For the sake of space planning, aesthetics, or practicality, industrial facilities will often locate HVAC and other equipment on the roof of their buildings. While this can solve issues inside the building, it creates a new set of challenges for maintaining the integrity and safety of the rooftop. Even for flat rooftops, a safe walkway will benefit not only the roof but the pedestrians as well. Unistrut Roofwalks rooftop walkway systems are a low-cost solution for preventing damage and keeping personnel safe.

What are Unistrut Roofwalks?

Unistrut Roofwalks are raised paths installed on your facility’s roof, made up of steel plank grating to provide a non-slip, visible walkway that creates easy access to your rooftop equipment. Regardless of roof type or pitch, a Unistrut Roofwalk can be designed and installed for your rooftop, preventing potential problems. 

If you have equipment on your roof, maintenance trips are unavoidable. With those periodic maintenance trips come the possibility of personnel injuries and roof panel damage, leading to leaks, safety hazards, and other damage. 

The Unistrut Roofwalks system installs without roof penetration and distributes weight loads evenly, reducing opportunities for damage to your roof. And the anti-skid surface and clear visibility keep your personnel safe.

Who Needs a Roofwalks System?

Truthfully, anyone with equipment on their roof would benefit from a Unistrut Roofwalk system. All roofs are at risk of damage from foot traffic, and any roof surface can be a hazard to staff safety. Below are a few common situations we’ve seen from our Roofwalks customers.

Meeting OSHA Approval

Unistrut rooftop walkway systems have several key features to keep employees safe while on the roof, helping to meet OSHA standards. The anti-skid surface prevents slippage, and the optional handrails prevent falls and keep workers away from the edge of the roof. Additionally, the kick plate helps prevent tools or hardware from falling off of the walkway or roof.

Concern for Roof Integrity

Foot traffic can cause roof damage that leads to leaks, which can mean not only fixing or replacing that section of roof but internal damage as well. Unistrut Roofwalks provide a clearly defined, safe walking surface that is elevated from the roof’s surface, minimizing opportunities for damage. 

For those concerned that installing a rooftop walkway system opens up your roof to further vulnerabilities, Unistrut Roofwalks do not require roof penetration for install. The standard standing seam Roofwalks are designed with connection hardware that attach the roof access walkway to the standing seam ribs. The only exception to the no penetration policy is panel rib roof types that have no standing seams.

Avoiding Seasonal Weather Concerns

While no one is particularly excited about being on a rooftop in the dog days of summer, the harsh days of winter pose major concerns for worker safety. You may be able to schedule routine maintenance to avoid rain or snow, but there will inevitably come a time when a maintenance team or personnel member needs to access your rooftop equipment in inclement weather. 

Flat, single-ply roofs can accumulate ice patches, and standing seam roofs especially pose a threat when covered in snow, hiding tripping hazards with every step. Unistrut Roofwalks anti-skid surface helps workers avoid ice patches and the elevated walkway keeps them above the snow.

Customize your Unistrut Roofwalks Solution with Unistrut Midwest

The Unistrut Midwest team has years of experience designing and installing Roofwalks on any roof type or pitch. With the product lines and expertise to identify the right product and engineered solution for your application, our team can engineer and install full, turn-key solutions for any rooftop walkway, access platform, or crossover stairs. 

Field tested and proven for over a decade, Roofwalks rooftop walkways are simply the best for product value and performance. The low cost of installation, virtually no maintenance cost, and long service life make Roofwalks the most cost-effective system available for roof and service personnel protection. 

And like many other Unistrut products, Unistrut Roofwalks can be prefabricated off-site and delivered to your location numbered and tagged so that your team can easily install the system with hand tools. 

If you’re interested in keeping your roof and team members safe, contact our team to get started on your Unistrut Roofwalks design. We’re ready to develop the right solution for your unique situation.