In the first of a new series offering practical advice for roofing contractors and rooflight installers, Jeremy Dunn, ‘Voice of the Industry’ and Technical Committee Member for The Rooflight Association, explores a common issue with glass rooflight systems and installations on site.
Jeremy Dunn received The Rooflight Association’s Voice of the Industry award earlier this year.
Issues can occur at any point during the process but they’re most common during design specification and installation. All too often these problems come down to a lack of communication.
The communication gap
There may be a lot of discussion and information exchanged at the specification and ordering stages, but these details rarely reach the installer – the person on the roof actually fitting the rooflight. This is often the case with manufacturer-supplied drawings and installation guides; they just don’t make it to site.
However, in light of the focus on competency and compliance, things must change.
Rooflight installation – image courtesy of Glazing Vision.
Evolving products and changing mindsets
It’s human nature to think, “I’ve done this before; I’ve fitted hundreds of rooflights; I know what I’m doing,” but products, technology and requirements evolve. We must be more disciplined.
While installers will be familiar with certain rooflight products, they must not assume that they’re all the same. There are differences and each product has its own requirements.
We’re encouraging contractors and installers to be proactive – speak with the administrator, buyer and/or project manager responsible for the rooflight and ask for the associated documentation. Do not start work without it.
Before installing a single component, request, check and verify the following: the upstand requirements – know exactly what structural base the rooflight needs before it arrives onsite, the weathering requirements and check for accuracy. Be aware that some manufacturers supply the rooflight with an integrated upstand. Product specification – review factors such as weather-tightness, non-fragility and thermal performance and ensure they match the project requirements. Armed with this technical data, contractors and installers can confidently address client questions and concerns about thermal efficiency, safety and weatherproofing; turning potential complaints and callbacks into peace of mind.
And finally, ensure ready access to the manufacturer’s installation guide for that specific model – remember every installation is different; do not skip this step. Most manufacturers will supply drawings, technical specifications and installation guides to support the accurate and appropriate installation of their products. These are commonly available in digital format, but, in some instances, hard copies are included with the product delivery. We’re also seeing QR codes being used more frequently, which give instant access to online resources.
Protecting your business
By demanding clarity and information upfront, contractors and installers can protect their business from costly snagging issues and remedial work, avoid non-compliance issues with building regulations, and most importantly, ensure the safety of the homeowner.
In the next article in this series, we’ll focus on the single most common failure point on-site – the upstand. We’ll look at how to check what your rooflight is being fitted to, and why getting the substrate right is so important for performance, safety and safeguarding business reputation.