AU2013100909A4

AU2013100909A4 - A scaffolding safety barrier

Info

Publication number: AU2013100909A4
Application number: AU2013100909A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Malcolm Leonard Matthews
Original assignee: CONSTRUCTAMESH Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CONSTRUCTAMESH Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-03
Filing date: 2013-07-03
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-03
Also published as: EP3017125A4; WO2015000027A1; EP3017125A1

Abstract

A safety barrier for scaffolding comprising a woven mesh for scaffolding; the warp and weft of 5 the mesh fibres comprises woven zones of different tensile strengths; the zones cooperating in concert to dissipate and absorb elastic rebound of the barrier when impacted by a force or a load. - 6- 10 Fl 1 3- m i~IU

Description

A SCAFFOLDING SAFETY BARRIER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to safety equipment in particular but not exclusively to a scaffolding safety 5 barrier for use on building or construction sites. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The need to provide safety for workers in the construction industry is well established. This is especially so where workers work on scaffolding in elevated positions high above the ground. In 10 certain countries, scaffolding must be accompanied by safety barriers such as vertical nets or screens spanning across the scaffolding members to prevent workers or debris from falling to the ground. Prior art screens and barriers are usually robust and of a heavyweight construction to ensure they are of sufficient tensile strength to prevent failing when impacted by a force or load. In a typical prior art example, the barrier comprises a heavy duty plastic mesh having a 15 skeletal grid welded or bonded to the mesh. This makes the barrier difficult to fold or roll, heavy to carry resulting in possible injuries claimable pursuant to work, health and safety legislation. These types of barriers are also prone to delaminating of the grid from the mesh resulting in non degradable waste ending up in landfill. 20 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to provide a scaffolding safety barrier which alleviates or ameliorates the problems of the prior art or to provide the public with a useful choice. - 1 - STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect therefore the invention resides in a safety barrier for scaffolding comprising in combination: 5 a woven mesh for attaching to scaffolding; the warp and weft of the mesh fibres comprising woven zones of different tensile strengths; the zones cooperating in concert to differentially dissipate and absorb elastic recoil of the mesh when impacted by a force or a load thereby substantially dampening rebound of the barrier. 10 Preferably, the different tensile strengths are achieved by increasing or decreasing the number of fibres woven per unit area of mesh thereby controlling the behaviour of elastic rebound according to a pattern created by the zones. 15 In a preferred example, the zones comprise vertical and horizontal bands forming a grid pattern. In the alternative, the zones comprise a pattern of repeated polygonal shapes other than squares or rectangles including circles, hexagons or bands running obliquely to the horizontal and/ or vertical axes of the barrier. 20 Preferably, the mesh is woven from fibres of high density polypropylene (HDPE) with a five percent (5%) fire retardant or rating. - 2- In the alternative, the mesh is woven from a combination of fibres and can include a matrix of metal, textile and/or HDPE fibres. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 In order for the invention to be better understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a preferred barrier of the invention in use. 10 Figure 2 shows magnified view of mesh of the barrier of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a preferred example of the invention. In this embodiment the safety barrier 10 for scaffolding is a woven mesh for attaching to scaffolding members 11,13,15 by means of locking clips or heavy duty cable ties passing through eyeholes 12,14,16,18. The woven zones comprise vertical 20 and horizontal 22 bands forming a grid pattern. In the alternative, the zones may comprise a pattern of repeated polygonal shapes 20 other than squares or rectangles such as circles, hexagons or bands running obliquely to the horizontal and/ or vertical axes of the barrier. Figure 2 shows a magnified view of the mesh 24 of the barrier 10 of Figure 1. The warp and weft of the mesh fibres comprise woven zones 26,28,30,32 of different tensile strengths. The -3different tensile strengths are achieved by increasing or decreasing the number of fibres woven per unit area of mesh thereby controlling the behaviour of elastic rebound of the barrier according to the pattern created by the woven zones. The mesh is woven from fibres of high density polypropylene (HDPE) with a five percent (5%) fire retardant or rating. In the alternative, 5 the mesh may be woven from a combination of fibres and can include a matrix of metal, textile and/or HDPE fibres. It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be 10 apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. Additionally, in the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the 15 inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms "comprising" and "containing" such as "comprise", "comprises", "contain" and "contains". 20 -4-

Claims

1. A safety barrier for scaffolding comprising in combination: a woven mesh for attaching to scaffolding; the warp and weft of the mesh fibres 5 comprising woven zones of different tensile strengths; the zones cooperating in concert to differentially dissipate and absorb elastic recoil of the mesh when impacted by a force or a load thereby substantially dampening rebound of the barrier. 10

2. The safety barrier of Claim 1 wherein the different tensile strengths are achieved by increasing or decreasing the number of fibres woven per unit area of mesh thereby controlling the behaviour of elastic rebound according to a pattern created by the zones.

3. The safety barrier of Claim 1 wherein the zones comprise vertical and horizontal bands 15 forming a grid pattern.

4. The safety barrier of Claim 1 wherein the zones comprise a pattern of repeated polygonal shapes other than squares or rectangles. 20 5. The safety barrier for of Claim 1 wherein the mesh is woven from fibres of high density polypropylene (HDPE) with a five percent (5%) fire retardant or rating.

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