Most standard roof hatches are utilitarian. They’re metal doors leading to ladders and stored in mechanical rooms or storage closets out of sight, out of mind. This method works well when roof access is only above a utility space. But what about when the only feasible means of roof access is directly over headspace?
The Standard Solution and Its Drawbacks
Standard roof hatches are designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to get you on the roof. Typically insulated metal panels that open manually, these hatches require ladders to access or a fixed stairway. Property managers are well aware that these are cheap, reliable options that meet building code standards for roof access.
But once they negate viable occupied space or usable space, the problem arises. A dark, metal hatch over an office, hall or retail space means that space will always be dark, it can get artificial lighting but never replacement for natural light and it certainly doesn’t help the energy bill either.
Some buildings attempt to make this work with architectural vagaries, meandering around to access points at otherwise inconvenient locations, building dedicated access shafts, accepting less-than-ideal energy when parts of the building will remain dark. None of this seems ideal, even with compromises and extensive construction builds, as well as energy usage over time, making it all the more frustrating.
When One Opening Can Do Two Things
But here’s where good building design comes into play: the same opening through the roof for access can also bring daylight in, provided the product is engineered appropriately. This isn’t necessarily about compromise; it’s about garnering better performance out of both features.
For example, an electric roof access skylight (https://sunsquareskylights.com/products/aero-electric-roof-access-skylight/) does both in one piece. When closed, it offers access to daylight. When open, it offers access to the roof. Additionally, it’s electric; manual operation on anything accessed via rooftop is a significant deterrent for proper maintenance. If one needs a ladder or pole to reach something, or climb onto something else, it’s inevitable that people will avoid such operational concerns. An electrical option means maintenance truly is maintained on a schedule.
The dual capability solves numerous problems at once. Interior spaces get proper lighting without continuing to be avoided. Construction workers get an adequate means of access. And there’s only one building penetration instead of trying to accommodate both a skylight and a hatch somewhere else down the line, potentially creating multiple complications elsewhere in the building envelope.
Why Placement Is More Important Than You Think
Placement of rooftop access isn’t just about what’s physically available on the rooftop; it’s also related to proper circulation patterns inside a building, and what makes sense for proper maintenance needs.
Take a commercial building with multiple HVAC units on the rooftop. If roof access is on one end of the building and HVAC on another, that’s a lot of foot traffic across potentially unstable roofing materials, and even uneven surfaces when weather isn’t ideal (and lofted areas from shingles or tiles). Ideally, access is at thefor whatever needs maintenance on the roof; however, that seems to be directly above those spaces in question. Standard solutions create darkened spaces.
A standard hatch above an office will create darkness for that room 24/7 even if employees are on lunch in another part of the building. Should something be accessed frequently, it should be easy to reach, and if employees find themselves walking from one side of the roof to the other repeatedly, this, too compromises skylight longevity. Ideally, a standard skylight that doubles as access keeps the area below well-lit while still providing proper access where it should be located.
This is especially true for mixed-use buildings or rehabilitated structures that did not provide ideal layouts for such tactics from the beginning; during retrofitting, location may not be viable, or integrated solutions prove worthwhile when accessibility isn’t conveniently located at all times.
The Economics of Better Access
Ultimately, it’s about property management dollars over time. A cheaper initial build-out that creates consistent problematic spaces – darkened ones requiring continuous artificial lighting when there’s a smaller but more functional option – or inconvenient access that prolongs maintenance ends up costing more over 10- or 20-year periods compared to a more sensible solution from the beginning regardless of nuanced accessories.
Deferred maintenance costs money. When roof access is inconvenient, even ifit’sthere, rooftop inspections don’t happen, small problems become big ones (i.e., leaks turn into water damage instead of small-scale repairs).
Natural light factors into all spaces, and with how much they cost, and if ever section needs artificial lighting 24/7/365 because it’s too dark, even with occupants aware, it makes a difference from energy bills and tenant satisfaction perspective. Commercial real estate tenants especially notice when things are dim and dingy; residential tenants might look the other way except it affects their moods at home, and potentially their consciousness in rented units they hope to avoid extra fees for claims against security deposits down the line.
Increased Value Through Better Solutions
The data suggests it’s more efficient to pay upfront for solutions that truly make interior spaces better, using that same footprint for exposure or functional purposes multiple times (as opposed to checking off boxes for minimal compliance).
Reliable access that’s actually accessible gets used as intended; natural light that enters spaces outside doesn’t hold a candle (literally) in comparison to any artificial light approach known to man. It’s intelligent and feasible to get both from one single unit that’s well-designed out of the gate.
Practical solutions regardless of building types differ by use as well. One-offsingle-family homescan get by with a hatch in the garage, infrequent enough to access, no plans to infiltrate tons of natural light anyway as there aren’t many natural areas, and excess need across multiple floors isn’t necessary due to non-complex spaces.
But multi-story residential, commercial spaces and mixed-use developments each face their own challenges, they require roof access frequently for legitimate reasons but also require usable spaces that are pleasant enough to retain utmost value (rent price/sale price/reputation competitive value). Otherwise, with wasted natural resources, these developments fail.
Warehouse rehabilitations and industrial reinventions have interesting developments, as well, they often have significant potential input through existing skylights but zero viable roof access; rooftop units without compromising light keep these spaces practical enough as they were before such alterations occurred.
Installation Considerations
Inaccessible flashings through flashing/waterproofing requirements should be conducted either way, regardless, but an integrated device makes it so these adjustments only occur once instead of twice.
Mostinstall likeregular commercial skylights with curb-mounted services for proper flashing unless they’re continuous flashing/hybrid cutout aspects taking care of insulation instead. The operational capability has mechanisms and controls but does not change how other contractors generally install them, as long as contractors know how to put standard skylights together and take apart, not much change exists with respect to personnel efficiency other than simple addition which doesn’t deter installation time.
Electrical connections are pretty simple; if there’s a motor operating on-site, it needs power/integration with circuits which standard remote controls or switches accommodate instead; alternatively, system integration occurs through commercially-run automation which connects scheduled tools/access when needed or remote-based operations through app-controlled means (if appropriate) should facilitate qualified skill assessments if people need steady access to check on things daily, which isn’t usually the case anyway.
Deciding What Makes Sense
Not every hatch needs to be a skylight and not every skylight needs operational capabilities, as such, but when layouts or renovations suggest placement patterns where both facets make sense in the same setting (especially in an attached circumstance), it makes sense, both economically from an avoidance standpoint working inside and out, to include integrated options.
Increased value comes down to initial cost assessment vs long-term functionality, all-too-frequent roof maintenance occurs whether access is truly accessible onsite or uphill, but whether it occurs on schedule, or delayed until something goes wrong, becomes a crucial point in risk mitigation, that should avoid interior well-lit concerns 24/7/365.
Buildings work best when they operate well enough without causing avoidable problems down the road! Efficient and usable systems best operate when their components function well for multiple performances instead of getting broken down into challenging steps.Acccessthat’s actually efficient gets properly utilized; natural light that streams into interiors is better than anything set in artificially. Why not have both from the same beautiful entrance?
