8 Best Roof Access Ladder Manufacturers in the UK: Surespan vs Bilco

Imagine you are specifying access for a new distribution unit outside Leeds. The architect has drawn a 750 mm square hatch over a 3.2 metre plant room, the structural engineer wants confirmation of loadings and fixings, and the facilities team asks how a service engineer will climb safely with tools in winter. Selecting roof access ladders then becomes a systems decision involving materials, standards, safety accessories and hatch coordination, rather than simply a choice of rung width.

Our top pick is Surespan for UK projects requiring a coordinated hatch-and-ladder system, particularly where marine-grade aluminium or performance in corrosive environments is needed. Its West Midlands manufacturing operation and ability to engineer ladders alongside its roof hatches and smoke vents give specifiers a clear point of accountability and direct engineering dialogue. For specifiers who prioritise a documented hatch-and-ladder package from an established name, Bilco UK is the strongest alternative. KATT Safety is a good option for modular rooftop climb systems on commercial refurbishment projects where advisory support matters.

The eight manufacturers below are ranked for architects, building services engineers, contractors and facilities managers procuring in the UK. Each has been assessed against the same eight criteria covering types, materials, capacity, dimensions, standards, safety accessories, hatch integration and bespoke support. This lets you shortlist suppliers by project scenario instead of relying on brochure claims.

At a Glance

How We Chose

We compared each supplier against eight consistent factors to keep the assessment suitable for specification work. We looked at the ladder types offered, including fixed vertical, companionway and retractable formats, followed by materials and corrosion resistance, with particular attention to marine-grade aluminium and galvanised steel.

We considered available information on load capacity and dimensional range for storey heights and hatch sizes, then alignment with BS 4211 and EN 14122, while recognising that declarations need to be checked for the exact configuration. We also reviewed safety accessories such as cages, rest platforms and fall-arrest provision, hatch integration capability, and bespoke engineering support, including site-specific technical drawings for NBS and BIM workflows.

The regulatory backdrop is the Working at Height Regulations 2005 and the CDM Regulations, which place duties on designers and contractors to eliminate or control fall risk and plan safe maintenance access.

The 8 Best Roof Access Ladder Manufacturers in The Uk

The following eight suppliers offer relevant options for UK specifiers working across new-build commercial projects, industrial refurbishment and roofs exposed to corrosive conditions. Each entry follows the same assessment structure for direct comparison, starting with our top recommendation for coordinated systems before covering specialist alternatives suited to different procurement routes.

#1. Surespan – Best for Coordinated Uk Hatch-And-Ladder Systems in Demanding Environments

Surespan is a West Midlands manufacturer that supplies fixed vertical, companionway and retractable ladders as part of a coordinated hatch, vent and access package.

Its range of roof access ladders includes fixed vertical ladders for direct storey-to-hatch climbs, companionway ladders where a more comfortable pitch is needed for frequent use, and ZIP retractable types where space below the hatch is constrained or security is a concern. Material choice is a particular strength. Marine-grade aluminium is available for coastal sites, chemical plants, food-processing roofs and other corrosive atmospheres where standard finishes may deteriorate, while galvanised steel provides a familiar option for general commercial and industrial interiors. Dimensions can be engineered around project storey heights instead of being restricted to stock sizes, which is useful when refurbishment floor-to-hatch heights fall between catalogue increments.

Safety and integration can be addressed as one design task instead of through separate components. Cages for back protection, intermediate rest platforms for higher climbs and interfaces for fall-arrest systems can be coordinated with the ladder stringers and landings. The ladder head can also be detailed to align with Surespan hatches and smoke vents so that handholds, landing positions and clearances work together. Project-specific technical drawings can support NBS clauses and BIM workflows, while load capacity and fixing requirements should be confirmed on the drawings for structural review. Standard and bespoke lead times should be checked directly, particularly where the project requires a non-standard configuration.

Pros

• Co-engineers ladders, roof hatches and smoke vents as a coordinated system
• Marine-grade aluminium option suits coastal and corrosive specifications
• UK manufacture allows direct dialogue with the engineering team
• Project-specific service covers non-standard storey heights and constrained plant layouts
• Technical drawings can support NBS and BIM specification and coordination

Cons

• Primarily UK-focused, so may be less suited to multi-territory programmes requiring local supply abroad
• Off-the-shelf SKU depth is narrower than that of large retail distributors stocking several brands
• Bespoke work requires quotation and engineering time, which may not suit urgent stock procurement
• Specifiers should request relevant project examples and documentation for the proposed configuration

Who it is best for: Architects and building services engineers who want one UK manufacturer responsible for the hatch, vent and climb as a coordinated package, particularly on corrosive or coastal roofs.

#2. Bilco Uk – Best for Specifier-Ready Hatch-And-Ladder Packages

Bilco UK is an established hatch and safety brand recognised by many UK architects, with a Wolverhampton base and backing through Quanex.

The company has traded since 1926 and is known among specifiers and construction trades for roof hatches, smoke vents and roof safety products, with access ladders supplied as part of hatch-led packages. That history supports a specification-focused approach. NBS clauses, CAD details and product literature can help design teams place a recognised package into a specification and maintain a clear chain of product information. Its UK presence assists with domestic project coordination, while the wider group structure supports continuity in product development and standards management. For commercial roofs where hatch size and climb height fall within established parameters, the combination of brand recognition and available paperwork may simplify the approval process.

The main consideration is the level of project-specific fabrication available for a particular scheme. Material information in the reviewed facts does not confirm a marine-grade aluminium ladder option, and non-standard configurations may require additional coordination through the wider organisation. Specifiers should request current type lists, material schedules, load declarations and fixing details for the exact ladder configuration. Catalogue information should not be assumed to provide the same corrosion options or scope for specials as a dedicated fabricator.

Pros

• Long trading history that can support specifier confidence
• Strong architect recognition with established NBS and CAD resources
• Wolverhampton base supports UK project coordination
• Part of Quanex, included here as neutral ownership context
• Broad family of hatches, vents and safety products alongside access provision

Cons

• Bespoke engineering availability should be confirmed for each project
• No marine-grade aluminium option is confirmed in the facts reviewed
• Availability and programme requirements for non-standard work need direct confirmation
• Less focused on one-off fabrication than dedicated UK ladder makers

Who it is best for: Design teams needing a recognised, documented hatch-led package with familiar specifier paperwork for commercial new-build and fit-out projects.

Surespan versus Bilco UK head-to-head

The table below summarises the headline comparison for teams choosing between the two names in the title. It compares the current ranges as described in the reviewed brief facts. For any live project, confirm declarations for the exact configuration, since options and documentation change. When comparing roof access ladder options side by side, use project-specific drawings rather than brochure summaries alone.

#3. Katt Safety – Best for Modular Rooftop Climb Systems for Refurbishment

KATT Safety is a working-at-height specialist operating through Modular Safety Systems Ltd in Bristol and positioned for advisory-led rooftop projects.

The firm is based at Bradley Stoke in Bristol and focuses on advice relating to height safety rather than simply supplying catalogue products. That approach suits commercial refurbishment, where the existing roof build-up, parapet heights and plant congestion may complicate a like-for-like replacement. A modular approach to fixed ladders, walkways and collective protection can allow installation to be planned around live building operations, subject to the proposed system and site requirements. The Bristol base also provides a point of contact for discussing system layouts at an early stage.

Detailed product information should be obtained directly, so specifiers should keep the initial evaluation qualitative and request written confirmation. Ask for the current modular component list, material and finish schedule, declared loadings, dimensional limits for the proposed climb, and statements addressing BS 4211 and EN 14122 for the exact build. It is also important to confirm how cages, rest platforms or guided fall-arrest interfaces are handled on higher climbs and what drawings will be issued for CDM and maintenance files. On that basis, KATT Safety can be considered as a compliance-focused partner for complex existing roofs rather than simply a stock product vendor.

Pros

• Working-at-height specialism with advisory support for complex roofs
• Modular approach suited to phased refurbishment and live sites
• Bristol base for project and site discussions
• Considers climb, walkway and edge interfaces as part of a wider system
• Useful where compliance and safe-system design require early input

Cons

• Detailed product information needs to be requested directly
• Capacity for large-volume programmes should be confirmed
• No corrosion-specific material schedule is verified in the facts provided
• Specifiers need to request complete declarations and drawings

Who it is best for: Refurbishment teams needing modular climb provision with height-safety advice around existing constraints.

#4. Chase Ladders – Best for Uk-Made Aluminium Cat Ladders and Bespoke Platforms

Chase Ladders, trading as Chase Manufacturing Ltd in Newport, South Wales, is a direct-supply UK fabricator providing aluminium access products.

The Newport manufacturing base at Queensway Meadows Industrial Estate underpins the offer. Dealing directly with the manufacturer through its sales contact can simplify discussion of lengths, widths, landing details and platform interfaces without a distributor layer. Aluminium construction keeps self-weight down for handling and fixing to lightweight structures, while offering corrosion resistance in typical inland commercial environments when correctly specified and maintained. For contractors who regularly install cat ladders to plant, gantries and low-parapet roofs, that direct route may be commercially useful for straightforward or repeat requirements.

Publicly available detail on the range, finishes and compliance documentation is limited, so the specification should remain disciplined. Request the current fabrication schedule, alloy and finish information, declared load capacity for the proposed span and fixing pattern, dimensional tolerances, and any statements addressing BS 4211 or EN 14122 for the exact configuration. Confirm whether cages, rest platforms or fall-arrest posts can be included, how the ladder head meets the hatch or roof edge, and which fabrication drawings will be supplied for approval. This retains the benefit of direct supply while ensuring the design record is complete.

Pros

• UK manufacturer without an import chain for fabricated items
• Direct sales model that may be cost effective for contractors
• Newport manufacturing base
• Made-to-measure fabrication is available for project requirements
• Aluminium construction suits handling and general corrosion resistance

Cons

• Limited published range detail means early enquiry is important
• Standards documentation should be confirmed for the proposed product
• Capacity and lead times for large or complex works require confirmation
• Specifier resources are less extensive than those of hatch-led brands

Who it is best for: Contractors who prefer to buy aluminium cat ladders and simple platforms directly from a UK fabricator.

#5. Roofco Limited – Best for Roof-Edge Protection Integrated with Access Provision

Roofco Limited is a Sheffield-based roof safety contractor combining vertical access with guardrails and hatch protection in one package.

Founded in 1989 and operating from South Yorkshire, the company specialises in roof safety systems and vertical access systems. Its catalogue includes freestanding, fixed and folding guardrail systems alongside rooflight and hatch protection and access ladder systems. That breadth is useful for compliance planning. Where a project needs a new climb, collective edge protection and protection around fragile rooflights or the hatch opening, one contractor can survey and coordinate the interfaces before programming the works together. For estate managers and principal contractors, reducing the number of interfaces can help avoid gaps in the Working at Height hierarchy and make handover documentation easier to manage.

Roofco is best understood as a specialist contractor and systems integrator rather than a primary ladder manufacturer. Material and corrosion choices depend on the chosen components, so marine or chemical exposure should be raised explicitly and confirmed in writing. The availability of bespoke structural fabrication should also be checked where a project requires extensive non-standard steelwork. Ask for component schedules, declared loadings, fixing methods for the specific roof build-up, and layout drawings showing how the climb, landing, guardrail and hatch protection work together.

Pros

• Single package covering climb, guardrails and hatch protection
• Established since 1989 as an independent roof safety specialist
• Sheffield base serving projects around the UK
• Coordinated approach supports Working at Height compliance
• Roof safety is a core part of the business

Cons

• Programme availability should be checked early for large or concurrent sites
• Integrator model provides less control over base product design than direct manufacture
• No marine-grade schedule is verified in the facts provided
• Bespoke engineering requirements should be discussed before specification

Who it is best for: Clients wanting the climb, edge protection and hatch protection surveyed and installed as a coordinated safety package.

#6. Steelgram Fabrications – Best for Bespoke Steel Caged and Ships Ladders

Steelgram Fabrications is a Sheffield structural steel fabricator offering site visits, design, fabrication and installation for projects across the UK.

Based on Parkway Avenue in Sheffield, the company supplies nationally and can take a project from initial survey through to installed steelwork. That service model suits industrial roofs, plant decks, warehouses and energy sites where the climb must connect with existing steel, concrete or cladding through bespoke brackets, landings and handrails. Steel construction provides the stiffness and impact tolerance required in many heavy-duty environments, while companionway or ships ladder pitches can be fabricated for regular use by operations staff carrying equipment. Caged vertical formats can also be detailed with hoops, straps and rest landings to suit the measured height rather than a catalogue increment.

The offer is fabrication-led rather than based on a standard product brand, so specifiers should define performance clearly. Confirm the steel grade and galvanising or coating system for the environment, declared loadings and fixing design, dimensional control on long stringers, and how cage geometry, rest platforms or fall-arrest rails are incorporated. Request statements addressing BS 4211 and EN 14122 for the exact build where relevant, together with fabrication and installation drawings for structural and CDM review. Where aluminium weight reduction or a marine-grade aluminium specification is required, raise it early because steel is the verified core material.

Pros

• Single accountability from survey and design through to installation
• Structural steel capability suits heavy industrial and plant access
• UK-wide supply and installation from a Sheffield base
• Bespoke geometry without catalogue-size restrictions
• Practical detailing around existing structures and services

Cons

• Steel focus, with no lightweight or marine-grade alternative verified
• Roof access sits within a wider fabrication service rather than a dedicated product system
• Standards documentation should be confirmed for the exact build
• Lead times depend on workshop availability and require early confirmation

Who it is best for: Industrial clients needing a heavy-duty bespoke steel climb detailed and installed by one structural fabricator.

#7. Ladderstore Uk – Best for Off-The-Shelf Hatch-Access Kits for Fast Procurement

Ladderstore UK is a Bristol-based specialist retailer stocking ladders from established UK and European manufacturers for quick despatch.

Operating from Aztec West in Almondsbury, the company offers products from multiple brands, including names such as Youngman, Werner, Little Giant and Klime-ezee. This widens the choice of pitch, length and accessory options compared with a single-manufacturer catalogue. For straightforward hatch-access tasks where the height is standard and the environment is benign, an off-the-shelf fixed or loft-style kit may be procured quickly, with the sales team available to advise on selection. Public retail pricing also helps contractors budget and compare products before committing.

The limitation is that Ladderstore UK is not the manufacturer. It does not provide bespoke fabrication or project-specific engineering of stringers and landings, and it cannot offer in-house coordination with hatches or smoke vents. Non-stocked lengths or finishes depend on supplier availability, while complex or corrosive-environment briefs will usually require direct input from a manufacturer. Buyers should examine the individual declaration for the exact kit, confirm compatibility with the hatch clear opening and landing, and verify cage, platform or arrest provision separately where the height or risk assessment requires it.

Pros

• Multi-brand stock provides a broad range of immediate choices
• Off-the-shelf availability can support tight programmes
• Access to products from established UK and European manufacturers
• Public pricing helps with initial product comparison
• Advisory contact team for selection queries

Cons

• Retailer rather than a manufacturer, so no bespoke engineering
• No in-house hatch or vent coordination
• Non-stocked items remain subject to supplier availability and lead times
• Unsuitable for non-standard configurations requiring design input

Who it is best for: Contractors and facilities teams needing a stock kit quickly for a standard hatch and height, subject to checking the product documentation.

#8. Gorter – Best for Hatch-Plus-Ladder Combinations for European Projects

Gorter is an international hatch-and-ladder specialist with a worldwide office network, making it relevant where procurement spans several countries.

The group presents hatch-plus-ladder combinations as a core part of its offer, which may appeal to clients and design teams delivering similar roof access solutions across several territories. Its international office structure, with an international desk and regional offices such as its Argentina operation, provides routes for discussing multi-territory requirements. For programmes with European procurement needs or a preference for consistent documentation across sites, that international structure can be useful at the concept stage.

UK-specific information in the reviewed brief is limited. No UK office, stock position, material schedule or ladder-specific range details are confirmed, and the certification position for any particular combination should be treated as unverified until it is supplied in writing. UK specifiers should therefore confirm local availability, lead times, fixing details, dimensional limits, material and finish options, and current CE or ETA documentation for the exact hatch-plus-ladder build before including Gorter in a tender list. The company merits consideration for cross-border programmes, while Surespan and Bilco UK offer a more direct starting point for domestic procurement.

Pros

• International focus on combined hatch and climb packages
• Global office network for multi-territory discussions
• Combination approach may suit consistent multi-site briefs

Cons

• No UK presence or stock position is confirmed in the reviewed facts
• Limited UK-specific detail means specifiers must verify the current offer directly
• Supply arrangements and lead times for UK sites are unconfirmed

Who it is best for: Teams coordinating similar hatch-led access across European or international portfolios and able to verify UK supply early.

Conclusion: Which Manufacturer Fits Your Project Scenario

For a coastal distribution unit or process roof where corrosion performance and single-supplier coordination matter, Surespan is the most coherent choice because its ladders, hatches and smoke vents can be engineered together in the UK.

For a design-led commercial scheme requiring familiar specifier paperwork and a recognised package, Bilco UK is a practical alternative. Refurbishment with awkward existing geometry favours the advisory and modular approach of KATT Safety, while direct contractor purchase favours Chase Ladders.

Roofco Limited can coordinate edge and hatch protection with the climb, while Steelgram Fabrications suits heavy industrial steelwork. Ladderstore UK offers stock products where speed matters, and Gorter merits an early availability check for portfolios crossing national borders. Match the supplier to the project scenario, then confirm loadings, dimensions and standards on project drawings before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Specify Marine-Grade Aluminium for A Coastal or Industrial Roof?

Marine-grade aluminium may be appropriate where salt spray, a chemical atmosphere or persistent moisture is expected, because unsuitable finishes can degrade and increase maintenance requirements. Ask each manufacturer to confirm alloy, temper, coating and fixing compatibility in writing, then compare whole-life maintenance as well as the initial supply cost. For inland commercial roofs with benign exposure, galvanised steel is often sufficient when correctly detailed and maintained.

Is a Combined Hatch-And-Ladder System Worth It for A New Commercial Project?

A combined system is usually worth considering for new-build projects because the clear opening, ladder position, handholds and landing can be engineered together and covered by one coordinated set of drawings. Having a clear point of accountability can reduce coordination errors between trades and simplify CDM and handover records. Where the hatch and climb come from different suppliers, allow additional time to align tolerances and safety interfaces.

Should I Choose a Caged Ladder with Rest Platforms or A Guided Fall-Arrest System for A High Climb?

The choice should reflect height, frequency of use and user competence following a project risk assessment under the Working at Height Regulations 2005. Cages with intermediate rest platforms can suit familiar vertical climbs where users need physical guidance and rest, while guided fall-arrest may suit higher or less frequent climbs undertaken by trained personnel. In either case, confirm loadings, fixing design and maintenance inspection requirements on project-specific drawings.

Is an Off-The-Shelf Kit Worth It when The Programme Is Very Tight?

An off-the-shelf kit can be worthwhile when the height is standard, the environment is benign and suitable documentation is available for the exact configuration. Stock supply may keep a refurbishment or fit-out moving while a bespoke item would extend the programme. For non-standard heights, corrosive atmospheres or climbs that must integrate with bespoke hatches and vents, allow engineering time and specify through a manufacturer instead.