GB2337553A

GB2337553A - Roofing safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2337553A
Application number: GB9909896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Frank Price
Original assignee: JACK FLOOR Ltd; W F PRICE
Current assignee: JACK FLOOR Ltd; W F PRICE
Priority date: 1998-04-30
Filing date: 1999-04-30
Publication date: 1999-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-30
Also published as: GB9909896D0; GB2337553B; GB9809231D0; GB2337553A8

Abstract

A roofing safety device comprises a work deck 5 adapted to be moved along substantially parallel roof supports 1 by means of rollers 11, 13, and a continuous solid safety deck 9 extending from the work deck such that the safety deck 9 lies in a plane below that of the roof supports. The safety deck 9 may be constructed of telescoping members so as to be of variable width; a handrail 19 may be provided.

Description

1 2337553 1 2 3 "Roofing Safety Device" This invention relates to a

roofing safety device.

4 Under current legislation it is mandatory for a roofing installer to provide double edge rails around all open edges of the building structure being roofed or reroofed. Currently the edges of buildings have temporary edge rails (usually scaffold tubes connected to the building structure by various means). However one of the areas which has proved most difficult to protect is the open edge of the roof sheeting being fixed. It is known to have hand rails mounted on either a moving trolley arrangement or on 45Omm roofing boards (Youngman Stagings) which are usually 6m long on top of the roof supports (purlins) to which double hand rails are attached.

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 Either of the aforementioned hand rail systems must be removed from the last tier of roof sheets laid to make way for the next tier of roof sheets to be fixed, these are normally not less than im wide. In doing this function the roof fixer has to push the edge rail device forward by 1M which means they have to virtually lean over a 1M gap to do so which is a very dangerous 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 operation. one solution is to provide temporary netting to the underside of the roof supports (purlins) which will result in significant costs in roof construction coupled with practical/technical difficulties.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a roofing safety device comprising a work deck adapted to be moveable along substantially parallel roof supports and a continuous, solid safety deck extending from the base of the work deck in a direction substantially parallel to and below the plane of the roof supports.

Preferably, the solid safety deck is of variable width.

Preferably, the solid safety deck is constructed from at least two overlapping continuous solid members extending across the gap defined by the roof support members and the amount of overlap is alterable to allow the width of the safety deck to be varied.

Preferably, a plurality of roofing safety devices may be connected together across a roof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the roof supports.

Preferably, the roofing safety device is adaptable for use on a curved roof in which the plurality of roofing safety devices are connected at an angle to each other, the angle being determined by the curvature of the roof.

Preferably, the distance of the safety deck below the work deck is adjustable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention 1 - 3 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 there is provided a kit of parts for constructing a roofing safety device, said kit of parts comprising a work deck, at least one set of rollers is in contact with the horizontally alligned surface of the roof support and at least one set of rollers is in contact with a vertically aligned surface of the roof support,, a solid, continuous safety deck constructed of at least two overlapping solid members, and a guard rail for connection to the side of the work deck remote from the safety deck.

The advantages of the roof safety device of the present invention is that whilst rolling leading edge hand rails are provided with a walkway/handrail extending from the gutter to the ridge, there is also cantilevered from said walkway individual decks which are positioned between each roof support (purlin) and below the top surface of the roof support on which the roofing sheets lie. These provide a safety deck positioned under the area between each roof support from the gutter to the ridge for a width of approximately 1M which is the same width as the next tier of roof sheets to be laid. The advantage is that the roofing fixers can push the assembly forward safely and if they were to trip or be blown forward the safety deck positioned between each roof support (purlin) would catch them and prevent them from falling to the ground/floor.

The roofing safety device is fully adjustable for:- (a) varying lengths of roof slope (b) varying distances between roof supports (c) can be provided for curved roofs and has the following features:- (i) anti-slip walkway 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 (i i) (iii) (iv) cross slats for steeply pitched roofs to provide grip for walking on all components replaceable in the event of damage or loss can be dismantled/assembled quickly and allows for minimising transportation costs.

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the roofing safety device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 show an end elevation of the roofing safety device in accordance with the present invention; and Figures 3a and 3b show a plan and side elevation of a telescopic safety deck in accordance with the present invention.

In Figure 1, the work deck 5 is located between two end sections 7. The work deck 5 is attached to and supported by the end sections 7. Rollers 11 and 13, are contained inside the end sections and are arranged such that rollers 11 operate on the top surface of the purlin and rollers 13 operate on the side surface of the purlin, the addition of side rollers 13 improves the stability of the working deck. In use, the rollers 11 and 13 allow the work deck to move back and forth along the purlins 1. Safety deck cantilever support arms 15 are attached to each of the end sections 7 along their length and the safety deck 9 is attached to the work deck 5 by means of the cantilever arms 15.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 The safety deck 9 is constructed of at least one continuous metal sheet which covers substantially the entire gap between the purlins 1 to a distance at least equal to the width of the roofing sections to be laid. A toe board 21 is fitted to the gap between the work deck and safety deck as is a male/female stiffening channel 23 both of which are shown in Figure 2.

Work decks and safety decks in accordance with the present invention may be fitted with a safety rail 19, Figures 1 and 2, and a toe board (not shown) at the side of the work deck 5 remote from the safety deck.

In use, the work deck 5 is moved along the purlins 1 to allow the next section of roof to be laid. In contrast to prior art systems, there is a solid safety deck 9 below the plane 39 Figure 2 in which the next section of roof is to be laid. This therefore prevents the roofing fixer from falling through the gap and further, because of its solid construction, prevents other objects, for example tools or nails, from falling to the ground below and causing injury.

Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention. The safety deck is constructed from 3 separate steel sheets, 31, 33, and 35, each containing bolt holes 37 arranged linearly along the centre of each sheet. The bolts are used to connect the metal sheets at points so as to allow the width of the safety deck to be altered in a telescopic manner. Figure 1 shows a telescopic safety deck formed from two continuous solid sheets, the overlap indicated by reference numeral 3.

The present invention therefore gives improved safety performance by providing a continuous safety deck and 6 1 2 is also adaptable to a range of roof structures in which the distance between the purlin centres are different.

3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 The clearance between the purlin surface and the safety deck is typically 55mm, however, the clearance can be adjusted depending on the clearance required for the roof surface being laid.

The present invention can also be adapted for laying a curved roof. Work deck 5 and safety deck 9 are adapted for use on a curved roof space by assembling a number of units each of which comprise a single work deck 5 and safety deck 9, each unit being connected at an angle to fit the curvature of the surface.

Work decks are typically constructed in lengths of 6.3m, however longer or shorter units may be easily constructed. Shorter unit lengths are preferred for use with curved surfaces.

As is common in the art, the present invention can be used on roofing structures which incorporate steel, timber or concrete purlins. In addition, the present invention is not restricted to the laying of new roofs, but can also be used in roof repairs.

7 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Claims

1. A roofing safety device comprising a work deck adapted to be moveable along substantially parallel roof supports and a continuous, solid safety deck extending from the base of the work deck in a direction substantially parallel to and below the plane of the roof supports.

2. A roofing safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the solid safety deck is of variable width.

3. A roofing safety device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the solid safety deck is constructed from at least two overlapping continuous solid members extending across the gap defined by the roof support members and the amount of overlap is alterable to allow the width of the safety deck to be varied.

4. A roofing safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a plurality of roofing safety devices may be connected together across a roof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the roof supports.

5. A roofing safety device for use on a curved roof in which the plurality of roofing safety devices are connected at an angle to each other, the angle being determined by the curvature of the roof.

6. A roofing safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the distance of the safety deck below the work deck is adjustable.

7. A kit of parts for constructing a roofing safety device, said kit of parts comprising a work deck, 8 rollers for fitting to the underside of the work deck such that at least one set of rollers is in contact with the horizontally alligned surface of the roof support and at least one set of rollers is in contact with a vertically aligned surface of the roof support, a solid, continuous safety deck constructed of at least two overlapping solid members, and a guard rail for connection to the side of the work deck remote from the safety deck.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

8. A roofing safety device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.