GB2099061A

GB2099061A - Safety barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2099061A
Application number: GB8215095A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: COLLINSON ALAN
Current assignee: COLLINSON ALAN
Priority date: 1981-05-21
Filing date: 1982-05-21
Publication date: 1982-12-01
Also published as: GB2099061B

Abstract

A support for a safety barrier on a parapet wall (10) comprises a first member (12) abutting one side of the wall and overlying the wall, and a second member (32) adjustably mounted on the overlying part (16) of the first member (12). The second member (32) extends parallel to the part (14) of the first member (12) which abuts the side of the wall and has an adjustable load distributor (42) abutting the opposite side of the wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved safety barrier The present invention comprises an improved safety barrier, especially but not exclusively a safety barrier forming a hand rail adapted for attachment to a parapet wall or the like.

When work is being carried out in elevated situations, for example on the roof of a building, it is often required that a safety barrier or hand rail be sited at the edge of the roof and the present invention concerns a safety barrier for erection at the edge of a roof having a parapet wall or the like.

According to the present invention there is provided a support for mounting a safety barrier on a parapet wall or the like, the support comprising first and second members, the first member having two limbs arranged substantially perpendicular to each other, one of said limbs adapted to abut one side of the parapet wall and the other having means adjustably mounted thereon for carrying the second member, the latter being substantially parallel in use to said one limb and being adapted to abut the parapet on the side thereof opposite to said one side.

Preferably, load distributing pads are provided on said one limb to abut said one side of the parapet wall. The pads may be faced with a resilient material to minimise damage to the parapet wall.

Preferably, the second member carries load distributing means being adjustably mounted on the member.

Preferably the means for mounting the second member on the first member comprises an arrangement suitably mounted on the said other limb of the first member and fixable on said limb.

Preferably the first and second members are manufactured from hollow tubular steel. In such circumstances the arrangement for mounting the second member on the first member comprises two tubular members in which said first and second members may be slidably mounted, the tubular members being fixed at right angles to each other.

Preferably the second member carries at its upper end hand rail attachment means, and stop means may be provided on the second member such that its extent of displacement relative to the first member is limited whereby the hand rail is never below a predetermined spacing from the first member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a parapet wall with a hand rail support fitted thereto.

A parapet wall 10 surrounds a root which is not shown in detail in the drawing but which lies on the left hand side of the parapet wall, and it is desired to temporarily fix a hand rail or safety barrier around the roof so that it protects personnel working thereon. The drawing shows one of a plurality of supports which are attached to the parapet at spaced intervals and which are adapted to support tubular scaffolding members acting as the hand rail. The support illustrated comprises a first member 1 2 manufactured from scaffolding tubes and comprising two limbs 14, 1 6 welded together at substantially right angles, the limb 14 having load distributing pads 18 fixed thereto by support bars 20, the pads 1 8 being faced by rubber sheet (not shown) to protect the parapet or facia.The second limb 16 has a sleeve arrangement 22 slidably mounted thereon, the sleeve comprising two tubular members each having an internal diameter sufficient to accommodate the scaffolding tubes, the members 24, 26 being fixed together with their axes at right angles. Clamping screws 28, 30 are provided on the members 24, 26 respectively for clamping the tubes therein.

The second member of the support comprises a scaffolding tube 32 having a sleeve 34 fixed to its upper end at right angles thereto, the sleeve 34 being provided with two clamping screws 36, 38.

At the lower end of the second member 32 there is threadably mounted a threaded bar 40 having a rubber faced load distributing pad 42 at one end thereof, the other end having turning bar 44.

To affix the support to the parapet wall 10, that is to achieve the position shown in the Figure, the first member 12 is laid on the parapet wall with the pads 18 abutting its outer face and the limb 16 resting on the top of the wall. The sleeve arrangement 22 carrying the second member 32 is then slid along the horizontal limb 1 6 of the first member 12 until the pad 42 abuts the inner surface of the parapet wall 10, the clamping screw 28 then being used to clamp the sleeve 24 in position on the limb 1 6. The height of the hand rail is then adjusted by moving the member 32 up or down in the sleeve 26 and clamping it in position with the screw 30. Means (not shown) are provided on the member 32 to ensure that the spacing between the sleeve 34 and the limb 1 6 is never less than a predetermined minimum for example 1 metre.The support is finally held in position by turning the bar 44 to tighten the engagement of the pad 42 against the inside surface of the wall. Lengths of scaffolding tube are then threaded through the sleeve 34 to form the hand rail, being clamped in position by the clamping screws 36, 38.

In a modification the second member may comprise a scaffolding tube in the lower part of which is telescopically located a further tube with a clamping screw being provided for clamping the tubes together. The further tube is provided at its lower end with a threaded bar having a rubber faced load distributing pad at one end thereof, the other end having a turning bar. Such an arrangement enables the support to be used on a greater range of parapet walls due to the increased range of adjustment of the scaffolding tube which retains the hand rail at its upper end in view of the required spacing between the hand rail and the roof.

Various other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example the first member 12 can include reinforcing members or can be of any suitable shape. Another modification is shown in the drawing where the top sleeve 34 on the second member can be replaced by a coupling device 50.

Claims

1. A support for mounting a safety barrier on a parapet wall or the like, the support comprising first and second members, the first member having two limbs arranged substantially perpendicular to each other, one of said limbs adapted to abut one side of the parapet wall and the other having means adjustably mounted thereon for carrying the second member, the latter being substantially parallel in use to said one limb and being adapted to abut the parapet on the side thereof opposite to said one side.

2. A support according to claim 1, wherein load distributing pads are provided on said one limb to abut said one side of the parapet wall.

3. A support according to claim 2, wherein the pads are faced with a resilient material.

4. A support according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein load distributing means are adjustably mounted on the second member to abut the opposite side of the parapet wall.

5. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second members are each formed with a hollow tubular configuration.

6. A support according to claim 5, wherein the means for carrying the second member comprises two tubular parts in which the first and second members can be slidably located, the tubular parts being fixed together to be substantially perpendicular to each other.

7. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein stop means is provided on the second member such that the latter is capable of limited movement relative to the first member.

8. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second member comprises two telescopically arranged parts and means for releasably securing the parts together.

9. A support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second member has means at an upper end to carry the safety barrier in the form of a hand rail.

10. A support for mounting a safety barrier on a parapet wall or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.