Commercial and industrial roofing is one of the most critical elements of the building envelope. Beyond keeping out the weather, a roof influences safety, sustainability, energy performance, and the ability to integrate future technologies, such as solar PV or M&E equipment. For property owners, facilities managers, and procurement teams, understanding the right roofing solutions—and the risks of getting them wrong—is essential to protecting assets, ensuring compliance, and delivering long-term value.
AT A GLANCE
- We explore remediation options from over-cladding to strip-and-replace.
- Learn how to safely address asbestos or RAAC risks in compliance with regulations during roofing projects.
- Understand the safety and regulatory requirements that govern roofing works on live, operational sites.
- Discover how material selection and design impact durability, insulation, and sustainability.
- Find out how to future-proof the structural integrity of roofs for solar PV arrays, HVAC, and ongoing maintenance.
While more intrusive, it eliminates legacy issues, ensures long-term structural safety, and provides the longest service life. Final decisions on the re-roofing route depend on the condition, legacy materials, safety factors, clients’ long-term objectives, and, of course, available finances.
Joe: Planning is everything. Under CDM Regulations, the client, principal designer, and contractor all have clear responsibilities. For us, that means designing safe access, installing edge protection, and using scaffolding or mobile platforms correctly and safely.
When buildings remain operational, we work closely with facility managers to segregate areas, protect people inside, and ensure business continuity. Temporary safety decks, crash nets, and uni-rolling roof sheeting systems are just some of the ways we keep sites safe and operations running. With proper planning, even high-risk works can be delivered without incident or disruption.
Structural checks are critical too; over-cladding adds load, so we calculate whether the building can handle it. Clients don’t always realise these obligations upfront, which is why our role as Principal Designer and Principal Contractor is to navigate approvals, manage building control submissions, and ensure projects remain compliant from design to completion.
“A commercial roof isn’t just a weather barrier — it’s an asset that can drive safety, compliance, and sustainability. By planning carefully, owners can unlock its full potential, from long-term protection to renewable energy opportunities.”
Joe Sheridan,
Associate Director, Projects Scotland, Starfish Construction
Joe: Definitely, and more and more clients are exploring the potential of their roof—often a redundant space—to support renewable technologies like solar PV. Structural loading is a significant factor, as solar PV arrays, air-handling units, and chillers all add weight and create wind uplift; therefore, early-stage design consultation is essential.
During refurbishment, we can reinforce structures, install penetration points or curbs, and design safe access routes. That way, when the client is ready to add renewables or plant equipment, the roof is already prepared. It’s far more cost-effective to plan for these future developments than retrofit later.
Many thanks to Joe Sheridan for sharing his expertise on this vital subject.
At Starfish Construction, we deliver safe, compliant, and sustainable roofing solutions across commercial and industrial buildings. From surveys and technical design through to remediation and renewable integration, our experienced teams help clients protect assets, improve performance, and prepare for the future.