A fall protection system, designed to protect workers carrying out work at height, can be broadly divided into two main categories: guardrails and lifelines.
Guardrails are collective protection systems, comparable to railings, intended to perform a physical restraint function, preventing one or more workers from falling.
Lifelines, on the other hand, are systems with variable geometry, specifically designed to adapt to the structural configuration of the roof on which they are installed.
Guardrails are typically installed in areas where there is a risk of falling, mainly along the external roof edges and eaves.
Their containment function and edge positioning make them visually impactful, despite the various geometric improvements introduced over time. This aspect represents one of the key elements distinguishing the two categories of fall protection systems.
While guardrails are clearly visible from the outside due to their geometry and position, lifelines are considerably more discreet, despite providing a nearly identical protective function.
Today, the market increasingly favours solutions that reconcile aesthetic considerations, which have gained growing importance, with economic constraints, which remain a constant factor.
Another significant difference between the two systems lies in the level of financial investment required for their installation.
Lifelines allow for the securing of roofs and specific work areas with relatively limited budgets, whereas guardrails involve significantly higher costs, also due to a more complex storage and supply chain.
Furthermore, installation costs, often involving the rental of lifting and positioning equipment, further increase the commercial gap that already exists between the two systems.
Market analyses therefore indicate a clear shift in trend compared to the early years of this decade. As a result of a slowly recovering economy and increased architectural sensitivity, lifelines have gained a substantial commercial advantage, while guardrails have largely retained their dominance in industrial contexts, where alternative solutions are neither structurally nor technically feasible.
