Introducing Wei, another fantastic photovoltaic engineer on the team at Energis! Wei has been working with us for about a year now and has truly thrived within the solar industry. He is here to shed some light on the ins and outs of roof safety rails (guardrails). Here are 6 questions that you need answered about roof safety guardrails for your soar installation.
What is a guardrail?
To put it simply, a guardrail acts as temporary edge protection that is fitted to a residential or commercial property before your solar power system is installed. It sits on the outer perimeter of your property’s roof and is made up of various metal parts designed to meet the conformity standards and occupational health and safety regulations for solar installations within Victoria.
Why do I need a guardrail?
Under new compliance of solar installation OH&S standards in Australia, a guardrail must be fitted on particular types of properties. It ensures the safety of not only the installers, but the surrounding public and the property itself. As solar is installed on rooftops at significant heights, it is important to take precautions and the utmost care to prevent any accidents that may occur.
What type of properties need it?
It all depends on the property and roof type. Generally speaking, any property with a high-pitched roof, has two stories or is a commercial property will need a guardrail fitted.
How long does the guardrail stay on my property?
A guardrail will be installed to a commercial or residential property before the commencement of the solar project. Usually, the guardrail is only on your property for up to 2 weeks, however, the length of time is subject to change based on the size of the property, roof type and the capabilities of the installers and the roof type.
How much do they cost?
As I said, there are multiple factors that can determine the cost of the guardrail fitting. At Energis, we charge a set fee of $550 plus GST however, we try and accommodate for all property types and offer per metre pricing as well!
It is important to do your research on the solar company you’d like to undertake your installation. Be cautious if a business does not require you to install a safety guardrail if you have a two-storey or commercial property. Ensure that the company is a CEC approved solar retailer and has been in the industry for a long period of time, just like Energis. Ultimately, it will save you a lot of headaches if your installation is completed in the safest way possible.
