Safe roofing practices
Expert advice from Onduline
Expert roofing advice
Working on roofs come with many risks and dangers, even if a job only takes a few minutes. According to the HSE, “working on roofs is a high-risk activity because it involves working at height”. It is important to take necessary precautions to help control the risks.
The information below provides guidance and advice on installing Onduline roofing products safely and securely.
Working at height
Health & Safety
Working on roofs can be a hazardous operation. All work must be carried out with due regard to health and safety regulations as set out in HSG33 Working on Roofs.
Handling Materials
Fragile roof coverings
Onduline sheets contain no asbestos and present no known health hazard in handling or in use. It is not fragile and is without sharp edges requiring specialist protective clothing. Finally, its light weight and modular size makes it safe and easy to handle using established methods.
Working on Onduline Roofs
Fragile material
Onduline sheets should be regarded as providing a ‘fragile’ roof covering, work should be conducted using roof access platforms and ladders or crawling boards as detailed Health and Safety regulations as set out in HSG33 (Roof work). These should be positioned with reasonable care to avoid damaging the sheets surface.
If access to the roof is required for some purpose other than occasional maintenance of sheets, a permanent access platform should be provided.
Toxicity and Odour
Fragile roof coverings
Onduline sheets in the construction of a rainwater catchment systems give water suitable for drinking in compliance with the World Health Organisation and EEC regulations (Report Yarsley Technical Centre). During storage or when first fixed an odour may emit from the sheet as a result of the production process within the sheet at the time of production process. It is not harmful and will dissipate with normal ventilation provision.
Condensation can form on newly fixed sheets as a result of the drying out of building materials, This moisture can absorb dust from the atmosphere and mix with bitumen production residue on the sheet surface. The resulting discoloured water droplets can fall on underlying surfaces, it can be easily removed using proprietary cleaning agents.
Consideration of Fire Risk
Harmless material
Onduline sheets do not emit significant amounts of combustible gases during storage or use, and therefore require no special storage provision, although we recommend the material is stored in a normally ventilated area to ensure any moisture present can dissipate.
The composition of the sheet will burn only if ignited by an intense independent heat source. A fire can be tackled using normal firefighting procedures with due precautions taken in respect of radiated heat and fumes. Normal water-based fire extinguishers are suitable.
Condensation
Fragile roof coverings
Always ensure high- and low-level ventilation flow is unrestricted. If a new concrete floor is laid prior to fixing the roof sheets condensation can result due to the high levels of moisture produced from the concrete curing process.
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