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3 Signs Your Fixed Vertical Roof Ladder Isn’t Doing Its Job
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| May 07, 2025 |
Fixed vertical ladders might look like they solve the problem. They’re bolted in. They meet code. They check the compliance box.
But just because a ladder is there doesn’t mean it’s being used.
We’ve seen it across countless properties—there’s a fixed ladder on the side of the building, but contractors and maintenance teams ignore it completely.
So how do you know if your ladder is actually doing its job?
Here are three signs it’s not:
1. People Keep Bringing Their Own Ladders
If vendors are showing up with their own extension ladders—and leaning them against your parapet or gutters—they’re not improvising, they’re avoiding your permanent ladder.
Why? Because it:
- Feels unsafe
- Is in the wrong spot
- Might be blocked or locked
- Is hard to use with tools
- Doesn’t make the job easier
At that point, the “permanent solution” isn’t solving anything. It’s just pushing the problem somewhere else—somewhere you can’t see or control.
2. It’s Far From Where the Work Happens
That ladder on the back wall might look tidy on the site plan, but if it’s 100 feet from the rooftop unit that needs servicing, it’s not helping anyone.
Contractors don’t want to cross the roof in rain, snow, or heat—especially not while hauling gear. And if they need to go up and down more than once? Forget it.
Roofs aren’t always built for traffic, and the more distance involved, the more likely someone will find a shortcut.
And shortcuts are where the damage happens.
3. There’s Wear and Tear in the Wrong Places
Scuffed parapets. Damaged flashing. Bent conduit. Loose panels. If your roof shows signs of wear away from your fixed ladder, people are creating their own access points.
And they’re doing it in ways that put your roof—and your budget—at risk.
Makeshift access usually means heavy equipment going over parts of the roof never meant to support it. It means stepping on drains, dragging tools across seams, and creating damage you don’t see until it’s a bigger issue.
The result?
- Unnecessary roof repairs
- Shortened membrane life
- Leaks from broken seals
- More vendor time on site
- And in some cases—claims, complaints, and shutdowns
And all of that costs more than getting access right in the first place.
What Now?
A fixed ladder that no one uses isn’t a safety feature—it’s a liability.
It invites workarounds. It encourages unsafe practices. And it puts your building at risk in ways that don’t show up until something breaks.
There’s a better way.
The gives vendors a secure, designated point of access—so even when they’re using their own ladder, you control where and how they use it.
That means:
- No more random access points
- Less damage across the roof
- One clear, reinforced entry that protects your property and your people
Check out the and see if it’s a better fit for your building.
@ladderport #ladderport
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