WO2016105319A1

WO2016105319A1 - A protective shield against falling from constructions

Info

Publication number: WO2016105319A1
Application number: PCT/TR2015/050275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Haluk CECEN
Original assignee: Cecen Haluk
Priority date: 2014-12-26
Filing date: 2015-12-26
Publication date: 2016-06-30

Abstract

This invention involves a shied protecting the uppermost two floors of multi story reinforced concrete structures during construction. The shield is composed of approximately one and a half story high protection panels (1) that are mounted on all along the edge of the floor slab (8) right below the uppermost floor. The see through panels (1) are covered by a mesh (3) that allows the passage of wind. They are held (5) from front or from behind in a way to stabilize them at an acute angle with the vertical plane and keep the form work extensions (9) of the uppermost concrete floor slab inside the shield. Accordingly, the upper two levels of structures are wrapped all around in order to prevent any fall of man, material, equipment and rubble. This "Life Saving Construction Safety System" having the above mentioned protective shield is economical, practical, easy to store, set up and move up to upper floors as well as easily adoptable from construction of one structure to another.

Description

A PROTECTIVE SHIELD AGAINST FALLING FROM

CONSTRUCTIONS

Related Technical Field of the Invention This invention is about a "Life Saving Construction Safety System" that prevents falls during construction of reinforced concrete structures. This system is composed of a protective shield that is set up by mounting protection panels side by side all along the slab edges in a way that would make them have an acute angle with the vertical plane. The invented protective shield provides a practical, economical and effective protection against fall of workers, materials, equipment and rubble especially from the uppermost two floors of multi storey high rise structures.

Prior Art Numbers of fatal and non-fatal accidents in construction industry are much higher as compared to those of other industries. The majority of construction accidents involves falls from height. Construction safety concerns are serious especially in high rise, e.g. 50-60 storey structures. Total eradication of accidents in construction of such structures is often not achieved even though all precautions are taken and special safety teams are mobilized.

Fatality rates of accidents involving falls from height are quite high. Even falls from first levels / floors of constructions may be fatal.

The state of the art of the techniques preventing falls from height in constructions maybe evaluated within two main categories :

1 ) Protection Nets : They generally have polyester nets stretched over weak frames made up of thin steel pipes. They are mounted along the edges of concrete slabs in a way that they would be either parallel to the horizontal plane or make acute angle with the horizontal plane. Small equipment, rubble and material pieces may fall through these nets which generally have approximately 10x10 cm openings. Large and sharp materials and equipment may cut or tear through these polyester nets and fall down. The weak frames and connections of these protection nets can not carry heavy materials falling from higher floors, for example steel forms of reinforced concrete columns. Normally, these nets should be moved up to higher floors of structures as construction proceeds. However, this requirement is generally ignored in practice resulting in further reduction of the already weak protection capacity of these nets. In short, these simple and cheap systems can not provide enough protection against falls.

2 ) Protection Walls : These are temporary wall segments covering two floors of structures from outside. Generally plywood or hardboard covered wall segments are mounted on the outside faces of slabs using special connections and moved upwards by means of hydraulic pumps. This is a heavy and a clumsy system. Some of its components and operations maybe on the way of other construction activities during set-up and upward moving stages. These systems can not be used for structures having non-linear slab contours resulting in openings between the slabs and the wall segments. These protection wall systems are quite expensive. They should be custom designed for each structure and ordered way ahead of time since they take long time to produce. A system designed for one structure may not be used for another without making major modifications.

Their storage, set-up and upward moving operations maybe difficult and costly since they require expensive support of cranes. Since these walls cover the working areas all around, some workers may feel uncomfortable while working within such areas without seeing outside.

Besides, these fully covered walls create extra wind loads which rise up the risk of falling material that maybe ripped off from the system during heavy storms. Brief Description of the Invention

The main idea of the invention has the following original features ; a ) The invention is a Construction Safety System which prevents the fall of man, material, equipment and rubble by surrounding the uppermost two floors of multi storey reinforced concrete buildings. b ) The protective shield of the invention is composed of protection panels that are mounted on the the edges of the slab of the storey below the uppermost storey. c ) The Panels of this modular shield are mounted side by side all around the slab and positioned to make an acute angle with the vertical plane. Generally this acute angle is about 15 degrees. But, the angle maybe adjusted based on special features of structures and form works at hand. d ) The panels of the construction safety system have a height which is approximately equal to the height of one and a half storey. Accordingly, the protective shield partially wraps around the uppermost storey while the storey below is fully wrapped around. Thus, the uppermost two floors of constructions are protected simultaneously. e ) The protection panels are made up of an outer frame, a strong and see through ( perforated or mesh ) cover and vertical, horizontal and diagonal members which strengthen the frame. The frame is made up of structural profiles that are made of steel, aluminum, metal alloy or metal compounds. f ) Panels are covered with a material that does not block the vision and the wind. Steel meshes or perforated aluminum sheets may be used for a durable coverage. g ) Special holders are used to hold the panels either from front or from behind in order to stabilize the panels at a desired acute angle with the vertical plane. These holders may be made up of steel cables, steel or aluminum pipes or structural profiles. h ) Standard panels of this construction safety system are rectangular in shape with a height approximately equals to the height of one and a half storey.

However, depending on the features of the structure at hand, special panels having different heights and shapes can be produced and used. i ) The protective shield of this invention provides an economical, practical and re-usable solution. It is easy to store, set-up, use, dismantle and move up to upper floors.

It does not block other construction activities. It does not require expensive crane support for setting up and moving up to the next storey.

It can be used again and again in different reinforced concrete structures

As far as the stabilizing the panels is concerned, there are two basic application methods of the above mentioned main idea of the invention ; A ) Front held panels

B ) Back held panels

Note : The face of the panel looking into the structure is called "front", whereas the face of the panel looking away from the structure is called "back" Detailed Description of the Invention

The construction safety system having a fall protection shield, developed in the context of this invention, is set up by mounting enough number of protective panels side by side all around the edge of the slab of the storey right below the uppermost storey. A general view of the system mounted on a triangular slab is shown in Figure- 1. The two application methods of the main idea of this invention are explained below.

A ) Protective Shields Having Front-Held Panels :

Explanation of the Figures : Figure - 1 : General View of the Protective Shield Figure - 2 : Side View of the Front-Held Panel

Figure - 3 : Front View -from inside the structure- of the Front-Held Panel Explanations of the Reference Numbers of the Figures :

1 - Protection Panel 2 - Strengthening Members

3 - Panel Cover

4 - Panel-Slab Connection

5 - Holder

6 - Holder-Panel Connection 7 - Holder-Slab Connection

8 - Reinforced Concrete Slab

9 - Frame Work Extension of the Reinforced Concrete Slab

In this application of the invention, protection panel (1) is covered (3) with a perforated material, here are two hinged connections (4) between the bottom edge of the panel (1) and the slab. A holder (5) working in tension stabilizes the protection panel. One end (6) of the holder (5) is connected to the panel (1) and the other end (7) is connected to the slab (8) via hinged connections. Steel plates and anchorage bolts are used in the slab connections. The panel (1) is situated in a position that would keep the form work extension (9) inside the protective shield as seen in Figure-2. Attached Figures 1-3 show a sample of this application method. In that sample, the protection panel (1) and the strengthening members (2) are made up of steel pipes of 40 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm wall thickness. 10 mm steel cables are used in the panel (1) holders (5). Panels are covered (3) by 15x15 mm steel mesh made up of 1 mm steel wires. The steel net (3) is stitched all along the outer rim of the panel (1) frame by using 2 mm flexible steel wires.

10 mm steel plates and 16 mm anchorage bolts are used in the slab connections. B ) Protective Shields Having Back-Held Panels :

Explanation of the Figures :

Figure - 4 : Perspective View - A

Figure - 5 : Perspective View - B

Figure - 6 : Side View Figure - 7 : Slab Connections

Figure - 8 : Back View -from outside the structure- of the Back-Held Panel

Figure - 9 : Back View of the Extended Panel

Explanations of the Reference Numbers of the Figures :

1 - Protective Panel 2 - Strengthening Members

3 - Panel Cover

4 - Panel-Slab Connection

5 - Holder -telescopic-

6 - Holder-Panel Connection 7 - Holder-Slab Connection

8 - Reinforced Concrete Slab 9 - Extension of Reinforced Concrete Frame Work. Ref. Figure-2

10- Slab Connection Member

11- Telescopic Leg

12- Panel Extension Connections In this application of the invention, the telescopic legs of the protective panel (1) is connected to the slab connection member via hinged connections. The telescopic holder (5) situated in the back of the panel (1) works in compression. One end (6) of the holder (5) is connected to the panel (1) and the other end (7) is connected to the slab connection member (10) via hinged connections. Slab connection members are stiffened by gusset plates welded between their upper extension and the lower extension over the face of the slab. The panel (1) is situated in a position that would keep the form work extension (9) inside the protective shield as seen in Figure-2. Attached figures 4-9 show a sample of this application method. In that sample, the protective panel (1) and the strengthening members (2) are made up of steel pipes of 40 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm wall thickness. In order to increase their moment carrying capacity, these pipes are roll-formed to have oval cross sections measuring 48x28 mm. The telescopic holder (5) and the telescopic leg (11) of the panel (1) are made up of 2 mm thick steel pipes having diameters 42 mm and 32 mm. Panels are covered (3) by 15x15 mm steel net made up of 1 mm steel wires. The steel mesh (3) is welded all along the outer rim of the panel (1) frame. 10 mm steel plates and 16 mm anchorage bolts are used in the slab connections. NOTE - 1 : The panel (1) heights were 5.0 m -approximately equal to the height of one and a half storey- in both of the above presented applications of the invention. Panel (1) widths varied between 1.2 - 3.0 m depending on the structure at hand.

These panels (1) provided a protective shield higher than 1.5 m for the uppermost storey of the structure as seen in the Figure-2. Accordingly, the protective shield partially wraps around the uppermost storey while the storey below is fully wrapped around. Thus, the uppermost two floors of constructions are protected simultaneously.

NOTE - 2 : In order to facilitate the carriage of the one and a half storey high panels (1), they may be produced in two pieces and connected together via pirn or hinge connections (12) as shown in Figure-9. When required, one storey high and/or different shaped panels may be produced and used.

General Evaluation of the Invention

The protection of the uppermost two floors of the multi storey structures - where the most intense activities take place during construction- by the protective shield of this invention was set as the minimum requirement.

The invention described above provides an effective, practical and an economical solution to the fall risks from constructions of high rise buildings. Safety of the workers working on the most crowded floors are ensured by the invented protective shield which wraps those floors all around without any gap.

The protective shield of this invention was tested on construction sites under fall of different materials having various weights. The shield was found to be successful under those tests which included the fall of a heavy steel form of a reinforced concrete column together with two workers. The operations required to set up the shield on one floor and moving it up to the next one can be handled by four specially trained workers under close supervision of a health and safety expert. Expensive crane supports are not needed. Naturally, these workers should execute those operations within the frame work of the related health and safety standards. This invention is not restricted with the above described features and applications. The inventor and those authorized by the inventor may develop different applications of the main idea of the invention. The new applications to be developed by the authorized people should be protected within the scope of the attached requests related to the patent of the invention. Commercial applications of the invention may be put in service under various names such as "TUT AN", "SULTAN", "PASHA", "ISTANBUL", "CECEN KORUMA SISTEMi" or "CHECHEN PROTECTION SYSTEM"

Comparison of the Invented Protective Shield with the Known Applications of the Technique

Abreviations ; PS : Protective Shield, PN : Protection Nets, PW : Protection Walls

1 ) Mounting Angle :

PS : Acute with the Vertical Plane ; Falling materials are caught and safely slided down to the floor below.

PN : Acute with the Horizontal Plane ; Falling materials may tear the net up and/or bounce off the net and fall down to the ground.

PW : Parallel to the Vertical Plane ; Materials may fall down through the openings between the Protection Wall and the slabs 2 ) Risk of Piercing, Tearing and Passing Through the Protection System

PS : Very Low

PN : Very High

PW : Low

3 ) Can the Workers See Outside While Working within the Protection System ?

PS : Yes

PN : Yes

PW : No ; Workers may be disturbed working in a closed up space for a long time. 4 ) Risk of creating additional wind load that may rip off and drop down some materials

PS : No

PN : No

PW: Yes

5 ) Load Carrying Capacity

PS : High

PN : Low

PW. High

6 ) Risk of Blocking Various Construction Activities

PS : No

PN : Low

PW: Moderate

7 ) Flexibility to be adopted to different structure and slab details

PS : High

PN : Moderate

PW : Low

8 ) Cost of Purchasing and Application

PS : Very Low

PN : Moderate

PW : Very High

9 ) Time Required to Design and Produce for a New Structure

PS : Short

PN : Moderate PW: Long

10 ) Speed of Set-up, Dismantle and Move-up Operations

PS : Fast PN : Moderate PW: Slow

1 1 ) Ease of Set-up, Dismantle, Move-up and Storage Operations

PS : Easy PN : Moderate PW: Difficult 12 ) Need for the Support of the Producer's Experts for Set-up, Dismantle and Move-up

PS : No

PN : Sometimes

PW: Yes 13 ) Need for Expensive Crane Support for Storage, Set-up, Dismantle and Move-up

PS : No

PN : Sometimes

PW: Yes 14 ) May be Used as a Fence in Other Parts of the Construction Sites. PS : Yes PN : No PW: No

Claims

1) A Life Saving Construction Safety System having a protective shield which prevents the fall of man, material, equipment and rubble by surrounding the uppermost two floors of multi storey reinforced concrete buildings. The shield is composed of one and a half storey high, see thorough and wind through perforated (3) protection panels (1) which are mounted side by side all around the slab (8) of the storey below the uppermost storey. The panels (1) are held (5) either from front or back in a way to position them to make an acute angle with the vertical plane and keep the form work extensions (9) of the uppermost floor slab (8) inside the shield.

2) A construction safety system based on a fall protection shield as described in the claim- 1, having approximately one and a half storey high protection panels (1) which -hight wise- partially cover and wrap the uppermost storey all around, whereas, the storey below is fully covered and wraped all around. Thus, all falls are prevented from the floor below the uppermost one whereas, falling items from the uppermost floor are caught and safely slided down to the floor below.

3) A construction safety system as described in the claims 1 and 2, that has a fall protection shield composed of protection panels (1) made up of a frame and strengthening members (2) and covered with a strong perforated material (3).

4) A construction safety system having a fall protection shield as described in the claim-3, composed of a mesh or a perforated sheet covered (3) protection panels (1), frames and strengthening members of which are built up from structural pipes or profiles, all of which are made up of steel, aluminum, metal alloy or metal compound. 5) A constmction safety system as described in the claim-4, protection panels (1) of which are held (5) from front by steel cables or from back by telescopic members built up from structural pipes or other profiles made up of steel or aluminum in order to stabilize the panels (1) at a position that would make approximately 15 degrees with the vertical plane.

6) A constmction safety system as described in the claim-5, in which steel plates and special connection members (11) built up from steel plates, together with steel anchorage bolts are used in all slab (8) connections, while hinged connections are used between the protection panel and the slab (4), between the holder and the panel (6) and between the holder and the slab (7). 7) A constmction safety system as described in the claim-6, in which standard rectangular protection panels are used as well as specially shaped panels and/or one storey high panels may be used depending on the special features of the structure being built. 8) An economical, practical and effective fall protection shield as described in either one of the above claims, which may be used in any reinforced concrete structure, is sturdy enough to be used over and over again, does not require crane support, is easy to store, set-up and move up to upper floors.