GB2411910A - Modular GRP handrail - Google Patents

Abstract

A plurality of connectors 24 and at least one tubular section 31 each comprising reinforced plastics material can be interconnected to assemble a hand rail. More specifically, they may be made from glassfibre reinforced polyester, vinyl ester or epoxy. The connectors may have an arm which extends from a body, it preferably connects with the tubular section, having an external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the tube. An abutment 23 is preferably formed by the body at each arm junction, and corresponds to an end surface of tube, so that when connected the exterior surfaces are flush. Each arm may have a circumferential groove 22 around its exterior. The tube may have an anti-slip surface formed from a plurality of longitudinal grooves. The tube may be formed by pultrusion, the connectors by moulding. Preferably the tubes have preformed holes adjacent their ends. The tubes and connectors may be fixed using a polyurethane adhesive. The connectors are preferably in the shape of a T, cross, elbow and basal flange and may include a jointed connector.

Description

2411 910 Modular handrail system The present invention relates to a

modular handrail system having multiple components which can be assembled to form a handrail.

Many types of handrail constructions are currently available which could be described as modular. In particular, it IS well known to make handrails from sections of steel tubing interconnected by connector elements. It is also known to make handrails from wood which can be cut to the required lengths/shapes and fixed using nails or bolts.

However, the existing handrail systems suffer from a number of disadvantages. Particularly in the UK, many of the existing systems do not conform to Approved document M - Access to and Use of Buildings (2004 edition) of the Building Regulations or to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which set various standards which future handrail systems must meet.

For example, it is desirable for handrails to not be "cold to the touch", i.e. for the handrail to have a low thermal conductivity. Existing handrails such as those made from steel or other metals do not satisfy this requirement. Apart from the fact that users often choose not to use handrails that they recognise will be cold to touch in cold ambient conditions, in such conditions, human skin can be caused to effectively freeze by contact with metal handrails and SO stick to the surface of the handrail, potentially resulting in severe injury.

Thus it is desirable that a handrail has a low thermal conductivity.

It is also desirable that the surface of a handrail is made slip resistant. This allows users to obtain a better grip on the handrail and be better able to use their hands to move along the rail. This is particularly relevant for handrails which are placed on inclined surfaces. Handrails made from steel and other metals, as well as those made from wood, generally have a completely smooth surface finish. This may be so as to prevent the possibility of splinters or projections from the handrail injuring users, or may be as a direct result of the production process used. However, with such smooth surfaced handrails, there is a potential for a user's hand to slip and thus result in an injury.

It is further desirable that the handrail system, when constructed, does not have protrusions on which clothing material, jewellery or body parts may get caught. This is particularly relevant in the "termination" regions of the handrail, i.e. those regions where the long sections of the rail join to connector elements and/or to other such sections. In the majority of handrail systems currently available, the fixtures and/or fittings which connect the long sections to connector elements and/or to other sections are located on the exterior of the handrail profile. Such raised areas can project 9-lOmm or further from the surface of the handrail, which is sufficient to provide a potential for catching clothing, jewellery or skin as a user's hand moves past this raised area.

Thus it IS desirable that a modular handrail system can be interconnected so that such protrusions do not occur.

A large number of handrail systems are installed in specialist industrial areas. Such handrails may thus be required to exhibit one or more of the following properties: chemical resistance (i.e. unaffected by contact with corrosive materials and/or inert); non- conductive and/or not capable of carrying an electrical charge (e.g. to prevent static build-up or sparking).

Normal metal handrails in particular are not suitable in such situations. In order to satisfy these requirements, handrails have been produced which are made from metal, but are coated in plastic materials. However, the production of such handrails is much more complex than that of standard metal handrails and so these handrails cost more.

The present invention seeks to provide a modular handrail system which addresses some or all of the above issues.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a modular handrail system comprising a plurality of connector elements and at least one tubular section wherein said connector elements and said tubular section are made from reinforced plastics material, and wherein said tubular section and said elements can be interconnected to assemble a handrail.

Preferably said connector elements and said tubular section are made from glassfibre reinforced plastics (GRP/"fibreglass") material. More preferably said connector elements and said tubular section are made from glassfibre reinforced polyester. However other resin formulations such as vinyl ester and epoxy can also be used as the construction material.

A handrail system made from reinforced plastics material offers several advantages over handrails constructed from metal (e.g. steel or aluminlum) or wood.

Reinforced plastics material, and in particular GRP, offers resistance to a broad range of chemicals, including acids and oxidising agents. For example, GRP does not react with nitric acid, sulphuric acid, ammonium chloride or calcium hypochlorite, all of which react strongly with steel. A list of some of the chemical environments in which both isophthalic polyester and vinyl esters may be used is given in Annex 1. This table lists various maximum concentrations and temperatures up to which these materials have been tested.

The environment in which the handrail is to be assembled and used may influence the choice of material. The reinforced plastics material also does not oxidise or corrode in normal use, and in all situations does not require further coatings to be applied and maintained to prevent deterioration over the product lifespan.

Components such as connector elements and tubular sections formed from reinforced plastics materials are also significantly lighter than equivalent metal components, with GRP typically having a density of 25% of that of structural steel and 70% of that of aluminium.

Thus a modular handrail system with components formed from reinforced plastics material is much easier to transport and handle. Such a modular handrail system may also permit simpler connection to the substrate on which it is to be mounted, particularly where the handrail is assembled on a substantially vertical rather than a substantially horizontal substrate.

Handrails formed from the modular handrail system of the present aspect preferably have insulating properties, and more preferably an electrical resistivlty of at least 1 Qm. For example, GRP typically has an electrical resistivity of 108 - 102 Qm compared to resitivities of approximately 10-8 Qm for metals. Wood can also be electrically conductive, particularly when wet. As the material of the handrail system is non-conductive, it also does have a grounding potential, and hence is non- sparking. This means that the modular handrail systems of the present aspect can be assembled and used in sensitive electrical or environmental situations without the need for specialist coatings or alternative protective measures.

Handrails assembled from the modular handrail system of the present aspect preferably also have a very low thermal conductivity, more preferably less than 1 W/(m.K). For example, GRP has a thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/(m.K) compared to 46 W/(m.K) for steel and 210 W/(m.K) for aluminium. Therefore the components of the modular handrail system of the present invention will not conduct heat away from a user's skin which is placed in contact with the handrail, and so will feel warmer to touch at low ambient temperatures.

It is also easy to make reinforced plastics materials in different colours by adding a pigment to the resin or filler component of the material prior to curing. Thus the colour of such components forms a part of the product and does not require a separate coating process, thus reducing the cost of producing coloured handrail components. Preferably the handrail components also include a UV stabiliser or a UV inhibitor to reduce or prevent degradation of the colour due to exposure to sunlight.

The modular handrail system of the present aspect may be very simple to fit together, requiring a minimum of tools for assembly. For example, the system may be assembled using only a saw to cut the tubular section and appropriate tools to fix the handrail to the substrate on which it is to be mounted.

The modular handrail system of some embodiments may have a plurality of tubular sections of predetermined length.

Preferably such a modular handrail system includes a plurality of tubular sections of each of at least two predetermined lengths. For example, sections of one length may be used for rail sections of the handrail and sections of a second length used for post sections of the handrail. Thus the modular handrail system may be provided In the form of a complete kit for the assembly of a particular size and design of handrail and require no cutting to size of the tubular section. Such a modular handrail system can thus be quickly and easily assembled at a desired location.

Preferably the connector elements each have at least one arm portion which extends from the body of the connector element and which, in use, interconnects with the tubular section, the exterior diameter of the arm being approximately equal to the interior diameter of said tubular section. Thus a tight-flLting join can be obtained between connector element and the tubular section without the use of fixing means.

However, preferably the modular handrail system also includes fixing means for fixing the tubular section(s) to the connector elements. The fixing means may be an adhesive, such as a polyurethane adhesive, or may be mechanical, such as a plurality of bolts and associated nuts. The use of mechanical fixing means may allow a temporary handrail to be assembled using a modular handrail system, and the handrail to be disassembled into its component parts after use and the component parts re- used in the assembly of another handrail.

The tubular sections may have pre-formed holes adjacent to the ends of each tubular section. Similarly the connector elements may have preformed holes in the arm section. Such pre-formed holes can allow quick and easy assembly of a handrail using mechanical fixing means without the need for the craftsman assembling the handrail to drill the holes themselves. Thus the possibility of assembly errors, and the number of tools necessary to perform an assembly, may be reduced.

Preferably a respective abutment surface is formed by the body of the connector element at each position where an arm section extends therefrom, and each such abutment surface corresponds to an end surface of the tubular section so that when, in use, said end surface abuts the body of the connector element at said abutment surface, a substantially flush exterior surface is formed.

By creating a flush exterior surface around the join between a tubular section and a connector element, a handrail can be formed which has no snag points which might catch the clothing, lewellery or skin of a user of the handrail.

Preferably the fixing means, where used, also does not result in a projection from the assembled handrail.

Each arm portion may have at least one circumferential groove formed around its exterior. An adhesive can be placed in such grooves prior to assembly of a handrail, and will not be smeared away from the contact area when a tubular section and a connector element are joined with a tight fit. Thus the components of the modular handrail system can be strongly and securely joined.

Preferably the tubular section has a slip resistant means on its exterior. The slip resistant means allow a user of the assembled handrail to get better traction with their hands when moving up or down the handrail. As discussed above, the prior art handrails generally have a completely smooth surface finish which can lead to the user's hand slipping on the handrail, possibly resulting in injury. In particular embodiments, the slip resistant means includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the tubular section.

Preferably the tubular section is formed by pultrusion.

Pultrusion is a method of producing regular structural shapes from reinforced plastics material. Pultruded GRP structures exhibit similar structural properties to steel and aluminium structural shapes, but with additional advantages over such materials as discussed above. For example, typical pultruded GRP has a ultimate flexural strength in a lengthwise direction of approximately 200 MPa, compared to approximately 400 MPa for A-36 Carbon Steel and 110 MPa for aluminium. This also compares highly favourably with structural timber such as Douglas Fir which has an ultimate flexural strength of approximately 20-50 MPa.

Pultruded GRP also exhibits good stiffness, with lengthwise Young's modulus approximately 10% of that of steel and 30% of that of aluminium. However, the matting construction of the GRP means that it will not permanently deform under a working load, and an impact load is evenly distributed to prevent surface damage. By contrast, both steel and aluminium are susceptible to permanent deformation under impact.

By making the tubular section of the present invention from pultruded GRP, this section can be easily cut to size at the installation site of the handrail using standard tools. Equivalent steel or aluminium sections would require cutting torches or similar to be used.

Preferably the connector elements are formed by moulding.

The connector elements of the modular handrail system generally include T-shaped connector elements, cross- shaped connector elements, elbow connector elements, jointed connector elements and/or base flange elements.

Preferably the connector elements include at least one T shaped connector element, at least one cross-shaped connector element and at least one elbow connector element. In some embodiments, the connector elements further include at least one base flange element.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a handrail constructed using a modular handrail system of the first aspect.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. la and lb show a perspective and a side view respectively of an equal 'T' fitting which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 2a and 2b show a perspective and a side view respectively of an equal cross fitting which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 3a and 3b show a perspective and a side view respectively of a 90 handrail end bend which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 4a and db show a perspective and a side view respectively of a 90 elbow fitting which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 5a and 5b show a perspective and a side view respectively of a straight coupling fitting which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 6a, 6b and 6c show perspective, side and top views respectively of a base flange fitting which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 7a, 7b and 7c show perspective, side and top views respectively of a female portion of a jointed coupling which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c show perspective, side and top views respectively of a male portion of a jointed coupling which Is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. 9a and 9b show a perspective and a side view respectively of a 63.4 'T' fitting which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. lea and lOb show a perspective and a side view respectively of a 63.4 cross fitting which is a connector element of embodiments of the invention; Figs. lla and llb show a perspective and an end view of a pultruded tubular section forming part of an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 shows the tube of Figs. lla and llb being connected to the equal cross fitting of Figs. 2a and 2b; and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a handrail constructed using an embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiments of the present invention illustrated, the connector elements shown in Figs. 1 to 10 are made from moulded GRP. In particular, these connector elements are constructed using a process called 'Bulk Composite Mould Compound' (BCMC) . BCMC uses a pre-mixed fibre-reinforced composite material that cures under heat and pressure. The moulding compound comprises a polymer component, a fibre reinforcement component and a filler component. The polymer component, which is typically a thermosetting resin, and in the present embodiments of the invention is unsaturated polyester or vinyl ester, forms a molecular super structure which binds the reinforcement component and the filler component.

The filler or the polymer component may contain a pigment to allow connector elements of different colours to be manufactured. The filler or the polymer component may also contain a UV stabiliser or UV inhibitor to reduce or prevent degradation of the colour of the connector elements due to exposure to sunlight or other UV light sources.

The connecting tubular sections, an example 31 of which is shown in Figs. lie and lib, are produced by a process called pultrusion. Pultrusion is a manufacturing process which produces continuous lengths of reinforced polymer structural shapes with constant cross-sections. The raw materials are a liquid resin mixture (containing resin, fillers and specialized additives) and flexible textile reinforcing fibres. The process involves pulling these raw materials (rather than pushing, as is the case in extrusion) through a heated steel forming die using a continuous pulling device. The reinforcement materials are provided in continuous forms such as rolls of fibreglass mat or doffs of fibreglass roving. The reinforcement materials are saturated with the resin mixture ("wet-out") in a resin bath and pulled through the die. The gelatlon, or hardening, of the resin is initiated by the heat from the die and a rigid, cured profile is formed that corresponds to the shape of the die.

The resin mixture may contain a pigment to allow connecting tubes of different colours to be produced.

The resin mixture may also contain a UV stabiliser or UV inhibitor to reduce or prevent degradation of the colour of the connecting tube due to exposure to sunlight or other UV 1lght sources.

The tubular section 31 of the modular handrail system which is shown in Figs. lla and llb has a circular cross- section. However, embodiments of the present invention may have tubular sections which have different cross- sectlons, such as oval, ellipsoid, rectangular or polygonal. Preferably all the tubular sections contained in a modular handrail system are of the same cross- sectional shape and dimensions to allow interconnection Of the tubular sections to different connector elements.

The tubular section shown in Figs. l]a and llb has 6 grooves 32 formed in the exterior surface 33 to provide a slip resistant surface to the handrail. These grooves 32 are 10 mrn wide and 1 mm deep, and are equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the tube.

The connector elements shown in Figs. 1 to 10 all have the same general structure of a main body 24 from which one or more arms or spigots 21 project. The arms 21 are shaped and sized so that their exterior dimensions almost exactly match the interior dimensions of the tubular section contained in the modular handrail system of the embodiment. Within each embodiment, the arms 21 of each connector element are preferably of the same exterior dimensions.

The base plate flange connector element shown in Figs. 6a-c has a single arm 21 and the body 24 is connected to, or co-formed with, a base 28. The base 28 has a substantially flat lower surface which is placed in contact with the substrate on which the handrail is to be mounted when assembled. The base plate flange, and thus the assembled handrail, can be fastened to the substrate by mechanical fasteners passing through holes la.

The jointed connector elements shown in Figs. 7a-c and 8a-c have respectively female 25 and male 26 interconnection elements which co-operate to allow a connection between tubular sections to be made at an angle of choice. Such connector elements may be used, for example, where there is some unevenness in the substrate on which the handrail is assembled. A fixing element can be passed through holes 27 and tightened to secure the jointed connector elements to each other.

It will be appreciated that the connector elements shown in Figs. 1 to 10 are only illustrative of the types of connector elements that can be included in embodiments of the modular handrail system of the present invention.

Other shapes and sizes of connector element may be included instead of, or as well as, these connector elements. The exact number and type of connector element contained in each embodiment of the present invention will vary depending on the type of handrail that is to be assembled from the modular handrail system.

Each arm 21 of the connector elements shown in Figs. 1 to has three circumferential grooves 22 formed in its exterior surface. These grooves are 1 mm deep by 2 mm wide and serve to accommodate an adhesive which is used to fasten the connector elements and the tubular sections together.

1' o construct a handrail using an embodiment of the present invention, connector elements and tubular sections are interconnected according to the desired plan.

To connect a tubular section to a connector element, a bead of structural adhesive is first placed around the circumference of the grooves 22 on one of the arms 21 of the connector element. The arm 21 is then slotted into the interior of the tubular section as shown in Fig. 12.

The structural adhesive is preferably a polyurethane adhesive, and more preferably a fast curing adhesive such as Marine Adhesive Sealant 5200 FC made by 3M Corporation. This adhesive chemically bonds to both the tubular section and the grooves and thus offers a safe and secure connection between the component parts of the system.

As an alternative to using adhesive, the handrail system connections can also be fastened together using mechanical fixings. Thus the user can drill through the tubular section and the connector element to which it is to be fastened. A mechanical fixing bolt can then be placed through the resulting hole to secure the two components together.

Alternatively, the modular handrail system according to some embodiments of the present invention may contain a plurality of tubular sections of predetermined lengths which have preformed holes, as well as connector elements which have preformed holes so that the user does not need to drill the holes when constructing a handrail but can simply fasten the components together.

The connector elements have abutment surfaces 23 against which the tubular sections abut when a handrail is constructed, as shown in Fig. 12. As also shown in Fig. 12, the perimeter of the abutment surface 23 and of the exterior of the tube are identical in both shape and dimensions, and so a completely flush exterior surface is created around the join without any raised areas.

The handrail system illustrated in Fig. 13 can be constructed from an embodiment of the present invention as follows. A hollow pultruded tube section is cut to the required lengths, which in the system illustrated in Fig. 13 is 379 mm for the horizontal or rail sections (to create a 1000 mm spacing between posts) and either 465 mm or 435 mm for the vertical or post sections (to creates a handrail that has a top rail height of 1100 mm).

Depending on the circumstances of installation of the handrail, these lengths may vary. For example in order to provide a handrail that is capable of withstanding greater loading, the length of the horizontal or rail sections may be reduced, e.g. to create a 750 mm spacing between posts.

A base flange 1 is secured to the substrate (e.g. the structure or the floor) by way of four mechanical fixings, such as screws or bolts, which pass through the four holes la in the base flange. A section of connecting tube 2 is then fitted vertically over the internal connection piece. An equal 'T' connector element 3 is then fitted vertically into tube 2 and another tube section 9 is fitted vertically to another arm of connector element 3. A 90 elbow element 5 is connected to the other end of tube section 4 and a further tube section 6 connected horizontally to the other arm of element 5.

Another tube section 7 is connected to the remaining arm of equal 'T' element 3. A second 'T' element 8 is secured horizontally to tube section 6. A tube section 9 is connected vertically to the bottom arm of element 8 and an equal cross element 10 is connected to both tube section 9 and tube section 7. Another vertical tube section 11 is connected to element 10 and to a second base flange 12, which is secured to the substrate in the same way as base flange 1.

Two horizontal tube sections 13 and 14 are connected respectively to connector elements 8 and 10. Another 90 elbow element 15 is secured to tube section 13 and a further tube section 16 is connected to the other arm of the 90 elbow element 15.

Another 'T' element 17 is connected to tube sections 14 and 16 and a tube section 18 connected to the remaining arm of element 17. A third base flange 19 is connected to tube section 18 and to the substrate in the same way as base flanges 1 and 12.

Thus the modular handrail system of the embodiment used to construct the handrail of Fig. 13 comprises at least the following components: three base flange connector elements; three equal 'T' connector elements; two 90 elbow connector elements; one equal cross connector element; and a length of connecting tube. The length of connecting tube may be provided as a single length of tube which is cut to the required lengths. Alternatively the modular handrail system embodiment may include four sections of connecting tube of a first length, which make up the horizontal connecting tube elements or rail sections and six sections of connecting tube of a second length, which make up the vertical connecting tube elements or post sections.

The modular handrail system according to the present invention has many applications within all sectors.

These include but are not limited to: Handrails used on ramps, disabled ramps and portable ramps; Handrails used as a falling protection from elevated structures; Internal and external staircases) Machinery guard protection; Crowd segregation barriers; Temporary barriers.

Personnel protection barriers.

Annex 1 - Chemical resistance

ISOPHTHALIC POLYESTER VINYL ESTER

Chemical %Concentration Temp %Concentration Temp Environment F/ C F/ C Acetic Acid 50 125/50 50 185/85 Acetone 100 75/25 Alumlnum Salts All 160/70 All 195/90 Ammonium Chlorlde All 160/70 All 185/85 Ammonium Hydroxlde 28 100/38 Ammonllum Carbonate All 150/65 Ammonllum 15 125/50 All 125/50 Bicarbonate Ammonilum NltraLe All 160/70 All 185/85 Benzene 100 140/60 Beznene Sulfonlc 25. 115/45 All 195/90 Acid Benzoic Acld All 150/65 All 195/90 Calclum Hydroxide 25 150/65 35 185/85 Catch urn All 150/65 All 185/85 Hypochlorite Calcium Salts All 150/65 All 195/90 Calclum Nitrate All 185/85 All 195/90 Carbonic Acid All 125/50 All 185/85 Carbon 100 75/25 100 140/60 Tetrachlorlte Chlorine Dloxlde N/R 140/60 All 140/60 Chlorine Water All 150/65 All 125/50

ISOPHTHALIC POLYESTER VINYL ESTER

Chemical %Concentration Temp %Concentration Temp Environment F/ C F/ C Chromic Acid 100 75/25 10]85/85 Cltrlc Acid All N/R AIL 185/85 Copper Cyanide All 150/65 All 185/85 Plating Copper Salts All 150/65 All 185/85 Ethanol 50 75/25 50 85/30 Ferric Chlorlde 100 150/65 100 185/85 Ferric Salts All 150/65 All 185/85 Glycerine 100 150/65 100 195/90 HepLane 100 105/40 100 125/50 Hydrobeom1c Acld 50 125/50 50 125/50 Hydrochloric Acld 37 75/25 37 95/35 Hydrocyanic Acid All 150/65 All 185/85 Hydrogen Peroxide 10 75/25 30 125/50 Hypochiorous Acld 20 85/30 20 150/65 Lactic Acld All170/75 All 195/90 Lead Acetate All 170/75 All 195/90 Lead Chloride All 140/60 All 195/90 head Nitrate All 150/65 All 195/90 Glee Slurry All 150/65 All 185/85 MagnesllJm Salts All 150/65 All 185/85 Maleic Acid 100 150/65 100 185/85 Marcury Chlorlde 100 150/65 100 185/85 Nickel Salts All 170/75 All 195/90

ISOPHTHALIC POLYESTER VINYL ESTER

Chemical %Concentration Temp %Concentration Temp Environment F/ C F/ C Nltric Acid 20 75/25 20 105/40 Perchlorlc. Acld 30 85/30 Phosphoric Acid 100 125/50 100 195/90 Potasslum Salts All 150/65 All]85/85 Phtha]rc Aced All 185/85 Sliver Nitrate 100 150/65 100 185/85 Sodlum Hypochlorlte 10 150/65 Sodlum Salts All 75/25 A]1 105/40 Stannlc Chloride All 160/70 All 195/90 Sulfurlc AcLd 50 N/R 50 185/85 Sulfuric Acld 25 15/25 25 195/90 Tartar-lc Acld All 170/75 All 195/90 Trisodlum Phosphate All 170/65 Urea All 125/50 All 140/60 Vlnegar 100 170/75 100 195/90 Water,Dlstilled 100 170/75 100 195/90 Water, Sea All 170/75 All 195/90 Zlnc Salts 100 150/65 100 185/85 All = All concentrations N/R = No recommended level given

Claims (22)

1. A modular handrail system comprising a plurality of connector elements and at least one tubular section wherein said connector elements and said tubular section are made from reinforced plastics material, and wherein said tubular section and said elements can be interconnected to assemble a handrail.

2. A modular handrail system according to claim 1 wherein said connector elements and said tubular section are made from glassfibre reinforced plastics material.

3. A modular handrail system according to claim 2 wherein said connector elements and said tubular section are made from glassfibre reinforced polyester

4. A modular handrail system according to claim 2 wherein said connector elements and said tubular section are made from glassfibre reinforced vinyl ester.

5. A modular handrail system according to claim 2 wherein said connector elements and said tubular section are made from glassfibre reinforced expoy.

6. A modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector elements each have at least one arm portion which extends from a body of the connector element and which, in use, interconnects with the tubular section, the exterior diameter of the arm being approximately equal to the interior diameter of said tubular section.

7. A modular handrail system according to claim 6 wherein a respective abutment surface is formed by the body of the connector element at each position where an arm section extends therefrom, and further wherein each abutment surface corresponds to an end surface of the tubular section so that when, in use, said end surface abuts the body of the connector element at said abutment surface, a substantially flush exterior surface is formed.

8. A modular handrail system according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein each arm portion has at least one circumferential groove formed around its exterior.

9. ^ A modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular section has slip resistant means on its outer surface.

10. A modular handrail system according to claim 9 wherein the slip resistant means includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the tubular section.

11. A modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular section is formed by pultrusion.

12. A modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector elements are formed by moulding.

13. A modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims including a plurality of tubular sections of predetermined length.

14. A modular handrail system according to claim 13 including a plurality of tubular sections of each of at least two predetermined lengths.

15. A modular handrail system according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the tubular sections have pre-formed holes adjacent to the ends of each tubular section.

16. A modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims further including fixing means for fixing the tubular section(s) to the connector elements.

17. A modular handrail system according to claim 16 wherein the fixing means is a polyurethane adhesive.

18. A modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector elements include T-shaped connector elements, cross-shaped connector elements, elbow connector elements, jointed connector elements and/or base flange elements.

19. A modular handrail system according to claim 18 wherein the connector elements include at least one T- shaped connector element, at least one cross-shaped connector element and at least one elbow connector element.

20. A modular handrail system according to claim 19 wherein the connector elements further include at least one base flange element.

21. A modular handrail system substantially as herein described with reference to, or as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

22. A handrail formed from a modular handrail system according to any one of the preceding claims.