Would slide guards be an acceptable alternative fall protection means on a commercial project when installing asphalt shingles?
You describe a commercial project having a metal-frame building with a 6 in 12 pitch roof. The roof consists of a pre-fabricated roofing system of insulation sandwiched between plywood sheets. Asphalt shingles would then be applied over the plywood/insulation unit. For purposes of STD 3-0.1A, residential construction is characterized by the materials and methods used, i.e., wood framing, wooden floor joists and roof structures, and traditional wood frame construction techniques. The construction of discrete parts of large commercial buildings (wood frame, shingled entranceway) may qualify where these characteristics are present. The roofing project you describe does not appear to meet this criteria. Typically, metal framed structures can support attachments for conventional fall protection, and on commercial projects, equipment such as scaffolds and/or aerial lifts would normally be available for use as alternative fall protection measures. Should you have further questions, please do
