What scaffolding do you need for solar panels?

Edge protection

The main job of a solar scaffold is to stop a person or a panel coming off the roof. That means a working lift at eaves level with double guard rails and toe boards, and usually a raised edge protection so the top rail sits well above the gutter line.

On a steep roof or a roof with a low eaves, the edge protection has to be set so it actually catches someone sliding down, not just marks the edge.

Roof ladders and access

Installers need to get from the scaffold onto the roof and move across it. A properly tied access ladder or stair to the working lift, and space at eaves level to set up roof ladders, makes the job faster and safer.

If the array goes on more than one roof slope, each slope needs its own protected edge.

Loading and getting panels up

Panels are big, light and catch the wind. The scaffold needs space to take a stack of panels and the mounting kit without overloading the boards, and a safe way to get them up. That might be a loading area on the scaffold, a gin wheel, or a hoist on a bigger job.

Tell your scaffolder how many panels and how they are arriving, so the loading is worked out before the scaffold is built.

How long it is usually up

A domestic solar install is usually a short job, so the scaffold is often up for a short hire. The risk is not the install itself. It is the scaffold going up and then waiting because the panels, the inverter or the DNO paperwork are not ready.

Coordinating with the installer's programme

• Book the scaffold for the day before the installers arrive, not the week before.
• Confirm the panels and kit are on site or confirmed for delivery before the scaffold goes up.
• Agree the strike date with the installer so the scaffold comes down as soon as they sign off.
• If there are several jobs in a row, a scaffolder who works regularly with installers can move kit from one job to the next.

Common questions

Can solar panels be fitted without scaffolding?

Some installers use other edge protection systems, but on most houses a scaffold is the simplest way to meet the work at height rules and give a safe platform for handling panels.

Does the scaffold need to go all the way round the house?

Usually not. It needs to cover the elevations under the roof slopes carrying panels, plus safe access up to the working lift.

Who books the scaffold, me or the installer?

Either can. Many installers book it as part of their price. If you book it yourself, give the scaffolder the installer's contact so they can agree access and loading directly.

Does a solar scaffold need a TG20:21 compliance sheet?

Yes. A standard solar access scaffold normally falls inside TG20:21, and the compliance sheet should come with the handover.

What if the roof is too fragile to stand on?

Tell your scaffolder and installer early. It may need crawling boards, a different access arrangement or a design for a working platform over the roof.