Sloped Roof Safety System

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a roofing system includes a sloped roof structure extending from a lower elevation area that is accessible from a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and extending to a higher elevation area. The system further includes an elongate rail structure attached to the sloped roof structure, the elongate rail structure extending from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area. The system further includes an attachment mechanism that slides along and is securely attached to the elongate rail structure, the attachment mechanism includes an attachment structure for securely tethering the person to the elongate rail structure to prevent the attached person from falling off the sloped roof structure, and so that when the attached person travels from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area the attachment mechanism slides along the elongate rail structure while maintaining the secure tethering of the person to the elongate rail structure.

1 . A roofing system comprising:
 a sloped roof structure extending from a lower elevation area that is accessible from a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and extending to a higher elevation area;   an elongate rail structure attached to the sloped roof structure, the elongate rail structure extending from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area;   an attachment mechanism that slides along and is securely attached to the elongate rail structure, the attachment mechanism including an attachment structure for securely tethering the person to the elongate rail structure to prevent the attached person from falling off the sloped roof structure, and so that when the attached person travels from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area the attachment mechanism slides along the elongate rail structure while maintaining the secure tethering of the person to the elongate rail structure.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate rail comprises latch points and the attachment mechanism comprises a latch adapted to allow the attachment mechanism to move past each latch point when the attachment mechanism is moved toward the higher elevation area and to prevent unintended movement of the attachment mechanism past each latch point while the latch is engaged. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate traction structure parallel to the elongate rail for giving the attached person additional traction when the attached person travels from one elevation area to another elevation area. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the elongate traction structure comprises a plurality of handholds, footholds, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the elongate rail is within three feet of the lower edge of the sloped roof structure. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the elongate rail extends to within six inches of the lower edge of the sloped roof structure. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the elongate rail extends to within three feet of a ridge line of the sloped roof structure. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate rail is attached to one or more structural members below a surface of the roof. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of support pieces that are affixed to the elongate rail and to at least one support rafter. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising fluid distribution conduit for distributing a liquid over a surface of the sloped roof structure. 
   
   
       11 . A method of constructing a roof structure, the method comprising:
 providing a sloped roof structure that extends from a lower elevation area that is accessible from a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and that extends to a higher elevation area, the sloped roof structure comprising support rafters upon which a roofing surface is provided;   affixing a rail structure to the rafters of the sloped roof structures, the rail structure comprising support pieces that are affixed to the rafters and an elongate rail affixed to the support pieces, wherein the rail structure is affixed to the rafters so that the elongate rail extends parallel to and above the roofing surface and further extends from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the support pieces are attached to the rafters before the roofing surface is provided. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the roofing surface is provided before the elongate rail is attached to the support pieces. 
   
   
       14 . A method for safely ascending a sloped roof comprising:
 climbing to a position adjacent to a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, the sloped roof structure extending from a lower elevation area that is accessible from the lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and extending to a higher elevation area;   fastening a tether from an object to an attachment mechanism that slides along and is securely attached to an elongate rail structure, the elongate rail structure attached to the sloped roof structure and extending from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area; and   traveling the object from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area such that as the object travels, the attachment mechanism slides along the elongate rail structure toward the higher elevation area, wherein the attachment mechanism prevents the object from falling off of the sloped roof structure by latching at one or more latch points along the elongate rail structure.