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What This Means for Your Building
What Building Owners Need to Know
New Builds: Design Safety In Early
Incorporating fall protection during the design phase is the most cost-effective and futureproof route. BS 8560 encourages early planning for façade access and rooftop safety, which helps avoid costly alterations post-construction.
Older Buildings: Work Within the Constraints
Installing systems on heritage buildings or those not originally designed for rooftop work can be tricky. Solutions like freestanding guardrails, portable anchors, or minimally invasive fixings allow you to stay compliant without structural compromise.
Retrofitting: No Excuses, Just Smarter Planning
BS 7883 and BS 8610 outline how permanent anchor systems can be installed safely and effectively—even on existing buildings. The key is planning around roof condition, load paths, and future maintenance requirements.
Maintenance Must Be Planned In
Safe access isn’t just about the initial install—it’s about future use. Consider how systems will be used year after year: who accesses the roof, how often, and whether weather exposure or plant maintenance is a factor.
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Make Any Building Safe at Height
Whether you manage a flat-roofed unit, a complex commercial site, or a listed property, every building presents unique fall risks—but all can be made compliant and safe. It starts with a full review of your existing access systems, supported by expert guidance tailored to your building’s layout and use.
ProAltus helps you identify hazards, prioritise upgrades, and implement fall protection solutions that meet both legal and practical needs. Our proactive approach ensures you stay ahead of audits, avoid costly enforcement, and protect everyone working at height—before an incident puts your business and people at risk.
What Can I Do?
Audit What You Have
Begin by reviewing existing fall protection systems. What was once compliant may now fall short of current British Standards or HSE expectations. Older systems often require updates or complete replacement.
A professional compliance audit identifies gaps, highlights risks, and sets a clear foundation for improvement. It’s the essential first step before planning upgrades or making safety investments.
Auditing also helps clarify what’s working well, so you’re not replacing systems unnecessarily. It ensures that every upgrade is targeted, cost-effective, and based on accurate, up-to-date information.
Plan for Real-World Use
A compliant system is only effective if it’s practical. Staff need safe, easy access and equipment they’re trained to use. If it’s too complicated, it simply won’t be used.
Real-world use means considering how systems function day to day. Are access points clear? Is equipment maintained? True compliance blends legal standards with practical usability.
Engage with the people using the system. Their feedback reveals practical barriers and helps refine solutions. When systems are user-friendly, they’re more likely to be followed—and keep workers safe.
Safe Access Anywhere
Even with structural limitations—no parapet, limited load-bearing surfaces—safe access is still achievable. Solutions like counterweighted systems, mobile anchors, and modular rails adapt to difficult environments with ease, providing flexibility, durability, and long-term reliability.
Custom-designed fall protection can work around your building’s constraints without compromising safety or aesthetic integrity. With the right expertise and risk assessment, even the most challenging roof spaces can be made fully compliant and user-friendly.
Involve the Right People Early
Early collaboration is key to getting fall protection right. Involve safety officers, facilities managers, and installers from the beginning to align on needs, budgets, and compliance requirements from day one.
Bringing the right people in early avoids costly redesigns and ensures the chosen system works for both legal compliance and day-to-day use. Planning together builds smarter solutions.
This proactive approach streamlines decision-making, reduces project delays, and fosters a shared understanding of site-specific risks. Early input leads to tailored solutions that are practical, cost-effective, and regulation-ready.
Let’s Make Sure You’re Covered
Not sure where your building stands? We’ll review your systems, suggest improvements, and help you comply—confidently and cost-effectively.
