Rooftop Stairs – Non-Penetrating Roof Mounted Solutions

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Roof-top equipment requires ongoing maintenance to keep work environments safe. Workers accessing roof-tops to maintain equipment frequently meet accessibility challenges and obstacles such as pipes, skylights, ducts, and parapets, not to mention abundant trip and fall hazards. For rooftop accessibility and the ability to safely crossover over obstacles over 12″ height, an OSHA-compliant fixed non-penetrating rooftop stair or work platform is required.

When adding stair accessibility to roof-tops, a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) is required to ensure all conditions and contingencies are considered in the design, which includes not voiding any roof warranties and meeting International Building Code (IBC), OSHA, and any additional local compliance requirements. An engineer will ensure that structural considerations such as weight distribution, ongoing wear (e.g., wind displacement), and long-term maintenance are factored in. Cutting corners to get the job done should never be considered. Not only can this be costly, but certified contractors and installers are always recommended. For example, a leak in a multi-story office building due to an improperly mounted stair unit and mechanical equipment will never be worth the perceived savings of getting the job done quickly by less capable installers.

Rooftop Crossover Stairs Hero Image

Most commercial roofs are TPO Membrane or Built-Up Roof Membrane (BUR). All roof-top stair installations should use non-penetrating mounting solutions to be effective. Roof curbs and equipment rails (see below for more info) are raised structural elements located under the roof membrane and installed when the roof is installed or redone. If your roof-top project requires these solutions, adding them can be costly and time-consuming. For lighter equipment, such as stairs, a less expensive base plate is needed to be safe and effective.

What is a TPO Membrane Roof?

TPO is a one-ply thermoplastic polyolefin membrane with a reinforcing scrim layer used on roofs to protect commercial and residential buildings from the elements. TPO Membrane Roof install

Tar & Gravel or Built-Up Roof (BUR)

BUR is typically 3 to 5 layers of roofing felt and bitumen laminated with hot tar and topped with a layer of aggregate.BUR Installation

Ideal for roof-top solutions

Because Upside’s rooftop access stairs are modular and made from lightweight, high-quality aluminum, no lift or crane is required for installation, and each component can be carried up to the roof. They are designed to meet your specifications, including code-compliancy.

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Common non-penetrating base plate installation options

If a curb isn’t possible when mounting roof-top stairs, a metal base plate solution is an easy and cost-effective alternative. In standard non-penetrating installations, the stair is anchored with countersunk bolts to a flat metal plate. The flat plate is rigid enough to distribute the weight over a wide surface area to prevent damage from point load and leaks. A thick neoprene pad is glued between the metal base plate and the roof, protecting the roof from the abrasive metal. Often the neoprene pad floats on the roof surface. Local codes may require the stair unit to be anchored to the roof.

  • Stair base plate on non-penetrating isolator pads helps mitigate leaks 
  • Flexible enough to be moved or adjusted. This includes leveling the roof-top stair.
  • Weight distribution–distribute the load (point load) over a bigger area to prevent the stair weight from creating depressions that create pooling or ponding of water. It also protects the unit from penetrating the roof surface or creating structural damage.
    • With styrofoam-insulated roofs, weight distribution is especially important.
    • When a roof heats up, it can become soft and create depression.
  • Using neoprene pads or vibration isolator pads between the flat plate and roof surface prevents abrasion from movement or wind, causing wear through the roof membrane.
  • Base plates or mounts raise stairs out of standing water after rain/snow.
  • Base plates are easier and less expensive to install.
Vibration and Movement damage from non-penetrating support

Common reasons for rooftop stair, catwalk, or crossover installations

  • To be OSHA compliant, obstacles such as pipes, ducts, or walls over 12” that workers must cross over during ongoing maintenance, require a crossover stair or a catwalk system.
  • A permanent roof-top stair or ladder is required to access the roof or crossover a parapet or wall.
  • Safe access to solar panels, roof-top units, and mechanical equipment 
  • Stair crossovers over skylights
  • Safe access to work platforms for HVAC maintenance
  • Filter changes and maintenance for air handlers and evaporator coils
  • Roof-top access for the maintenance of power vents and roof centrifugal exhaust system

Curbs or equipment rails.

What is a curb or equipment rail?

A roof-top curb is used to mount mechanical units (such as air conditioning or exhaust fans), stairs, stair crossovers, or skylights on a roof.

A curb used on commercial roofs is typically a raised structural element made from wood or concrete located under the roof membrane. Flashing and a cant strip are used to transition from the roof to the curb. Flashing is usually a thin piece of galvanized steel used where the roof plane meets a vertical surface, the curb in this instance. A cant strip creates a smooth transition from the roof deck to the curb.

Rooftop Curb or Rail – A structural element under the roof membrane the unit is mounted to.

Because the curb is raised under the roof membrane, stairs and mechanical equipment can be anchored directly to the curb. Similar to curbs, equipment rails are long structural galvanized steel units designed to mount roof-top equipment, pipe roller supports, and duct pedestals, which do not penetrate the roof and are anchored using treated wood.


Common Rooftop Stair Configurations


Rooftop Stair Compliance

In addition to OSHA and IBC compliances, occasionally, additional codes must be followed to meet local industry compliance standards. In these cases, an engineer experienced with roof-top installations must be consulted. Aside from worker safety and building codes, wind events and seismic activity often need to be factored in when designing safe and effective solutions.

OSHA

Workers maintaining roof-top equipment at heights of 6 feet or more require access to stair platforms or conventional fall protection such as guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems. §1926.501(b)(1)

OSHA requires a crossover stair for obstacles over 12″

IMC-2003 306.5 Equipment and appliances on roofs or elevated structures.

Summary of IBC codes for stairs 

  • A permanent stair access solution is required for equipment and appliances installed on a roof that exceeds 16’ in height.
  • Roof obstacles and obstructions over 30″ high require a permanent method of access, such as a crossover stair.
  • A roof with a slope of 33% slope or greater requires a permanent stair solution.
  • Permanent ladders and stairs installed to or on a roof shall comply with the following minimum design criteria:
    • The side railing shall extend above the parapet or roof edge at least 30”.
    • The space between the ladder rung should not exceed 18”.
    • Ladders must have at least 6” of toe space.
    • 18” minimum spacing between rails
    • Ladder rungs must be no less than 0.75” in diameter and capable of withstanding a load of 300 lbs.
    • Ladders over 30’ in height need a landing rate to withstand 100 lbs. per sq. ft.
    • Ladders must be corrosion-resistant.
  • Roof-top catwalks need to be as least 24” wide and require railings.

Considerations for severe winds and seismic activity

Roof-top stairs and equipment must be engineered and mounted to withstand the forces of nature, such as high winds and seismic activity. Anchoring is required to secure the curb to the roof and the roof-top air-handling equipment or stairs to the curb. To meet certain local code compliances, a spring isolation system may be required. An engineer will need to evaluate your application and recommend the appropriate solution that meets the requirements of your project’s applicable building codes. Compliance verification and calculations can be provided and are performed by a licensed professional engineer for the seismic zone in which they are to be installed.