The Ultimate Roof Davits Guide: Everything Facility Managers Need to Know
If you manage a commercial high-rise, hospital, or industrial facility, you know that exterior building maintenance is no small feat. Whether it is routine window washing, facade repair, or heavy equipment lifting, your maintenance crews need safe and reliable access to the exterior of your building. This is where roof davit systems come into play.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down what roof davit systems are, the different types available, their key components, and the vital OSHA requirements you need to meet to keep your property compliant and your workers safe.
What is a Roof Davit System?
A roof davit system is a specialized structural apparatus designed to support and stabilize suspended platforms over the edge of a building’s facade.
These systems typically consist of permanent steel base sockets anchored to the roof, which hold portable aluminum masts and arms (the davits). Once rigged, they allow platforms to be lowered and raised securely, giving workers safe access to perform cleaning, repair, and maintenance tasks.
Anatomy of a Roof Davit: Key Parts and Components
While davit systems can be customized to fit the unique architecture of your building, most are comprised of four primary components:
1. The Davit Base
The base is usually a permanent structural fixture mounted directly onto the roof. It serves as the main anchor point, bearing the weight of the mast, arm, and suspended platform. Because roof-rigged systems hold overhanging weight, these bases are engineered for extreme durability. Crucially, they must be properly sealed and flashed into the existing roof, whether it is a traditional built-up system or a modern single-ply membrane roofing system, to maintain the building’s watertight integrity and prevent leaks.
2. Adapter Sockets
Adapter sockets connect the permanent base to the removable davit arm. Usually crafted from heavy-duty galvanized steel, these sockets are critical for operation. Depending on your building’s aesthetic and structural needs, sockets can be standard embedded, mobile, or flush-mounted to stay out of sight.
3. The Davit Arm
Shaped like a large, upside-down “L,” the davit arm slots into the adapter socket and extends over the edge of the building to hold the suspension cables. Because the base and sockets are permanently fixed, davit arms are often designed to be mobile. This allows facility managers to purchase a few arms and move them between different base sockets around the roof perimeter, rather than buying a separate arm for every socket.
4. Transport Handle and Roller Wheel Assembly
Because heavy-duty metal arms can be difficult to move, many systems come with transportation kits. These feature roller wheels and ergonomic handles, allowing maintenance crews to safely and efficiently relocate the davit arms from one socket to the next without dragging heavy metal and damaging the delicate single-ply roofing materials below.
Categories and Types of Roof Davits
Not all buildings and not all maintenance tasks are the same. Davit systems are categorized based on their intended use, power source, and rigging style:
- Personal lifting vs. material lifting. Personal lifting davits are specifically rated to carry human workers up and down the side of a building. Material lifting davits act more like mini-cranes, used to hoist bulky goods, HVAC units, or non-personnel cargo to the roof.
- Motor-powered vs. hand-powered. Motor-powered davits offer maximum control for lifting heavy loads and large platforms. Hand-powered davits, on the other hand, are highly portable, easy to assemble, and perfect for time-sensitive, lighter-load tasks.
- Roof-rigged vs. ground-rigged. Roof-rigged systems lower platforms down from the roof and require taller, larger arms. Ground-rigged systems hoist platforms up from the ground, utilizing smaller arms and requiring less rooftop space.
Navigating OSHA Requirements and Safety Standards
When dealing with suspended platforms hundreds of feet in the air, safety isn’t just a priority, it’s the law. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strictly regulates the design, construction, and use of roof davits, primarily under Section 1910.27.
To remain compliant and keep workers safe, facility managers must adhere to the following rules:
- Material standards. Davits should be constructed using ASTM A36 steel and feature a fully galvanized finish meeting ASTM A123 standards.
- Secondary fall protection. Workers on suspended platforms must utilize independent lifelines tethered to separate roof anchors to protect against system failure.
- Initial certification. Building owners must inspect, test, and certify every new davit system in the field before it is put into use.
- Recertification deadlines. Even if rarely used, standard davit systems must be recertified at least every 10 years. For systems utilizing adhesive, epoxy, or chemically bonded anchors, testing and recertification are required every 5 years.
- Contractor Transparency. Written verification of a system’s active certification must be provided to any window washers or contractors before they begin a job hazard analysis (JHA).
Partner with the Experts for Your Roof Davit Needs
Designing, manufacturing, and installing a roof davit system requires immense precision and a deep understanding of structural engineering and OSHA compliance.
At Knickerbocker Roofing, we provide end-to-end roof davit solutions. From on-site assembly and professional installation to routine maintenance and OSHA recertification, our team ensures your building is equipped for safe, seamless operations. We even offer specialized installations with contamination protection for sensitive environments like hospitals and laboratories.
Ready to upgrade your building’s safety and maintenance infrastructure? Contact us today or request a quote to learn more about our custom roof davit systems and comprehensive commercial roofing services, including the expert installation and repair of single-ply membrane roofing.