AU2016201614B2

AU2016201614B2 - Wall clad allowable eaves guardrail bracket

Info

Publication number: AU2016201614B2
Application number: AU2016201614A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ian Robb Mclachlan
Original assignee: I Mclachlan Entpr Pty Ltd
Current assignee: I Mclachlan Enterprises Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-16
Filing date: 2016-03-12
Publication date: 2022-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-12
Also published as: AU2022100097A4; AU2016201614A1; AU2022100097B4

Abstract

WALL CLAD ALLOWABLE EAVES EDGE GUARDRAIL BRACKET 1 This is a roof edge bracket for the attachment of stanchions for temporary guardrails on commercial roofs it is unique in that it allows for the cladding of the building without removing the handrails. This is important as it allows a more flexible schedule for the completion the roof & wall cladding on large commercial buildings particularly when the building is done in sections the bracket is primarily attached by screwing through the fixing holes in the 30x30x5 angles at the top of the bracket into the top 25 mm of the eaves C purlin with a 25x10 fb spacer to maintain 65 mm spacing fixed by an 85 mm tek screw. The other 25x10 fb spacer or the nylon wheel is aligned with a girt to prevent the guardrail post from pivoting outwards when cladding the walls the 85mm screw is withdrawn to allow the wall sheet to slide up to within 25mm of top of the eaves purlin and then replaced and the25x10 spacers flip up out of the way. The sheet is then fixed in the normal manner. The nylon wheel continues to prevent outward pivot of the guardrail and prevents damage to the sheet 1/4 12 10 14 50 20 34,- 16 22 400 3824 30> 36 q___42 45 44 FIG. 1

Description

WALL CLAD ALLOWABLE EAVES EDGE GUARDRAIL BRACKET

1 This is a roof edge bracket for the attachment of stanchions for temporary guardrails on commercial roofs it is unique in that it allows for the cladding of the building without

removing the handrails. This is important as it allows a more flexible schedule for the completion the roof & wall cladding on large commercial buildings particularly when the

building is done in sections the bracket is primarily attached by screwing through the fixing holes in the 30x30x5 angles at the top of the bracket into the top 25 mm of the eaves C

purlin with a 25x10 fb spacer to maintain 65 mm spacing fixed by an 85 mm tek screw. The

other 25x10 fb spacer or the nylon wheel is aligned with a girt to prevent the guardrail post from pivoting outwards when cladding the walls the 85mm screw is withdrawn to allow the

wall sheet to slide up to within 25mm of top of the eaves purlin and then replaced and the25x10 spacers flip up out of the way. The sheet is then fixed in the normal manner. The

nylon wheel continues to prevent outward pivot of the guardrail and prevents damage to the sheet

1/4

12 10 14

50 20

34,-

16 22

400

3824 30> 36

q___42

45 44

FIG. 1

WALL CLAD ALLOWABLE EAVES GUARDRAIL BRACKET

Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of building and construction and, more particularly, to a bracket for securing a guardrail stanchion relative to a perimeter of a building roof.

Background

[0002] Commercial buildings are commonly constructed using a set of elongate structural members assembled together into a frame. The frame members extending longitudinally along the roof of the building are known as purlins. The purlins positioned around the perimeter of the roof are known as eaves purlins. The frame members extending horizontally along the walls of the building are known as girts. Once the frame has been assembled, roofing is fixed down onto the purlins and wall cladding is fastened onto the sides of the girts.

[0003] To comply with health and safety requirements, a temporary guardrail must be erected and remain around the perimeter of the roof at all times when the roofing process is being performed. To install the guardrail, a set of brackets are commonly attached to the sides of the building, typically to the outwardly-facing sides of the eaves purlins. A stanchion upwardly extends from each bracket. A set of steel wires will then be secured to the stanchions so that they extend around the roof perimeter. When the guardrail is erected this way, the brackets prevent wall cladding from being secured to the girts. The wall cladding phase cannot, therefore, commence until the roofing phase has been completed and the brackets have been removed. This results in an inefficient building construction process as removing the brackets requires considerable time, effort and expense.

Summary

[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided a bracket for securing a guardrail stanchion relative to a perimeter of a building roof, wherein the bracket comprises: an elongate leg for supporting the guardrail stanchion; an attachment means for releasably attaching an upper end of the leg to an eaves purlin of the roof such that the leg extends vertically down a side of the building; and at least one spacer pivotably connected to the leg, wherein the spacer is pivotable relative to the leg between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the spacer bears against a structural member of the building to keep the leg spaced apart from the side of the building, and wherein in the second position the spacer provides a gap between the spacer and the side of the building to allow wall cladding to be upwardly inserted through the gap to a location above the spacer.

[0005] The spacer may be connected to the leg by an adjustable connection mechanism that allows the spacer to be adjustably vertically positioned relative to the structural member.

[0006] The leg may comprise an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion, wherein the lower leg portion comprises the spacer and is releasably connected to the upper leg portion by the adjustable connection mechanism.

[0007] The adjustable connection mechanism may comprise a first collar provided on the lower leg portion, wherein the first collar slidably receives the upper leg portion, and a fastener for releasably fastening the upper leg portion in the first collar.

[0008] The fastener may comprise a bolt that threadedly engages into the first collar to bear against the upper leg portion in the first collar.

[0009] The adjustable connection mechanism may comprise a second collar provided on the upper leg portion, wherein the second collar slidably receives the lower leg portion.

[0010] The first collar and the second collar may be vertically spaced apart from each other along the leg.

[0011] The bracket may comprise a wheel rotatably connected to a lower end of the leg, wherein the wheel engages a surface of the wall cladding when the wall cladding is upwardly inserted between the leg and the side of the building.

[0012] The bracket may comprise a pair of spacers pivotably connected to the leg to bear against a pair of structural members of the building.

[0013] The pair of spacers may be vertically spaced apart from each other along the leg.

[0014] The leg may comprise a platform extending perpendicular to the leg, wherein the guardrail stanchion is mountable onto the platform.

[0015] The attachment means may comprise a support member extending from the upper end of the leg to rest on an upper surface of the eaves purlin, wherein the support member comprises a fastening means for releasably fastening the support member onto the upper surface.

[0016] The fastening means may comprise one or more apertures provided in the support member and one or more screws received by the apertures to engage threadedly into the upper surface.

[0017] The present invention also provides a method of applying roofing and wall cladding to a building, wherein the method comprises: mounting a plurality of guardrail stanchions to a plurality of brackets respectively, wherein each of the brackets comprises the bracket as described above; attaching the brackets to a plurality of respective eaves purlins of a roof of the building such that the leg of each bracket extends vertically down a side of the building; pivoting the spacer of each bracket into a first position to bear against a structural member of the building; securing a temporary guardrail to the guardrail stanchions around a perimeter of the roof; securing roofing to the eaves purlins; inserting a wall cladding sheet between a leg of each bracket and the side of the building such that the wall cladding sheet causes the spacer of the bracket to pivot into a second position to allow the wall cladding sheet to move to a location above the spacer; fastening each wall cladding sheet to the side of the building; and detaching the brackets from the eaves purlins.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0018] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a bracket for securing a guardrail stanchion relative to a perimeter of a building roof according to an example embodiment of the invention, wherein the bracket is shown attached to an eaves purlin of the roof; Figure 2 is a further side elevation view of the bracket, wherein a section of wall cladding is arranged between a leg of the bracket and a side of the building; Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the bracket; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the building with the bracket attached to the eaves purlin.

Description of Embodiments

[0019] Referring to the Figures, an example embodiment of the present invention provides a bracket 10 for securing a guardrail stanchion 12 relative to a perimeter 14 of a building roof. The bracket 10 comprises an elongate leg 16 for supporting the guardrail stanchion 12 and an attachment means 18 for releasably attaching an upper end of the leg 16 to an eaves purlin 20 of the roof such that the leg 16 extends vertically down a side of the building. The bracket 10 also comprises at least one spacer 22 that is pivotably connected to the leg 16. The spacer 22 is pivotable relative to the leg 16 between a first position and a second position. When the spacer 22 is in the first position, as depicted in Figure 1, the spacer 22 bears against a structural member 24 provided on the side of the building and, therefore, keeps the leg 16 spaced apart from the side. When the spacer 22 is in the second position, as depicted in Figure 2, the spacer 22 provides a gap 26 between the spacer 22 and the side of the building and, therefore, allows a section of wall cladding 28 to be upwardly inserted through the gap 26 to a location above the spacer 22.

[0020] In the example depicted, the bracket 10 comprises a pair of the spacers 22 that are vertically spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the leg 16. The first (lowermost) of the spacers 22 bears against a first girt 24 of the building frame when the spacer 22 is arranged in its first position. The second (uppermost) of the spacers 22' bears against a C-type eaves purlin 20 of the roof structure when the spacer 22' is in its first position. The lowermost spacer 22 may be connected to the leg 16 by an adjustable connection mechanism 30 that allows the spacer 22 to be adjustably vertically positioned relative to the first girt 24. More particularly, the leg 16 may comprise an upper leg portion 34 and a lower leg portion 36. The lowermost spacer 22 may be pivotably connected to an uppermost end of the lower leg portion 36. The lower leg portion 36 may be releasably connected to the upper leg portion 34 by the adjustable connection mechanism 30 that allows the vertical position of the lower leg portion 36 (and spacer 22) to be adjusted relative to the upper leg portion 34.

[0021] The adjustable connection mechanism 30 may comprise a first collar 38 that is provided toward an uppermost end of the lower leg portion 36, wherein the collar 38 slidably receives the upper leg portion 34. The collar 38 may comprise a fastener 40 for releasably fastening the upper leg portion 34 in the collar 38. The fastener 40 may comprise a bolt that threadedly engages into the collar 38. In this configuration, the bolt bears against the portion of the upper leg portion 34 that is inside the collar 38 when the bolt 40 is screwed into the collar 38. The adjustable connection mechanism 30 may also comprise a second collar 42 that is provided toward a lowermost end of the upper leg portion 34. The second collar 42 slidably receives the lower leg portion 36. The two collars 38, 42 are vertically spaced apart from each other and engage the two leg portions 34, 36 so as to allow the leg 16 to be telescopically extended and retracted in length.

[0022] The bracket 10 may also comprise a wheel 44 that is rotatably connected to a lower end of the leg 16. The wheel 44 may be made of nylon and opertively engage a surface of the wall cladding 28 (see Figure 2) when the wall cladding 28 is upwardly inserted between the leg 16 and the side of the building. The attachment means 18 may comprise a support member extending from the upper end of the leg 16 to rest on an upper surface of the eaves purlin 20. The support member 18 may comprise a fastening means for releasably fastening the support member 18 down onto the upper surface. For example, the fastening means may comprise one or more apertures provided in the support member 18 that receive one or more screws that threadedly engage into the upper surface of the eaves purlin 20. The bracket 10 may be made of steel, aluminium or a similar resilient material.

[0023] In use, a guardrail stanchion 12 is mounted onto the bracket 10. For example, the stanchion 12 may be mounted onto a platform 50 that extends perpendicular to the leg 16. The bracket 10 may then be offered up to the side of the building such that the support member 18 rests on the uppermost surface of the purlin 20. The support member 18 may then be fastened down onto the purlin 20 such that the leg 16 of the bracket 10 extends vertically down the side of the building spaced apart from the side. The two spacers 22, 22' may then be pivoted toward the building so that they extend toward and bear against the girt 24 and purlin 20 respectively. If required, the vertical position of the lower leg portion 36 may be adjusted relative to the upper leg portion 34 so as to align the lowermost spacer 22 with the first girt 24 and to align the nylon wheel 44 with a second (lowermost) girt 45 of the building frame. A set of the brackets 10 may be attached to the building in a similar manner to provide a set of stanchions 12 around the perimeter of the roof. A set of steel wires may be secured to the stanchions 12 to form a temporary guardrail around the perimeter.

[0024] Once the guardrail has been erected, roofing may then be secured to the purlins 20. The walls of the building may be simultaneously cladded while the roofing phase is being performed. To perform the cladding, a wall cladding sheet 28 may be inserted and lifted into the gap 26 between the leg 16 of each bracket 10 and the building side. The wheel 44 of the bracket 10 engages with the surface of the relevant cladding sheet 28 and advantageously guides the cladding sheet 28 as it upwardly moves without damaging its surface. The nylon wheel 44 prevents the bracket 10 from scratching or damaging the cladding sheet 28 as the sheet is being slid into position and holds the bracket 10 in place relative to the wall. When the cladding sheet 28 makes contact with each spacer 22, 22', the cladding sheet 28 pushes each spacer 22, 22' in an upward direction thus causing the spacer 22, 22' to pivot away from the cladding 28. This allows the cladding 28 to be pushed toward the upper end of the building side, as depicted in Figure 2. Once the cladding 28 has been pushed into its final position, the cladding 28 may then be fastened onto the side of the building. Once the cladding phase has been completed, each bracket 10 may then be detached from the building to allow other construction tasks to be performed such as, for example, to allow gutter and barge flashings to be installed.

[0025] The bracket 10 advantageously allows cladding to be secured to the girts 24 while roofing is being applied to the purlins 20. The cladding and roofing phases may, therefore, be performed simultaneously which simplifies and reduces the costs of the building construction process. The bracket 10 allows a more flexible schedule for completion of the roofing and wall cladding phases of large commercial buildings, particularly in cases where the building is fabricated in sections.

[0026] The above embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A bracket for securing a guardrail stanchion relative to a perimeter of a building roof, wherein the bracket comprises: an elongate leg for supporting the guardrail stanchion; an attachment means for releasably attaching an upper end of the leg to an eaves purlin of the roof such that the leg extends vertically down a side of the building; and at least one spacer pivotably connected to the leg, wherein the spacer is pivotable relative to the leg between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the spacer bears against a structural member of the building to keep the leg spaced apart from the side of the building, and wherein in the second position the spacer provides a gap between the spacer and the side of the building to allow wall cladding to be upwardly inserted through the gap to a location above the spacer.

2. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is connected to the leg by an adjustable connection mechanism that allows the spacer to be adjustably vertically positioned relative to the structural member.

3. The bracket according to claim 2, wherein the leg comprises an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion, wherein the lower leg portion comprises the spacer and is releasably connected to the upper leg portion by the adjustable connection mechanism.

4. The bracket according to claim 3, wherein the adjustable connection mechanism comprises a first collar provided on the lower leg portion, wherein the first collar slidably receives the upper leg portion, and a fastener for releasably fastening the upper leg portion in the first collar.

5. The bracket according to claim 4, wherein the fastener comprises a bolt that threadedly engages into the first collar to bear against the upper leg portion in the first collar.

6. The bracket according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the adjustable connection mechanism comprises a second collar provided on the upper leg portion, wherein the second collar slidably receives the lower leg portion.

7. The bracket according to claim 6, wherein the first collar and the second collar are vertically spaced apart from each other along the leg.

8. The bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket comprises a wheel rotatably connected to a lower end of the leg, wherein the wheel engages a surface of the wall cladding when the wall cladding is upwardly inserted between the leg and the side of the building.

9. The bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket comprises a pair of spacers pivotably connected to the leg to bear against a pair of structural members of the building.

10. The bracket according to claim 9, wherein the pair of spacers are vertically spaced apart from each other along the leg.

11. The bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leg comprises a platform extending perpendicular to the leg, wherein the guardrail stanchion is mountable onto the platform.

12. The bracket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means comprises a support member extending from the upper end of the leg to rest on an upper surface of the eaves purlin, wherein the support member comprises a fastening means for releasably fastening the support member onto the upper surface.

13. The bracket according to claim 12, wherein the fastening means comprises one or more apertures provided in the support member and one or more screws received by the apertures to engage threadedly into the upper surface.

14. A method of applying roofing and wall cladding to a building, the method comprising: mounting a plurality of guardrail stanchions to a plurality of brackets respectively, wherein each of the brackets comprises the bracket according to any one of the preceding claims; attaching the brackets to a plurality of respective eaves purlins of a roof of the building such that the leg of each bracket extends vertically down a side of the building; pivoting the spacer of each bracket into a first position to bear against a structural member of the building; securing a temporary guardrail to the guardrail stanchions around a perimeter of the roof; securing roofing to the eaves purlins; inserting a wall cladding sheet between a leg of each bracket and the side of the building such that the wall cladding sheet causes the spacer of the bracket to pivot into a second position to allow the wall cladding sheet to move to a location above the spacer; fastening each wall cladding sheet to the side of the building; and detaching the brackets from the eaves purlins.