foot traffic off the rooftop itself and add guardrails to increase safety.
Ramps and crossover systems can be used to help solve the challenge of preventing damage due to maintenance. Ramps can help maintenance workers get over piping or ducting while crossover systems make traversing the roof more convenient, protecting RTUs in the process.
However, what really matters is making sure you design all of these support systems properly to fit your rooftop best. And that means following best practices to manage rooftop traffic.
Specific support systems and equipment aside, your rooftop traffic strategy requires a deep understanding of the who/what/when/why of traffic and planning accordingly. Keep these keys in mind:
All of these factors will help you control rooftop traffic and keep your investment (and building interior) safe.
Want to learn more about the support systems that can help you execute the strategy? Contact us today to learn more about PHP or to schedule a free rooftop support evaluation. Visit PHP online and submit a free evaluation request form or call PHP at 1-800-797-6585.