AU2007101042B4 - Building floor safety barrier - Google Patents

Description

O BUILDING FLOOR SAFETY BARRIER o FIELD OF THE INVENTION

O

IN The present invention relates to safety barriers suitable for use around the perimeter of building floors during construction of a building.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is known to use safety barriers around the perimeter of floors on a building during construction of the building to protect workers from falling to the ground below, and also to prevent objects from falling to the ground below, thereby averting dangerous and hazardous situations.

Safety barriers typically include temporary fence-like structures which are bolted or clamped around the perimeter of each floor of the building. These fencelike structures include a panel portion which sits substantially perpendicular to the floor of the building, fastened between support poles using bolts or clamps. The poles themselves have a foot flange or similar which is bolted or otherwise permanently clamped to the concrete floors of the building.

Bolting the fences to the floors involves significant labour, and is time consuming, as it is necessary to drill into the concrete floor of the building, and then position the fences in the desired locations and apply the bolts. Further, if access is required to the perimeter of the building floor by a worker, a fence section must be removed and replaced, which requires removal of the bolts, and then further drilling into the concrete floor. This process is again time consuming, involves significant labour, and is thus expensive.

Clamping the fence sections to the floors also involves substantial labour and time. It also creates a potentially hazardous situation for workers since they will be located adjacent the edge of the building when applying the clamps to the perimeter edge of the floor and installing the fences.

Given the time and labour involved in erecting bolted or clamped fences, it has been known for workers to attempt to install such fences hastily and incorrectly, by not applying all of the required bolts for example, resulting in a faulty installation and causing a potentially dangerous situation.

00 In light of the above, it is desirable to provide a safety barrier which is less time consuming to install and which still ensures safety to persons working on a o building site above ground floor level.

_SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a safety barrier module for use in erecting a fenced-off zone around the perimeter of a building floor during construction of a building, the safety barrier module including: a panel section for inhibiting the passage of workers or objects from the building floor to the ground below; and at least one counterweighted footing block for receiving a support post connected to the panel section, the footing block arranged to rest on the building floor and to counteract loads and forces on the panel section to support the panel section in a substantially upright position relative to the building floor; wherein the panel section is geometrically shaped to extend from a predetermined height down to substantially the building floor level.

Compared with traditional barrier panels, which are generally rectangular in plan view, in a preferred form, panel sections according to the invention would have corner "cut outs" in the lower edge to provide inward stepped recesses at both widthward sides of the panel section which will accommodate the footing blocks usually employed to anchor the support poles of the safety barrier in their upright position.

In one form, the panel section includes a first rectangular panel portion of defined width, the first panel portion being located so as to extend from the predetermined height down to a height above the building floor level, thereby leaving a space between the first panel portion and the building floor; and a second rectangular panel portion of a width smaller than the first panel portion, preferably removably attachable to the first panel portion, and extending from the first panel portion down to substantially the building floor. The attachable second portion allows the safety barrier to be implemented in other areas and for other uses which may not require a full-length panel portion, and being removable allows access to the other side of the safety barrier without needing to remove the entire safety barrier.

In another form, the panel section includes: a first rectangular panel portion of defined width, the first panel portion being located so as to extend from the 00 0 predetermined height down to a height above the counterweighted footing block; and a second rectangular panel portion integral with the first panel portion, of a owidth smaller than the first panel portion and extending from the first panel portion _down to substantially the building floor level thereby providing said panel section with at least one inward stepped recess for accommodating the footing block.

Having the second panel portion integral with the first panel portion minimises manufacturing and construction costs.

Preferably, the footing block includes a box-like footing block with at least one hole formed therein for receiving a support post connected to the panel C 10 section.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a kickboard for attaching to a safety barrier module for use around the perimeter of a building floor during construction of a building, wherein the safety barrier module includes a panel section for inhibiting the passage of workers or objects from the building floor to the ground below, and at least one counterweighted footing block for receiving the panel section, the footing block arranged to rest on the building floor and to counteract loads and forces on the panel section to support the panel section in a substantially upright position relative to the building floor, wherein the panel section extends from a predetermined height down to a height above the building floor level, the kickboard including: a geometrically shaped panel member arranged to extend from the panel section down to substantially the building floor level; and attachment means for removably attaching the panel member to the panel section.

The present invention uses counterweighted footing blocks or support feet which are easily positioned on the surface of the building floor, to receive the panel section which extends to substantially the building floor to prevent, as far as possible, falling of workers or objects from the building floor to the ground below.

As the support feet themselves act as the counterweight, no bolting or clamping is required in order to install the safety barrier. The present invention therefore achieves its object by providing a safety barrier which is less time consuming to install, while still ensuring safety to persons working on the building site above ground floor level.

00 O An illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described Swith reference to the accompanying figures. Further features and advantages of I the invention will also become apparent from the accompanying description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a safety barrier module according to Sone embodiment of the present invention, shown installed on a building floor; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the safety barrier module of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the safety barrier module of figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a kickboard for attaching to a safety barrier module according to one embodiment; Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a safety barrier module according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown installed on a building floor.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 shows a safety barrier module 10 in position around the perimeter of a building floor 12. The safety barrier module 10 includes a panel section 14 and support feet 16, 18 taking the form of box-like footing blocks resting on the building floor 12. The panel section 14 includes a first panel portion 14a, a second panel portion 14b, and two support posts 22, 24.

The panel section 14 extends from a predetermined height h above the floor 12 down to substantially the floor 12 to inhibit the passage of workers or objects from the floor 12 to the ground below (not shown). The predetermined height h will be dependent upon the specific safety and construction rules of the particular jurisdiction. However, it is expected that the height h will be within the range of 0.9m to The first panel portion 14a of the panel section 14 extends from the predetermined height h down to just above the support feet 16, 18. The second panel portion 14b extends from just above the support feet 16, 18 down to substantially the building floor 12. The second panel portion 14b may extend to touch the floor 12, or alternatively may extend down to a small height above the floor 12, however close enough to the floor 12 such that objects cannot accidentally fall from the edge of the floor 12 down to the ground below. The 00 O second panel portion 14b is of a smaller width to the width of the first panel Sportion 14a to accommodate the support feet 16,18.

The second panel portion 14b is removably attachable to the first panel portion 14a by attachment means 20. The attachment means 20 may take any suitable form, for example bolts extending directly through the first panel portion C 14a and second panel portion 14b, arms connected to the second panel portion 014b which surround each side of the first panel portion 14a and are connected 0together by a bolt or screw. The present invention is not limited to the exact form of the attachment means It is preferred the first and second panel portions 14a, 14b are formed of a wire mesh, which enables a worker to see through the panel section 14 if required. However, any suitable materials could be used, such as a metal sheet for example. Furthermore, the first and second panel portions 14a, 14b could be formed of different materials, for example the first panel portion 14a could be formed of wire mesh while the second panel portion 14b could be formed of a metal sheet or wood panel.

The support posts 22, 24 consist of elongate metal tubes, and are used to support the wire mesh or metal sheet therebetween, and also to connect the panel section 14 to the support feet 16, 18.

The support feet 16, 18 receive the support posts 22, 24 in pre-formed holes 26, 28 therein. The depth of the holes 26, 28 and also the height of the support feet 16, 18 will be dependent on the material and hence weight of the panel section 14. The dimensions and weight of the support feet 16,18 need to be sufficient to act as a counterweight to the load of the panel section 14 in order to support the panel section 14 in a substantially upright position relative to the floor 12. Therefore, the height, length and width of the support feet 16,18, and the depth of the holes 16, 18, are not limited to particular dimensions, rather they must be such to support the panel section 14 as defined above. It is preferred the panel section 14 is sufficiently supported simply by placing the support posts 22, 24 into the holes 26, 28, such that no further bolting or clamping of the panel section 14 to the support feet 16, 18 is necessary. This further lessens the time it takes to erect the safety barrier on the building floor.

00 The support feet 16, 18 comprise box-like concrete footing blocks, however any other suitably weighted material including rubber or plastic, may be used. The support feet 16,18 may have more than one hole therein, to enable a continuous line of safety barrier modules surrounding the entire perimeter of the building floor to be erected.

c Figures 2 and 3 show the safety barrier module of figure 1 in a side 0 elevational view and a perspective view, respectively. The length of the support 0 feet 16 will typically be greater than the width to enable the support feet 16 to counteract the load of the panel section 14.

S 10 Figure 4 shows a kickboard 30 for attachment to a safety barrier module.

The kickboard 30 is removably attachable to a panel section of the safety barrier module and adapted to extend from the panel section down to substantially the building floor level, to reduce the space between the panel section of the safety barrier and the building floor, and also includes attachment means 34 for removably attaching the kickboard 30 to the panel section. In one form, the kickboard 30, in use, is similar to that shown as the second panel portion 14a in figures 1, 2 and 3, however the kickboard 30 may take other forms as desired.

The kickboard may be formed of any suitable material, for example wire mesh, a metal sheet, or wood. The attachment means 34 in the embodiment shown includes two openable arms attached to either side of the kickboard 30, which may be inserted around the panel section and bolted or screwed through the upper end 32a to join the two arms together, although other suitable attachment means 34 may be used as desired.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a safety barrier module In this embodiment, the panel section 42 extends from a predetermined height down to substantially the floor 44 as one integral web or sheet. In this case, there is no requirement for the two distinct first and second panel portions. Rather, the panel section 42 has corner "cut outs" 46 in the lower edge to provide inward stepped recesses which will accommodate the footing blocks 48, It is envisaged a plurality of safety barrier modules will be used to form a continuous line surrounding the entire perimeter of the building floor. In this case, each safety barrier module may be erected adjacent each other, or alternatively, 7 00 the support feet will have more than one hole therein, such that two panel sections may be received in each support foot.

It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art could implement the present invention in different ways to the one described above, and variations may be produced without departing from its spirit and scope.

c Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this Ospecification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be Otaken as an admission that any of the material forms part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia on or before the S 10 filing date of the patent application to which the present specification pertains.

Claims (3)

1. 2. A safety barrier module according to claim 1, wherein the panel section includes: a first rectangular panel portion of defined width, the first panel portion being located so as to extend from the predetermined height down to a height above the counterweighted footing block; and a second rectangular panel portion integral with the first panel portion, of a width smaller than the first panel portion and extending from the first panel portion down to substantially the building floor level thereby providing said panel section with at least one inward stepped recess for accommodating the footing block.
2. 3. A safety barrier module according to claim 2, wherein when in position on a building floor, the length of the footing block extends across the plane of the panel section, and the width of the footing block is at least partially accommodated within said inward stepped recess.
3. 4. A kickboard for attaching to a safety barrier module for use around the perimeter of a building floor during construction of a building, wherein the safety barrier module includes a panel section for inhibiting the passage of workers or objects from the building floor to the ground below, and at least one 00 O counterweighted footing block for receiving a support post connected to the panel section, the footing block arranged to rest on the building floor and to counteract c o loads and forces on the panel section to support the panel section in a substantially upright position relative to the building floor, wherein the panel section extends from a predetermined height down to a height above the building floor level, the kickboard including: a geometrically shaped panel member arranged to extend from the panel section down to substantially the building floor level; and attachment means for removably attaching the panel member to the panel C 10 section. A safety barrier module, or a kickboard for attaching to a safety barrier module, for use around the perimeter of a building floor during construction of a building substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. JOHN CLEMENT PRESTON WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS UIP1154AU00