Fall Protection
Our roofing/remodeling company, Blue Glass, LLC works utilizing OSHA compliant fall protection anchors on every roof job. We believe that in order to do good work, it is necessary to first create safe working conditions. So far, we have installed 5 permanent V-5 or V-8 anchors into the roof structure at FHUMC so that workers, now, and in the future will have the benefit of safe working conditions. These OSHA compliant stainless steel permanent anchors are covered with a bronze cap when not in use. You will notice that the roof sheathing (for the sanctuary and adjoining section) is made of precast concrete panels laid overtop of a steel girder system. Not only does this create an incredibly strong and planar roof system, it is extremely fire resistant because there are no combustible materials.
FLASHING
When we began the maintenance and restoration program, much of the original flashing was in caulked, bent and in deteriorating condition. As we are working our way around the church, we are replacing the flashing with 20 ounce copper as shown in the photo below.
The golden rule of slate work: Never walk on the slate. Many of the repairs we've made are from prior roofers, walking on the slate, especially along the valleys. Notice that we use ladders to distribute our load and we never step off the ladders.
Notice the fall protection line temporarily in place from the bell tower so that we always have fall protection.
Notice the fall protection line temporarily in place from the bell tower so that we always have fall protection.
SNOW
The Church use to have hazardous snow conditions on a few roof surfaces. Heavy snow loads would rip out (or bend over) the existing snow guards. As the guards would pull free, they would pull slate with them. Large quantities of snow would drop simultaneously at the bottom of certain valleys, creating hazards at doorways or roof surfaces below.
We observed which locations were problematic and then designed, manufactured, and installed heavy duty stainless steel snow rails to solve this problem. We also fixed the slate in these locations while the scaffolding was in place.
We observed which locations were problematic and then designed, manufactured, and installed heavy duty stainless steel snow rails to solve this problem. We also fixed the slate in these locations while the scaffolding was in place.