The Bibar is a roof edge protection system for flat roofs.
ROOFTOP SAFETY
On flat roofs, the four metre zone from the edge of the roof is classified as unsafe. Because flat roofs require regular maintenance, a fall protection system is essential. To allow safe access to flat roofs without a harness, lifelines or instruction, the best way to make a roof safe is with a collective roof edge protection system. This is the standard practice for open-access roofs on which anyone is able to move around safely.
ROOF EDGE PROTECTION
In the past, the requirements for safe working were less stringent. As a result, access to or working on the roofs of existing buildings is often unsafe. In the past, little use was in fact made of roofs, but is becoming increasingly common today. Existing roofs can now be made safe using collective roof edge protection systems in the form of fences. Although functional, they often detract from the look and feel of the roof, for users.
NEW SOLUTION
In collaboration with students from the University of Applied Sciences in Rotterdam, Zoontjens has carried out research into roof edge protection systems. The students elaborated a series of new aesthetic and practical designs, which they assessed for their looks, makeability, scope of application and compliance with standards and regulations. This resulted in a prototype of a unique solution: Bibar.
REMOVABLE GREEN ROOF EDGE PROTECTION
The Bibar prototype is a system that can be combined with rooftop planting. It works using a weight, but needs no counterweights suspended from long tubes over the roof edge. Moreover, the Bibar systems follows the line of the rooftop, guaranteeing an attractive-looking building and an attractive view from the roof. The combination with planting also makes a contribution to the biodiversity of the location.
NO PENETRATION OF THE ROOF COVERING
The system is easy to install on new and existing roofs, without the need to drill through the roof covering. Bibar meets the requirements of a collective roof edge protection system according to the Building Decree essential on all open-access roof areas. It can also be used as an attractive means of cordoning off a section of the roof. It is also sustainable, removable and above all safe. This prototype is the basis for further research and development into a green and sustainable collective roof edge protection system.
