HSE was engaged to install a compliant solar panel access and gutter access system for a new building at Bomaderry High School.
The installation of solar panels has become part and parcel of just about every commercial and industrial building project. As a result, the need for height safety and fall protection designs to allow for easy access to these systems has become part of the architectural and drafting process along with other needs like gutter and general roof access.
In mid-2024, Height Safety Engineers was invited to participate in a tender for the installation of compliant fall protection and safe access to solar panels as part of the construction of a new student and administration building at Bomaderry High School, on the New South Wales south coast, as you head towards Jervis Bay. The conceptual design of the system had been completed by the architect in consultation with Kattsafe, a supplier of roof safety equipment.
The construction tender was awarded to Patterson Building Group in August 2024. Discussions over the following months saw HSE awarded a contract for the height safety works in February 2025. The installation of the system was completed in March.
The new building and roof area
The new building at the school would actually be two buildings, connected by a covered courtyard area.
At one end of the new structure (the southern end) would be a new school administration hub containing the principal’s office, school clinic, staff roof, a number of meeting rooms along with storage and ancillary meeting/working spaces.
The second, and larger, portion of the structure would contain both a wood and metal technology learning up as well as a food and textiles learning hub. Inside would be. number of classrooms and specialist workshops.
Overall, the new building would have a footprint of just over 2000m².
The roof would be constructed using metal roof sheeting with build-in insulation.
Over the southern portion of the roof, 160 solar panels would be installed in 4 banks, each containing two rows of 20 panels.
Designing the solar safety system
Access to the roof was to be via a portable ladder. This would be placed in a fixed ladder bracket, located on a portion of roof connecting the north and south areas of the structure.
The roof over the southern (administration) section of the building is pitched 4-degrees, with the high side on the eastern edge and falling towards the west.
The ladder bracket is located on the low side of the roof. This is to prevent the worker falling and sliding along the roof should an accident occur transferring from the ladder to the roof.
Along with the ladder bracket, a self-closing gate placed on the roof edge, plus guardrail that allows the worker to move more than 2.5m onto the roof while remaining protected against a fall from the edge.
Once on the roof, a walkway system allowed the worker to move across an even surface towards the solar panel array. The walkway would continue along one side of the panel array, with extensions running between each bank of panels. This would allow safe and easy access to every panel in the solar system.
All in all, there would be 130m of aluminium walkway installed for access to the solar panels.
Given the location of the walkway away from the roof edge, and the inclusion of guardrail and self-closing gate at the access point, access to the solar panel array could be made by a worker without a wearing a harness.
Designing safe gutter access
The design and layout of the roof was unusual in that the way it was to be pitched, and the location of the ridges resulted in guttering for rainwater would only be required in certain sections.
Providing safe access to these areas required utilising different solutions, depending on where they were.
For the southern portion of the new building, a 42m static line was placed along the outside edge of the walkway installed to access the solar panels.
Connection to this static line would allow a worker to access the entire length of gutter located on that side of the access point without needing to disconnect and reconnect to a series of anchors. They would use fall restraint technique to keep themselves out of a position where a fall would be possible.
For the northern section of roof, a similar approach was taken for the western edge. This time, the static line would be only 37m in length.
To access the remainder of the roof guttering, the worker would connect to a series of roof anchor points, using fall restraint technique.
The inevitable challenges of new building work
One of the most common challenges that needs to be overcome when installing a height safety system on a building still under construction is adapting the system to changes that have been made since the plans first landed on the designer’s desk.
The project to construct the new classrooms and administration building at Bomaderry High School was no different.
The final layout, size and quantity of the solar panel array differed significantly from what had been shown on the initial architectural plans. This required our team to work closely with the builder to adapt our proposed system to suit the reality of what had been placed on site.
Skylights
Located on the roof, between the access point and the solar panel array are two large skylight panels. Generally, skylight panels like these are not able to be walked on by workers or anyone accessing the roof.
In this case, however, the design of the height safety system – designated movement paths provided by aluminium walkways – will keep workers well clear of these potential risk areas.
Completion and handover
At the conclusion of installation works, the system is then handed over to the builder.
After checking that every component has been installed in accordance with the manufacturer instructions and in line with the plans supplied by the designer, a compliance system is generated certifying the system for 12 months.
Once the building itself is completed and handed over to the school, they will need to make sure the height safety system continues to be inspected regularly. This is outlined in the operations and maintenance manual that is included in the final documentation provided by Height Safety Engineers.
Partners in protecting people
Height Safety Engineers work with everyone. Our team regularly engages with architects, designers and builders doing new commercial and industrial construction. We also work closely with facility managers and building owners needing ongoing maintenance of their existing systems.
No matter your height safety or fall protection needs, HSE has the skills and know-how to help you better protect your people. Start your safety journey with us today.
Call us on 1300 884 978, or you can email us on enquiries@heightsafety.net or you can fill out the contact form right here.
Height Safety Engineers. Your partners in protecting people.
