CN117015649A

CN117015649A - Temporary building edge safety screen support

Info

Publication number: CN117015649A
Application number: CN202280020328.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 多梅尼科·武洛; 格雷厄姆·罗默; 约翰·拉姆
Original assignee: Mane Finsinger Private Ltd
Current assignee: Mane Finsinger Private Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-04
Filing date: 2022-02-04
Publication date: 2023-11-07
Also published as: US20240093519A1; EP4288623A1; WO2022165557A1; AU2022217665A1; CA3207386A1

Abstract

A support for a safety net near the edge of a floor slab of a building under construction; the support includes a support post extending between an upper bracket and a lower bracket. According to another broad form of the invention there is provided a method of installing a security mesh adjacent an exposed edge of a building under construction; the method comprises the following steps: -driving fixing bolts into the underside of an adjacent higher floor slab and into the safety net support floor slab; -fixing bolts for fixing the upper and lower brackets to the upper floor slab and the safety net support floor slab, respectively; -fixing the upper end of the safety net support column to the upper bracket and the lower end of the safety net support column to the lower bracket.

Description

Temporary building edge safety screen support

Technical Field

The present invention relates to security devices and more particularly (although not exclusively) to security devices for buildings under construction.

Background

All construction sites require a safe working area at or near the exposed area where there is a possibility of people and/or materials falling and/or falling from above. A physical edge protection system is one way to reduce any such likelihood of occurrence of such events. Current systems do provide edge protection; however, they also have their limitations. These limitations include:

1. other external operations outside the edge protection system are prohibited.

2. The heavy and cumbersome handling of manual labor increases the likelihood of injury by manual handling.

3. Personal edge protection systems are complete, but material protection is not complete due to design issues in the system.

4. Material edge protection is complete, but personal edge protection is reduced due to design issues in the system.

5. The flexibility of current systems is not satisfactory for increasingly diverse and unusual shaped building structures.

Many known systems provide so-called capture nets that extend beyond the edges of the building, as disclosed for example in US4838382A, US2006009096A1 and US20060214150 A1. Vertically arranged safety nets are also known, for example as disclosed in CN205369964U, wherein the safety nets are supported by a structure held between floors by friction.

The object of the present invention is to solve or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Annotating

The term "comprising" (and grammatical variants thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including," rather than the exclusive sense of "consisting only of … ….

The discussion of the prior art in the context of the present invention is not an admission that any of the information discussed therein is part of the prior art or the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art in any country.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one broad form of the invention there is provided a support for a safety net near the edge of a floor slab of a building under construction; the support includes a support post extending between an upper bracket and a lower bracket.

Preferably, the upper and lower brackets are secured to the underside of an adjacent floor slab above a support floor slab to which the safety net is to be mounted and the support floor slab, respectively.

Preferably, the respective upper and lower brackets are secured by bolts which are driven into the concrete of the floor slab above the support floor slab.

Preferably, the support column comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper portion and the lower portion are sized to allow the upper portion to slide telescopically into the lower portion.

Preferably, the upper and lower portions comprise a length of right angle hollow (RHS).

Preferably, the upper bracket is in the form of a portion of angle iron (or other suitable metal); the horizontal flange of the bracket is provided with a pair of holes for receiving fixing bolts.

Preferably, the vertical flange of the upper bracket is provided with an opening; the opening is shaped so that a bolt passing through the upper end of the upper portion of the support post can be inserted through the slot portion of the opening and then nested in the hook portion of the opening.

Preferably, a bolt passing through an upper end of the upper portion of the support column is permanently installed by a fixing nut; the spacing between the outer nut of the retaining nut and the head of the bolt is approximately equal to the thickness of the vertical flange of the upper bracket, allowing the bolt to be slip fit into the hook.

Preferably, the lower bracket comprises a portion of angle iron having a horizontal flange provided with holes for bolting the lower bracket to the support floor; the vertical flange of the lower bracket is provided with a pair of holes to allow the lower end of the telescoping support post to be secured to the lower bracket.

Preferably, the upper end of the lower part is provided with a collar; the collar is provided with at least one threaded hole to receive at least one locking bolt adapted to be driven through the at least one threaded hole and through the coincident hole of the RHS of the lower portion.

Preferably, the locking bolt is urged against the RHS of the upper portion to lock the upper and lower portions of the column together to accommodate the spacing between the support floor and the floor above the support floor.

Preferably, the locking bolt is provided with a handle so that the upper and lower parts of the support column can be secured without the need for tools.

Preferably, a safety net attachment element is spaced along the upper and lower portions of the support post.

Preferably, the safety net attachment element is in the form of a shackle welded to the RHS portion of the support post, allowing for quick attachment and removal of the safety net.

According to another broad form of the invention there is provided a method of installing a security mesh adjacent an exposed edge of a building under construction; the method comprises the following steps: fixing bolts are driven into the underside of an adjacent higher floor slab and into the safety net support floor slab, upper and lower brackets are respectively fixed to the fixing bolts of the higher floor slab and the safety net support floor slab, the upper ends of the safety net support columns are fixed to the upper brackets, and the lower ends of the safety net support columns are fixed to the lower brackets.

Preferably, the security mesh support column comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper and lower portions are sized to allow the upper portion to slide telescopically into the lower portion.

Preferably, a bolt passing through the upper end of the upper portion of the safety net support post engages with a hook of an opening in the flange of the upper bracket.

Preferably, the lower end of the lower portion of the safety net support post is secured to the flange of the lower bracket by bolts passing through holes in the flange and through the lower end of the lower portion.

Preferably, the upper and lower portions of the safety net support post are locked to a desired extension by a locking bolt passing through a collar at the upper end of the lower portion; the bolt is pressed against the lower end of the upper portion of the safety net support post.

Preferably, the upper and lower portions of the security mesh support column are provided with security mesh attachment elements.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: at least two safety net support posts extending between the underside of the higher floor slab and the support floor slab attach a length of safety net to the safety net attachment element.

According to another broad form of the invention there is provided a support system for a safety net extending vertically between a safety net support floor and an adjacent higher floor of a building under construction; the support system comprises at least two safety net support columns; each of the at least two support columns extends between the upper and lower brackets.

Preferably, the upper and lower brackets are secured to the underside of the upper floor slab and the support floor slab, respectively.

Preferably, the upper and lower brackets are fixed to the upper and lower ends of the safety net support post, respectively.

In another broad form of the invention there is provided a security system capable of being erected at the edge of a floor slab of a building being constructed, the security system comprising a combination of a modular guard rail system and a security screen system; the guardrail system comprises a vertical column fixed to the floor slab, to which a horizontal safety rail is attached by brackets; the security screen system includes a telescoping vertical column secured to the floor slab and an angled vertical column brace.

Preferably, the modular guardrail system comprises a vertical column, a horizontal safety rail and a bracket.

Preferably, the vertical column, the horizontal bar and the bracket are formed of RHS.

In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a guardrail system capable of being erected at the edges of a floor slab of a building being constructed, the guardrail system comprising a vertical column and a horizontal safety rail; the rail is secured to the vertical column by a rail clamping bracket.

Preferably, each vertical column is secured to the floor by an angle bracket; the lower ends of the vertical posts are bolted to the vertical flanges of the corner brackets.

Preferably, the horizontal security bars include a bottom bar, a middle bar, and a top bar.

Preferably, the bottom rail is provided with integral rubber tabs; the fin extends between the bottom rail and the floor in use.

Preferably, the rail clamping brackets include a first bottom rail clamping bracket and a second middle rail and a top rail clamping bracket.

Preferably, each column clamping bracket is adapted to secure a single column or two overlapping columns side by side.

Preferably, each column clamping bracket is formed from one or more portions of a Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS).

Preferably, the RHS portion of the first bottom rail clamping bracket has a depth that allows one or both bottom rails and tensioning bolts to pass through the bracket and holes provided in the vertical column.

Preferably, the second intermediate rail and top rail clamping bracket are divided into two parts: a lower jaw and an upper jaw.

Preferably, the lower jaw of the second clamping bracket is provided with a tension bolt access hole and is provided with single and double rail adjustment slots on either side.

Preferably, the upper jaw of the second clamping bracket is provided with a recess adapted to nest one or two horizontal safety bars between the upper surface of the lower jaw and the upper surface of the recess.

Preferably, the upper jaw is further provided with an extension at one end of the upper jaw; the extension is provided with a rail clamping tensioning bolt hole.

In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of erecting a guardrail system at the edges of a floor slab of a building under construction; the method comprises the following steps:

-bolting an angle bracket at the lower end of a vertical column to the floor slab;

-securing a first bottom rail clamping bracket to each vertical column by a rail clamping tensioning bolt passing through the bracket and through the vertical column;

-passing a bottom horizontal rail through the bracket and tensioning the rail clamping tensioning bolt;

-positioning the lower jaws of the second intermediate and top rail clamping brackets at intermediate and top rail positions by passing a rail clamping tensioning bolt through the lower jaws and the vertical column;

-laying one or two intermediate and top bars on each lower jaw;

-sliding the upper jaws of the second intermediate rail clamping bracket and top rail clamping bracket onto the vertical column;

-nesting one of two intermediate and top bars between recesses in the lower jaw and the upper jaw;

tensioning the rail clamping bracket clamping bolt.

In another broad form of the invention there is provided a system for securing a horizontal safety rail of a guardrail system to a vertical column in a safety barrier that can be erected near the edges of a floor slab of a building under construction; the system comprises the following steps:

-manufacturing a horizontal bar holding rack with a length of Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS);

-providing the clamping bracket with a clamping tensioning bolt, wherein the clamping tensioning bolt passes through the bracket and the vertical column.

Preferably, the first horizontal rail clamping bracket is adapted to support one or two bottom horizontal safety rails; the one or two horizontal safety rails pass through the first horizontal rail clamping bracket.

Preferably, the second horizontal rail clamping bracket is adapted to support the middle and top horizontal safety rails; the second column clamping bracket is formed in two parts: a lower jaw and an upper jaw.

In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a material containment screen capable of being erected near an edge of a floor slab of a building under construction; the containment screen includes vertical columns and a mesh; the vertical column is fixed to the floor by an angle bracket; the column is secured in a vertical position by a column brace.

Preferably, the vertical column is divided into two parts; a lower column and a telescopic upper column; the telescoping upper column is in sliding engagement with the lower column; the telescoping upper column is held in a desired extended position by a tension bolt system.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a security screen, telescoping support column installed between a supporting floor of a building under construction and an adjacent higher floor;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are first and second side views of the upper mounting bracket of the support column of FIG. 1;

fig. 4 is a side view of the lower fixed bracket of the telescoping support post of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the locking mechanism of the telescoping support column of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a general perspective view of a combination guardrail system and material containment system.

Fig. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the lower end of a portion of the guardrail system of fig. 6.

Fig. 9 and 10 are perspective views of a bracket and rail attached to a vertical post of the guardrail system.

Fig. 11 and 12 are detailed perspective views of the upper end of the vertical column in fig. 9 and 10.

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the lower jaw of the middle rail and top rail clamping bracket.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of the upper jaw of the middle rail and top rail clamping bracket.

Figure 15 shows the slotting of the underside of the rail of the guardrail system.

Fig. 16 is a general perspective view of the barrier system with the net and skirting board installed.

Fig. 17 is another perspective view of the material containment system of fig. 6.

Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of the lower ends of the vertical posts and post supports of the material containment system of fig. 17.

Fig. 19 shows a perspective view of the telescopic device of the vertical column of fig. 17 and 18.

Fig. 20 shows a perspective view of the attachment means between the vertical column of the material containing system and the column brace.

Detailed Description

First preferred embodiment

The invention provides a support for a vertical safety net near the outer edge of a floor slab of a multi-storey building under construction; the support provides a safety net extending between adjacent floors of a building and along the length to be protected.

A support 10 for supporting a safety net, one of which support 10 is shown in fig. 1, comprising a telescopic column 12 held between a lower support 14 and an upper support 16; the brackets are bolted to the surface of the floor 18 on which the net is to be installed and to the underside of the floor 20 above it, respectively.

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, the upper bracket 16 is in the form of a portion of angle iron (or other suitable metal) the horizontal flange 22 of which is provided with a pair of holes 24 for receiving fixing bolts (not shown) and the vertical flange 26 is provided with bolt receiving openings 28. The opening 28 is shaped so that a bolt 30 passing through the upper end of the telescoping post 12 can be inserted through the slot portion 32 of the opening 28 and then nested in the hook 34. Preferably, the bolt 30 is permanently mounted in the upper end of the telescoping support column 12 by means of the retaining nuts 36 and 38, leaving a space between the outer retaining nut 38 and the head 40 of the bolt approximately equal to the thickness of the vertical flange 26, allowing the bolt to be slip fit into the hook 34.

Turning now to fig. 4, the lower bracket 14 also includes a metal corner portion with a lower horizontal flange 42 provided with holes 44 for bolting the bracket to the support floor. The vertical flange 46 is provided with a pair of holes 48 to allow the lower end of the telescoping support column 12 to be secured to the stand.

As shown in fig. 1 and 5, telescoping support column 12 is comprised of a lower section 12A and an upper section 12B, the upper section 12B being a Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS), wherein the two sections are sized to allow the upper section 12B to slide into the lower section 12A.

The upper end of the lower section 12A is provided with a collar 50 having at least one threaded bore 52 for receiving a locking bolt 54 which may be driven through the threaded bore 52 and through the coincident bore of the RHS of the lower section 12A to push against the RHS of the upper section 12B. In this way the upper and lower sections of the column are locked together to accommodate the distance between adjacent floors 18 and 20. Preferably, the locking bolt 54 is provided with a handle 56 so that the two parts of the support column can be secured without the need for tools.

The safety net attachment elements 58 are spaced along the lower and upper portions 12A, 12B of the telescoping support column 12. Preferably, these attachment elements may be in the form of shackles welded to the RHS portion of the support column, allowing for quick attachment and removal of the safety net.

In this embodiment of the invention, at least two or as many support columns 10 as required are installed between adjacent floors of a building under construction by first installing the upper and lower brackets by bolts driven into the concrete of the floors. The bolts 30 at the upper end of the upper portion 12B of each telescoping support column 12 then nest in the hooks of the upper bracket thereof and allow the lower portion 12A of the support column to slide to the lower bracket where it is secured to the bracket. The two sections 12A and 12B are then locked together by tightening the bolts 54. A security mesh (not shown) may then be secured to shackle 58.

Second preferred embodiment

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower brackets may be permanently fixed to the upper end of the upper portion 12B and the lower end of the lower portion 12A of the telescoping support column 12, respectively. The upper bracket is secured to the underside of the upper floor slab by previously installed fixing bolts. Similarly, the subframe is secured to bolts driven into the floor. In this arrangement, the upper and lower portions of the support column are loosely assembled, and the column is positioned vertically between the upper and lower brackets, and the telescoping portions are locked together.

Third preferred embodiment

In a further preferred embodiment the support columns are prepared to a length suitable for the spacing between adjacent floors. In this arrangement, the length of the support columns RHS is slightly less than the spacing between floors.

As in the above embodiment, the support column is fixed between the upper and lower brackets, but in this embodiment the open hook in the upper bracket takes the form of a slot with parallel sides. The upper end of the support post is again provided with a permanently mounted bolt which is slidingly positioned in the slot. The lower ends of the support posts are then secured to the lower bracket.

Fourth preferred embodiment

In this embodiment, the security screen 200 is combined with a separate modular guard rail system 100, as shown in fig. 6, wherein the horizontal guard rail forms a railing designed primarily to prevent personnel from falling. The system is characterized in that:

1. safety rails 1.1 meters high;

2. is designed and built mainly for the safety of preventing personnel from falling from high places;

3. a clamping system on the column that secures the horizontal safety rail to the column;

4. the columns may be adjusted to accommodate different span lengths;

5. the columns may be curved so that they can follow any edge radius profile;

6. the bottom rail has an integrated rubber strip to help prevent material from falling onto the peripheral edge/void.

7. Metal screens with solid strips above the floor level help debris and other items penetrate the pen and fall onto the peripheral edges/voids.

Referring to fig. 7-10, the guardrail system 100 includes vertical posts 110 of the RHS supported by corner brackets 112 secured to the floor at the location where the guardrail is to be installed to the floor. The vertical column 110 is preferably provided with threaded holes at the level of three guardrails (bottom rail 114, middle rail 116 and top rail 118) which are also RHS, wherein the bottom rail 114 is secured to the column 110 by a first bottom clamping bracket 120 and the middle and top rails are each secured to the column by a second rail clamping bracket 122. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the bottom rail 114 includes an integrated rubber tab 124 extending between the bottom rail and the floor upon which the guardrail system is mounted. It should be noted that each clamping bracket provides clamping of a single or overlapping, side-by-side column section.

Because of the integral rubber tab 124 of the bottom rail 114, the first bottom rail clamping bracket 120 has a different configuration than the second clamping rail clamping bracket 122. As can be seen in fig. 7 and 8, the bottom rail clamp bracket 120 may be formed of a portion of the RHS and a rail clamp tensioning bolt 126, the RHS being deep enough to allow one or a pair of bottom rails to pass through, the rail clamp tensioning bolt 126 being used to secure the clamp bracket to the post. Preferably, the integral rubber tab 124 is fixed to one face of the bottom rail, and it can be noted from fig. 7 and 8 that in an overlapping bottom rail installation, the faces of the rails on which the tab depends face each other.

Turning now to fig. 11-14, the second clamping bracket 122 for the middle and top columns is split into two parts, including a lower jaw 128 shown in fig. 13 and an upper jaw 130 shown in fig. 14. Also preferably, each jaw is formed from a portion of the RHS, cut and slotted to suit the application. The lower jaw 128 is provided with a clamping tension bolt access aperture 132 and is provided with single and double rail adjustment slots 134 on either of its longer faces. A rail locating pin 136 or tab is provided along the upper edge of the lower jaw.

The upper jaw 130 (also preferably formed of a portion of the RHS) is provided with a recess 138, the recess 138 having a rail locking pressure point 140 that allows for one or two side-by-side intermediate or top rails, and having single and double rail adjustment slots 142. An extension 144 is provided at one end of the upper jaw 130 and a rail clamping tensioning threaded bore 146 is provided in the extension.

In use, the lower jaws of the second intermediate and top clamping brackets are first slid over the vertical posts at the intermediate and top rail locations and secured to the posts by bolts 148 passing through the posts and appropriate adjustment slots 134, depending on whether a single rail or a pair of rails are to be supported, as can be seen in fig. 11 and 12. Then, a rail clamping tension bolt 150 is inserted through the tension bolt access hole 132 and a hole provided in the post, leaving a sufficient gap for the thickness of the extension 144 of the upper jaw 130 between the head of the bolt 150 and the end of the jaw 128.

One or two overlapping columns are then placed on the lower jaw 128 and the upper jaw 130 slid onto the post to nest one or more columns between the upper surface of the lower jaw and the recess 138 of the upper jaw. The rail clamp tensioning bolts 150 are then tightened to securely clamp the rail or rails to the sides of the column. The upper jaw 130 is further secured to the post by a bolt 152, the bolt 152 passing through the single and double column adjustment slots 142 and a transverse hole in the post, as seen in fig. 11.

As shown in fig. 15, the underside of the rail is provided with a slot adapted to engage a pin or protrusion provided on the contact surface of the lower and upper jaws.

Figure 16 shows how the barrier system 100 is provided with a safety net panel 160 that hooks onto the top rail. Preferably, the mesh surface is provided with an integrated skirting board 162 along its lower edge.

Fifth preferred embodiment

Turning now to fig. 17-20, fig. 17-20 are another form of a security screen for use as a material containment system 200, with a number of vertical posts 210 secured near the edges of the floors of a building under construction to support a mesh 212. In this arrangement, the post 210 is self-contained, that is, in the sense that it is independent of the guardrail system 100 described above, and is not attached at its upper end to the underside of the upper floor slab.

The vertical column 210 of the material containment system 200 includes an assembly of a fixed bracket and an angled column brace 216. Referring first to fig. 18, the lower end of each vertical column 210 is bolted to the vertical flange of the corner bracket 214, the horizontal flange of the corner bracket being provided with holes for bolting the bracket 214 to the floor. Similarly, the lower end of each tilt post brace 216 is bolted to a vertical flange of a lower corner bracket 218, wherein the horizontal flange is provided with holes for securing the bracket 218 to the floor.

As shown in fig. 20, the upper end of the tilt post brace 216 is bolted to the vertical flange of the upper corner bracket 220 which in use extends to overlap the vertical post 210 and is secured to the post by a clamping plate 222, with the bolts passing through the vertical flange of the upper corner bracket and the clamping plate.

As shown in fig. 19, the vertical column 210 of the material containment system 200 includes a lower column 210A and a telescoping upper column 210B in sliding engagement with the lower column, wherein the upper column 210B may be locked at a desired extension by a tension bolt system 224, similar to that described in the first embodiment above. Here again, it is preferred that the bolt head is provided with a handle to allow locking of the upper post without the need for tools.

Also, referring to fig. 19, at least the upper end of the telescoping upper column 210B is provided with a net attachment point 226, which may take the form of a shackle, for example. Similarly, as shown in fig. 18, the lower post 210A is also provided with one or more attachment points 228.

Industrial applicability

The security screen and guard rail support element of the present invention provides a quick means for installing a security screen or guard rail system or combination of guard rail and vertical security screen near the exposed edges of a building. The telescopic device of at least the first and second embodiments provides adjustability in the event that the spacing between adjacent floors may vary and allows the element to be adjusted for use in different buildings.

Claims

1. A support for a safety net near the edge of a floor slab of a building under construction; the support includes a support post extending between an upper bracket and a lower bracket.

2. A support according to claim 1 wherein the upper and lower brackets are secured to the underside of an adjacent floor above a support floor to which the security mesh is to be mounted and the support floor, respectively.

3. A support according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the respective upper and lower brackets are secured by bolts which are driven into the support floor and the concrete of the floor above the support floor.

4. A support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support post comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper portion and the lower portion are sized to allow the upper portion to slide telescopically into the lower portion.

5. The support of claim 4 wherein the upper portion and the lower portion comprise a length of right angle hollow (RHS).

6. A support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper bracket is in the form of a portion of angle iron (or other suitable metal); the horizontal flange of the bracket is provided with a pair of holes for receiving fixing bolts.

7. A support as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the vertical flange of the upper bracket is provided with an opening; the opening is shaped so that a bolt passing through the upper end of the upper portion of the support post can be inserted through the slot portion of the opening and then nested in the hook portion of the opening.

8. A support as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a bolt passing through the upper end of the upper portion of the support post is permanently mounted by a fixing nut; the spacing between the outer nut of the retaining nut and the head of the bolt is approximately equal to the thickness of the vertical flange of the upper bracket, allowing the bolt to be slip fit into the hook.

9. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower bracket comprises a portion of angle iron having a horizontal flange provided with holes for bolting the lower bracket to the support floor; the vertical flange of the lower bracket is provided with a pair of holes to allow the lower end of the telescoping support post to be secured to the lower bracket.

10. A support as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the upper end of the lower portion is provided with a collar; the collar is provided with at least one threaded hole to receive at least one locking bolt adapted to be driven through the at least one threaded hole and a coinciding hole through the right angle hollow portion of the lower portion.

11. A support according to claim 10 wherein the locking bolt is urged against the right angle hollow of the upper portion to lock the upper and lower portions of the column together to accommodate the spacing between the support floor and the floor above the support floor.

12. A support as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the locking bolt is provided with a handle so that the upper and lower portions of the support column can be secured without the need for tools.

13. A support according to any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein a safety net attachment element is spaced along the upper and lower portions of the support post.

14. A support as claimed in claim 13, wherein the safety net attachment element is in the form of a shackle welded to the right angle hollow portion of the support post, allowing for quick attachment and removal of the safety net.

15. A method of installing a safety net near an exposed edge of a building under construction; the method comprises the following steps:

driving the fixing bolts into the underside of the adjacent higher floor slab and into the safety net support floor slab,

fixing bolts for fixing the upper and lower brackets to the upper floor slab and the safety net support floor slab, respectively,

-fixing the upper end of the safety net support column to the upper bracket and the lower end of the safety net support column to the lower bracket.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the security mesh support column comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper and lower portions are sized to allow the upper portion to slide telescopically into the lower portion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a bolt passing through an upper end of the upper portion of the safety net support post engages a hook of an opening in a flange of the upper bracket.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a lower end of the lower portion of the safety net support post is secured to a flange of the lower bracket by bolts passing through holes in the flange and through the lower end of the lower portion.

19. The method of any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the upper and lower portions of the security mesh support column are locked to a desired extension by a locking bolt passing through a collar at an upper end of the lower portion; the bolt is pressed against the lower end of the upper portion of the safety net support post.

20. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the upper and lower portions of the security mesh support column are provided with security mesh attachment elements.

21. The method of any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

at least two safety net support columns extending between the underside of the higher floor and the support floor are erected,

-attaching a length of a safety net to the safety net attachment element.

22. A support system for a safety net extending vertically between a safety net support floor and an adjacent higher floor of a building under construction; the support system comprises at least two safety net support columns; each of the at least two support columns extends between the upper and lower brackets.

23. A support system according to claim 22 wherein the upper and lower brackets are secured to the underside of the upper floor slab and the support floor slab, respectively.

24. A support system according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the upper and lower brackets are secured to the upper and lower ends of the security mesh support column, respectively.

25. A security system capable of being erected at the edge of a floor slab of a building being constructed, the security system comprising a combination of a modular guardrail system and a security screen system; the guardrail system comprises a vertical column fixed to the floor slab, to which a horizontal safety rail is attached by brackets; the security screen system includes a telescoping vertical column secured to the floor slab and an angled vertical column brace.

26. The security system of claim 25, wherein the modular guardrail system comprises a vertical post, a horizontal safety rail, and a bracket.

27. A safety system as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein the vertical column, the horizontal rail and the bracket are formed by right angle hollows.

28. A guardrail system capable of being erected at the edges of a floor slab of a building being constructed, the guardrail system comprising a vertical column and a horizontal safety rail; the rail is secured to the vertical column by a rail clamping bracket.

29. The guardrail system of claim 28 wherein each vertical post is secured to the floor slab by an angle bracket; the lower ends of the vertical posts are bolted to the vertical flanges of the corner brackets.

30. The barrier system of claim 28 or 29, wherein the horizontal safety rail comprises a bottom rail, a middle rail, and a top rail.

31. The barrier system of claim 30, wherein the bottom rail is provided with integral rubber tabs; the fin extends between the bottom rail and the floor in use.

32. The barrier system of claim 30, wherein the barrier clamp brackets comprise a first bottom barrier clamp bracket and a second middle barrier and top barrier clamp bracket.

33. The barrier system of any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein each barrier holding bracket is adapted to secure a single barrier or two overlapping barriers side by side.

34. The barrier system of any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein each barrier gripping bracket is formed from one or more portions of a rectangular hollow portion (RHS).

35. The barrier system of claim 34, wherein the rectangular hollow portion of the first bottom rail clamping bracket has a depth that allows one or both bottom rails and a tensioning bolt to pass through the bracket and a hole provided in the vertical post.

36. The barrier system of claim 35, wherein the second intermediate rail and top rail clamp mount are divided into two sections: a lower jaw and an upper jaw.

37. The barrier system of claim 36, wherein the lower jaw of the second clamp bracket is provided with a tension bolt access aperture and single and double rail adjustment slots on either side.

38. The barrier system of claim 36 or 37, wherein the upper jaw of the second clamping bracket is provided with a recess adapted to nest one or two horizontal safety bars between an upper surface of the lower jaw and an upper surface of the recess.

39. The barrier system of any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the upper jaw is further provided with an extension at one end of the upper jaw; the extension is provided with a rail clamping tensioning bolt hole.

40. A method of erecting a guardrail system at the edges of a floor slab of a building under construction; the method comprises the following steps:

-positioning the lower jaws of the second intermediate rail clamping bracket and the top rail clamping bracket at the intermediate rail and at the top rail position by passing a rail clamping tensioning bolt through the lower jaws and the vertical column;

-laying one or two intermediate and top bars on each lower jaw;

-tensioning the rail clamping bracket clamping bolt.

41. A system for securing a horizontal safety rail of a guardrail system to a vertical column in a safety barrier that can be erected near the edges of a floor slab of a building under construction; the system comprises the following steps:

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the first horizontal rail clamping bracket is adapted to support one or two bottom horizontal safety rails; the one or two horizontal safety rails pass through the first horizontal rail clamping bracket.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the second horizontal rail clamping bracket is adapted to support middle and top horizontal safety rails; the second column clamping bracket is formed in two parts: a lower jaw and an upper jaw.

44. A material containment screen capable of being erected near an edge of a floor slab of a building under construction; the containment screen includes vertical columns and a mesh; the vertical column is fixed to the floor by an angle bracket; the column is secured in a vertical position by a column brace.

45. The material containing screen of claim 44, wherein the vertical column is divided into two sections; a lower column and a telescopic upper column; the telescoping upper column is in sliding engagement with the lower column; the telescoping upper column is held in a desired extended position by a tension bolt system.