Side protection systems for fall protection

The safety of people is the top priority when working at height, on the roof or where there is a risk of breakthrough. Collective protection is a protective device that protects all persons in an area at risk of falling equally. Side protection systems are collective measures, as they prevent people working on the roof from falling over a fall edge.

During installation or maintenance work on the roof, it can easily happen that the fall edge disappears from view. As a preventive measure, side protection prevents injuries that can be caused by a fall. Even if a person is safely caught in the event of a fall, for example by personal fall protection equipment, the person who has fallen can still sustain serious injuries. Collective fall protection can completely prevent such injuries.

Side protection systems – what you need to know!

Traffic routes on roof surfaces must be secured against falls from a height of 1 meter. The issue of fall protection for subsequent maintenance and servicing measures must already be on the agenda at the planning stage. This is particularly important if, in addition to the waterproofing and drainage facilities, there are also elements on the roof that require frequent care and maintenance. These can be intensive greenery, for example, but also technical systems that need to be accessible at any time of day or night in the event of a malfunction.

Side protection systems are divided into three protection classes in accordance with EN 13374. These range from class A, designed for low static loads with a maximum roof pitch of 10°, to class C, designed for heavy, dynamic loads on pitched roofs with a roof pitch greater than 30°.

Both side protection systems and railings must have a height of at least 1 meter. From a building height of 12 m, a railing height of 1.10 m is even required, measured between the user’s standing position and the upper railing rail. A knee rail is usually used for guardrails. It consists of a railing rail at the top, an intermediate rail in the middle and a toe rail at the bottom. A baseboard is not required for roof surfaces with a parapet of at least 0.15 m in height.

The structure of a side protection system looks similar, but there are different regulations regarding the spacing of the intermediate rails depending on the class. In class A systems for a maximum roof pitch of 10°, for example, a ball with a diameter of 470 millimetres must not fit through. This allows you to check whether the side protection offers optimum safety on the roof.

Fall protection from LUX-top®: Systems for side protection

We offer various collective protection solutions for use on flat roofs:

• LUX-top® G-T QUICK for quick installation thanks to plug-in connections
• LUX-top® G-T HA, height adjustable
• LUX-top® G-T HA green for use on green roofs, ballasting with granules
• LUX-top® G-T also permitted as maintenance, escape or rescue route, foldable and tiltable
• LUX-top® G-T DIREKT for direct mounting on the parapet or via adapter plates on the flat roof, foldable and tiltable
• LUX-top® G-T DIREKT AT for direct mounting on the parapet under the wall covering outside the water-bearing level
• LUX-top® G-T DIREKT WD II for direct mounting on thermally insulated flat roofs
• LUX-top® G-T LIKU for protecting smoke and heat extraction systems, skylight domes, arcade rooflights and openings

If collective protection is not possible for your project on the building in question, you will find a suitable selection of protective equipment and anchorage devices for fall protection with PPE in our range. We will be happy to help you find a suitable measure for your project.

Certification of our side protection systems

All our railings undergo factory production control (FPC) in accordance with EN 1090-2 in order to meet the highest requirements. Our side protection products are tested and certified in accordance with DIN EN 13374 Class A. In addition, certification in accordance with ISO 9001 and EN 1090-2 ensures high quality standards. The systems also meet the requirements of DGUV-I 201-056 and ÖNORM B3417.

Requirements and test methods for temporary side protection systems are defined by the above-mentioned DIN EN standard 13374.