Installer Support
GETTING ROOFLIGHTS RIGHT :
IMPORTANT SAFETY & PERFORMANCE ADVICE FOR INSTALLERS
NARM , the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers , is the trade association representing the UK ’ s rooflight industry . Our purpose is to promote best practice in all aspects of rooflight design , specification , installation and maintenance .
As such , we often receive reports from concerned homeowners , highlighting problems with what they believed to be professionally installed rooflights , but which have subsequently been revealed as unfit for purpose and in many cases , downright dangerous .
With the growing popularity of rooflights and roof windows * among homeowners seeking bright , airy interiors , instances like these are increasing . One practice in particular has come to our attention , raising deep concerns :
What makes a rooflight ‘ fit-for-purpose ’? Here ’ s what to look for when considering rooflights for your next project :
Rooflights should always be supplied to site as complete units or assemblies , by a reputable specialist rooflight manufacturer and installed by a qualified person , to the manufacturer ’ s guidelines .
Safety Current British Standards define that inner panes on rooflights must be laminated in applications more than five metres above floor level ( increased to 13 metres in limited circumstances ) or are located over water ( eg swimming pools ). However , the relevant standard permits use of toughened glass inner panes in other applications , if a risk assessment is carried out and confirmation provided that this does not present additional risk to those below the rooflight .
The term ‘ toughened ’ implies a degree of safety which in the case of rooflights , is misleading . Toughened glass inner panes actually bring a risk of shattering and falling into the room beneath . Therefore it ’ s difficult to see how use of a toughened rather than laminated glass inner pane doesn ’ t present a risk to anyone beneath a rooflight , whatever the position or height of the installation . For this reason , NARM asserts that any risk assessment of a toughened inner pane is largely irrelevant .
For the safety of people needing to access roof areas , non-fragility classification should also be confirmed . The Centre for Window and Cladding Technology ( CWCT ) has devised specific non-fragility tests for large area glazing . These are referenced in the latest issue of ACR ’ s ( Advisory Committee for Roofsafety ) Red Book and NARM has published a document entitled Understanding CWCT Classifications of Rooflight Types . This can be downloaded free of charge at : https :// www . narm . org . uk / new / wp-content / uploads / 2021 / 08 / NARM-Quickguide-8-
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Another important point to be aware of , is the very great difference between a rooflight classified as ‘ non-fragile ’, which is designed to provide a level of safety in the event of an accidental fall onto the rooflight ; and a ‘ walk-on ’ rooflight , designed to allow frequent foot traffic for a roof terrace , for example . Walk-on roofllights are designed and built to floor loadings , to match the surrounding roof area – and are therefore much heavier and significantly more expensive than conventional rooflights . For more information , download our publication : Understanding the differences between non-fragile rooflights and walk-on rooflights : https :// www . narm . org . uk / new / wp-content / uploads / 2021 / 06 / NTD11-2017 . pdf
* Roof windows are covered under BS EN 14351-1:2006 + A2:2016 . The standard stipulates that roof windows must be installed in the same orientation and ‘ in plane ’ with the surrounding roof , typically at a minimum 15 ° pitch .
74 NOVEMBER 2022 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM