Why should you choose a roof access hatch? That's a good question! In this blog, we will explain the advantages of a roof access hatch.
A roof access hatch allows you to get onto a flat roof, whether for maintenance work or to enjoy your roof terrace.
Until a few years ago, a fixed caged ladder was used to access the roofs of commercial buildings. This fixed caged ladder was mounted on the outside of the building (which didn't exactly improve the building's appearance) and meant making a long vertical climb from ground level to the roof.
The big advantage of a roof access hatch is that you only need to bridge one floor. By installing a roof access hatch, the climb to the roof takes place indoors and you can use the existing staircase to reach the top floor of the building. The climb from there to the top floor and through the roof access hatch is then generally only 2.5 to 3 metres and you can easily and safely bridge this height by combining the roof access hatch with a ladder or staircase.
It's an even easier choice to make when you know that an outside fixed cage ladder is two to three times more expensive than a roof access hatch.
As an alternative to a roof access hatch, you can also choose to create a roof access point with a skylight or rooftop house. The access point to the flat roof is generally the highest point in the building and as warm air rises it is therefore also the warmest point in the building.
If you opt to incorporate a rooftop house or skylight into your roof access point, the risk of heat loss is high. The rooftop house is a large open space that completely fills up with warm air from elsewhere in the building. That's a waste of energy, as you lose heat from your building to fill an empty space.
If you opt for a skylight, it is wise to pay close attention to the insulation value. By way of comparison: a four-walled skylight has a U-value of 1.4 and a Staka TopAccess roof hatch has a U-value of 0.21 (almost seven times less).
Like a skylight, a roof access hatch is quick and easy to install. The roof access hatch is delivered fully assembled so you don't need to assemble or fit together any parts. The roof access hatch is equipped with a mounting flange that allows you to fix it directly to the roof. Read more about the installation of a roof access hatch here.
Of course you would like to know what a roof access hatch would cost in your situation. Use the quote configurator on our website and receive a price for a roof access hatch within one minute. Think a different roof access hatch or staircase might work better? You can easily request quotes for all combinations and sizes so that you end up with the right roof access hatch and the right price for your situation.