Safedesign lowers cost of roof maintenance and solar panel installation

Rooftop solar panels are a desirable option for generating renewable energy due to their efficient use of space and good connectivity to the grid.

However, safety considerations during rooftop installation contribute significantly to the capital cost. To protect workers from injury, scaffolding must be transported and assembled before starting any solar panel installation. In addition, scaffolding takes up sidewalk space, obstructing apartment buildings and shopfronts.

Roofbarrier by Safedesign is a lightweight, easy-to-install and versatile safety system made from sturdy netting and an aluminium frame. The system is installed directly onto the roof edge to prevent workers and objects from falling.

Compared with conventional scaffolding, Roofbarrier reduces the preparation time for rooftop construction and maintenance by up to 85 per cent. In addition, transport and storage are reduced by 90 per cent.

Safedesign is developing a new attachment mechanism. Currently, Roofbarrier is mounted on the roof, which can impede work that requires access to the entire roof. The new mechanism attaches to the wall, allowing access to the entire roof.

Roofbarrier has been approved as EN-13374 Class A, B and C roof edge protection (SINTEF PS 3524).

Roofbarrier can make the solar industry more competitive by reducing transport, assembly and storage costs related to scaffolding. Moreover, solar installers can recover their investment in Roofbarrier in under one year from the time savings alone.

For roof maintenance and rebuild projects, apartment dwellers and shop owners benefit from having continued access to their outdoor areas rather than being obstructed by scaffolding during long projects. Roofbarrier is available for sale and rental.

The market for general roofing work is large and well established. Safedesign sees great potential in this market, but the main growth potential lies in solar installation.

The worldwide market for rooftop solar installation is expected to grow from USD 9.2 billion in 2019 to USD 14.1 billion in 2024.

In Scandinavia, Safedesign estimates that the market potential for rooftop solar panel installation in 2020 is USD 11 million. Based on anticipated market growth, the Scandinavian market is expected to reach USD 131 million by 2029.

Safedesign’s target market is Scandinavia, and the company plans to expand to the rest of Europe in the future. Safedesign is a member of the Norwegian Solar Energy Cluster.