What happened
British Standards has released a draft specification, BS8634, that sets out new requirements for portable roof ladders. The specification is intended for ladders that provide temporary access to pitched roofs. These roofs must have an angle between 25° and 65°, and the specification applies to tasks considered short in duration and low in risk.
The draft standard covers not just the ladders themselves, but also equipment designed to convert standard ladders into roof ladders. According to Roofing Today, British Standards is asking industry members and other interested parties to read the proposed specification and provide written feedback.
Public comments on the BS8634 draft must be submitted by 10 January 2027. Before commenting, interested persons will need to register to access and review the full draft standard through the British Standards system.
The background
Portable roof ladders are regularly used for temporary roof access on a wide range of construction and maintenance projects. Until now, there has not been a dedicated British Standard setting out requirements specific to this type of equipment.
Most existing standards focus on general ladder safety, but do not address the design and safe use of ladders on pitched roofs. The new draft—labelled BS8634—aims to fill this gap in the guidance. The standard includes sections on key design features, performance requirements, and test methods that manufacturers and users would need to follow.
The inclusion of conversion equipment in the draft also recognises that roof ladders may often be adapted from other ladder types. This provision will set out minimum requirements for equipment that alters or enhances ladders for roof work. By establishing a specification, British Standards aims to boost safety and consistency in the use of portable roof ladders across the UK.
What people are saying
Roofing Today reports that British Standards is seeking active participation from all relevant stakeholders in the consultation process. Although no individual comments from industry bodies or companies are included in the report, the specification is expected to be of interest to roofing contractors, safety professionals, and equipment manufacturers.
BSI has made it clear that the consultation is open to anyone who registers to access the draft document. This approach reflects standard practice for British Standards consultations, which aim to gather a wide range of viewpoints before a specification is finalised.
What happens next
The consultation period for the new roof ladders specification will close on 10 January 2027. Once the comment period finishes, the standards committee will review the feedback received and decide whether to make changes to the draft before publishing the final version.
If adopted after consultation, BS8634 will serve as the baseline specification for portable roof ladders and relevant conversion equipment in the UK. The standard may inform future procurement requirements, site practice, and manufacturer claims about product compliance. The timescale for publication of the finalised standard will depend on the volume and nature of comments received during consultation.