AU2014271266B2

AU2014271266B2 - Fall arrest product

Info

Publication number: AU2014271266B2
Application number: AU2014271266A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raymond Keith Stead
Original assignee: PTT Management Pty Ltd
Current assignee: PTT Management Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-12-03
Filing date: 2014-12-03
Publication date: 2020-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-03
Also published as: AU2014271266A1

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a fall arrest product having a first reflective foil layer, a first scrim layer, a mesh layer, one or more polymer foam layer 5 and or one or more polymer closed air cell layer, a second scrim layer and a second reflective foil layer. The fall arrest product of the preferred embodiment serves as a safety product to prevent a builder, roofing installer or tradesperson from injuring themselves and provide insulation properties to control the rate of change of temperature within the building. Fig. 1 , IN IMENNNEWN 15 . . .. -. .

Description

FALL ARREST PRODUCT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to building safety products. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for roofs of residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Reference to the use of the fall arrest product for roofs is by way of example only and the use of the fall arrest product is not limited to this use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Safety mesh is pulled taut across purlins in the roof space to protect builders, roofing installers and tradespeople from seriously injuring themselves if they fall from a roof. Safety mesh for roofs typically consists of a lattice of 150 mm by 300 mm of galvanized metal mesh or PVC coated metal mesh.

Safety mesh has the problem that a worker can injure themselves should they fall or slip and trap their leg in a gap in the lattice of the mesh. While the use of safety mesh has provided an increased level of safety for workers, it adds an additional cost to the construction of a building.

While the use of safety mesh has improved the safety conditions of roof 0 installers and builders during the installation of roofs, this improvement has come at an additional expense to builders and subsequently to the owners of the building. This additional expense is incurred for a product that is not necessary for the integrity of the building but only used as an accessory during part of the building process.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a fall arrest product that at least in part addresses one or more of the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention was developed by addressing the disadvantages of the use of safety mesh by combining mesh with foil insulation in a manner to increase safety for workers, reduce labour time and costs and provide a product that has

-22014271266 03 Dec 2014 insulation properties. This product was developed by taking an alternate approach and experimenting by trial and error.

In one aspect, the invention broadly resides in a fall arrest product having a plurality of layers including at least one reflective foil layer;

at least one scrim layer;

a mesh layer; and a polymer layer.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a fall arrest product having a plurality of layers arranged in the following order:

a reflective foil layer;

a scrim layer;

a mesh layer; and a polymer layer.

The reflective foil layer is preferably an aluminum foil layer. The reflective foil layer preferably includes an overlying outer polymer layer or a painted or inked foil surface to reduce the glare reflecting from the foil surface.

The scrim layer is preferably a plastic layer, a fiberglass layer or a woven cloth layer that provides the reflective foil with strength and integrity.

The mesh layer is made of any suitable material including metal, plastic, fabric and fiberglass. In one embodiment the mesh layer can be woven cloth. The mesh layer can comprise of any suitable lattice structure and lattice dimensions. In a preferred embodiment the mesh layer includes a wire lattice with 150mm by 150mm dimensions.

The polymer layer is a preferably a cross-polyethylene layer. The crosspolyethylene layer can include a colouring agent to provide the layer with a particular colour. In a preferred embodiment the polyethylene layer is white.

The fall arrest product can include one or more insulation layers. The one or more insulation layers are preferably selected from a closed cell layer, foam layer and a fiberglass insulation layer. Preferably the closed cell layer is a polyethylene closed cell layer. Preferably the foam layer is a cross-linked polyethylene foam layer.

2014271266 03 Dec 2014

-3The fall arrest product may include additional strengthening aluminum foil layers with a scrim layer or other materials.

a first reflective foil layer;

a first scrim layer;

a mesh layer;

one or more polymer foam layer and or one or more polymer closed air cell layer;

a second scrim layer and a second reflective foil layer.

The one or more polymer foam layer is preferably a polyethylene foam layer. The one or more polymer closed air cell layer is preferably a polyethylene closed air cell layer.

The features and options described with respect to the aforementioned aspects also apply to this aspect of the invention.

A further aspect of the invention broadly resides in a method of installing the fall arrest product as described above across roof purlins including extending the fall arrest product across the purlins; and fixing the fall arrest product in position.

A further aspect of the invention broadly resides in a system for using the fall arrest product as described above to provide safety for the builders, roofing installers and others and insulation for the building. The system preferably allows the installed product to remain within the roof space and be of ongoing benefit to the building and 25 its occupants.

The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly stated.

-42014271266 03 Dec 2014

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred 5 embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first preferred embodiment of the fall arrest product;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second preferred embodiment of the fall arrest product; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the installed fall arrest product in the roof space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the Figures, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the fall arrest product in Figure 1. The fall arrest product 10 has a plurality of layers bonded together to form a sheet with safety and insulation properties. The fall arrest product 10 has a top reflective aluminum foil layer 11 with a tinted polymer coating 12 on the upper surface to reduce the reflective glare. There is a scrim layer 13 of including a woven cloth fabric. The scrim layer 13 provides integral strength to the bonded aluminum foil layer 11. Below the scrim layer 13, there is a metal mesh layer 15 with a 150mm by 150mm lattice. Following the mesh layer 15, there is a polyethylene polymer cell bubble layer 16. The cell bubble layer 16 is filled with air or other gas, liquid or material and has a depth of approximately 5 mm. Adjacent the air cell bubble layer 16 is a cross-polyethylene foam layer 17. The cross25 polyethylene foam layer 17 has a depth of 3.5 mm. Below the cross-polyethylene foam layer 17, there is a second scrim layer 18 and a second aluminum foil layer 19.

There is a second preferred embodiment of the fall arrest product shown in Figure 2. Similar reference numbers that were used for the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 are used for the second embodiment that is shown in Figure 2. Where the 30 parts are the same. The fall arrest product 21 has the same layers as the first embodiment except that there is a cross-polyethylene foam layer 22 with a depth of 6.5mm instead of an air cell bubble layer 16 and a thinner cross-polyethylene foam layer 17.

2014271266 03 Dec 2014

-5 Irrespective of which embodiment is used, the fall arrest product is installed similarly. The fall arrest product 30 is rolled out across the roof space and across the purlins 31. A nominal sag of 35mm is formed. An overlap of fall arrest products of approximately 150mm is formed. The ends of the longitudinally extending wires of 5 the mesh are separated from the insulation layers so that there is approximately 300mm of free wire extending from the fall arrest product 30. The ends of the longitudinal wires are twisted and tied off after passing through or around purlins 31 or a truss 32.

The installed fall arrest product 30 serves to provide a safety sheet to catch a 0 builder if they fall while working on the roof 35. The installed fall arrest product 30 also provides insulation by reflecting light and heat and creating air spaces between the roof 35 and the fall arrest product 30 and the fall arrest product 30 and the ceiling 36.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that it provides a new type of product that provides a solution to several different problems. The fall arrest product of the preferred embodiment serves as a safety product to prevent a person from injuring themselves and provide insulation properties to 0 control the rate of change of temperature within the building.

The system using the preferred fall arrest product offers the unique benefit of a fall arrest and safety system and thermal insulation in one product and in some instances an internal lining or finishing product. The nature of the installation of the system is such that it offers significant savings in time and money in the installation 25 of insulation particularly (though not limited to) under a roof cladding system.

Conventional safety mesh and insulation requires the use of roof spacers to achieve minimum requirements of the building code and the required thermal performance for buildings. These spacers are often expensive to purchase and difficult to install and pose design problems such as increased wind load requirements and aesthetic issues for building designers and installers.

This system using the preferred fall arrest product allows consistent thermal performance, without the use of roof spacers, thus reducing the cost of construction

2014271266 03 Dec 2014

-6and meeting statutory requirements for fall arrest and the thermal/ energy efficiency requirements of the industry.

VARIATIONS

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 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.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims

1. A fall arrest product having a plurality of layers including at least one reflective foil layer;

at least one scrim layer;

a mesh layer; and a polymer foam layer, wherein the fall arrest product is non-rigid.

2. A fall arrest product having a plurality of layers arranged in the following order:

a first reflective foil layer;

a first scrim layer;

a mesh layer;

one or more polymer foam layer and or one or more polymer closed cell layer;

a second scrim layer and a second reflective foil layer, wherein the fall arrest product is non-rigid.

3. A fall arrest product as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the reflective foil layer is an aluminium foil layer that includes an overlying outer polymer layer or a painted or inked foil surface to reduce the glare reflecting from the foil surface.

4. A fall arrest product as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims wherein the scrim layer is a plastic layer, a fiberglass layer or a woven cloth layer that provides the reflective foil with strength and integrity; the mesh layer is made of any suitable material including metal, plastic, and fiberglass and have any suitable lattice structure and lattice dimensions; the fall arrest product includes one or

2014271266 25 Mar 2020 more insulation layers that are selected from a polyethylene closed air cell layer, a cross-linked polyethylene foam layer and a fiberglass insulation layer.