Height Safety for Solar Installers: What Equipment Does Your Team Need?
Solar installation is growing rapidly across New Zealand, with installation teams spending more and more time working on residential, commercial and industrial rooftops.
While installing solar panels involves a range of specialist electrical and mechanical skills, there is another important part of the job that shouldn't be overlooked: working safely at height.
For solar installation companies, having the right height safety equipment available for your team is essential.
But what equipment does a solar installer actually need?
From a basic temporary roof anchor and harness setup through to a more comprehensive professional roof access kit, the right solution will depend on the type of roof, the work being carried out and the level of access required.
At NZ Access, we supply a range of height safety equipment and ready-to-use kits designed to help solar installation teams get the right equipment for working at height.
What height safety equipment does a solar installer need?
A typical solar installation team may require a combination of:
- Full-body fall arrest harness
- Temporary roof anchor
- Rope line and adjustable rope grab
- Fall arrest lanyard
- Self-retracting lifeline
- Connectors and carabiners
- Safety helmet
- Suitable access and positioning equipment
The important thing is that these components need to work together as a complete fall protection system.
Simply putting on a harness does not make a roof safe.
The worker needs a suitable attachment point, an appropriate connecting device and a system that has been selected for the roof and the work being carried out.
Start with the right roof anchor
For many solar installation teams, the first question is:
"Where do we connect our fall protection equipment?"
If there is no suitable permanent anchor or roof safety system already installed, a temporary roof anchor may be an option, depending on the roof construction and the requirements of the anchor.
The NZ Access Temporary Anchor Roofers Kit is designed for general roof and property maintenance where a permanent safety line isn't already in place. It includes a 500 mm flat bar roof anchor designed for corrugate and trapezoidal steel deck roofing systems with a minimum 0.42 BMT. The anchor is rated to 15 kN and manufactured to AS/NZS 5532:2013 requirements.
For solar installers working across multiple residential properties, a temporary anchor can provide a practical option where the roof is suitable and the system is installed correctly.
However, the roof and anchor must always be assessed for suitability before use. Temporary anchors aren't a universal solution for every roof type.
A harness is only one part of the system
A full-body harness is an essential part of a fall arrest system, but it should always be considered together with the rest of the equipment.
The harness provides the connection between the worker and the fall protection system and needs to be correctly fitted to the individual.
The Utility S Multi Purpose Harness included in the NZ Access Temporary Anchor Roofers Kit is a practical, straightforward option for general roof access and fall arrest. It features front and rear attachment points, is available in multiple sizes and is rated to 140 kg. It forms part of a complete temporary roof access setup and provides a simple starting point for businesses putting together their solar installation safety equipment.
For solar installers who spend a significant amount of time working at height, however, it is worth considering a harness designed with regular and extended use in mind.
The Petzl NEWTON FAST is a lightweight and ergonomic option that adds features aimed at making the harness quicker and more comfortable to use throughout the working day. Its quick-donning buckles make fitting and adjustment easier, while the design provides good freedom of movement when working across a roof.
For installers who are wearing a harness for much of the day, the Petzl NEWTON EASYFIT takes comfort and practicality another step further. It features padded shoulder straps, quick-donning buckles and a design intended to improve comfort during extended use. It also includes two integrated zipped pockets, which can be particularly handy for solar installers who need to keep small items close at hand while working around solar panels.
For a solar business, the choice can therefore come down to how frequently the harness will be worn. The Utility S provides a practical basic option, while the NEWTON FAST and NEWTON EASYFIT are worth considering for installation teams carrying out roof work regularly, where comfort, mobility and ease of use become increasingly important.
We also offer a wide range of other harness options to suit different applications and users. Give our team a call to discuss how and where the harness will be used, and we can help you select the right harness for the individual worker and their specific requirements.
Rope lines and adjustable rope grabs
Once you have a suitable anchor and harness, you need a way of connecting the two.
A rope line with an adjustable rope grab can provide the worker with a continuous connection to the anchor while allowing them to move around the roof.
The Ventura rope line supplied as part of the Temporary Anchor Roofers Kit incorporates a self-locking rope grab and can be adjusted to the required length. It is available in 15 m, 20 m and 30 m configurations.
This type of system can be particularly useful for solar installers who need to move around a roof while installing mounting rails, panels, cabling and other equipment.
For solar installation teams looking for a higher-end rope line solution, we also offer Petzl ASAP Ropeline Kits. These kits use a lighter 11 mm Marlow rope setup with the Petzl ASAP mobile fall arrester, providing greater freedom of movement while maintaining continuous fall protection as the installer moves around the roof.
We offer both the Petzl ASAP Ropeline Kit and the Petzl ASAP LOCK Ropeline Kit, with the ASAP LOCK version providing additional functionality for situations where the fall arrester needs to be locked in position on the rope. Both options are available in a range of rope lengths to suit different roof configurations and applications.
These systems are a more specialised option and can be particularly useful for installers who regularly work across larger or more complex roofs. As with any height safety equipment, the correct setup will depend on the roof, anchor points, access requirements and how the installer needs to move around the work area.
With a wide range of rope line, harness and fall protection options available, give the NZ Access team a call to discuss your application and we can help you select the right setup for your installers and the work they are carrying out.
The key is selecting the appropriate rope length and ensuring the system is being used within its intended application.
When a more professional roof access kit makes sense
For solar businesses carrying out regular installations, particularly on more complex roofs, a basic harness, anchor and rope line may not provide the versatility the team needs.
This is where a more comprehensive roof access kit can be useful.
The Petzl Professional Roof Access Kit has been specifically put together for workers carrying out solar installations, general roof work and plant maintenance where a permanent safety line system isn't in place.
The kit includes:
- Petzl NEWTON Easyfit full-body harness
- Petzl Vertex Vent helmet
- Marlow 11 mm Kernmantle static rope
- Petzl ASAP LOCK mobile fall arrester
- Petzl ASAP'SORBER energy absorber
- 2 x Petzl AM'D TRIACT-LOCK carabiners
- Petzl BUCKET 15 rope bag
The Petzl ASAP LOCK is designed to move freely along the rope during normal use and follow the user's movements, providing a more advanced rope-based fall protection setup.
For a professional solar installation company, a kit like this provides a more comprehensive solution for teams regularly working at height.
For larger-scale solar installation projects, where installers need to move across a wider area of a metal roof, a temporary horizontal static line system can provide a practical alternative. The NZ Access Temporary Metal Roof Horizontal Static Line System is designed specifically for sheet-metal, screw-fixed roofing and provides continuous attachment while installers move along the roof.
The system uses two temporary AP145 anchor points connected by an adjustable horizontal webbing static line. The anchors can be positioned to suit different roof profiles, with a maximum span of 10 m between anchor points for one user per span. Diversion anchor points can also be added where required to extend the system. The system is lightweight and relocatable, making it particularly useful for solar installation teams working across multiple areas of a larger roof.
For solar businesses installing larger commercial or industrial solar arrays, this type of temporary static line can provide installers with a defined fall protection system that allows them to move along the work area rather than being restricted to a single anchor point. The system is tested to AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 and AS/NZS 5532:2013 and is designed for use on suitable sheet-metal screw-fixed roofing applications.
As with all temporary height safety systems, the roof construction, fixing points, span, access requirements and intended use need to be considered before installation. If you're planning a larger solar project and aren't sure which temporary roof access or fall protection system is right for the job, talk to the NZ Access team and we can help work through the requirements with you.
Why buy a complete solar installation height safety kit?
For businesses running multiple solar installation crews, putting together individual pieces of equipment can become complicated.
You need to make sure the harness, anchor, rope, fall arrest device, connectors and other equipment are compatible and appropriate for the application.
A pre-configured height safety kit simplifies this process.
Instead of asking:
"What harness do we need?"
or
"What rope should we use?"
you can start with a complete system and then determine whether additional equipment is required for your specific work environment.
At NZ Access, our height safety kits range from straightforward temporary roof access equipment through to more comprehensive professional systems.
What should be in a solar installer’s height safety kit?
As a starting point, solar installation businesses should consider the following:
1. Full-body harness
The harness is worn by the installer and provides the connection to the fall protection system.
Make sure it is the correct size, correctly adjusted and compatible with the other equipment being used.
2. Suitable roof anchor
The anchor provides the connection point between the worker's fall protection system and the roof structure.
Temporary anchors can be an option on suitable roof types where no permanent system is available.
3. Rope line or connecting device
A rope line with an adjustable rope grab can provide freedom of movement while keeping the worker connected.
Other applications may call for a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline.
4. Energy absorber or fall arrest device
Depending on the system, an energy absorber or fall arrest device helps manage the forces generated during a fall.
These devices need to be selected as part of the overall system rather than added as an afterthought.
5. Connectors
Carabiners and other connectors provide the link between components of the system.
Always ensure the connectors are compatible with the equipment and are used as intended by the manufacturer.
6. Safety helmet
Working on a roof creates hazards beyond falling from the roof edge.
A suitable helmet can provide protection from falling objects and impacts while also providing appropriate attachment options depending on the model.
The Petzl Vertex Vent included in the Professional Roof Access Kit, for example, is designed for use both at height and on the ground.
Choosing the right setup for your solar team
Not every solar installation requires the same equipment.
A small residential solar installer may need a straightforward temporary roof access system.
A larger solar company carrying out installations every day may benefit from providing each crew with a dedicated professional roof access kit.
A simple way to think about the options is:
Occasional roof work
A temporary roof anchor, harness and adjustable rope line may provide a practical starting point where the roof and application are suitable.
Regular residential solar installation
A dedicated height safety kit for each installation team can make equipment management and job preparation easier.
Professional solar installation teams
A more comprehensive system such as the Petzl Professional Roof Access Kit can provide additional equipment and functionality for teams regularly working at height.
Height safety should be part of your job planning
Height safety shouldn't be something that gets considered once the solar panels arrive on site.
Before starting a roof installation, your team should consider:
- How will workers access the roof?
- What are the potential fall hazards?
- What type of roof are they working on?
- Where can suitable anchor points be located?
- What fall protection system will be used?
- Is there sufficient fall clearance?
- Is the equipment suitable for the workers using it?
- How will equipment be inspected and maintained?
- What is the rescue plan if someone falls?
Planning these things before the installation begins can help your team arrive on site with the right equipment and avoid having to improvise once work has started.
Get your solar installation team equipped
Solar installers spend a significant amount of time working at height, often on different roof types and in different working environments.
Having a dedicated height safety setup for your team makes it easier to plan for roof work and ensures your workers have access to the equipment they need.
From the Temporary Anchor Roofers Kit through to the Petzl Professional Roof Access Kit, NZ Access provides height safety solutions for solar installation teams working across New Zealand.
If you're not sure which setup is right for your team, speak to NZ Access for advice on selecting the appropriate height safety equipment for your application.
Shop Solar & Roof Height Safety Equipment
Explore our range of height safety kits, harnesses, anchors, ropes, lanyards and fall arrest equipment at NZ Access.
NZ Access — Height Safety, Confined Space & Rescue Equipment
0800 083 348
sales@nzaccess.co.nz