From daylight to safety light: skylights help combine aesthetic appeal with functionality, making them a top choice for those who enjoy natural sunlight above. However, skylights can present hidden dangers to workers after installation and maintenance crews who operate on rooftops. Skylights frequently become the failure point that transforms simple tasks into grave accidents. This is why Crystal Structures and VTECH Industries have joined forces to change this dangerous story.
The collaboration aims to do more than develop improved skylights. It’s about redefining what a skylight should be – skylights that feature illumination and beauty while prioritizing safety during their design. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that unguarded and insufficiently protected skylights frequently result in severe injuries and deaths. Even though many of these accidents are preventable, traditional solutions like nets, rails, or warning lines still rely on human behavior to be effective.
Crystal Structures and VTECH asked a different question: What if we designed skylights so that they prevent falls by themselves?
Two Companies, One Safer Skylight
Crystal Structures has been designing and delivering daylighting solutions since 1984 with over 40 years of experience building a national presence creating skylights, translucent canopies, walkways, and enclosures for clients across nearly every state. But what makes Crystal Structures unique is their cradle-to-grave approach. The company designs, manufactures, installs, and warrants every product—managing the full lifecycle of a project with one experienced team.
VTECH Industries, on the other hand, brings the engineering muscle. Their skylights are purpose-built for strength. Their products have withstood impacts from 200 to 600 pounds in third-party testing—the kind of punishment that simulates worst-case rooftop accidents. The laminate layer even held together when the glass cracked, preventing total penetration. Additional protection systems are unnecessary for these skylights. The skylights feature built-in safety features.
VTECH’s units maintain high performance levels along with their certifications and storm-grade resilience capabilities. Designers in hurricane-prone areas and those who seek enhanced disaster preparedness standards benefit from this peace of mind.
As T.J. Lyons explained in a recent Engineering News-Record Viewpoint article, designers should advance from reactive safety measures to proactive design solutions. The solution provided by this partnership focuses on removing safety risks during the initial design process instead of simply controlling them.
When you collaborate with Crystal Structures and VTECH, you’re getting a partnership which provides you with an engineered skylight system that prevents falls and project management that covers design through installation. Right out of the box you’ll get both safety and natural light. These skylights establish what we expect from skylights in terms of performance and design. A bright and clean design helps protect maintenance workers who operate inside buildings.
A significant advancement in rooftop safety is available. It’s time to shift the focus from reactive methods to initiative-taking solutions because the risk of falling through skylights can be eliminated.
Share this blog to help change the conversation around skylight safety. Let’s move from reactive to proactive—because no one should fall through daylight!
Tag someone who needs to know about OSHA-compliant, fall-prevention skylights.
This was a blog share with Crystal Structures
.