A growing number of large commercial buildings and residential blocks are being constructed with flat roof structures for design and functionality purposes. As a result, there is an increasing need to provide regular, safe, flat roof access for the installation and essential maintenance of the machinery associated with the buildings’ services – for example lifts, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, telecommunications and other service equipment.
The provision of continuous safe access to and from roof top safety exits and for the supply of on-going building services such as window cleaning is also vital. The importance of high level safety must extend to all personnel who work on gantries and walkways at extreme heights.
To meet this growing demand, Plastex Extruders has developed a dedicated PVC roof walkway safety matting system, with a unique combination of benefits, which has quickly become a brand-leading product. Impervious to all-weathers, Crossgrip is a slip-resistant, self-draining product that remains stable even in extreme, gusting winds of up to 94 mph/150 km/h. It will protect the existing roof covering whether traditional asphalt, 3-layer felt or, most importantly, a modern high performance single ply membrane. Easy to install without fixing and maintenance free, Crossgrip will equal the life of most modern roofing materials, and is a cost effective roof walkway matting system for a wide range of high level applications.
Crossgrip has undergone independent wind tunnel testing at the School of Aerospace, Automotive and Design Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire. The aim of the tests being to ascertain the effect of wind speeds on Crossgrip Roof Walkway Matting and establish at what wind speeds it might lift away from the roof surface. These lift-off speeds, measured against the Internationally recognised Beaufort Wind Scale, were then compared to likely wind conditions at potential installations. The tests concluded that Crossgrip will remain stable when laid flat on a smooth surface in hurricane force winds just in excess of 100mph. However, Plastex recommends that if wind speeds in excess of 95mph are probable, connecting loops should be welded into the vinyl membrane.
In some countries temperatures can fall as low as – 40 degrees Celsius. Plastex has therefore had independent cold impact performance tests conducted to establish Crossgrip’s performance in sub-zero temperatures. These tests have shown that the product performs extremely well and can generally withstand an *impact weight of up to 1.5kgs from a 300 mm drop, as opposed to the specification requirement of 100 mm, at temperatures of – 40°C. (or/ *significant impact weights at sub-zero temperatures of – 40°C)
The product is also UV and chemical resistant with permanent slip resistance.