Stay Safe

OSHA Compliant

Parapet mounted guardrail is designed to meet and exceed OSHA requirements to ensure continued safety.

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Maintains Durability

Parapet railing is made from galvanized steel that is corrosion resistant in all types of weather and environments.

buildings

Protects Roof Integrity

Connecting railing to a parapet eliminates the need for costly openings into the roof for installation.

Best Practices

Easy Install

Parapet railing only requires basic tools and labor. The pipe and fittings system fastens together with simple set-screws.

Benefits of Parapet Railing

Parapet Guardrail System

Parapet Railing Meets OSHA Requirements

The main benefit to parapet railing is that it keeps people safe.

Parapet railing does this by meeting and exceeding OSHA's height and load requirements. With parapet railing, you'll have a barrier that:

  • Has a height of 42 inches (plus or minus 3 inches).
  • A mid rail that is 21 inches above the walking working surface.
  • Top rail can withstand a load of 200 lbs.

Durable and Customizable Parapet Railing

Galvanzied steel has excellent corrosion resistant properties that will ensure your parapet railing lasts for years to come.

With modular components, your new parapet railing system can be designed to fit your unique roof.

There are different mounting options to best fit your rooftop to ensure safety standards are met, that installation is easy, and that it matches your rooftop's aesthetic.

Parapet Mounted Railing in White
Roof Parapet Railing System

Simple Installation

The pipe and fittings parapet guardrail is very straight-forward to install.

There is no welding and the fittings attach easily to the pipe through a series of set screws.

This allows for your team to be able to install the parapet railing without any special training. We do offer additional installation methods and you can contact our team to discuss the best installation method for your parapet railing.

When Do You Need Parapet Railing?

The following is an excerpt from OSHA 1910.29 (b) that covers the responsibility for fall protection on working and walking surfaces. Please review the full code for further information. 

1910.29(b) 
Guardrail systems. The employer must ensure guardrail systems meet the following requirements: 

1910.29(b)(1) 
The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking-working surface. The top edge height may exceed 45 inches (114 cm), provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of paragraph (b) of this section (see Figure D-11 of this section). 

angled parapet railing

If your parapet is less than 39 inches, then you need a top rail above that parapet to meet the OSHA requirement of 42 inches.

OSHA allows for a small variance of plus or minus 3 inches to the railing. It is important to note that if your railing is only 39 inches in height, if it deflects even a quarter inch from weight or any other force, then it is no longer and OSHA compliant guardrail.

This ensures that in the event of a trip or fall, the parapet (with or without railing) is tall enough to prevent an individual from falling.

The following is an excerpt from OSHA 1910.29 (b) that covers the responsibility for fall protection on working and walking surfaces. Please review the full code for further information. 

1910.29(b)(2) 
Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members are installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system as follows when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high: 

1910.29(b)(2)(iv) 
Other equivalent intermediate members (such as additional midrails and architectural panels) are installed so that the openings are not more than 19 inches (48 cm) wide. 

Additionally, if your parapet is less than 21 inches high, then you need a midrail to meet the OSHA standard.

For a midrail, you must ensure that there is no more than a 19 inch space between the top rail and the midrail/parapet.

This is commonly reffered to as the "19-inch sphere rule" which is, like all these regulations, meant to help prevent any fall hazards.

If you would like to learn more about guardrail requirements, check out our full OSHA Guardrail Guide.

parapet railing perimeter

Load Requirements for Parapet Railing

When you do need to apply parapet railing to your rooftop, it is important to note these OSHA load requirements:

The following is an excerpt from OSHA 1910.29 (b) that covers the responsibility for fall protection on working and walking surfaces. Please review the full code for further information. 

1910.29(b)(3) 
Guardrail systems are capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied in a downward or outward direction within 2 inches (5 cm) of the top edge, at any point along the top rail. 

1910.29(b)(4) 
When the 200-pound (890-N) test load is applied in a downward direction, the top rail of the guardrail system must not deflect to a height of less than 39 inches (99 cm) above the walking-working surface. 

1910.29(b)(5) 
Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and other equivalent intermediate members are capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 150 pounds (667 N) applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the intermediate member. 

Parapet Railing Options

Side Mounted

The side mounted parapet railing mounts on the inside wall of your parapet. This railing can be designed to both inline with the railing or offset to provide a little more distance from the parapet.

Angle Mounted

The angle mounted parapet railing mounts to the top and side of the parapet to provide a bit of distance between the user and the parapet wall. This railing can also can be designed inline or offset.

Top Mounted

The top mounted parapet railing mounts on top of the parapet wall and can be designed both inline or offset. All options meet and exceed OSHA standards, are easy to install, and ensure your workers safety.

Parapet Railing FAQs

How high does a roof parapet railing need to be?

The top rail should be 42 inches in height above the walking surface to meet OSHA standards. The height of the posts will depend on the height of the parapet wall and whether you are attaching it to the top of the parapet or to the wall of the parapet.

Is my parapet wall enough for fall protection?

It depends on the height of a parapet. If your parapet is shorter than 39 inches, it's simply not high enough to meet the guidelines and isn't considered sufficient. OSHA allows for a +/- 3 inches variance on the 42 inches height requirement, allowing a 39 inches parapet wall to be sufficient.

Can my roof parapet railing be powder-coated?

Yes, your roof railing can be powder-coated to any RAL color.

How far apart should my parapet guardrail posts be?

This will be based on the manufacturer's design requirements. Commonly, posts will be no more than 8 feet on center. This can change based on the design of the railing, additional code requirements or the structure of the building.

When do I need a midrail?

A midrail for a parapet wall and railing must be installed between the top rail and the walking/working surface when there is no wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches high. 1910.29(b)(2)

What is the difference between inline and offset parapet guardrail?

This refers to the orientation of the horizontal rail and the posts. An inline railing using connectors that cause the posts and the rails to be in the same plane, giving a contiguous form. An offset railing will use connectors that cause the rails to attach to the side of the posts.

What safety codes does parapet railing comply with?

Our parapet guardrail complies with OSHA and IBC standards.

Contact Us About Parapet Railing

Michael Hannah at desk
Michael Hannah
Fall Protection Specialist
Or call a specialist at:
1.866.527.2275

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Michael Hannah
Fall Protection Specialist
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