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Roof Challenges
We all know that every roof is different and creates a new challenge. I thought I would post some more obvious challenges for us when we get on the roof.
The first two pictures show a flat roof of a hospital doctors building. This roof is a single story building and is at least 25 years old. As we can see, this roof has a top covering of gravel with an under layer of membrane and tar over metal decking.
This roof provides a challenge for ventilation because of obvious reasons. The built up membrane and tar with the layer of gravel will make this roof difficult to vent. Even if we can easily scrape away the gravel, the tar and membrane will challenge our saw technique and maintenance. If we are not prepared and not using the correct blades our saws will gum up and make cutting impossible.
The next few photos show skylights that we will mostly see on large, open span buildings. They allow natural lighting and are common in the “big box” buildings that we see in home improvement stores and large grocery and retail stores.
In some instances these vents/skylights can blend in with the roof surface and become difficult to distinguish from what it is in regards to the actual roof. These are especially dangerous during darkened and smokey conditions. Use caution and these are another reason for building familiarity.
These are not the only challenges that we face, but we will discuss more at another time in a future post.
Take some time and discuss how you would operate on these roofs with your crews. Are there some experiences that you might have had on these types of roofs that you can share?
Stay safe, train hard and be careful.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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in regards to the first set of picturees, we don't have them in our immediate area, but we do provide MA to an area that does have them. I wouldn't mind hearing about some tactics for venting this roof. Different experiences and lessons learned.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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Even if we can easily scrape away the gravel, the tar and membrane will challenge our saw technique and maintenance. If we are not prepared and not using the correct blades our saws will gum up and make cutting impossible.
Recently spent a training session on this very topic in regards to flat/low pitched roofs. Chainsaws for the most part are useless, the membrane and tar can gum up a blade quickly....A K-12 with a Warthog type blade was tool of choice. Make sure the saw is at full throttle before cutting and if you notice part of the membrane clogging, back off, and stop the saw and remove the clog, then resume. Although, it is easy to cut away the membrane with a knife, this helps to clear enough membrane for the saw to cut.
When cutting use the 7, 9, 8 technique. Start your cut with the far side from you, basically vertical from the edge to the middle of the roof (get the picture?) next cut is a horizontal from the cut to about 4 feet to where you are.....(if looking from the top, it makes the number 7)......Next cut would be a quick triangle on the edge followed by an about midline form your far to 4 ft from where you are......Complete the top cut to your now middle cut. (you now made the number 9)......from there continue the cut all the way down to the bottom and complete your initial cut....(you now made the number 8).
Use pike poles or pick axe to pull roofing material back until your hole is about 4ft x 8ft...bust through the ceiling to ventilate.
Another thing should be to ventilate some natural openings like skylights, vents, etc.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Why mess with these roofs at all?
Preplan and get adequate PPV fan and you can vent these without messing with the roof.
Even better, have local fire sprinkler legislation to keep the fires small enough that roof venting shouldn't be an issue.
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Permalink Reply by joemac on
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Cool the saw blade/chain with a light spray of water while cutting. It keeps things from clogging.
You do have a charged line up there with you, don't you?
The worst, by far, is a gable roof covered with slate. Don't even attempt roof ops without a roof ladder.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Hoevelmann on
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Thanks for the tip and yes, a charged line is standard.
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