If you’re a mechanical contractor, perhaps you can relate to this scenario. You’ve finished installing or replacing some rooftop units and the project seems like it’s just about wrapped up. The building owner will get their certificate of occupancy right on time and you'll get paid so you can move on to the next project. During the final inspection, however, you’re told that the RTUs need guardrail added in order to pass inspection. You’re a mechanical contractor and guardrail may not fall in your typical scope of work... so where do you start?
Link to DACHU
Let’s start with what the base requirements are and where they come from. The inspector will likely be looking at the International Mechanical Code (IMC) when citing the need for railing. Here’s a quick look at that code:
IMC 304.11
Guards are to be provided where various components that require service and roof hatch openings are located within 10 feet ( mm) of a roof edge… The guard shall extend not less than 30 inches (762 mm) beyond each end of components that require service.
This code states that anytime a unit is within 10 feet of an edge that a guardrail must be provided at a minimum of 30 inches beyond the end of that unit. Let's say the RTU in question is 48 inches wide. This means that only a minimum of 9’ of railing is required by Mechanical code in this case... easy math, right? So... does that mean we are we done here?
You may be visualizing this specific scenario in your mind and wondering if it’s really that simple. The “thirty inches past” may seem like an arbitrary number and you want to make sure that whatever you do is going to protect workers during further servicing of the units. After all, it is your name on the project and you’re wearing the “fall protection expert” hat for your client now. Some questions you may have at this point would be:
The dangerous assumption that is often made is that by simply following the Mechanical code and meeting the requirements of the final inspection, you have now ensured the safety of anyone coming onto the roof in the future. The reality is that anytime someone comes to service this unit in the future then they are still violating federal OSHA code, in addition to risking serious injury or death.
I won’t get into the specifics of the OSHA code requirements in this article. OSHA’s requirements are much more comprehensive than the mechanical code requirements mentioned earlier, and while it may not be your responsibility now to follow these codes, you have a unique opportunity to bring these up to the building owner or architect.
This is a great opportunity to provide added value to your client, by equipping them with additional information in the area of fall protection. While fall protection is fresh in their mind, now may be the best time to educate the building owner on all the options that are available to them. They may still elect to do the bare minimum and satisfy the inspection requirements. Or, you may open the door for additional business, in addition to establishing yourself as a subject expert. Either way, you are providing an opportunity to prevent future incidents and avoid OSHA violations down the road.
In this guide, we will cover many questions you may have about finding, purchasing, and installing the most effective safety barriers for your facility. Please read on to learn more.
Let’s understand the definition, components, and applications of safety barriers.
A safety barrier is a reinforced fencing structure used to protect valuables such as people, buildings, machinery, and inventory from unnecessary damage caused by vehicles and other moving objects. Safety barriers can also be used to create designated routes and isolate different types of traffic, such as sidewalks and vehicle routes.
While the barriers may vary between safety barrier manufacturers, the basic components are:
Safety barriers are widely used in various industries, sectors, and workplaces. They are primarily used in busy industrial facilities where on-site vehicles are common, such as:
Generally, safety barriers are used to:
The most common use of safety barriers is to provide protection. This can protect any number of things, such as people, machines, vulnerable structural spaces in buildings or facilities, inventory, and goods. Safety barriers prevent the entry of vehicles and smaller manually operated material handling equipment such as pallet trucks.
Another important use of safety barriers is isolation. Separation refers to the separation of one object or person from another. Safety barriers can be used to isolate:
As with isolation, safety barriers can be used to identify and mark specific routes and paths. This can include vehicular routes throughout the facility, safe walkways for employees and visitors, and more specific routes such as one-way systems in busy venues.
For example, I have a friend. He was a stand up pouch manufacturer, and his factory housed many of the machines that produced the stand up pouch. To prevent workers from touching machines while walking, he created a walkway in the factory with safety barriers. This not only protects the safety of workers but also protects the safety of the assets of the plant.
In addition to creating sidewalks, safety barriers provide the necessary support for foot traffic. Most pedestrian barriers include a handrail to provide additional support and make it easier for people to move through the facility.
With the world’s first advanced polymer safety barrier, Aotons is the market leader when it comes to traffic management, pedestrian isolation, and protection. Making workplaces safer is what we know best.
This section describes the various types of safety barriers and the different levels of protection they provide. Additionally, you will learn about the various barriers and the types of materials used in their manufacture.
The following is a classification by the use of safety barriers.
Traffic barriers are used to separate traffic lanes and create clear vehicle routes. There are many different types of traffic barriers – from portable temporary barriers to fixed barriers. These can be found inside the facility and on the road.
When people refer to “crash barriers,” it’s usually about the guardrails and types of guardrails that line highways and busy roads. Usually made of stainless steel or another type of metal, these guardrails cover long distances and provide serious protection for vagrant vehicles.
Pedestrian barriers are the types of barriers that typically define pedestrian routes and sidewalks through areas of busy facilities and increased vehicular activity. Not only do they protect those walking beside them, but they also provide additional support for pedestrians, often in the form of handrails.
Are you interested in learning more about Traffic Guardrails Manufacturer ? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
There is no difference between a guardrail and a safety barrier. Safety barriers are just an umbrella term that includes guardrails along roads.
The material, shape, and finish of your barrier will depend on your needs. If you’re looking for something strong and safe, you may want to focus on the materials you’ll need, or want something that looks great in your space, you can start your search with the different finishes we offer.
The guide below will provide you with barriers categorized by material.
Typically, barriers work best when the roots are anchored to a concrete foundation. However, there are exceptions, and we look below at all the different ways to install barriers.
A specially designed section of the barrier is placed in the ground and secured with concrete. This is the safest way to install barriers. Anti-Ram barriers are placed deeper in the ground for added strength and support.
Use when the subsurface may be vulnerable or weak, or when drilling down is not possible. A plate was added to the bottom of the barrier design and secured to the concrete surface using a suitable bolting system according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is ideal for applications where barriers need to be replaced or removed from time to time.
Now, that you have known more about safety barriers and the types available, it’s useful to understand what they prevent and what can cause barriers to fail. The following are answers to safety barriers FAQs.
Safety barriers in industrial workplaces are designed to withstand impacts from:
Safety barriers are designed to protect vulnerable objects from the unexpected impact of moving vehicles, but the amount of force a safety barrier can withstand varies by barrier type.
Most safety barrier manufacturers will provide an impact rating for their safety barriers. The rating is a number in joules. When testing safety barriers, this number is derived by multiplying the vehicle’s speed by its weight, taking into account the angle at which it hits the barrier. These ratings provide guidance on how much force a safety barrier can withstand.
If the object changes speed or weight, this will affect how successful the safety barrier is at deflecting the impact. If the safety barrier weighs no more than 4.4 tons and does not travel faster than 5 mph, it may be able to withstand the force of a forklift. However, if the driver increases the speed of the vehicle, or if there is additional weight on the vehicle, it may cause the safety barrier to fail.
It is therefore important to observe strict regulations regarding vehicle speed and maximum weight on site. This will ensure that the safety barrier can perform to its optimum specification.
For safety barriers to provide effective protection, you must understand what they protect against. Each Aotons product has been rigorously tested for impact, you can contact our team to know more specifications.
When investing in a security system, it is important to understand what standards and regulations are in place to help you invest in an effective product from a vendor you can trust.
PAS 13 is a code of practice for the installation and testing of safety barriers. It was created by the British Standards Institution in partnership with the blue-chip company steering group and health and safety executives.
As well as standardizing guidelines for safety barrier testing, it is intended to help people configure safety barriers correctly in the field. As long as PAS 13-compliant products meet specific criteria, their impact ratings can be trusted. Your workers, machines, and infrastructure will be protected from unwanted impacts with Aotons safety barriers and bollards.
Although concrete, steel, and plastic safety barriers serve the same basic purpose, the level and type of protection they provide can vary with each material.
In some cases, concrete barriers can be cast in place or installed at specific locations. Cement is used to attach them to the floor. In order to provide greater impact protection, concrete barriers are sometimes reinforced with steel or metal.
Safety barriers made of galvanized steel are very common – especially on roadsides. These usually take the form of long barriers that separate traffic and prevent vehicles from going in different directions.
Plastic safety barriers are often referred to as “polymer safety barriers,” which refer to the type of material from which they are made. Some polymer barriers are used as temporary protection, while others are stronger and designed for long-term industrial protection. These polymer safety barriers are designed to withstand impacts and then return to their original shape so they can be used again.
Polymer barriers from Aotons offer long-term protection and don’t require maintenance if you need a strong, reliable, and cost-effective safety barrier. Learn more about our security solutions by contacting our team.
This article has provided you with an overview of the basic elements that make up a safety barrier and the different types of industrial barriers available.
At Aotons, we provide you with a range of safety barriers, whether you require warehouse protection, efficient traffic management, pedestrian isolation support,t or heavy-duty protection of machinery and structures. Call +- to contact our sales team, please to find out what we can do for you.
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