Roof Hatch Opening Requirements

Bilco roof hatches provide safe and convenient access to roof areas by means of an interior ladder ship stair or service stair.

Roof hatch opening requirements.

Roof hatches offer much in the way of convenience to owners and workers particularly for moving equipment or materials up and down through the hatch. More importantly the risk of injury or even death from this hazard creates a serious safety and liability concern for. Roof hatches can be equipped with motor operators for opening and closing the covers from a remote 3 position selector switch. The hatches provide access to roofs via interior ladders or stairs.

Guard shall be provided where the roof hatch opening is located within 10 feet 3 05m of a roof edge or open side of a walking surface and such edge or open side is located more than 30 inches 76 2cm above the floor roof or grade below. Roof hatches and scuttles provide safe and convenient access up to the roof areas on commercial buildings. But roof hatches that are left open for access or ventilation present fall safety concerns. A variety of special sizes are also available to provide an accessible way to install or remove large pieces of equipment from a building.

At the very least a fall hazard such as this could result in a fine from the occupational health and safety administration. In buildings without an occupied roof access to the roof shall be permitted to be a roof hatch or trap door not less than 16 square feet 1 5 m 2 in area and having a minimum dimension of 2 feet 610 mm. The angle at which a person ascends to the roof determines the size hatch required for convenient use. Selecting the proper size hatch.

Any open roof hatch is a potential fall hazard which can result in severe or fatal injuries. Styles applications typically a single door hatch is utilized for ingress. Understanding styles of roof hatches their applications and codes helps architects and building owners specify the right product in the right place while being code compliant. An open roof hatch areaway presents a fall hazard one that building owners and managers must address.