Flat roof fall protection: regulations you should be aware of
As an operator, ensure safety on your flat roof by familiarising yourself with and implementing the regulations on fall protection. This is the only way to prevent falls with serious consequences. Don't want to wade through a jungle of legal texts? With NIS, you have an experienced partner at your side who will be happy to advise you on the applicable regulations for fall protection on flat roofs and the use of personal protective equipment. Because we know the regulations for fall protection on flat roofs as well as personal protective equipment knows an anchor point. So that you are not left in the dark, we would still like to explain the most important regulations for fall protection on flat roofs.
A standard for safe workplaces: DIN 4426
For workplaces and traffic routes on roofs, the DIN 4426 standard serves as the basis for the planning and implementation of fall protection systems. Different regulations apply to fall protection depending on the roof area. As a general rule, fall protection is mandatory on flat roofs with a fall height of more than one metre. In addition, whenever possible, you should prefer a railing as collective protection to personal protective equipment as fall protection.
Two basic principles for fall protection: TRBS 2121 and ASR A2.1
Both TRBS 2121 (Technical Rules for Operational Safety) and ASR A2.1 (Technical Rules for Workplaces) serve as the basis for the regulations applicable in Germany for fall protection on roof surfaces. TRBS 2121 is a risk assessment for roofs. Measures for fall protection should primarily be implemented through collective protection such as railings. If this is not possible, individual anchor points can be used in conjunction with personal protective equipment against falls (PPE). ASR A2.1 defines hazard areas and presents appropriate preventive measures. This is because the regulations for fall protection on a flat roof stipulate that this is always required when a roof area is used for work or as a traffic route. This is the case, for example, during cleaning and maintenance work and during repairs.
Regulations for anchorage devices on roof surfaces
Roof areas are considered hazardous areas. It is therefore not surprising that the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) emphasises compliance with regulations for fall protection on flat roofs. DGUV I 201 - 056 provides information on the planning of anchorage devices on roofs and explains which fall protection systems are suitable and when. This enables you, as the operator, to find a fall protection system that is suitable for your flat roof and allows safe access to the roof area even in poor weather conditions.
To protect against physical injury and prevent accidents, there are additional regulations for securing flat roofs. To ensure that work on a flat roof can be carried out safely away from the edge, the BGV C22 regulation, for example, specifies when fall protection is mandatory to ensure safety on roofs. BGR 198 explains when and how personal protective equipment against falls from a height is to be used and what this equipment includes.
It is important to note that users must check their protective equipment before each use. In addition, the DIN EN 363 standard should not go unmentioned. This regulation on fall protection for flat roofs deals with personal protective equipment as well as fall arrest systems. These fall arrest systems include restraint systems that prevent falls and fall arrest systems that catch falls using a harness.
