Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention is comprised in the field of the safety systems used in the construction
of buildings, and more specifically, to the systems which are arranged in the perimeter
of the building to prevent the fall of objects and persons.
Background of the Invention
[0002] There are multiple systems to prevent the fall of persons or materials from a certain
height, the most used being the simultaneous placement of gallows or tray type safety
nets together with a rail type protection of the edge.
[0003] The gallows system is a system comprising two rockers fixed to the slab, between
which a net is placed which will be hung like a bag to collect a possible fall of
persons or materials. This bag is fixed at its lower part to the slab.
[0004] The tray type system is a system of horizontal protection in which a net is placed
between the horizontally arranged rockers.
[0005] Simultaneously to the use of any of these systems of nets, an edge protection system
must be used. In this case the systems normally used consist of vertical standards
arranged at a certain distance between them, between which horizontal tubes or wood
pieces are placed and fixed like a rail.
[0006] Another type of system is, for example, the system described in patent
US 4 129 197, which relates to a safety system for scaffolding. This system is formed by a series
of vertical standards, of a certain length, which are fixed to the bottom of each
scaffolding floor and between which a rectangular structure like a protection screen
is arranged. With this system, the scaffolding floor on which work is being carried
out is protected, and, once the tasks have finished, the structure is lifted, by means
of a crane, to the following scaffolding floor. Therefore, this type of system does
not allow simultaneously and quickly protecting several scaffolding floors, since
it grows progressively with the growth of the building.
Description of the Invention
[0007] The system described in the present invention is of the screen type and, it allows
simultaneously protecting several scaffolding floors, i.e., its progression is independent
of the growth of the building, therefore it is not necessary to dismantle the assembly
to protect higher floors. Furthermore, the system object of the invention is assembled
quickly and simply.
[0008] In general, the perimeter protection systems for construction sites comprise:
- guides suitable for being arranged around the perimeter of a building,
- support means configured for fixing the mentioned guides to a support surface of the
mentioned building,
- protection means fixed to the mentioned guides. These protection means are usually
of the previously mentioned type, i.e., safety nets and/or rails,
[0009] The system, object of the invention, allows obtaining enclosure segments which are
formed from guides, some of which are attached to a slab through the support means
and others are coupled to one another through attachment means to form support columns
such that the vertical progression of the system is allowed. The guides comprise at
least a mast and a plurality of crosspieces attached to the mast. The protection means
are formed by protection panels comprising a pair of horizontal beams configured to
be coupled to the crosspieces of the guides through attachment elements, for example
hoops and a net fixed between the mentioned beams.
[0010] Each enclosure segment can be formed from guides vertically assembled to shape at
least two support columns, the mentioned support columns having a height which allows
assembling three protection panels thereto, such that the first and third panel form
the handrails of a first slab and a second slab, successive to the first one, and
the second panel is arranged between the mentioned first and third panel and is configured
for closing the gap existing between the first and third protection panel.
[0011] The guides can have a shape similar to that of a ladder, i.e., they can be formed
by two masts and a plurality of crosspieces attached to the mentioned masts. This
particular shape of the guides provides the structure with greater robustness.
[0012] In order for the coupling between guides to be carried out quickly and simply, the
attachment means can comprise, for example, linking elements configured to be housed
inside the masts of two vertically arranged guides. These linking elements can be
independent attachment profiles, wherein a first end of the mentioned profile is housed
inside the mast of a first guide and a second end of the mentioned profile is housed
inside the mast of a second guide contiguous to the first one, such that the two guides
are vertically coupled.
[0013] The sequence of vertical coupling between guides can be the following one, attachment
profiles are introduced in each mast of first guides, being secured, for example,
by means of screws, a first end of the attachment profile being housed inside the
masts of these first guides. The end which has remained free, i.e., which has not
been housed in the masts of the first guides, is then introduced in the masts of second
guides, this second end being housed inside the masts of the second guides. Side reinforcing
profiles fixed in each mast by means of, for example, threaded rods can be used to
give a higher consistency to this attachment.
[0014] As has been previously indicated, each inclosure segment can be formed from at least
two support columns between which three panels are assembled, each of these panels
having a clear and specific function. The first panel, i.e., the first assembly of
net and beams, will act as a handrail or rail of the first scaffolding. The second
panel will act as a screen net, allowing furthermore a space between its upper part
and the lower part of the third panel which will allow the scaffolder to use the current
scaffolding systems, without the net or the system getting in his way. The third panel
will carried out the function of screen net initially but in a second phase will act
as a handrail or rail of the following slab.
[0015] Different alternatives, depending on the structure of the building, can be used to
fix the guides to a support surface.
[0016] The support means can comprise a horizontal element configured to be anchored to
a slab and a vertical element, arranged in an end of the mentioned horizontal element,
the mentioned vertical element comprising at least two securing profiles configured
to serve as support for at least two crosspieces of the guides, such that the mentioned
guides are in a vertical position.
[0017] On the other hand, the vertical element can comprise at least two profiles, which
can have a U shape, open at the upper part and configured to entrap the masts of the
guides, such that the mentioned guides are in a vertical position and furthermore
comprise two support bars which are fixed to the slab.
[0018] Normally, any of these support means are used to fix first guides to a slab, the
rest of the guides will be coupled to one another to form support columns. However,
it may be necessary in certain occasions to use another support means in upper floors
to fix other guides.
[0019] To give consistency to the assembly and prevent the buckling of the columns, especially
the upper ones, it is possible to fix them to the slab, for example, by means of a
securing omega clamp which secures the guides to the slab and anchors which secure
the crosspieces to the mentioned omega clamp, preventing its movement.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0020] To complete the description and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the
features of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings
is attached as an integral part of said description in which, the following has been
depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:
Figure 1 shows a view of the guides.
Figure 2 shows a view of the protection means.
Figure 3 shows a view of support means.
Figure 4 shows a view of the previous support means, fixed to a slab and to which
a guide has been coupled.
Figure 5 shows a view of other support means to which a guide has been coupled.
Figure 6 shows a view of the attachment profile and another view of the reinforcing
profile.
Figure 7 shows a view of the system, object of the invention, comprising three protection
panels.
Preferred embodiment of the Invention
[0021] Figure 7 shows an enclosure segment (1) which is formed from guides (22) vertically
assembled to one another to form two support columns (2). As observed in Figure 7,
the support columns have a height suitable to allow assembling three panels (4). The
panels (4) comprise a pair of beams (41) configured to be coupled to crosspieces (222)
of the guides (22) and a net (42) fixed between the mentioned beams (41). As is seen
in this Figure 7, the first and third panel (4) form the handrails of a first slab
and a second slab which is successive to the first one and the second panel (4) which
is arranged between the mentioned first and third panel (4) is configured to cover
the gap existing between them.
[0022] The assembly of an enclosure segment (1) starts with the attachment of a pair of
guides (22) arranged in parallel, to a first slab through support means (31,32). A
first panel (4) is subsequently placed between the mentioned guides (22), fixing the
beams (41) of the panels (4) to the crosspieces (222) of the guides (22), so that
the mentioned first panel (4) acts as a rail of the first slab.
[0023] Then, other guides (22) which will be coupled to the first guides (22) through attachment
means (5) will be placed in a vertical position. A second panel (4) which will act
as a screen net will be placed.
[0024] A third panel (4) will subsequently be placed which will be separated from the second
panel (4) a distance suitable for allowing the scaffolding of the upper floor to come
out without the system (1) interfering in the scaffolding tasks. This third panel
(4) will act as a safety rail for the upper floor, which has not been made yet.
[0025] Figure 4 shows support means (31) which will fix guides (22) to a slab. As is observed
in detail in Figure 3, these support means (31) are formed by a horizontal element
(311) which is fixed to the slab and a vertical element (312) which is arranged in
an end of the mentioned horizontal element (311), forming an "L". The vertical element
(312) incorporates two U-shaped securing profiles (313) open at the upper part and
which are configured to serve as support for crosspieces (221) comprised by the guides
(22). Since the crosspieces (221) are supported in the securing profiles (313), the
guides (22) are in a vertical position to allow the coupling of more guides (22) and
thus form support columns (2). As is seen in this Figure 4, only first guides (22)
are coupled to these support means (31), other guides (22) will be directly coupled
to one another, i.e., normally, these fixing means (31) are only used in a first slab.
Nevertheless, it may be necessary to place another support means (31) in one of the
upper floors. On the other hand, to give consistency to the protection system and
to avoid the buckling of the upper columns (2), it is possible to fix them to the
slab by means of a securing omega clamp, for example.
[0026] Figure 5 shows other alternative of the support means. (32) which can comprise two
profiles (321) fitting with the masts (222) of the guides (22), so that the mentioned
guides (22) are in a vertical position. These profiles (321) can have a U shape and
be open at the upper part. Furthermore, they can comprise two support bars (322) which
are anchored to the slab. Once first guides (22) are fixed to these support means
(32), the rest of the guides (22) will be directly assembled to one another through
the attachment means (4). To secure the masts (222) of the guides (22) to the profiles
(321), different means can be used, for example screws.
[0027] To couple or assemble the guides (22) to one another quickly and simply, the attachment
means (5) which allow the vertical progression of the system are used. These attachment
means can be, for example, independent profiles which will be housed inside the masts
(221) of two contiguous guides (22).
[0028] Figure 6 shows these profiles and, specifically, an attachment profile inserted in
the mast (221) of a guide (22) and another profile, which will be introduced in other
mast (221) of this same guide (22) are seen. This Figure 6 shows how the attachment
profile is partially housed in the mast (221), since an end of the mentioned profile
projects from the mast (221). To couple a second guide (22) to the first one, it is
only necessary to introduce the end of the projecting attachment profile through the
mast (221) of a second guide (22), such that the ends of the masts (221) of the two
guides (22) are in contact. As is seen in this Figure 6, screws can be used to fix
the profiles to the masts (221).
[0029] Once the coupling between two guides (22) is performed, the attachment joint can
be reinforced by means of a reinforcing profile with a contour similar to that of
the mast (221), which is fixed to the masts (221) of the guides (22) in the area next
to the attachment joint.
1. Perimeter protection system for construction sites which allows obtaining enclosure
segments (1) comprising:
• guides (22) suitable for being arranged around the perimeter of a building,
• support means (31,32) configured to fix the mentioned guides (22) to a support surface
of the building,
• protection means fixed to the mentioned guides (22),
characterized in that the mentioned enclosure segments (1) are formed from guides (22), some guides (22)
of which are attached to a slab through the support means (31,32) and other guides
(22) are coupled to one another through attachment means (5) to form support columns
(2), such that the vertical progression of the system is allowed, the guides (22)
comprising at least a mast (221) and a plurality of crosspieces (222) attached to
the mentioned mast (221) and in that the protection means are formed by protection panels (4) comprising a pair of horizontal
beams (41) configured to be coupled to the crosspieces (222) of the guides (22) through
attachment elements and a net (42) fixed between the mentioned beams (41).
2. Perimeter protection system for construction sites which allows obtaining enclosure
segments (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that an enclosure segment (1) is formed from guides (22) vertically assembled to form
at least two support columns (2), the mentioned support columns (2) having a height
which allows assembling three protection panels (4) thereto, such that the first and
third panel (4) form the handrails of a first slab and a second slab, successive to
the first one, and the second panel (4) is arranged between the mentioned first and
third panel (4) and is configured to close the gap existing between the first and
third protection panel (4).
3. Perimeter protection system for construction sites according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guides (22) comprise two masts (221) and a plurality of crosspieces (222) attached
to the mentioned masts (221).
4. Perimeter protection system for construction sites according to any of claims 1 or
2, characterized in that the support means (31) comprise a horizontal element (311) configured to be anchored
to a slab and a vertical element (312) arranged in an end of the mentioned horizontal
element (311), the mentioned vertical element (312) comprising at least two securing
profiles (313) configured to serve as support for at least two crossbeams (222) of
the guides (22), such that the mentioned guides (22) are in a vertical position.
5. Perimeter protection system for construction sites according to any of claims 1 or
2, characterized in that the support means (32) comprise two profiles (321) configured to entrap the masts
(221) of the guides (22), such that the mentioned guides (22) are in a vertical position
and in that they furthermore comprise two support bars (322) which are fixed to the slab.
6. Perimeter protection system for construction sites according to any of the previous
claims, characterized in that the attachment means (5) comprise linking elements configured to be housed inside
the masts (221) of two vertically arranged contiguous guides (22).
7. Perimeter protection system for construction sites according to claim 6, characterized in that the linking elements are attachment profiles, wherein a first end of the mentioned
attachment profile is housed inside the mast (221) of a first guide (22) and a second
end of the mentioned profile is housed inside the mast (221) of a second guide (22)
contiguous to the first one, such that the two guides (22) are vertically coupled.