# WAC 296-880-500: WAC 296-880-500. Appendix A — Determining roof widths — Nonmandatory guidelines > Washington · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_500 ## Section - **Citation:** WAC 296-880-500 - **Heading:** WAC 296-880-500. Appendix A — Determining roof widths — Nonmandatory guidelines - **Jurisdiction:** Washington - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Washington Administrative Code / Title 296 / Chapter 296-880 / Section 296-880-500 ## Text Guidelines for complying with fall restraint requirements in this section. (1) This appendix serves as a guideline to assist employers complying with the requirements of WAC 296-880-40045 which allows the use of a safety monitoring system alone as a means of providing fall protection during the performance of roofing operations on low sloped roofs fifty feet (15.25 m) or less in width. Each example in the appendix shows a roof plan or plans and indicates where each roof or roof area is to be measured to determine its width. Section views or elevation views are shown where appropriate. Some examples show "correct" and "incorrect" subdivisions of irregularly shaped roofs divided into smaller, regularly shaped areas. In all examples, the dimension selected to be the width of an area is the lesser of the two primary dimensions of the area, as viewed from above. Example A shows a simple rectangular roof. The width is the lesser of the two primary overall dimensions, which is also the case with roofs sloped toward or away from the roof center, as shown in Example B. (2) Many roofs are not simple rectangles. Such roofs may be broken down into subareas as shown in Example C. The process of dividing a roof area can produce many different configurations. Example C gives the general rule of using dividing lines of minimum length to minimize the size and number of the areas which are potentially less than fifty feet (15.25 m) wide. The intent is to minimize the number of roof areas where safety monitoring systems alone are sufficient protection. eas as shown in Example C. The process of dividing a roof area can produce many different configurations. Example C gives the general rule of using dividing lines of minimum length to minimize the size and number of the areas which are potentially less than fifty feet (15.25 m) wide. The intent is to minimize the number of roof areas where safety monitoring systems alone are sufficient protection. (3) Roofs which are comprised of several separate, noncontiguous roof areas, as in Example D, may be considered as a series of individual roofs. Some roofs have penthouses, additional floors, courtyard openings, or similar architectural features, Example E shows how the rule for dividing roofs into subareas is applied to such configurations. Irregular, nonrectangular roofs must be considered on an individual basis, as shown in Example F. Such roofs are to be divided into subareas by using dividing lines of minimum length to minimize the size and number of the areas which are potentially less than or equal to fifty feet (15.25 m) in width, in order to limit the size of roof areas where the safety monitoring system alone can be used (WAC 296-880-40045 (1)). Dotted lines are used in the examples to show the location of dividing lines. Ⓦ denotes incorrect measurements of width. Such roofs are to be divided into subareas by using dividing lines of minimum length to minimize the size and number of the areas which are potentially less than or equal to fifty feet (15.25 m) in width in order to limit the size of roof areas where the safety monitoring system alone can be used. Dotted lines are used in the examples to show the location of dividing lines. Ⓦ denotes incorrect measurements of width. ## Nearby sections - [WAC 296-880-080 WAC 296-880-080. Scope](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_080.md) - [WAC 296-880-090 WAC 296-880-090. Quick reference guide](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_090.md) - [WAC 296-880-095 WAC 296-880-095. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_095.md) - [WAC 296-880-100 WAC 296-880-100. Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_100.md) - [WAC 296-880-200 WAC 296-880-200. Fall protection required at four feet or more](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_200.md) - [WAC 296-880-300 WAC 296-880-300. Specific fall protection requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_300.md) - [WAC 296-880-400 WAC 296-880-400. Fall protection system specifications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_400.md) - [WAC 296-880-500 WAC 296-880-500. Appendix A — Determining roof widths — Nonmandatory guidelines](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_500.md) - [WAC 296-880-505 WAC 296-880-505. Appendix B — Calculating fall clearance distance — Nonmandatory guidelines](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_505.md) - [WAC 296-880-510 WAC 296-880-510. Appendix C — Test methods and additional guidelines for personal fall arrest systems — Nonmandatory guidelines](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_510.md) - [WAC 296-880-10005 WAC 296-880-10005. General requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_10005.md) - [WAC 296-880-10010 WAC 296-880-10010. Fall protection required regardless of height](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_10010.md) - [WAC 296-880-10015 WAC 296-880-10015. Training](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_10015.md) - [WAC 296-880-10020 WAC 296-880-10020. Fall protection work plan required at ten feet or more](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_10020.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_296_880_500. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.