rooflightcovers.com – setting the facts straight.

In February 2023 we commenced a partnership with a leading working at height manufacturer, helping introduce and support the growth of their rooflight cover system within the UK market. Since then, the product has been extremely successful and we have installed tens of thousands of units, equating to hundreds of thousands of metres of rooflight protection for some of the UK’s largest blue-chip organisations.

Naturally success attracts attention and recently we have become aware of claims being made that our rooflight cover systems are illegal because they do not yet hold independent ACR[M]001 certification, so, we believe it is important to clarify the facts.

There is currently no UK legislation that specifically states a rooflight cover must be independently tested to ACR[M]001. ACR[M]001 (the Red Book) is an industry-recognised test methodology for assessing the non-fragility of roofing assemblies, it is not an Act of Parliament, nor is it a statutory regulation.

The legal requirements come from legislation including:

• Work at Height Regulations 2005.
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

These require suitable measures to be implemented to prevent falls and protect those working at height, they do not state that ACR[M]001 is the only method of achieving compliance. ACR[M]001 is absolutely a recognised benchmark and is widely specified by architects, principal contractors, insurers and clients because it provides a consistent and accepted test methodology.

However, there is a significant difference between:

ACR[M]001 is the recognised industry test for demonstrating non-fragility
and that it is illegal if it does not have ACR[M]001 certification, because those are not the same statement.

Regarding the Rothoblaas Overnet system:

✅ Tested beyond relevant EN performance requirements.
✅ Independent ACR testing is currently being progressed.
✅ Manufacturer testing completed using the ACR methodology.

There is currently no harmonised British or European product standard specifically covering the manufacture and design of rooflight safety covers.

ACR[M]001 is the recognised industry assessment method, not a legal requirement and all of our systems are engineered, tested and installed with safety as the priority as well as all installations being covered under our partner’s insurance arrangements with £10 million cover.

The working at height industry relies on accurate information and it is important that we distinguish between:

• Legal obligations.
• Industry best practice.
• Client/specifier requirements.

They are connected, but they are not interchangeable.

To conclude, it’s not the first time that our competitors have been caught out telling lies, misleading the industry and purposefully confusing the clients in pursuit of their own profits, don’t be fooled.

For further information, please visit Rooflightcovers.com.