IE960244A1 - Walkway system - Google Patents

Abstract

A walkway system for a building or similar structure comprising a series of support arms supporting the walkway, the support arms each being connected at a first end to part of a building or structure, such as a steel stanchion, and at a second end to a vertical post which supports a safety rail member.

Description

WALKWAY SYSTEM This invention relates to a walkway support and safety rail system for use on buildings.

Today's safety requirements demand that anyone working on or near the edge of a building should be protected by the presence of a safety rail. Frequently no thought is put into this requirement beforehand, with the result that makeshift handrails have to be put together on site by sub-contractors engaged in roofing work etc. Such makeshift handrails are usually insufficient.

The safety rail and integrated walkway according to the present invention has been designed to overcome these problems on new and existing steel buildings.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a walkway system for a building or similar structure comprising a plurality of support members, each support member comprising a support arm and a post, said support arm being adapted at a first end to be connected to a building or structure and being connected at a second end to said post, said post being adapted to support a safety rail member.

Preferably the system further comprises a plurality of walkway staging members, wherein said support arms are adapted to extend substantially horizontally in use in spaced parallel series and to support said staging members. Each support member may comprise an elongate, substantially planar arm, the plane of said arm being oriented substantially vertically in use.

In a first preferred embodiment each support arm is connected at the first end to a connecting plate which extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support arm. The connecting plate preferably has a plurality of holes formed therein whereby it may be bolted to corresponding holes formed in the building or structure.

In a second preferred embodiment each support arm is provided with clamping means at its first end. The clamping means preferably comprises two U-shaped plate members shaped to fit around a flange of an I-section girder of said building or structure and a bolt which connects said plate members. One of said U-shaped plate members may be integral with said support arm.

The post preferably extends substantially vertically in use and may have attachment means on one face configured to carry a safety rail. The attachment means may have a locking system to secure the rail in position. In a preferred embodiment the attachment means comprises one or more bracket members, each bracket member forming with the post a channel in which a safety rail may be supported.

The post may have one or more holes provided therein through which a rope may be inserted. In a preferred embodiment the post has one or more holes for a rope as well as one or more bracket members mounted thereon to carry a safety rail, the bracket members and holes being mutually arranged so that the presence of a safety rail in a bracket member does not interfere with the holes provided for insertion of a rope.

In a further embodiment the post has fastening means at its base for attachment of a kicker plate.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a safety rail system for a building or similar structure comprising a plurality of support members, one or more staging members and one or more safety rail members, each support member comprising a support arm and a post, said support arm being adapted at a first end to be connected to a building and being connected at a second end to said post, said safety rail members comprising solid or tubular handrails or ropes or a combination thereof, said staging members being supported by said support arms to form a walkway, said safety rail members being connected to said posts at a convenient height for users of the walkway to hold.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a plan view of part of a walkway and safety rail system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig 2 is a sectional view of the walkway and safety rail system of Fig 1; 990244 Fig 3 is a front view of the walkway and safety rail system of Fig 1; and Fig 4 is a plan view of part of a walkway and safety rail system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a walkway and safety rail system 20 comprises a series of support arms 3 which are connected to the structural steelwork 11, such as a stanchion, of a building structure. To each support arm 3 is connected a safety rail post 6, which has holes 7 for holding a wire rope 17 and carriage cleats 9 for supporting a handrail 8.

The support arm 3 (typically 100mm by 10mm steel flat) has a back plate 1 welded to the support arm 3 at one end. A bracing plate 2 (typically of 10mm plate) is welded at each side of the support arm to the support arm 3 and the back plate 1. The back plate 1 is provided with two drilled holes 4 (typically 22mm diameter) which pick up with two pre-drilled holes 12 in the structural steelwork 11, so that the support arm 3 may be bolted to the structural steelwork 11 by two bolts (typically 20mm 8.8 grade).

The support arm 3 supports the safety rail post 6 and the aluminium staging 18 which makes up the walkway.

The staging 18 is shown in outline in Fig. 2. The staging 18 is omitted from Figs. 1, 3 and 4 for clarity.

The safety rail post 6 (typically 50 x 50 x 5mm steel angle) is welded into position at the end of the support arm 3 and a kicker plate 5 is bolted into position at the base of the safety rail post 6. The I96024* safety rail post 6 has two holes 7 (typically 14mm diameter) on one face to carry a wire rope 17 (typically 12mm diameter). It also has two carriage cleats 9 welded into position on the other face to carry a tubular handrail 8 (typically 33.7 x 2.6mm steel RHS). The carriage cleats 9 are provided with a locking system 10 to secure the handrail 8 into position.

It is to be understood that the walkway and safety rail system 20 may be provided with either wire rope safety rails 17 or tubular handrails 8. Alternatively the walkway and safety rail system 20 may be provided with both wire rope safety rails 17 and tubular handrails 8. The posts 6 may be provided with holes 7 only, with cleats 9 only or with holes 7 and cleats 9 so that the same support arm/post unit may be used with either wire ropes 17 or tubular handrails 8.

Referring to Fig. 4, the walkway and safety rail system 21 is similar to the system 20 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in all respects except the means of connection to the structural steelwork 11. The support arm 13 is formed at one end in a U-shape so as to fit around the flange and into the web of the stanchion of the structural steelwork 11. A gusset plate 14 is welded to the straight portion and to the U-shaped portion of the support arm 13 to add stability. A safety rail post 6 is connected to the other end of the support arm 13.

A steel plate 15 is formed with a flange portion and a U-shaped portion which also fits around the flange and into the web of the stanchion of the structural steelwork 11. The steel plate 15 forms a clamp with the U-shaped section of the support arm 13. Bolts 16 are fitted through corresponding holes in the flange •60244 portion of the steel plate 15 and the straight portion of the support arm 13. When the bolts 16 are tightened the steel plate and support arm 13 clamp the stanchion 11 to form a rigid connection such that the support arm 13 can support the loading on the walkway staging 18.

The walkway and safety rail system 20, 21 has been designed with few parts for easy and quick assembly on site. In the embodiments shown the system comprises three different parts: a kicker plate 5, a handrail 8 and a support arm/post unit. The system is strongly welded and put together to be rugged and robust. All steel units may have a galvanised finish to ensure a long service life.

Claims (17)

1 A walkway system for a building or similar structure comprising a plurality of support members, each support member comprising a support arm and a post, said support arm being adapted at a first end to be connected to a building or structure and being connected at a second end to said post, said post being adapted to support a safety rail member.

2. A walkway system according to Claim 1 further comprising a plurality of walkway staging members, wherein said support arms are adapted to extend substantially horizontally in use in spaced parallel series and to support said staging members .

3. A walkway system according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein each said support member preferably comprises an elongate, substantially planar arm, the plane of said arm being oriented substantially vertically in use.

4. A walkway system according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein each said support arm is connected at the first end to a connecting plate which extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support arm.

5. A walkway system according to Claim 4, wherein said connecting plate has a plurality of holes formed therein whereby it may be bolted to corresponding holes formed in the building or structure . 960244 λ

6. A walkway system according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each said support arm is provided with clamping means at its first end.

7. A walkway system according to Claim 6, wherein said clamping means comprises two U-shaped plate members shaped to fit around a flange of an Isection girder of said building or structure and a bolt which connects said plate members.

8. A walkway system according to Claim 7, wherein one of said U-shaped plate members is integral with said support arm.

9. A walkway system according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said post extends substantially vertically in use.

10. A walkway system according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said post has attachment means on one face configured to carry a safety rail.

11. A walkway system according to Claim 10, wherein the attachment means has a locking system to secure the rail in position.

12. A walkway system according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the attachment means comprises one or more bracket members, each bracket member forming with the post a channel in which a safety rail may be supported.

13. A walkway system according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said post has one or more holes provided therein through which a rope may be inserted. •60244

14. A walkway system according to Claim 13, wherein said post has one or more bracket members mounted thereon to carry a safety rail and arranged so that the presence of a safety rail in said bracket member does not interfere with said holes provided for insertion of a rope.

15. A walkway system according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said post has fastening means at its base for attachment of a kicker plate.

16. A safety rail system for a building or similar structure comprising a plurality of support members, one or more staging members and one or more safety rail members, each support member comprising a support arm and a post, said support arm being adapted at a first end to be connected to a building and being connected at a second end to said post, said safety rail members comprising solid or tubular handrails or ropes or a combination thereof, said staging members being supported by said support arms to form a walkway, said safety rail members being connected to said posts at a convenient height for users of the walkway to hold.

17. A walkway system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .