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Flat roofs present a specific set of challenges for edge protection that most people in facilities management or construction quickly come to understand. The membrane is one of the most critical elements of the building fabric. It keeps water out and insulation performing as it should. Anything that compromises it, whether through drilling, inadequate sealing or mechanical damage during installation, creates a problem that will cost considerably more to fix than the original protection ever cost to install.
KeeGuard addresses this problem directly. As a freestanding, counterweighted system that sits on the roof surface without any penetration of the membrane or building structure, it delivers compliant, permanent collective edge protection without creating a waterproofing risk. This guide explains how the system works, why the non-penetrating design matters, and what the practical considerations are for specifying it on flat roofs.
Traditional fixed guardrail systems on flat roofs require mechanical fixings into the roof structure. On an older roof this is challenging because it requires locating structural members through multiple layers of insulation and membrane. On a warm deck or inverted flat roof, the insulation depth often makes it practically impossible to fix through without causing cold bridging. When cold bridging occurs within the flat roof construction, interstitial condensation can form, causing the roof to deteriorate over time and eventually require replacement.
Even where penetration is physically possible, each fixing point is a potential water ingress location. Sealant deteriorates over time. Penetrations that are correctly sealed on installation may develop leaks years later as movement in the building structure puts stress on the seal or the sealant ages. The cumulative risk of multiple penetrations in a guardrail installation can be significant.
The KeeGuard system removes this risk entirely. Its unique cantilever design provides strength and stability through the counterweight system, not through structural fixings. The system has been specifically designed to overcome the problems associated with traditional penetrative systems.
KeeGuard is based on a cantilever principle. Each upright sits in a base foot which is connected to recycled PVC counterweights. The weight of the counterweights, positioned on the roof side of the upright, counterbalances the horizontal load that would otherwise push the system off the edge. The result is a system that is self-standing and does not rely on any structural connection to the building.
The base feet connect to 100 percent recycled PVC counterweights. The system is compatible with concrete, asphalt, PVC membrane and felt roof surfaces. The standard KeeGuard system is suitable for flat roofs up to 10 degrees slope.
All metal components that come into contact with the roof membrane are covered with 3mm fluted rubber matting bonded to the underside. In some configurations, the counterweight and base foot also have sacrificial pads placed between the edge protection components and the roof membrane. This protects the membrane from damage via heat transfer or direct contact with metal components. On warm deck roof construction specifications, pedestrian tiles are recommended where base feet and counterweights are in contact with the membrane.
The counterweight configuration required for a given installation depends on the roof surface type, the roof pitch and whether secondary restraint is available. The system has been tested and documented for the following roof types:
• Mineral grade felt, restrained: maximum 10 degree pitch, tube size 8 at 2.9mm wall thickness, maximum bay centres 3 metres
• Mineral grade felt, unrestrained: maximum 10 degree pitch, tube size 8 at 2.9mm wall thickness, maximum bay centres 3 metres
• PVC membrane, restrained: maximum 10 degree pitch, tube size 8 at 2.9mm wall thickness, maximum bay centres 3 metres
• PVC membrane, unrestrained: maximum 10 degree pitch or 5 degree pitch depending on counterbalance configuration, tube size 8 at 2.9mm wall thickness, maximum bay centres 3 metres
Each configuration requires specific counterbalance assemblies at end uprights and intermediate uprights. The selection of the appropriate counterbalance assembly is based on the roof type and whether there is any secondary restraint such as a parapet wall or other structure at the roof edge.
KeeGuard systems are designed to a load of 300 Newtons per metre applied horizontally along the top rail. The guardrail stands at 1,100mm height, with uprights at maximum 3 metre centres. This meets the requirements of EN 13374 Class A, BS 13700, EN ISO 14122 Part 3, HSG 33 and HSE Construction Sheet No. 21 on working on flat roofs.
Wind loading is the most demanding regular force a freestanding roof guardrail will encounter. Kee Safety uses a computerised wind calculation programme to design each installation. Wind speed calculations are carried out to BS 6399 Part 2 and Eurocode 1, taking account of the building location, height and surrounding topography.
All steel tube in KeeGuard systems is galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 and ASTM A53, with an average coating of between 65 and 85 microns. Cast iron fittings are galvanised to EN ISO 1461. Grub screws are case hardened steel with Keekoat corrosion protection. All threaded recesses in the fittings have Threadkoat applied.
Where aesthetics are important or where planning permission requires a more discreet appearance, the standard galvanised finish can be powder coated to any RAL colour. Counter weights are available in black as standard, with other colours available at additional cost. Raked and radiused systems, as well as the folding Foldshield version, are welcomed by planning officers where a lower-profile solution is required when the roof is not in use for maintenance.
One of the practical advantages of the KeeGuard system on flat roofs is its modular design. The system can be reconfigured on site if requirements change. Sections can be added to or removed, and the system can be taken down and reconstructed elsewhere if needed. Where rooftop plant, cable trays or ductwork pass over the roof edge, the flexibility of the counterweight and Kee Klamp design allows the system to accommodate these obstructions without specialist fabrication.
KeeGuard is supplied in prefabricated kit form with a minimum number of assemblies, which simplifies transportation to roof level and installation. No welding, threading or bolting is required on site. Installation is carried out using an extended hex key drive and ratchet or battery drill.
The system is available as a supply-only product for installation by a specialist contractor, or as a full supply and installation service from Kee Safety or its network of licensed distributors.
KeeGuard is appropriate for any flat or low-pitch roof where collective edge protection is required and where drilling or penetrating the membrane would cause waterproofing problems, void warranties, or be impractical due to the roof construction. It is particularly well suited to:
• Warm deck and inverted flat roofs where the insulation depth makes penetrative fixing impractical
• Roofs with single-ply or liquid membrane waterproofing systems where minimising penetrations is essential
• Buildings where the roof edge protection needs to be installed without disrupting the building's activities below, as no drilling or hot works are required
• Sites where future changes to the roof layout may require the guardrail to be reconfigured
• Buildings where planning considerations require a folding or low-profile system when not in use