Why roof access is a recurring requirement in entertainment venues
Across entertainment and sports venues, roof access is rarely “nice to have”. It is essential for planned maintenance and reactive works on plant, roof systems, lighting, comms equipment and life safety infrastructure.
Typical challenges we regularly engineer around include:
- High consequence safety environments: roof edges, changes in level and frequent contractor access increase risk without robust guarding.
- Security and controlled access: hatches must resist tampering and support padlocking and site access procedures.
- Weathering and durability: exposed roof positions demand dependable sealing and robust materials.
- Thermal performance: avoiding unnecessary heat loss and condensation risk remains important, even when the hatch is primarily for access.
- Complex coordination: structural opening sizes, hinge orientation and safe landing areas must work with roof build ups, services and safe routes.
Client requirements and specification drivers
For this project, the requirement centred on multiple roof access points in varying structural opening sizes, with consistent performance and a repeatable approach to safety and security.
Key requirements included:
- Thermally broken aluminium roof access hatches with insulated lid and upstand.
- Safe opening and controlled operation using gas spring assistance and a hold open safety stay that auto-engages at the open position.
- Secure locking and padlockable access control, supporting site procedures and controlled roof access.
- Integrated fall protection that avoids unnecessary roof penetrations where possible.
- Standardised upstand height to suit the roof build up and simplify detailing.
The solution delivered by Surespan
We supplied Surespan SRHP/75 thermally broken aluminium roof access hatches, paired with the SureGuard guarding system to provide a consistent “safe access” detail across the roof.
Product set supplied (project summary)
- SRHP/75 roof access hatch
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- Structural opening sizes supplied: 1600 x 800mm, 1500 x 1000mm, 700 x 900mm.
- Single leaf, gas spring assisted, EPDM bubble seal, 300mm upstand, aluminium curb liner.
- 75mm polyisocyanurate insulation to lid and upstand, stated U-value 0.28 W/m²K.
- Hold open safety stay and controlled opening geometry to support safer operation.
- SureGuard system (guardrail + gate)
- 1100mm high double line guard rail around three sides of the hatch, with a self-closing spring-loaded gate.
- Designed to sit on the upstand close to the hatch to minimise roof penetrations and simplify waterproofing coordination.
Security and access control detail
To suit a venue environment, the hatch locking arrangement supported controlled access and padlocking, aligning with typical site keyholding and permit procedures. The drawings show a combination of internal and external lock components and padlockable points, configured to support secure roof access management.
Typical unit weights (for handling and installation planning)
The approved drawings included approximate hatch weights by size, supporting practical planning for safe handling on site:
- 700 x 900mm: approx. 83.0kg
- 900 x 700mm (as detailed on the SureGuard assembly drawing): approx. 82.7kg per hatch
- 1500 x 1000mm: approx. 119.4kg per hatch
Programme and delivery
This project followed a structured, controlled workflow typical of live venues and stadium estates:
- Schedule and pricing request issued for the access hatch package.
- Order confirmation raised for the Warehouse works at Villa Park.
- General arrangement and assembly drawings produced and issued for approval.
- Delivery window aligned with the project programme once approvals were in place.
This approval-led approach reduces risk on fast-moving projects by locking down hinge orientation, clear opening, guarding configuration and interfaces before manufacture progresses.
Outcome
By combining insulated, thermally broken roof access hatches with integrated guarding and controlled access features, the Warehouse project benefited from:
- Safer roof access with consistent fall protection at each hatch location.
- Improved security and operational control through padlock-ready access detailing.
- A repeatable, specification-led detail suitable for entertainment venues where safety, reliability and governance matter.
- Simplified roof interface coordination by keeping guarding close to the upstand and reducing unnecessary waterproofing penetrations.
Products featured
- Surespan SRHP/75 Roof Access Hatch (thermally broken aluminium, insulated)
- Surespan SureGuard guarded access system (1100mm guardrail with self-closing gate)
