WO2020113258A1

WO2020113258A1 - Building floor-edge protection system

Info

Publication number: WO2020113258A1
Application number: PCT/AU2019/051120
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chris Ayoub
Original assignee: Chris Ayoub
Priority date: 2018-12-07
Filing date: 2019-10-16
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Also published as: AU2019392578A1; AU2019392578B2

Abstract

A floor edge safety system for concrete floors of multistorey buildings; the system comprising support assemblies each of which includes an extendable member; the support assemblies arranged at intervals along edges of each floor; a mounting element of each support assembly embedded within the concrete of the floor; the extendable member providing support for safety devices.

Description

BUILDING FLOOR-EDGE PROTECTION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to multi-storey buildings and, more particularly although not exclusively, to safety structures at edges of floors of such buildings under construction.

BACKGROUND

[0002] It has long been a requirement that temporary protective fencing be erected along edges of the floors of high-rise buildings after the concrete of each floor is poured and before work can commence on that floor. As well or alternatively, scaffolding rising from the ground and being added for each additional floor, can satisfy the safety requirements for personnel working on and near the edge of a floor.

[0003] Temporary fencing, if used instead of scaffolding, must be secured to the concrete floor to provide the required safety while scaffolding is hugely expensive in both its capital investment and the time required in its erection and subsequent removal.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes

[0005] The term“comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of“having” or“including”, and not in the exclusive sense of“consisting only of’.

[0006] The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] In one broad form of the present invention, there is provided a floor edge safety system for concrete floors of multistorey buildings; the system comprising support assemblies each of which includes an extendable member; the support assemblies arranged at intervals along edges of each floor; a mounting element of each support assembly embedded within the concrete of the floor; the extendable member providing support for safety devices.

[0008] Preferably the mounting element comprising a body open at an outer end; the mounting element extending inwardly from the open end at the edge of the floor.

[0009] Preferably the mounting element is provided with slide elements for support of the extendable member.

[00010] Preferably the extendable member is provided with complementary slide elements; the slide elements of the mounting element and the slide elements of the extendable member allowing the extendable member to be extracted and retracted relative the edge of the floor.

[00011] Preferably the extendable member in a fully extended state is of sufficient length to support the width of at least one builder’s plank.

[00012] Preferably spacing between the support assemblies along an edge of a floor is equal to or less than the length of a selected builder’s plank.

[00013] Preferably an outer end of the extendable member is provided with a retaining structure to secure the at least one builder’s plank between the retaining structure and the edge of the floor.

[00014] Preferably the outer end of the extendable member is further provided with a socket for accepting an upright element of a safety railing.

[00015] Preferably the outer end of the extendable member is further provided with a support structure at an underside of the retaining structure; the support structure adapted to support a safety mesh depending from the support structure.

[00016] Preferably the extendable members are activated by air or hydraulic means. [00017] In yet another broad form of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing safety structures at edges of floors of a multistorey building; the method including the steps of:

Placing support assemblies comprising a mounting element and an extendable member at intervals within reinforcing prior to pouring of concrete,

Pouring concrete for the floor so as to embed the support assemblies within the concrete floor,

Extending the extendable member of selected support assemblies to a predetermined extension,

Fitting safety structures to or onto the extendable members.

[00018] Preferably prior to the pouring of concrete, selected ones of the support assemblies are interconnected by air or hydraulic conduits.

[00019] Preferably the extendable member is operable between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position.

[00020] In yet another broad form of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing safety structures at edges of concrete floors of multistorey buildings; the method including the steps of:

Extending extendable members of support assemblies embedded at an edge of a concrete floor,

Securing or placing selected safety structures to or onto the extendable members.

[00021] Preferably the safety structures include uprights of safety railings; the uprights placed in sockets provided at outer ends of the extendable members.

[00022] Preferably the safety structures include builder’s planks; the builder’s planks retained between retaining structures at outer end of the extendable members and the edge of the concrete floor.

[00023] Preferably the safety structures include scaffolding safety mesh; the safety mesh supported by support structures at an underside of outer ends of the extendable members. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00024] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[00025] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a concrete floor of a building provided with support assemblies according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[00026] Figure 2 is a cross section view of the floor and an embedded support structure of Figure 1 shown in an extended position;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[00027] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a floor edges safety system 10 for concrete floors 12 of multistorey buildings, comprises support assemblies 14, each including a mounting element 16 and an extendable member 18 slidably located within the mounting element. The support assemblies 16 are arranged at intervals along the edge 20 of floor 12 and are embedded within the concrete. Figure 1 shows support assemblies both in extended and in a retracted position.

[00028] The mounting elements 16 comprises a body, preferably formed from suitably sized RHS or otherwise of metal fabrication, open at the outer end 22. As shown in the sectioned view of Figure 2, the mounting elements 16 extend inwardly from the edge 20 of the floor 12, and are provided with slide elements 24 for support of the extendable member 18. The extendable member 18 is likewise provided with complementary sliding elements 26 which allow the extendable member to be extracted and retracted relative the edge 20 of a floor 12.

[00029] Preferably, the extendable member 18, in a fully extended state, is of a length sufficient to support the width of at least one builder’s plank 28, though more preferably, that of at least two builder’s planks. The outer end 30 of the extendable member 18 is provided with a retaining structure 32 to secure the at least one builder’s plank or planks between the retaining structure 32 and the edge 20 of the floor 12. [00030] Again preferably, spacing between adjacent support assemblies 14 is equal to or less than the length of selected standard builder’s planks. In a preferred arrangement, the spacing is such as to allow successive builders planks to extend between successive support assemblies to form a continuous walkway along the outer edge 20 of a concrete floor.

[00031] The outer end 30 of the extendable member 18 is further provided with a socket 34 for accepting an upright element 36 of a safety railing 38. As well, the outer end retaining structure 32 is provided at an underside with a support structure 40 from which may be suspended scaffolding safety mesh 42.

[00032] In a preferred arrangement, the support assemblies 14 may be operated, that is moved between a retracted position and an extended position, manually. For this purpose, the outer retaining structure 32 may be provided with a grasping handle or other feature (not shown) to which a suitable tool can be applied. In a further preferred arrangement, the support assemblies 14 may include air or hydraulically operating actuators by means of which extendable members 18 can be driven between retracted and extended positions. In this latter arrangement, groups of support assemblies can be interconnected by air or hydraulic conduits for operation as a group.

[00033] In a retracted position, the outer end retaining structures 32 may project proud of the edge 20 of the concrete floor, or alternatively an area around the mounting element 16 may be recessed so as to leave a retracted retaining structure flush with the surface of the edge of the floor. In yet a further arrangement, the retaining structure may be of a matching material and colour of the cladding to be applied to the building.

[00034] During preparation of a concrete floor, the support assemblies 14 are positioned within the reinforcing armature 44, including air or hydraulic conduits in case of those embodiments of the invention, before the concrete for the floor is poured.

Industrial Applicability

[00035] The system of the invention provides an efficient means of establishing safe working conditions for a multistorey building under construction without the need for erecting scaffolding from the ground up. Moreover, the system allows for access to the faqade of a building for subsequent use, such as for repair or other maintenance and even window cleaning for example.

Claims

1. A floor edge safety system for concrete floors of multistorey buildings; the system comprising support assemblies each of which includes an extendable member; the support assemblies arranged at intervals along edges of each floor; a mounting element of each support assembly embedded within the concrete of the floor; the extendable member providing support for safety devices.

2. The safety system of claim 1 wherein the mounting element comprising a body open at an outer end; the mounting element extending inwardly from the open end at the edge of the floor.

3. The safety system of claim 2 wherein the mounting element is provided with slide elements for support of the extendable member.

4. The safety system of claim 3 wherein the extendable member is provided with complementary slide elements; the slide elements of the mounting element and the slide elements of the extendable member allowing the extendable member to be extracted and retracted relative the edge of the floor.

5. The safety system of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the extendable member in a fully extended state is of sufficient length to support the width of at least one builder’s plank.

6. The safety system of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein spacing between the support assemblies along an edge of a floor is equal to or less than the length of a selected builder’s plank.

7. The safety system of claim 5 or 6 wherein an outer end of the extendable member is provided with a retaining structure to secure the at least one builder’s plank between the retaining structure and the edge of the floor.

8. The safety system of claim 7 wherein the outer end of the extendable member is further provided with a socket for accepting an upright element of a safety railing.

9. The safety system of claim 7 or 8 wherein the outer end of the extendable member is further provided with a support structure at an underside of the retaining structure; the support structure adapted to support a safety mesh depending from the support structure.

10. The safety system of any previous claim wherein the extendable members are activated by air or hydraulic means.

11. A method of providing safety structures at edges of floors of a multistorey building; the method including the steps of:

- Placing support assemblies comprising a mounting element and an extendable

member at intervals within reinforcing prior to pouring of concrete, - Pouring concrete for the floor so as to embed the support assemblies within the concrete floor,

- Extending the extendable member of selected support assemblies to a predetermined extension,

- Fitting safety structures to or onto the extendable members.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein prior to the pouring of concrete, selected ones of the support assemblies are interconnected by air or hydraulic conduits.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the extendable member is operable between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position.

14. A method of installing safety structures at edges of concrete floors of multistorey buildings; the method including the steps of:

- Extending extendable members of support assemblies embedded at an edge of a

concrete floor,

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the safety structures include uprights of safety railings; the uprights placed in sockets provided at outer ends of the extendable members.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the safety structures include builder’s planks; the builder’s planks retained between retaining structures at outer end of the extendable members and the edge of the concrete floor.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the safety structures include scaffolding safety mesh; the safety mesh supported by support structures at an underside of outer ends of the extendable members.