Fixed Ladder Roof Access Turns HVAC Units Into a Danger Zone

A service company was called out to inspect two fairly new HVAC units on a commercial roof. Both were completely out of refrigerant. Strange, but manageable. The techs recharged the units, and everything seemed fine.

Until a few days later—another call. Same issue. Again, both units were empty. No obvious signs of a leak. They ran a thorough inspection. Nothing. Still, they recharged the systems and left with lingering doubts.

The third call confirmed it—this wasn’t a maintenance problem. It was a security one.

The company installed a hidden camera, and what they saw that night was shocking: teenagers had been climbing onto the roof and huffing the freon. They had gained easy access via the building’s fixed permanent ladder.

Fixed ladders might be convenient—but they’re also an open invitation. Anyone, at any time, can access your roof: vandals, thieves, trespassers. In this case, fixed ladder access led to an unusual—and potentially life-threatening—situation. Teens weren’t just trespassing; they were putting their lives at risk and damaging expensive equipment, all in search of a dangerous high. It’s a stark reminder that unrestricted roof access doesn’t just create security concerns—it can result in serious safety and liability issues.

Had this building used a LadderPort Ladder Receiver, it would’ve been a different story. Service personnel would still have secure, OSHA-compliant access, but unauthorized roof access would’ve required hauling a ladder to the building in the middle of the night—something that’s not just difficult to hide, but immediately suspicious. A group of teenagers dragging a ladder around after dark doesn’t exactly go unnoticed. With a LadderPort system, the ladder is only there when an authorized user brings it—and it leaves when they do. Service techs bring their own ladder, use it to safely access the roof, and remove it when the job is done.

LadderPort Ladder Receiver systems:

• Eliminate unsupervised access

• Require service techs to bring and remove their own ladders

• Prevent ladders from slipping, even on uneven ground or windy days

• Comply with OSHA 1910.23 ladder safety regulations

Your roof might be secure. But how secure is the path to it?

Don’t just protect the equipment—control the access.

LadderPort Ladder Receivers: because your building’s biggest risk might not be what’s on the roof—but who can get to it.