Roof Ladders

A roof ladder is simply a section of ladder that comes with a ridge hook to be used on pitched roofs to carry out repairs and maintenance. Your roof ladder is usually placed upside down on the roof and moved into position with the wheels then flipped when it reaches the pitched roof. Accessing a roof safely should be considered in the risk assessment before making a decision on the equipment you are using to complete the task in hand. A ladder for a roof is typically manufactured from aluminium due to the robust and lightweight properties, however fibreglass options are available on request.

Roof ladders are designed to not damage roof tiles, the strong hook and wheels help provide a smooth gliding mechanism over the roof to avoid damaging tiles. Roof ladders will not damage roof tiles provided they are used correctly. When adding a roof ladder to a sloping roof ensure the wheels are on first to allow them to safely glide over tiles without damage.

When using a roof ladder an extension ladder is required to get access to the roofline. To use a roof ladder it is typically taken up an extension ladder and placed on the roof. When doing this be sure not to exceed the maximum weight load of the extension ladder you are using. If you are using an extension ladder to get to the roofline you should check that the ladder extends at least three rungs above the gutter. Another option is to use a mobile tower or the Easi-dec roof systems which both gives the users of roof ladders edge protection for extra security when working at height on roof ladders.

There are currently no standards on roof ladders, which may be surprising. Although there are no current standards for roof ladders the Ladder Association are working with BSI and leading suppliers and manufacturers in the industry to set safety and design standards and criteria for the safe use of roof ladders. Our current range are built to the specifications of the EN131 standards and the Class 1 standard; our roof ladders are built using the criteria from these specification documents, however they cannot conform to the standards as there isn't one.

Roof ladders are typically designed from high strength industrial materials; they have strong hooks that are fitted to keep the ladder steady over the peak of the roof. It isn’t safe to stand directly on roof tiles or slates, but roof ladders offer a safe base to work from and move along.