Safety Data

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

SCOPE

The following section sets out requirements for the handling, transport, storage and safety precautions in the use of plastic roof and wall cladding materials.

MATERIAL

Plastic roof and wall cladding materials are installed in accordance with AS 1562.3, 2006.

TRANSPORT, HANDLING AND STORAGE

Plastic roof and wall cladding materials shall be transported and handled in a manner that prevents damage or disfigurement.

Sheets shall be protected from damage at all times and shall be stacked on a firm base to avoid damage or distortion. They shall be kept out of direct sunlight either by sitting the stack in a shaded area or by covering the stack while providing adequate ventilation to prevent heat build-up. The height of such stacks shall not exceed 750 mm.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

General
Special care shall be exercised when long length sheeting is being handled, particularly in windy conditions. Should work be interrupted for any reason, all loose sheeting or incomplete sections shall be adequately secured against possible movement by wind.

Fire precautions
Due to the combustibility of plastic materials, they shall be stored and handled so that they do not contact sources of heat likely to cause combustion.

Safety Mesh

General
Safety mesh used in conjunction with plastic roof cladding materials shall comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 4389.

Walking and standing on roofs

General
Plastic roofing is considered non-trafficable. Where it is necessary to walk on plastic sheets, roof ladders or walk boards shall be provided.

NOTE:
This information should be included in the fixing instructions.

Walkways
Where it is necessary to use the roof as an access-way, properly constructed walkways or walk boards shall be provided in accordance with AS 1657.
NOTE:
This Clause does not apply to domestic installations.

AGGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Care shall be taken in the selection of the type of plastic cladding to be used in chemically aggressive environments. In such cases, the suitability of the sheet shall be confirmed by consultation with a qualified expert.

LOADINGS

Wind forces

The complete plastic cladding system and the supporting structure and its fastening shall be designed to withstand, with the appropriate margins of safety, forces not less that the design forces derived from AS/NZS 1170.2, for the particular circumstances in which the cladding system will be used.

The complete plastic cladding system shall be deemed to be designed for the appropriate margin of safety if, on being tested in accordance with Section 5, it fulfils the requirements of that Section.

NOTES:

The designer’s attention is drawn to the necessity to provide, at roof edges, ridges and hips, for the combination of high negative wind pressure on the upper surfaces of the roof with high positive pressures on the underside. (For further information on pressure factors see AS/NZS 1170.2.)

For roof and wall applications in cyclonic areas (see AS/NZS 1170.2), the designer’s attention is drawn to the particular testing requirements given in Section 5.