NFRC Don't Fall for Fragile

Don’t Fall for Fragile: Step Back and Plan

The roofing industry has made real progress in preventing falls from height. But fragile roofs remain one of the most serious and persistent risks in roofing. A fragile roof can fail without warning. One wrong step can lead to life-changing injury or death.

If you don’t know it’s safe, treat it as fragile.

Fragile roofs are not always obvious. A roof may look solid, but still be unable to safely support a person or the impact of a fall.

Fragile roof risks include:

Rooflights, domes and skylights
Fibre cement sheets
Corroded or damaged metal sheets
Liner panels and internal gutters
Woodwool slabs and older roof decks
Coated, overlaid or weathered roof surfaces
Hidden weak areas beneath coverings or repairs

If a roof surface, assembly or element is liable to fail under the weight of a person or under impact, it must be treated as fragile.

Don’t Fall for Fragile is an NFRC industry-led campaign to help contractors, clients, designers and building owners identify fragile roof risks early, plan work properly and stop unsafe shortcuts before someone gets hurt. Because fragile roofs do not forgive mistakes.

This Campaign Is Not About Paperwork. It Is About Planning.

Too many fragile roof incidents happen because people assume the roof is safe, rely on experience, or accept the cheapest access solution without properly considering the risk.

Don’t Fall for Fragile is about changing that mindset.

Before anyone steps onto or near a fragile roof, the work must be properly planned, the roof condition understood, and the right access and fall prevention measures put in place.

The message is simple: Don’t step through. Step back and plan.

The Industry Can Do Better

Fragile roof incidents are preventable, but prevention requires early planning, visible leadership and a willingness to challenge unsafe assumptions. We should not accept people walking onto roofs without knowing whether the surface can support them.

Clients, designers and contractors all have a role to play. The safest solution is rarely found after work has already started on the roof.

Don't Fall for Fragile: Pledge Support

Any organisation can pledge support for the Don’t Fall for Fragile campaign.

By pledging support, you are confirming that your organisation understands the risks associated with fragile roofs and is committed to promoting safer planning, access and working practices across its workforce and supply chain.

Pledge Form

The campaign calls on roofing contractors, principal contractors, clients, designers and building owners to commit to:

Identifying fragile roof risks before work starts
Treating rooflights and suspect materials as fragile unless proven otherwise
Planning safe access, egress and rescue arrangements
Using collective protection first wherever reasonably practicable
Challenging unsafe shortcuts and poor planning
Making fragile roof awareness part of everyday roofing culture

These are not complex ideas. They are practical, achievable and effective. The difference is whether they are applied consistently.

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Pledge

We commit to Don’t Fall for Fragile — Step Back and Plan. By signing this pledge, we agree to:

Identify Fragile Risks: assume suspect roof areas are fragile unless confirmed otherwise.
Plan Before Access: no work on or near fragile roofs without suitable planning.
Use Collective Protection First: prioritise safe platforms, edge protection, coverings, guardrails and other collective measures.
Control Rooflight Risk: treat rooflights as fragile unless protected or proven otherwise.
Use Harnesses Correctly: only where suitable, properly designed, anchored, adjusted and supervised.
Train and Challenge: ensure teams understand fragile roof risks and challenge unsafe shortcuts.

Please tick to confirm your acceptance ^* (required)

I accept

Are you an NFRC Member or a contractor registered with NFRC CPS. ^* (required)

Yes, NFRC Trade Member

Yes, NFRC Supplier Member

Yes, NFRC CPS Registered Contractor

No

No, please send me information about joining

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Can we keep your details on our CRM system so that we can follow-up your enquiry? (If required.) ^* (required)

Yes

No

We will only use your details to keep you up to date on Don't Fall for Fragile information.

Don't Fall for Fragile