GB2432395A

GB2432395A - Walkway structure for a building

Info

Publication number: GB2432395A
Application number: GB0623028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Curtis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-19
Filing date: 2006-11-20
Publication date: 2007-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-20
Also published as: EP1957727A1; GB0623028D0; GB2432395B; GB0523603D0; WO2007057699A1

Abstract

The walkway structure, for attachment to a portal frame building, comprises a plurality of clamping devices 3a, 3b, each of which are securely engageable with an exposed portion of a corresponding girder 6d. The structure includes a plurality of projecting beams 2a, 2b each of which are detachably engageable with and extend, in use, from the plurality of clamping devices. The structure features a platform 11 which rests upon and is secured to the plurality of projecting beams 2a, 2b. In line with safety requirements, the walkway includes one or more handrails 15, 16 which are held in place by a plurality of upright members 14 which are connected to the platform 11. Also defined is a method for attaching the walkway structure to a portal frame building, and a kit of parts required for assembling the walkway structure.

Description

* 2432395

WALKWAY STRUCTURE FOR A BUILDING

The invention relates to a walkway structure for a portal frame building and to methods for providing a walkway structure for a portal frame building.

When constructing a building, it is usual practice to first construct the building as a metal frame (for example, girders), which is then formed into walls using bricks or other such items. The outer structure of the building is then usually completed including the assembly of the roof. To allow access to the upper parts of the building (for tasks such as construction of the roof), it is common practice for scaffolding to be attached to the building or assembled adjacent to the building. A similar Drocedure is required to undertake repairs to the roof of a building.

However, such scaffolding and support structures are large, heavy devices which are complicated and time consuming to assemble and require a team of skilled individuals.

Furthermore, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have stated that, for safety reasons, the uprights on the handrails of the scaffolding structures cannot be more than 3 metres apart. This creates a problem because, in conventional scaffolding structures, the uprights are usually aligned with the girders of a building which are typically 6 to 9 metres apart. The resultant structure is therefore unsafe and contravenes HSE regulations.

Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a walkway structure for attachment to a portal frame building which comprises: a plurality of clamping devices each of which are securely engageable with an exposed portion of a corresponding girder; a plurality of projecting beams each of which are detachably engageable with and extend, in use, from the plurality of clamping devices; a platform which rests upon and is secured to the plurality of projecting beams; and one or more handrails which are held in place by a plurality of upright members which are connected to the platform.

The walkway structure of the invention has a number of advantages over existing supporting structures. For example, the entire walkway structure is constructed from a number of strong, compact and lightweight components and so can be assembled by a few skilled workers. A further advantage is compliance with HSE guidelines. The platform is secured to the projecting beams and the uprights are then secured to the platform which results in a structure where the uprights can be positioned at points not dictated by the position of the girders. Additionally, the walkway structure can be assembled using a scissor lift increasing the safety for workers assembling the walkway structure. The walkway structure may also require fewer workers for assembly because of the increased safety and simple assembly of the walkway structure.

It will be appreciated that references to "portal frame building" refer to any structure having girders or a framework of metal or any similar material, whereby access to upper parts of said building are required. For example, the building may be a house, factory, shop, theatre or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, secure engagement is provided by directly screwing, bolting, nailing or riveting each clamping device to the girder. Alternatively, and preferably, each clamping device is indirectly clamped to the girder by at least one plate which sits on a side of a flange of the girder opposite the clamping device and the at least one plate is screwed, bolted, nailed or riveted to the clamping device. Most preferably, each clamping device is indirectly bolted to the girder. Even more preferably, the clamping device is indirectly clamped to the girder by two plates which sit on the side of the flange of the girder opposite the clamping device either side of an inner section of the girder.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, two clamping devices are attached to each girder. More preferably, one of the two clamping devices is directly below the other of the two clamping devices. In such an embodiment, the projecting beams which extend from each clamping device are connected via additional members which form a lattice arrangement. Such an arrangement will provide additional support and strength to the walkway structure.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention, detachable engagement is provided by a pin or bolt which passes through corresponding holes on each clamping device and each projecting beam.

This embodiment has the advantage of allowing simple construction and dismantling of the walkway structure. An alternatively preferred embodiment of detachable engagement may be provided by a pin or bolt attached to each projecting beam and which passes through a hole or eyelet on the clamping device. A further alternatively preferred embodiment of detachable engagement may be provided by a pin or bolt attached to each clamping device which passes through a hole or eyelet on the projecting beam.

Preferably, the platform of the walkway structure is positioned at an angle whereby a user could conveniently stand, walk and work. More preferably, the platform is substantial horizontal, most preferably the platform is positioned at an angle of between + I200 to the horizontal.

Preferably, the walkway structure is constructed from a lightweight, yet strong, material such as aluminium. As opposed to known scaffold structures constructed from steel, this embodiment has the advantage of allowing the walkway structure to be assembled by one or two skilled workers rather than requiring the use of a crane.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention, the platform has a textured surface. This embodiment has the advantage of providing a slip resistant surface and prevents the likelihood of a user falling from the walkway structure when attached to a girder containing building.

Preferably, the platform has raised sides, more preferably, the raised sides ot me piaLforlil IUL ill a trcgh. This emhdiment has the advantage of providing a receptacle for any items or materials which may fall from the roof of a building during construction work. This therefore creates a safer environment on the ground below the walkway structure.

Preferably, the walkway structure comprises at least two handrails. A walkway structure having two handrails is suitable for use with buildings having a roof steepness of up to 10 wherein the gap between the rails can be 470mm. The walkway structure may comprise four handrails. This embodiment of the walkway structure is suitable for use with buildings having a roof steepness of 100 to 30 as it reduces the gap between each rail to 270mm. This embodiment has the advantage of preventing the chance of a user and/or other object falling through the gap between a handrail and the platform.

Preferably, the platform comprises a plurality of sections, each section held in place relative to an adjacent section by a joining member.

Preferably, the joining members are arranged such that no tools are required to fix the sections of platform in place with the joining members.

Preferably, the joining members can be hand tightened to fix the sections of the platform in place. Each joining member may be integrally attached to a respective section of the platform.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of attaching a walkway structure to a portal frame building which comprises the steps of: securely engaging a plurality of clamping devices to an exposed portion of a corresponding girder; attaching a plurality of projecting beams to the plurality of clamping devices, such that the beams extend from the plurality of clamping devices; crirg rn tnn nf the tluralitv of projecting beams; attaching a plurality of upright members to the platform; and attaching one or more handrails to the plurality of upright members.

It will be appreciated that the method described herein may be followed in any order, for example, the handrails and uprights may be attached to the platform prior to the platform being attached to the plurality of projecting members.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for assembling a walkway structure which comprises a plurality of clamping devices, a plurality of projecting beams, a platform, one or more handrails and a plurality of upright members.

Preferably, the kit additionally comprises instructions to assemble a walkway structure in accordance with the method as defined herein.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an aerial view of differing embodiments showing secure engagement of a clamping device with a girder.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a walkway structure according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a front view of a walkway structure according to the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, each projecting beam 2 is detachably engaged wl1 C11 -hii Wa'.' of a bolt 4 which passes through a corresponding hole 5 on the projecting beam 2 and the clamping device 3.

Each clamping device 3 is secured in place on each of girders 6a, 6b and 6c by way of indirect clamping. For example, in each of the three embodiments shown in Figure 1, indirect clamping is achieved by the presence of two plates 7. 8 which are placed on a side of the flange of each girder 6a, 6b, 6c opposite the clamping device 3 and either side of an inner section of each girder 6a, 6b, 6c and secured to the clamping device 3 by way of tightening bolts 9a, 9b. Tightening of the bolts 9a, 9b forces the two plates 7, 8 and clamping device 3 to tightly engage the flange securing the clamping device 3 in place.

A side view of a fully assembled walkway structure attached to a girder 6d is shown in Figure 2. All features described above for Figure 1 are present in Figure 2 with the exception of the second clamping plate 8. It will be appreciated that plate 8 is not visible because the walkway structure is shown from the side. In this embodiment, two clamping devices 3a and 3b are used for secure attachment of the walkway structure indirectly to the girder 6d. Additional members lOa-lOg are present between each of the projecting beams 2a, 2b to form a lattice arrangement which provides additional strength and support.

A platform 11 consisting of a plurality of sections assembled together is secured to the plurality of upper projecting beams (of which only one 2a is shown in Figure 2). The platform 11 has raised sides 12, 13 which form a trough. Integrally attached to each end of each platform section is a joining member ha that co-operates with a joining member ha on an adjacent section to secure the sections of the platform 11 together. The joining members ha can be hand tightened together by some means, such as a bolt, so that the sections of the platform 11 abut together with substantially no gap in between to form a continuous platform 11.

A plurality of upright members 14 are connected to the platform 11 (of which only one is shown in Figure 2) and two handrails 15, 16 are attached to each upright member 14 by way of clamps 17a, 17b.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the fully assembled walkway structure shown in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that all features described above for Figure 2 are present in Figure 3 with the exception that the second clamping plate 8 is now visible as the walkway structure is viewed from the front. It will be seen from this Figure that the upright members 14a, 14b can be positioned at any point and their position is not dictated by the presence of the girders.

In use, a construction worker would first securely engage the clamping devices 3a, 3b to an exposed portion of a girder 6e. Such secure engagement would be achieved by indirect attachment of the clamping devices 3a, 3b to the girder 6e using the clamping plates 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b.

The projecting beams 2a, 2b and additional members (of which only one lOa is shown in Figure 3) are then detachably engaged to the clamping devices 3a, 3b by way of bolts 9a, 9b. The sections of platform 11 are then securely attached to the plurality of upper projecting beams (of which only one 2a is shown in Figure 3) and the joining members ha tightened.

The upright members 14a, 14b are then attached to the platform 11. The final stage in construction of the walkway structure is for the handrails 15, 16 to be affixed to the upright members 14a, 14b by way of clamps 1 7a-1 7d.

Upon completion of roofing or guttering construction or repairs, the walkway structure may be dismantled by following the above procedure in reverse.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A walkway structure for attachment to a portal frame building which comprises: a plurality of clamping devices each of which are securely engageable with an exposed portion of a corresponding girder; a plurality of projecting beams each of which are detachably engageable with and extend, in use, from the plurality of clamping devices; a platform which rests upon and is secured to the plurality of projecting beams; and one or more handrails which are held in place by a plurality of upright members which are connected to the platform.

2. A walkway structure as defined in claim 1, wherein secure engagement is provided by indirectly bolting each clamping device to the girder.

3. A walkway structure as defined in claim I or claim 2, wherein two clamping devices are attached to each girder.

4. A walkway structure as defined in claim 3, wherein one of the two clamping devices is directly below the other of the two clamping devices.

5. A walkway structure as defined in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the projecting beams which extend from each clamping device are connected via additional members which form a lattice arrangement.

6. A walkway structure as defined in any preceding claims, wherein detachable engagement is provided by a pin or bolt which passes through corresponding holes on each clamping device and each projecting beam.

7. A walkway structure as defined in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein detachable engagement is provided by a pin or bolt attached to each projecting beam and which passes through a hole or eyelet on the clamping device.

8. A walkway structure as defined in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein detachable engagement is provided by a pin or bolt attached to each clamping device which passes through a hole or eyelet on the projecting beam.

9. A walkway structure as defined in any preceding claims, positioned at an angle of between I 20 to the horizontal.

10. A walkway structure as defined in any preceding claims, constructed from a lightweight, yet strong, material such as aluminium.

11. A walkway structure as defined in any preceding claims, wherein the platform has a textured surface.

12. A walkway structure as defined in any preceding claims, wherein the platform has raised sides.

13. A walkway structure as defined in claim 12, wherein the raised sides of the platform form a trough.

14. A walkway structure as defined in any preceding claims, which comprises two handrails.

15. A method of attaching a walkway structure to a portal frame building which comprises the steps of: securely engaging a plurality of clamping devices to an exposed portion of a corresponding girder; attaching a plurality of projecting beams to the plurality of clamping devices, such that the beams extend from the plurality of clamping devices; securing a platform on top of the plurality of projecting beams; attaching a plurality of upright members to the platform; and attaching one or more handrails to the plurality of upright members.

16. A kit for assembling a walkway structure which comprises a plurality of clamping devices, a plurality of projecting beams, a platform, one or more handrails and a plurality of upright members.

17. A kit as defined in claim 16, which additionally comprises instructions to assemble a walkway structure in accordance with the method as defined in claim 15.

18. A walkway structure substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures 1 to 3.