GB2291919A

GB2291919A - Worker support staging

Info

Publication number: GB2291919A
Application number: GB9413593A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Gale; Andrew Stuart Cambridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-06
Filing date: 1994-07-06
Publication date: 1996-02-07
Also published as: GB9413593D0

Abstract

A method of providing support for building workers fitting roof trusses (not shown) to a walled building 1 comprises suspending the ends of beam members 2 from the tops of oppositely-facing cavity walls 3 of the building 1, and then laying floor members 4 in the form of panels, on top of the beam members 2, so as to provide a temporary platform 5 for the workers to stand on. Each beam member 2 is of hollow, box section, and is of telescopic form, so as to be adjustable in effective length. [With reference to Figure 2] Hanger brackets are provided for suspending opposite ends of the beam members 2 from the tops of the oppositely-facing inner cavity walls 3a. Each hanger bracket is formed by a laterally-spaced pair of side walls interconnected by a back wall and a floor, to define a U-shaped recess, (when viewed in plan), which receives, with small clearance, an outer end portion 11 of a beam member 2. An L-shaped hook portion attached to the upper ends of the side and back walls, extends over the top of the wall 3a, whereby the total weight of the beam members 2, (and platform 5) is accepted by the two inner walls 3a. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BUILDING WORKER SAFETY This invention relates to building worker safety.

As used herein the term 'building worker' is intended to include 'constructional worker' and like trades.

A problem exists in fitting roof structure to a walled building.

External scaffolding is usually installed to provide an external platform for building workers. However, internal access to the roof structure is often dangerous and serious accidents have occurred.

One proposal to solve the problem comprises use of an internallydisposed safety net, but sometimes a net will 'give' sufficiently whereby a building worker falling into the net strikes structure disposed beneath the net. For example, floor joists.

Internal scaffolding can be supplied so as to provide a working platform but its use can be expensive as well as time-consuming in erection.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of providing support for building workers fitting roof structure to a walled building, comprises suspending the ends of beam members from the tops of oppositely-facing walls of the building, and then laying floor members on top of the beam members, so as to provide a platform for said building workers to stand on The beam members are preferably adjustable in effective length.

Such beam members are preferably of telescopic form.

A second aspect of the present invention comprises a walled building having roof structure fitted in place by use of the aforesaid method.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, apparatus for performing the first stage of the aforesaid method comprises a plurality of beam members and means for suspending the ends of the beam members from the tops of oppositely-facing walls of the building.

The beam suspension means preferably comprise hanger brackets, each of which has a hook portion which, in use, fits over the top of a wall.

The various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1A and 1B combine to form an end view, in section, of a walled building, Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of a first detail, Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary side views which illustrate second and third details, and Figure 5 is a fragmentary front view, taken on the lines V-V of Figure 4.

With reference to Figures 1A and 1B, a method of providing support for building workers fitting roof trusses (not shown) to a walled building 1, comprises suspending the ends of beam members 2 from the tops of oppositely-facing walls 3 of the building 1, and then laying floor members 4, (Figure 1B), on top of the beam members 2, so as to provide a temporary platform 5 for said building workers to stand on.

The building 1 stands on a ground level 6. Each wall 3 is a cavity wall, comprising inner and outer brick walls 3a, 3b respectively.

Each beam member 2 is of hollow, box section, and is of telescopic form, so as to be adjustable in effective length. With additional reference to Figure 3, each beam member 2 is of three part form, comprising two outer portions 10 interconnected by a central portion 11. The central portion 11 is a telescopic sliding fit in each of the outer portions 10, and is adjustably secured thereto by clamping bolts 12.

With reference to Figure 2, means are provided for suspending opposite ends of the beam members 2 from the tops 13 of the oppositely-facing inner walls 3a. These means comprise hanger brackets 14, each formed by a laterally-spaced pair of side walls 15 interconnected by a back wall 16 and a floor 17, to define a 'U'-shaped recess, (when viewed in plan), which receives, with small clearance, an outer end portion 11 of a beam member 2. An 'L'-shaped hook portion 18 attached to the upper ends of the side and back walls 15, 16, extends over the top 13 of the wall 3a, whereby the total weight of the beam members 2, (and platform 5) is accepted by the two inner walls 3a.

The beam members 2 can be secured to the hanger brackets 14 by pins 19 disposed in aligned holes formed in the hanger brackets 14 and beam members 2.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, some, or wall, of the beam members 2 are supported by central pillars 25.

Each pillar 25 comprises a U-shaped support 26, best illustrated by Figure 5, for receiving the central portion 11 of a beam member 2, mounted on the upper end of a first sub-pillar 27. The sub-pillar 27 is telescopically received by the upper end of a second sub-pillar, namely sub-pillar 28. Pins 29 received by aligned holes 30, 31 in the sub-pillars 27, 28 are used to secure the latter together.

The pillars 25 are thus adjustable in effective height. Clamp bolts 32 are used to secure the supports 26 to the beam members 2. The bottom ends of the pillars 25 rest on the upper surfaces of existing floor joists 33 (Figures 1A and 1B) so as to be supported thereby.

To provide the support platform 5, using existing scaffolding, (not shown), disposed outside the walls 3, the hanger brackets 14 are placed in position, spaced from each other, so as to interfere with the roof trusses when these are subsequently lowered into place.

The beam members 2, already adjusted to length, are then disposed so that their ends are received by the hanger brackets 14. Next, the pillars 25 are placed in position so as to support the beam members 2.

The platform 5 can now be formed, using the floor members 4, which comprise large-area panels.

The platform 5 provides firm and safe support for building workers when the roof trusses are lowered in place to be supported by the oppositely-disposed walls 3. When the roof trusses are secure, the platform 5, beam members 2, pillars 25 and hanger brackets 14 can be removed, for re-use elsewhere.

The beam members 2 need not be of telescopic form. Each beam member 2 could comprise a one-piece component, pre-cut in length.

Similarly, a pillar 25 need not be of telescopic form; it too could comprise a one-piece component, pre-cut to length.

However, there are obvious advantages in having beam members 2 adjustable in effective length, and pillars 25 adjustable in effective height.

Cross-members additional to the beam members 2 may be used, extending between oppositely-disposed wall plates. These will provide versatility, having particular application to differently shaped buildings.

Claims

1. A method of providing support for building workers fitting roof structure to a walled building, comprising suspending the ends of beam members from the tops of oppositely-facing walls of the building, and then laying floor members on top of the beam members, so as to provide a platform for said building workers to stand on.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam members are adjustable in effective length.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein the beam members are of telescopic form.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the ends of the beam members are supported by hanger brackets.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the hanger brackets each have a hooked portion which, in use, fits over the top of an oppositely-facing wall.

6. The method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein at least some of the beam members are supported by pillars.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper ends of the pillars are provided with U-shaped supports for receiving the beam members.

8. The method claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the pillars are adjustable in effective height.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pillars are of telescopic form.

10. The method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the floor members comprise panels.

11. A walled building having roof structure fitted in place by use of the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Apparatus for performing the method claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of beam members and means for suspending the ends of the beam members from the tops of oppositely-facing walls of the building.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the beam suspension means comprise hanger brackets.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein hanger brackets each have a hook portion which, in use, fits over the top of an oppositely-disposed wall.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, including pillars for supporting the beam members, the pillars being provided with U-shaped supports for receiving the beam members.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein both the beam members and the pillars are variable in effective length.

17. A method of providing support for building workers fitting roof structure to a walled building, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A walled building having roof structure fitted in place by the method claimed in claim 17.

19. Apparatus for performing the method of claim 17, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to said drawings.