REDD Team rooftop access systems for safer building maintenance give facility crews something they often do not realize they are missing until they are already on the roof: a sensible way to get from one place to another.
Commercial rooftops tend to fill up over the years. A new HVAC unit goes in. Someone adds conduit. Pipes are rerouted. An exhaust system takes up space that used to be open. Before long, the route from the roof entrance to a piece of equipment involves stepping over one thing, squeezing past another, and carrying a toolbox through the middle of it all.
REDD Team manufactures aluminum access systems that can turn those improvised routes into permanent ones.
What Makes Rooftop Maintenance More Complicated Than It Looks?
From the ground, a roof can look like one big open surface. It rarely feels that way once you are standing on it.
HVAC systems alone can take up significant space. Add vents, pipe runs, electrical equipment, drains, ductwork, and other building systems, and maintenance workers may have surprisingly little room left to move.
Then consider what those workers are doing.
They are not usually walking around empty-handed. They may be carrying filters, replacement parts, testing equipment, or a tool bag. Something as ordinary as stepping across a pipe becomes more awkward when both hands are occupied.
A permanent access route removes some of those everyday complications.
Where Does a Rooftop Access System Begin?
There is no universal starting point. For one building, the problem may begin right outside the roof access door. Another property may have a clear path for 50 feet before a row of pipes blocks the way.
It helps to walk the roof the same way a maintenance employee would.
Start at the normal entry point and head toward the equipment that receives the most service. Pay attention to where you have to change direction, step up, step over something, or move uncomfortably close to equipment.
Those are often the places where stairs, walkways, platforms, or crossover systems make the biggest difference.
When Are Crossover Stairs Useful?
Imagine three pipes running directly across the route to an air-conditioning unit. Workers could continue stepping across them. They probably have before. The problem is that a pipe was never intended to become a step simply because it happens to be in the way.
A crossover stair provides another option.
The worker goes up a short flight, walks across a platform above the obstruction, and comes down on the opposite side. Nothing has to be relocated underneath.
REDD Team manufactures aluminum crossover stairs for pipes, utility lines, mechanical equipment, and other obstacles. The system can be configured for the height and space involved rather than forcing employees to find their own route each time.
What About Changes in Roof Elevation?
Not every rooftop is flat from one end to the other. Building additions are a common reason for elevation changes. Raised equipment areas can create them too. Even a relatively small change in height can become inconvenient when people have to cross it regularly.
A properly designed stair gives crews a consistent transition between levels.
That sounds simple, and it should be.
Access equipment does not need to be complicated to be useful. A few well-placed steps can solve a problem workers have been dealing with for years.
Why Would a Roof Need an Aluminum Walkway?
Sometimes nothing is physically blocking the path. Workers simply need a better path. An aluminum walkway can establish a clear travel route between the access point and frequently serviced equipment. This can be particularly useful on busy mechanical roofs where several different systems are clustered together.
It also takes some of the guesswork out of the trip for someone who does not know the building well.
The employee who has maintained the property for ten years probably knows exactly where to walk. A new technician or outside contractor does not.
Giving both of them the same obvious route makes sense.
How Can REDD Team Help with Rooftop Access?
A maintenance technician should not have to invent a route every time a filter needs changing or a rooftop unit needs repair. That is really what REDD Team rooftop access systems for safer building maintenance are about. Aluminum stairs can handle elevation changes. Walkways establish a route. Platforms provide working space. Crossover stairs get people past the pipes, ducts, and other equipment that have a habit of ending up exactly where someone needs to walk.
If rooftop maintenance at your building involves too much stepping over, squeezing around, or figuring things out along the way, it may be time for a better route. Call REDD Team at (800) 648-3696 or contact us online to discuss your rooftop access needs.