Ensuring Loft Safety: Safe Access and Your Loft
12th May 2023
There is a lot to be said about how valuable a loft can be in the home – just take a look at our article on how to utilise your loft space – but they can also pose significant safety risks if they are not properly maintained. From falls to electrical hazards, it's important to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of anyone accessing your loft. At Rapid Access, we appreciate that, behind every access panel we install, is a space that needs to be properly maintained and we want to support you in understanding what you need to consider when looking after this space.
Install a secure loft ladder
The first step in loft safety is to ensure that you have a secure ladder or stairs to access the space; this is one way we can help you! Our loft access hatch with loft ladder offers all the insulation assurance of our other loft access panels but with the fantastic addition of safe and stable access into and out of the loft itself. A poorly installed or unstable ladder can cause falls and serious injuries, so by allowing our expert team to install the access panel with ladder, you’re taking care of both your home, and yourself.
Consider fire safety
Lofts can be particularly vulnerable to fires due to their location and potential sources of ignition, and, fortunately, here’s another way that we can support you! Our loft range includes both 30-minute and 10hour fire rated access panels to help ensure that your loft space is as secured an area as possible. Additonally, it is important to ensure that you have working smoke detectors installed both in the loft and throughout your home, and to keep flammable materials, such as paper and cardboard, away from heat sources and never leave candles or other open flames unattended.
Inspect the flooring
Loft floors can deteriorate over time, especially if they're made of chipboard or plywood, so be sure to inspect the flooring regularly to ensure that everything is in good, functional order. Look for signs of damage, such as cracks or sagging, and repair or replace the flooring when things start looking a little worse for wear.
Ensure proper lighting
No one wants to get lost, trip or bump into things that have likely been stored away because they are considered valuable, so being able to see around the loft is definitely something to think about. Lofts can be dark and difficult to navigate, especially if there's no natural light source, so ensure that the space is sufficiently well lit – remember, it’s just as much a part of your home as anywhere else!
Keep the loft tidy
Given that most of us don’t venture up there every day, can easily become cluttered with boxes, old furniture, and about a thousand other miscellaneous items. Keep the space tidy and free of trip-hazards to reduce the risk of falls and accidents. If you’re using the space for storage then try to keep this storage well organized, such as on shelves or in cabinets, to keep items organised, which helps with not just safety but with easily getting access to all your belongings up there.
Rapid Access are experts in all things access, and when it comes to domestic lofts, we know how easily the security and safety of this space can be overlooked, which is exactly why we offer insulation access panels and why we have fire-rating options, to help take away at least a few safety concerns! To talk to a member of our team, get in touch today by calling 024 7632 8811, email [email protected] or fill out our enquiry form and we will get back to you shortly.
