AU2016204906A1 - Roof access stair - Google Patents

Abstract

A roof access stair for movement by building personnel over sections of a roof framework; the access stair comprising a section of access stair for insertion between, and support by, adjacent rafters of the roof framework. riO

Description

The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us:

Our Reference: 162005

2016204906 13 Jul 2016

ROOF ACCESS STAIR

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to safety equipment and, more particularly to safety equipment for working on roofs of buildings.

BACKGROUND [0002] Roofs of buildings, particularly roofs of dwellings, are typically formed of a timber, steel or aluminium framework to which the waterproof cladding, such as roof tiles or metal sheeting, is applied. After the erection of the framework, other work in addition to application of the cladding may be required within or above the roof space, such as for example the final stages of erection of a brick party wall or chimney, the installation of skylights, vent pipes and the like. In the case of sloping roofs, the clambering about by builders over the open rafter structure is extremely hazardous and has led to many injuries.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes [0004] 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’.

[0005] The above discussion of the prior art in the 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.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0006] Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a roof access stair for movement by building personnel over sections of a roof framework; the access stair comprising a section of access stair for insertion between, and support by, adjacent rafters of the roof framework.

[0007] Preferably, stair treads of the section of stair are affixed between elongate side members; the stair treads and elongate side members forming an integral stair assembly.

2016204906 13 Jul2016 [0008] Preferably, the side members are provided with support structures for engagement with the adjacent rafters.

[0009] Preferably, the elongate side members are further provided with fixtures for support of handrail stanchions.

[00010] Preferably, upper edges of the elongate side members are located flush with or below a surface formed by upper surfaces of the rafters.

[00011] Preferably, sections of stair are provided for a selection of roof pitches; angles between stair treads and the upper edges of the elongate side members conforming to a selected roof pitch. [00012] Preferably, the support structures are releasably attached to the elongate side members.

[00013] Preferably, a horizontal element of the support structures passing over an upper surface of a rafter are of a depth or thickness not exceeding a thickness of roof battens applied to the rafters. [00014] Preferably, the support structures are provided with apertures for receiving a fastener for securing at least one support structure to an adjacent rafter.

[00015] In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing safety of building personnel working on or within a roof framework; the method including the steps of;

- Selecting a section of an access stair assembly most closely conforming in pitch to pitch of the roof framework; the section of access stair comprising an assembly of elongate side members and stair treads;

- Inserting the section of access stair assembly between adjacent rafters of the roof framework;

- Assembling releasable support structures proximate outer ends of the elongate side members to engage with the adjacent rafters;

- Driving at least one fastener through an aperture in at least one support structure to secure the section of stair to the rafter.

[00016] Preferably, the method further includes the step of inserting stanchions of a hand rail section into stanchion supporting fixtures along at least one of the elongate side members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [00017] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[00018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an access stair assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

2016204906 13 Jul 2016 [00019] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the access stair assembly of Figure 1 fitted to a roof framework;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [00020] With reference firstly to Figure 1, an access stair assembly 10 according to the invention is comprised of opposing side members 11 and 12 and a number of stair treads 13 affixed between the side members to form an integral access stair assembly. Preferably the assembly 10 is fabricated in steel or aluminium, The width of the assembly 10 is such as to fit between adjacent rafters 14,15 of a roof framework 16 as shown in Figure 2.

[00021] The assembly 10 may be provided in a number of variations or models in which the angle between stair treads 13 and the upper edges 18 of the elongate side members 11 and 12 conforms to typical roof pitches, for example 22degrees and 45degrees. The assembly 10 may also be provided in a number of lengths, for example 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5metres.

[00022] Spaced at suitable intervals along the inside surfaces 20 of each of the side members 11, 12 are supports 21 for stanchions 22 of handrails 23 which may be fitted to the access stair assembly 10 as shown in Figure 2.

[00023] The side members 11 and 12 are each further provided proximate their outer ends with support structures 24 for supporting the assembly from the adjacent rafters 14,15. These structures 24, generally in the form of an inverted “U” which hook over the rafters, are arranged so that the upper edges 25 of the side members 11,12 of the assembly 10 are substantially flush with or below the level of the upper surface 26 of the rafters. The thickness of the horizontal elements 27 of the support structures 24 is such as to be no greater than the typical thickness of battens 28 applied to the roof framework 16. The support structures 24 are provided with at least one aperture 29 which allows a fastener such as a screw (not shown) to be driven through the aperture and into the rafter to secure the stair access assembly 10 in the desired position along the rafters 14,15.

[00024] Moreover, the support structures 24 are arranged so that they may be partly disassembled to release the assembly 10 from the rafters from below, that is, from within the roof space, allowing the removal of the access stair assembly 10 after battens and cladding such as tiles or metal sheeting has been applied to the roof framework.

In Use

2016204906 13 Jul2016 [00025] When a roof framework of a building has been completed, at least to rafter stage, one or more access stair assemblies which conform most closely in pitch to that of the roof, may be installed at various desired locations between pairs of adjacent rafters. This installation may be carried out by taking the assemblies, with the support structures assembled, up onto the roof and lowering them into position between the rafters. Alternatively, they may be inserted into position from below, from within the roof space. In this latter case, the support structures along the side members are assembled after the stair assembly has been inserted between the rafters. In each case fasteners are driven through the provided apertures to secure the access stair assemblies in position. [00026] The access stair assemblies of the invention allow building personnel a very much safer work environment for further work on the roof framework, such as the installation of skylights, vents, the completion of brick party walls, as shown in Figure 2 for example, into the roof space and the application of battens and roof cladding.

2016204906 13 Jul 2016

Claims (11)

1. A roof access stair for movement by building personnel over sections of a roof framework; the access stair comprising a section of access stair for insertion between, and support by, adjacent rafters of the roof framework.

2. The access stair of claim 1 wherein stair treads of the section of stair are affixed between elongate side members; the stair treads and elongate side members forming an integral stair assembly.

3. The access stair of claim 2 wherein the side members are provided with support structures for engagement with the adjacent rafters.

4. The access stair of claim 2 wherein the elongate side members are further provided with fixtures for support of handrail stanchions,

5. The access stair of any one of claim 2 wherein upper edges of the elongate side members are located flush with or below a surface formed by upper surfaces of the rafters.

6. The access stair of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein sections of stair are provided for a selection of roof pitches; angles between stair treads and the upper edges of the elongate side members conforming to a selected roof pitch.

7. The access stair of any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the support structures are releasably attached to the elongate side members.

8. The access stair of claim 7 wherein a horizontal element of the support structures passing over an upper surface of a rafter are of a depth or thickness not exceeding a thickness of roof battens applied to the rafters.

9. The access stair of claim 7 or 8 wherein the support structures are provided with apertures for receiving a fastener for securing at least one support structure to an adjacent rafter.

10. A method of increasing safety of building personnel working on or within a roof framework; the method including the steps of;

2016204906 13 Jul2016

- Selecting a section of an access stair assembly most closely conforming in pitch to pitch of the roof framework; the section of access stair comprising an assembly of elongate side members and stair treads;

- Inserting the section of access stair assembly between adjacent rafters of the roof framework;

- Assembling releasable support structures proximate outer ends of the elongate side members to engage with the adjacent rafters;

- Driving at least one fastener through an aperture in at least one support structure to secure the section of stair to the rafter.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the method further includes the step of inserting stanchions of a hand rail section into stanchion supporting fixtures along at least one of the elongate side members.

2016204906 13 Jul2016

A

2016204906 13 Jul2016

2/2