Site last updated

 03 October 2008 by

 Relative-Solutions Ltd

ACR materials standard

ACR(M)001-2005 [third edition] “Test for non fragility of roofing assemblies”

This publication describes a test standard which can be applied to any product which will form a roof or part of a roof and is intended to provide information about whether it can support the instantaneous loads imposed on it by a person stumbling or falling on it.

This third edition clarifies the qualifications required of the "competent person" who is to carry out the test.  The competent person must have an understanding of the test procedure and test data collected but more importantly must understand the nature and qualities of the materials being tested in order to determine worst case scenarios for that material and how it is to be fixed.

Assemblies, when tested by a competent person, may be classified as :

• Non Fragile -Class A
• Non Fragile - Class B
• Non fragile - Class C

 If an assembly fails this test it must be classified as   “fragile ”.

 Roofs incorporating fragile assemblies constitute a “fragile surface” under Regulation 2 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005  requiring appropriate safety precautions to be taken to comply with the legal requirements of Regulation 9  (utilizing work equipment selected in accordance with the hierarchy  detailed in Regulation 6) of those regulations.

Also included is this edition is an annex on the work done by the HSE to determine load forces created when people trip and fall on to a roof surface. From this analysis, the HSE were able to describe the impact resistance necessary to ensure that the roof could be deemed to be non-fragile and from this the ACR were able to determine a repeatable test that would replicate the human load forces.  This publication describes that test.

For the correct way to reference the  Red Book in publications please see the Red Book FAQs and for “acceptable use” of the Red Book see ACR’s Legal page

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page updated 30/03/06

The Advisory Committee for Roofwork [ACR] is a body dedicated to making working on roofs safer.  Its membership is made up of nominees from the major roofworking Federations and Associations and the Health & Safety Executive, who provide the experience of many years of involvement in working on roofs in the advice given in their documents.Every care and attention is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information included in their documents and this website, however the committee or any individual committtee members can not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions contained therein