AU2009213020A1

AU2009213020A1 - Scaffolding System

Info

Publication number: AU2009213020A1
Application number: AU2009213020A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chris Ayoub
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-09
Filing date: 2009-09-09
Publication date: 2010-03-25

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.10 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION invention Title: SCAFFOLDING SYSTEM The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 092036 - 2 SCAFFOLDING SYSTEM The present invention relates to building construction andr more particularly, to scaffolding for work around the 5 outside and roof areas of framed buildings under construction. BACKGROUND An increased concern for the safety of construction 10 workers has led to a demand by regulatory authorities for adequate support and protective means for workers when working on the roof of a building under construction or at heights greater than . metres above ground level. Modular scaffolding systems are known which are built 15 from the ground up and on which scaffolding planks can be laid to provide a working walkways. A disadvantage of these systems is that they become time consuming and difficult to erect on uneven or soft ground adjacent to the building under construction. 20 Systems for protection of workers on the roofs of a building under construction are known, in which railing support structures are attached to the roof rafters. One disadvantage of this system is that the rafters must already in place. Another disadvantage is that the support 25 structures impede the cladding activity of the roof structure.

- 3 It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages. Notes 5 1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of". 2. The above discussion of the prior art in the 10 Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a scaffold system for use in construction of a framed building; said system including assemblies of upper and lower support structures; said system providing working 20 access to outside walls and roof areas of said framed building, wherein said upper support structures are held in cantilevered support at top plates of said outside walls. Preferably, said upper support structure incudes a first horizontal element and a second horizontal element; said 25 first horizontal element extending over a said top plate of a said outside wall of a said framed building; said second - 4 horizontal element extending below the level of undersides of ceiling joists of a said framed building. Preferably, said first horizontal element of said upper support structure extends outwardly from a said top plate 5 sufficient to support at least one scaffolding plank. Preferably, said second horizontal element of said upper support structure extends inwardly from said top plate sufficient to bridge the gap between said top plate and at least a first adjoining said ceiling joist. 10 Preferably, said system further includes a railing support stanchion; said railing support stanchion inserted into a stanchion support socket provided at an outer end of said first horizontal element of said upper support structure. Preferably, said railing support stanchion is provided with 15 at least one railing support element. Preferably, said lower support structure includes an upper horizontal element, a vertical element and a lower horizontal element; said upper horizontal element, said vertical element and said lower horizontal element 20 assembled into a "C"-shaped structure. Preferably, said upper and lower horizontal elements of said lower support structure extend outwardly from said outside wall of a said framed building sufficient to support at least one scaffolding plank on said lower 25 horizontal element.

Preferably, said upper horizontal element of said lower support structure is arranged for releasable assembly to said first horizontal element of said upper support structure; said lower support structure depending from said 5 upper support structure when said upper and lower supports structures are assembled in use. Preferably, said lower support structure is assembled to said upper support structure by means of a series of through-bolts; said through bolts passing through aligned 10 bolt holes in said first horizontal element of said upper support structure and corresponding bolt holes in said upper horizontal element of said lower support structure Preferablyr said bolt holes in said first horizontal element of said upper support structure are greater in 15 number than said bolt holes in said upper horizontal element of said lower support structure so as to allow adjustment of said lower support structure relative said upper support structure. Preferably, said vertical element of said lower support 20 structure is provided with at least one railing support structure. In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing scaffolding for work on the walls and roof areas of a framed building; said method including the 25 steps of; -6 (a) installing at least a pair of upper support structures spaced apart along a top plate of the framing of said framed building, (b) assembling a lower support structure to an 5 outwardly extending first horizontal element of each of said upper support structures, wherein said upper support structures are held in place on said top plate by cantilevered support at ceiling joists of said framed building. 10 Preferably, said method includes the further steps of: (a) inserting railing support stanchions in stanchion sockets provided at respective outer ends of said first horizontal elements, (b) laying scaffold planking across respective pairs of 15 said first horizontal element of said upper support structures and said lower horizontal elements of said lower support structures, (c) inserting at least one horizontal railing element into railing support structures provided on said 20 railing support stanchions, (d) inserting at least one horizontal railing element into railing support structures provided on vertical elements of said lower support structures. Preferably, said upper support structure includes said 25 outwardly extending first horizontal element and an inwardly extending second horizontal element; said second horizontal element extending below the level of underside of said ceiling joists. Preferably, said lower support structure includes an upper horizontal element, a vertical element and a lower 5 horizontal element; said upper horizontal element, said vertical element and said lower horizontal element assembled into a "C"-shaped structure. Preferably, said upper horizontal element of said lower support structure is releasably assembled to said first 10 horizontal element of said upper support structure by through bolts passing through a series of aligned bolt holes provided in respective said first horizontal element and said upper horizontal element. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partially 20 constructed framed building with elements of the scaffolding system according to the invention in place, Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the partially constructed framed building of Figure 1 in which the roof framing has been added, Figure 3 and 4 are side elevation views of an upper and lower support structure respectively, of the scaffolding system of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the upper and 5 lower support structures of Figures 3 and 4 assembled for use, Figure 6 is a plan view of a pair of the assembled upper and lower support elements of Figure 5 supporting hand rails, a kickrail and scaffold planks for use, 10 Figure 7 is an outside front elevation view of the arrangement of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a perspective view of an arrangement of pairs of assembled upper and lower support structures for the support of upper and lower scaffold planks and upper 15 and lower safety railings and kickrail, Figure 9 is a detail of a portion of Figure 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1, the scaffold system 10 20 according to the present invention, has been assembled around the outside of a partially constructed framed building. In this instance the building is a single story timber, aluminium of steel framed structure, the framing of which has been completed to top plate 12 level. Typically, 25 as is well known in the art, the wall frames have been assembled off-site and erected on the previously provided foundations or supporting slab (not shown). It will be noted that the scaffolding 10 is arranged to provide unimpeded access to the yet to be constructed roof 5 framing and to the upper portions of the outside walls and eaves of the building. Figure 2 shows the building at a further stage of construction in which the roof framing has been installed. With reference to both Figures 1 and 2 and also to 10 Figures 3 and 4, the scaffold system 10 of the invention includes upper support structures 14 and lower support structures 16 (the upper support structures are largely obscured in Figure 2) . As can best be seen in Figure 3, each upper support structure 14 includes a first horizontal 15 element 18 and a second horizontal element 20. Preferably, though not essentially, first and second horizontal elements 18 and 20 are comprised of steel rectangular hollow section (RHS). It will be seen in Figure 3 that the two horizontal 20 sections 18 and 20 are arranged so that the first horizontal section 19, which extends outwardly from a side wall frame 22, lies supported on the top plate 12 of the side wall frame 22, while the second horizontal section 20 extends inwardly and below the level of undersides of at 25 least one ceiling joist 26. Thus the upper support - 10 structure 14 is held in cantilevered support on top plate 12 of the outside wall frame 24. For scaffolding at the side of the building where the joists 26 lie normal to that side, a cross piece 15 is 5 provided between two adjacent joists 26, spaced some 700m inwardly from the top plate 12, as shown in Figure 1. The second horizontal section 20 is then located under this cross piece which then acts in similar manner to the joists as described above 10 First horizontal element 138 extends outwardly sufficient to support at least one scaffolding plank 26. First horizontal element 18 is further provided with a stanchion support socket 28 for insertion of a railing support stanchion 30. Railing support stanchion 30 is 15 provided with one hand railing support structure 32, for support of a railing element 34, and a kickboard support structure 33 for a kickboard element 35. Turning now also to Figure 4, each lower support structure 16 includes an upper horizontal element 40, a 20 vertical element 42 and a lower horizontal element 44, each again preferably formed of lengths of RHS and fabricated in the form of a "C"-shape. Strengthening gussets 46 and 48 may be provided at the junctions of the upper and lower horizontal elements with the vertical element 42 for 25 rigidity.

- 11 Vertical element 42 is provided with a railing support structure 52 in similar manner to that of the railing support stanchion 30 above, for the support of a like railing element 54. A kickboard support (not shown) may 5 also be provided on vertical element 42. Lower horizontal element 44 provides support for at least one scaffolding plank 56. Upper horizontal element 40 of the lower support element 16 is arranged for releasable assembly to the first 10 horizontal element 18 of the upper support element 14. Preferably assembly is by means of a series of through bolt holes 36 in first horizontal element 18 and a corresponding series of bolt holes 50 in upper horizontal element 40 of the lower support element. By these means the lower support 15 element 16 may be bolted to the upper support element 14 so that the lower support element then depends from the upper support element, as can be seen for example in Figure 5. Preferably, the number of bolt holes 36 is greater than the number of bolt holes 50, providing for some inward or 20 outward adjustment of the lower support structure 16 relative to upper support structure 14. Preferably, the lower horizontal element 44 of the lower support structure 16, projects inwardly far enough to locate adjacent to a vertical stud 25 (as best seen in 25 Figure 2) . This allows the end of the lower horizontal element to be clamped to the stud 25.

- 12 In Use As can be seen from Figures 6 to 9, a pair of assemblies of upper and lower support structures 14 and 16 5 may be located in spaced apart position along the frame of a side wall of a building to provide scaffolding plank walkways, safety railings and kickboard at both the roof level and at a level along the side wall, for work on the roof and at the upper part of the side wall and under the 10 eaves. Thus by means of the present scaffolding system any of the following tasks may be more safely and conveniently completed, including: a roof framing construction, 15 * roof tiling or metal cladding, 0 facia, gutter and downpipe installation, a under eaves panel installation, 0 external wall cladding, 9 painting of eaves and external walls, 20 a bricklaying of brick veneer walls and window seals, a window and/or glass block installation, * electrical work such as external lighting and security fittings, - 13 * plumbing such as for example solar or pool heating installations, * texture coating of external walls. 5 The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus for example, 10 although the above description and drawings are directed to use with a single storey building, it will be appreciated by appropriate lengthening of the vertical element of the lower support structure, the system may be applied to buildings of two and more storeys.

Claims

1. A scaffold system for use in construction of a framed building; said system including assemblies of upper and 5 lower support structures; said system providing working access to outside walls and roof areas of said framed building, wherein said upper support structures are held in cantilevered support at top plates of said outside walls. 10

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said. upper support structure incudes a first horizontal element and a second horizontal element; said first horizontal element extending over a said top plate of a said outside wall of a said framed building; said second 15 horizontal element extending below the level of undersides of ceiling joists of a said framed building.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said first horizontal element of said upper support structure extends outwardly from a said top plate sufficient to support 20 at least one scaffolding plank.

4. The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein said second horizontal element of said upper support structure extends inwardly from said top plate sufficient to bridge the gap between said top plate and at least a 25 first adjoining said ceiling joist. - i5s

5. The system of any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said system further includes a railing support stanchion; said railing support stanchion inserted into a stanchion support socket provided at an outer end of 5 said first horizontal element of said upper support structure.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said railing support stanchion is provided with at least one railing support element. 10

7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said lower support structure includes an upper horizontal element, a vertical element and a lower horizontal element; said upper horizontal element, said vertical element and said lower horizontal element assembled 15 into a "C"-shaped structure.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said upper and lower horizontal elements of said lower support structure extend outwardly from said outside wall of a said framed building sufficient to support at least one 20 scaffolding plank on said lower horizontal element.

9. The system of claim 7 or 8 wherein said upper horizontal element of said lower support structure is arranged for releasable assembly to said first horizontal element of said upper support structure; 25 said lower support structure depending from said upper - 16 support structure when said upper and lower supports structures are assembled in use.

10. The system of any one of claims -7 to 9 wherein said lower support structure is assembled to said upper 5 support structure by means of a series of through bolts; said through bolts passing through aligned bolt holes in said first horizontal element of said upper support structure and corresponding bolt holes in said upper horizontal element of said lower support 10 structure.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said bolt holes in said first horizontal element of said upper support structure are greater in number than said bolt holes in said upper horizontal element of said lower support 15 structure so as to allow adjustment of said lower support structure relative said upper support structure.

12. The system of any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein said vertical element of said lower support structure is 20 provided with at least one railing support structure.

13. A method of providing scaffolding for work on the walls and roof areas of a framed building; said method including the steps of; (a) installing at least a pair of upper support 25 structures spaced apart along a top plate of the framing of said framed building, - 17 (b) assembling a lower support structure to an outwardly extending first horizontal element of each of said upper support structures, wherein said upper support structures are held in place 5 on said top plate by cantilevered support at ceiling joists of said framed building.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said method includes the further steps of: (a) inserting railing support stanchions in stanchion 10 sockets provided at respective outer ends of said first horizontal elements, (b) laying scaffold planking across respective pairs of said first horizontal element of said upper support structures and said lower horizontal elements of 15 said lower support structures, (c) inserting at least one horizontal railing element into railing support structures provided on said railing support stanchions, (d) inserting at least one horizontal railing element 20 into railing support structures provided on vertical elements of said lower support structures

15. The method of claim 13 or 14 wherein said upper support structure includes said outwardly extending first horizontal element and an inwardly extending second 25 horizontal element; said second horizontal element - 18 extending below the level of underside of said ceiling joists.

16. The method of any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein said lower support structure includes an upper horizontal 5 element, a vertical element and a lower horizontal element; said upper horizontal element, said vertical element and said lower horizontal element assembled into a "C"-shaped structure.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said upper horizontal 10 element of said lower support structure is releasably assembled to said first horizontal element of said upper support structure by through bolts passing through a series of aligned bolt holes provided in respective said first horizontal element and said upper 15 horizontal element.