WO2020035658A1

WO2020035658A1 - Safety barrier

Info

Publication number: WO2020035658A1
Application number: PCT/GB2019/052200
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Ford
Original assignee: Astute Safety Solutions Limited
Priority date: 2018-08-14
Filing date: 2019-08-06
Publication date: 2020-02-20
Also published as: GB201819823D0; GB2576386A; GB201813248D0

Abstract

There is provided a safety barrier comprising at least one plastics panel (10), typically formed from GRP, integrally formed with at least one tubular section (20) extending laterally across the plastics panel (10), the tubular section (20) capable of receiving a removable rod member (40). The panel (10) is provided with one or more longitudinal ribs (22) and an integral handrail (16). The panel further comprises a skirt portion (14) located at a lower edge of the panel, the skirt portion (14) comprising a mounting portion (30) for resting on a surface and a downturned edge (32) for locating around the edge of such a surface. Multiple panels can be interconnected as a modular safety barrier using rod member (40).

Description

Title: Safety Barrier

Field of invention

This invention relates to safety barriers for use in building constructions.

Background to the invention

Safety barriers are used in construction to prevent personnel and equipment from falling from an elevated work area to the floor or ground below. Often the barriers will simply consist of metal mesh panels which are positioned around the edge of an open floor such as is commonly encountered in assembly of high-rise buildings or around a scaffolding platform.

Metal mesh panels are expensive to produce and relatively heavy which complicates handling and in particular lifting onto the work area.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a safety barrier for use during building construction, the barrier comprising at least one plastics panel integrally formed with at least one tubular section extending laterally across the plastics panel, and so extending from opposite side walls of the panel, the tubular section capable of receiving a removable rod member. Multiple plastics panels can be linked together to form a modular barrier by interlinking with a removable rod member extending through the tubular section. Preferably the plastics panel is formed from fibre reinforced plastics although other substantially rigid plastics materials can be used if desired. GRP is particularly preferred due to its resistance to impact loads and durability.

Preferably at least two spaced-apart tubular sections are provided extending laterally across the panel. This allows at least two elongate rod members to be positioned within the panel. The at least one plastics panel may be provided with one or more longitudinal ribs to increase rigidity, the ribs typically being integrally formed with the remainder of the panel and generally intersecting the tubular sections provided within the panel.

The panel may further comprise an integral handrail typically by forming one end of the panel into a surface suitable for gripping.

The panel may further comprise a skirt portion located at a lower edge of the panel, the skirt portion comprising a mounting portion for resting on a surface, such as a floor or concrete platform within a partially constructed building, and a downtumed edge for locating around the edge of such a floor. The skirt portion is preferably integrally moulded with the remainder of the panel. The skirt portion enables the barrier to be positioned in contact with the floor with any gap between the panel and floor closed off by the downtumed edge. This ensures that tools and fixings cannot inadvertently fall from the floor by passing underneath the barrier.

The panel preferably further comprises a plurality of apertures such that the combined surface area of the apertures is in the region of 25 to 45% of the surface area of the panel. The plastics panel may further comprise at least one side panel positioned along a longitudinal edge of the panel, and typically extending for the height of the panel, which in use allows adjoining plastics panels to be overlapped so as to prevent vertical gaps between adjacent panels. Preferably side panels are provided on opposing sides of the panel, the side panels offset with respect to each other so as to overlap when plastics panels adjoin each other. The side panels allow for varying amounts of offset so as to assist with adjusting the length of a barrier made from a plurality of panels. The panel may further comprise one or more cutaway sections along at least one longitudinal edge so as to allow access to rod members when such rod members are located within the tubular section or sections. The cutaway sections may be provided within the side panel(s).

The safety barrier may further comprise one or more plastics panels having at least one removable rod member disposed within the at least one tubular section. Typically up to four plastics panels may be connected by at least one removable rod member, and preferably at least two removable rod members. Where two tubular sections are provided, a separate rod member desirably locates in each of the tubular sections. The removable rod member may be in the form of a steel rod or fibreglass tube and when located within the tubular section enables connection of adjacent panels to each other and provides stiffening of the panel against wind. Preferably the rod member is tubular with a cruciform cross-section for strengthening. The rod member allows the barrier to be connected to supporting structures located on a building by the connection being made to the rod rather than direct to the barrier which improves the longevity of the barrier and also ensures the point of attachment can be adjusted to accommodate measurement tolerances.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a safety panel in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the safety panel;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the safety panel;

Figure 4 shows a view of the safety panel from one side;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of two safety panels when in use;

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a building structure on which multiple safety panels are installed;

Figure 7 shows overlapping safety panels; and

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a panel being secured in position.

Description

Safety panel 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 is a substantially rigid plastics panel formed from plastics material reinforced with glass fibre, otherwise known as glass reinforced plastics (GRP). Panel 10 is substantially rectangular and comprises a central wall section 12, a lower skirt section 14, an upper handrail section 16 and side sections 18, 18’ disposed along the longitudinal edges of panel 10, see Figures 1 and 2. Panel 10 is formed with integral tubular sections 20, 20’ extending laterally across panel 10 from the vertical side walls and disposed respectively towards the upper and lower end of central wall section 12. Two substantially vertical spaced apart ribs 22, 22’ are also integrally formed in panel 10 and intersect tubular sections 20, 20’.

Panel 10 is integrally formed with a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures 24 disposed within central wall section 12, apertures 24 being arranged to cover approximately 25 to 45% of the surface area of panel 10 so that air pathways are provided through panel 10 without making the panel too flexible. This ensures that cross-winds encountered when working at elevated heights can pass through panel 10. Apertures 20 can be of any shape or configuration as long as they are distributed over the surface of panel 10 to allow cross-winds to pass freely through panel 10 whilst maintaining the rigidity of panel 10. Upper handrail section 16 is angled in from wall section 12, typically extending substantially at right angles to wall section 12, so as to provide a handrail. Lower skirt section 14 extends from the bottom of central wall section 12 and comprises mounting portion 30 for locating on a floor and downturned edge 32 for locating against an edge of a floor, see Figure 3. Side panels 18, 18’ extend along each side of panel 10 and are formed with cut away portions 34, 34’ and 36, 36’. Side panels 18, 18’ are offset with respect to each other so as to overlap when two or more panels adjoin, see Figure 5. Side panel 18 is formed with a substantially 90° return to the rear of panel 10 and side panel 18’ formed with a corresponding return towards the front of panel 10.

A side view of panel 10 is shown in Figure 4 with the profile allowing for stacking of multiple panels in a space efficient manner.

Panels 10 are formed in widths from 600mm up to 3m. Up to four panels can be interconnected using steel rods or fibreglass tubes 40 extending through tubular sections 20, 20’ so as to form a modular barrier made from one or more panels, see Figure 5 where four panels are connected together by horizontal rods 40 to form a barrier. The panels 10, 10’, 10”, 10”’ are shown overlapping and with no vertical gap extending the height of panel 10. Rods 40, see Figure 5, provide additional stiffening, further improving resistance to wind.

The panels are particularly suited for safety barriers used during construction of a building, see in particular Figure 6 where a plurality of panels 10 are shown in use during construction of a building 42 having multiple elevated floors 44. Barriers 46 are formed on ground level or off-site as modular sections of multiple panels interconnected by single rods running through each of channels 20, 20’ and then lifted into position and secured to posts 50 which are affixed to the building structure. Typically the dimensions of the building structure are known and thus the individual barriers can be connected together in suitable lengths and positioning of posts 50 determined prior to barriers 46 being lifted into place. By lifting completed barriers into place, the amount of time that the floor is unfenced can be minimised improving safety.

Alternatively both panels 10 and posts 50 can be attached to part of the building structure at ground level before being lifted into place. Thus steel members, concrete panels, timber supports and the like can have panels 10 and posts 50 attached to them at ground level.

From Figures 5 and 6 it can be seen that mounting portion 30 sits on building floor 44, with downtumed edge 32 locating on the edge of the building floor. This ensures that any gap between a panel and the building floor is closed off by downtumed edge 32 so preventing tools and fixings from inadvertently falling from the floor by passing underneath the barrier. The overlap of the panels can be adjusted with the maximum overlap shown in Figure 5 where side panels 18, 18’ fully overlap between panels 10” and 10”’, with a reduced overlap shown in Figure 7. This allows the lateral extent of the barrier to be adjusted easily whilst still ensuring no vertical gap between the panels. Typically posts 50 located on the building structure will be used with any form of connector, such as clips or jaws, which extends through cut out portions 34, 34’, 36, 36’ to attach to rods 40 and so secure the barrier in place. One particular arrangement for doing this is shown in Figure 8 where sliding connectors 54 formed with upper and lower lateral arms 56, 56’ are located on post 50. Sliding connectors 54 incorporate an array of apertures 57 to allow adjustment of the position of connector 54 in regular increments. Arms 56, 56’ are spaced apart to define a gap for receiving rod 40 and clips or other fixing means can be inserted into apertures 60, 62 secure to rods 40, 40’ to hold the barrier firmly in place. Rods 40, 40’ are typically made of fibreglass, moulded with a cruciform cross-section to improve strength. By attaching to rods 40 rather than directly to the panels, the point of attachment can be adjusted if desired to accommodate variations in tolerance of measurements. Connectors 54 can be integrally formed with posts 50 and so permanently fixed in position. Posts 50 are only required at the end of each barrier, rather than for each panel, which reduces the number of posts that need to be installed.

Panels 10 are able to meet the class B standard of BSEN 13374 and so are useful on flat surfaces up to surfaces having a pitch of 30°, or 45° for a height of less than two metres from the ground. Panels 10 can withstand a dynamic load, in excess of an impact energy of 1100 Joules without breaking and are thus more durable than class A barriers which can only withstand a static load. The panels are straightforward to install by anyone who is unskilled and integral rigid skirt 14 ensures any gap between panel and a floor is closed off by downtumed edge 32 preventing tools and fixings from inadvertently falling from the floor by passing underneath the barrier.

The panels and/or barrier are typically bolted to a building structure as it is formed.

Multiple panels 10 can be joined together to make a barrier and if the barrier should become damaged, only individual panels need to be replaced rather than the entire barrier. Transportation of panels to an elevated building floor is easier as the plastics panel is much lighter than conventional steel mesh panels. By using a plastics material such as GRP, the panels are weather resistant, colourfast, chemical resistant and there is no issue with rust.

Claims

1. A safety barrier comprising at least one plastics panel integrally formed with at least one tubular section extending laterally across the plastics panel, the tubular section capable of receiving a removable rod member.

2. A safety barrier according to claim 1, wherein the panel is formed from glass fibre reinforced plastics.

3. A safety barrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least two spaced-apart tubular sections are provided extending laterally across the panel.

4. A safety barrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is provided with one or more longitudinal ribs.

5. A safety barrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel further comprises an integral handrail.

6. A safety barrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel further comprises a skirt portion located at a lower edge of the panel, the skirt portion comprising a mounting portion for resting on a surface and a downtumed edge for locating around the edge of such a surface.

7. A safety barrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of apertures such that the combined surface area of the apertures is in the region of 25 to 45% of the surface area of the panel.

8. A safety barrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastics panel further comprises at least one side panel.

9. A safety barrier according to claim 8, wherein two side panels are provided on opposing sides of the panel, the side panels offset with respect to each other so as to overlap when two or more plastics panels adjoin each other.

10. A safety barrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel further comprises one or more cutaway sections along at least one longitudinal edge of the panel.

11. A safety barrier according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more plastics panels having at least one removable rod member disposed within the at least one tubular section.

12. A safety barrier according to claim 11, wherein the removable rod member is in the form of a steel rod or fibreglass tube.

13. A safety barrier according to claim 11, wherein the removable rod member is tubular and formed with a cruciform cross-section.