Roof Parapet Height Requirements

If a parapet wall is a minimum of 30 high and the height plus the width of the wall is a least 48 then it was determined that the fall hazard was removed and this was a compliant method to protect construction employees.

Roof parapet height requirements.

Unfortunately many buildings get close to this height without quite meeting the height required by osha to provide fall protection. Code compliant buildings from 70 100 years are subject to updates when there is a requirement for replacement. Parapet corrective work must be performed in conjunction with the installation of tension roof anchors. Simply having a roof parapet does not guarantee that adequate fall protection is in place.

No individual building façade can exceed 40 feet in height measured from the existing grade at the base of the building wall to the ridge of a pitched roof or top of a flat roof. Instead an 18 in. In order for a roof parapet to provide adequate fall protection a roof parapet railing should be at least 42 in height. There are several solutions to help you raise the height of your parapet that are cost effective and aesthetically pleasing.

The minimum height of a parapet above any wall anchor shall be 12 inches 305 mm. So projecting wooden eaves were banned in the building act of 1707 as a fire risk. It is highly recommended that any parapet wall acting as fall protection be 1 1m high meaning older buildings with existing smaller parapet walls are recommended to be extended to meet this 1 1m guideline. The most common parapet wall construction in the city is brick masonry.

If a reinforced concrete beam is provided at the top of the wall the minimum height above the wall anchor may be 6 inches 152 mm. Under the current code parapet walls at main roofs must maintain a minimum height of 42 above the finished roof membrane system or pedestrian surface. For new single family residential homes and additions height is also measured for each individual facade.