Skylight Fall Protection
Skylight guardrails and rooflight covers for fragile rooflights. Send us the size and roof type for a quote within one hour.
Not Sure What You Need?
Send a sketch, a photo or your measurements. We draw it up free and quote within one hour.
Skylight Fall Protection: Guardrails or Covers for Fragile Rooflights
Skylight fall protection stops people falling through skylights and rooflights, which let light in but often cannot take the weight of a person or equipment. We supply two systems: skylight guardrails that fence the rooflight off, and rooflight covers that sit over it and still let the light through. Both are component based, so the parts are easy to carry onto the roof and assemble.
They are for building owners, facilities teams and contractors who send people onto roofs with rooflights. Measure the rooflight, send us the size and the roof type, and we quote within one hour in working hours. Kits and panels are held in stock with next-day delivery on stock orders, and our free design service will tell you which system suits.
Guardrails and Covers Compared
| Skylight guardrails | Rooflight covers | |
|---|---|---|
| How it protects | Freestanding guardrail around the rooflight keeps people away from it | Galvanised mesh panel over the rooflight, light still passes through |
| Roof type | Any roof surface up to 3° pitch | Metal profile roofs: trapezoidal and standing seam |
| Fixing | Recycled PVC bases. Nothing penetrates the membrane | Permanently secured to the roof over the rooflight |
| Rooflight shapes and sizes | Square, rectangular and dome lights. Kits for 2.0m x 1.5m (with gate), 2.0m x 2.0m and 2.0m x 3.2m | Modular: 2m x 1m primary panel, with 2m and 1m extension panels |
| Options | Gate for access to the rooflight | Standard (almost flat) or raised model. Tube can be colour coated |
| Listed standard | BS EN ISO 14122 Part 3 | Tested to EN ISO 1873:2014 Part 2, complies with the ACR Red Book |
Why Rooflights Need Protecting
Falls through unprotected skylights and rooflights are among the biggest contributors to work at height injury and death statistics. A rooflight is often sound when it is installed, but weather and wear can make it fragile, and a possibly lethal hidden danger.
Not everyone on a roof is a roofer. People go up to maintain plant and equipment, clear gutters and carry out surveys. The Work at Height Regulations require that anyone working on or near a fragile surface ensures, as far as reasonably practical, that suitable fall protection is provided. Building owners and contractors need the protection and the procedures in place before anyone goes up. Our guide to fragile roofs on farm buildings explains what Regulation 9 requires.
Not Sure What You Need?
Send a sketch, a photo or your measurements. We draw it up free and quote within one hour.
Guardrail or Cover: How to Choose
- Roof type decides most of it. Covers are made for metal profile roofs, trapezoidal and standing seam. Guardrails are freestanding and suit any roof surface up to 3° pitch, which makes them the usual choice on flat membrane roofs where nothing should go through the waterproofing.
- Rooflight shape and size. Guardrails fit square and rectangular skylights, rooflights and dome lights, in three kit sizes or sized to your rooflight. Covers build up from a primary panel plus extension panels for bigger rooflights.
- How close people work. A guardrail keeps people out of the zone around the rooflight. A cover lets people work closer because the rooflight itself is covered. The raised cover sits above the rooflight to leave a gap between the mesh and the glazing.
- Access to the rooflight. If people need to reach the rooflight inside a guardrail, the 2.0m x 1.5m kit includes a gate.
- Visibility. Cover tube can be colour coated where it needs to stand out.
- Number of rooflights. On a roof with a few exposed rooflights, guarding each one can be more cost-effective than full roof edge protection.
If you are not sure, send a photo of the roof and the rooflight with its measurements and we will tell you which suits.
The Range at a Glance
| Product | Codes |
|---|---|
| Skylight guardrail kits: 2.0m x 1.5m with gate, 2.0m x 2.0m, 2.0m x 3.2m | FAH3, FAK2, FAK3 |
| Standard rooflight cover primary panels: 2 x 1m, 1 x 2m | FA21PMST1, FA12PMST2 |
| Standard rooflight cover extensions: 2 x 1m, 1 x 1m, 1 x 2m | FA21XMST1, FA11XMST1, FA12XMST2 |
| Raised rooflight cover primary panels: 2 x 1m, 1 x 2m | FA21PMRA1, FA12PMRA2 |
| Raised rooflight cover extensions: 2 x 1m, 1 x 1m, 1 x 2m | FA21XMRA1, FA11XMRA1, FA12XMRA2 |
Skylight Guardrails
Recycled PVC bases hold the posts in position around the perimeter of the rooflight, and key clamp fittings and standard lengths of galvanised tube build a rigid frame on top. The PVC feet do not penetrate the roof membrane. All fittings are galvanised, so the system is long lasting and close to maintenance free, and assembly around the rooflight is quick. See skylight guardrails.
Rooflight Covers
Covers are a galvanised mesh panel on a galvanised frame. The standard model fixes almost flat to the roof and is designed to be permanently secured directly over the rooflight. The raised model is mounted above it, leaving more distance between the mesh and the rooflight, so that in a fall it takes the weight without damaging the rooflight. Panels are modular and easy to get onto the roof, and the frame and panel will not go brittle. See rooflight covers.
Where They Are Used
- Warehouses, factories and commercial buildings with rooflights across a working roof.
- Agricultural buildings with fragile roof panels and rooflights. See fragile roofs on farm buildings.
- Roofs being fitted with solar panels, where installers work close to rooflights. See skylight protection for solar installers.
- Plant maintenance routes, alongside roof edge protection and step-over platforms.
In the skylight's the limit, a customer found nine exposed skylights on three sides of a client's building. Skylight guardrails were more cost-effective than full edge protection, and everything was delivered within three days of the first enquiry, in time for a weekend installation.
How to Order
- Measure the rooflight: overall length and width, and note its shape.
- Note the roof: membrane, asphalt, metal trapezoidal or standing seam, and the pitch.
- Send a photo or drawing with the measurements through get a quote, or call 01905 779944, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
- We confirm guardrail or cover, the kit or panels, and the price within one hour in working hours.
- Components are delivered to your premises or direct to site, with next-day delivery on stock orders.
Why Buy Skylight Protection from Fisher Alvin
- In stock, with next-day delivery on stock orders.
- Quote within one hour from your rooflight size and roof type.
- Everything for the roof in one order. Guardrail kits, covers, key clamp fittings and tube cut to length free.
- Free design service if you need a layout drawn up.
- Founded in Birmingham in 1912.
Skylight Protection Questions
Should I use a skylight guardrail or a rooflight cover?
Covers are made for metal profile roofs, trapezoidal and standing seam. Guardrails are freestanding and suit any roof surface up to 3° pitch, including flat membrane roofs.
Do skylight guardrails need fixing through the roof?
No. Recycled PVC bases hold the posts in place and do not penetrate the roof membrane.
Will a rooflight cover block the light?
No. The mesh panel covers the rooflight while still letting light into the building.
What shapes of rooflight can you protect?
Guardrails fit square and rectangular skylights, rooflights and dome lights. Covers are modular panels: a 2m x 1m primary panel with 2m and 1m extensions.
Why protect a rooflight that seems solid?
Rooflights are often sound when installed, but weather and wear can make them fragile over time, turning them into a hidden danger.
Which standards apply?
Skylight guardrails are listed to BS EN ISO 14122 Part 3. Rooflight covers are listed as tested to EN ISO 1873:2014 Part 2 and as complying with the ACR Red Book.
What do you need for a quote?
The rooflight length and width, its shape, the roof type and pitch, and a photo if you have one.
Skylight Protection Guides and Related Ranges
Read first: skylight protection for solar panel installers, why rooflight covers make fragile roofs safe, fragile roofs on farm buildings and rooftop safety compliance. See skylight guardrails protecting nine rooflights in the skylight's the limit, or browse all projects.
Choose a system: skylight guardrails or rooflight covers. Also see roof edge protection, step-over platforms, self-closing gates and key clamps and galvanised tube.
Recent projects
A few of the jobs we have supplied. Every one was quoted, drawn up and delivered by the Fisher Alvin team.
Tell Us the Job. We Quote Within One Hour.
In working hours, with a free design service if you need the layout drawn up. Or call 01905 779944.