The End Protection System (EPS), aims to reduce the possibility of falling from the leading edge. It promotes safety in construction. This includes the standard in design, details of the EPS, and field applications.
What is Edge Protection System (EPS)?
Edge protection can come in many forms. However, when someone is at risk of falling from a leading edge, edge protection really shines.
The durable edge protection can be used to protect people from falling from vehicles loading or unloading.
EPS normally doesn’t include scaffolds, as the standards for scaffolds and the methods of applying scaffolds differ.
What does the Edge Protection System do?
You will see that the most important element of all edge protection systems is the mesh panels. While they differ in their details, they share many similarities. They are made of a wire mesh to protect against debris, have a board for toe protection, and are of course, strong enough to provide handrail protection.
There are many methods of attaching edge protection mesh panels to a structure that is under construction. However, the most basic method involves using a post and then fixing the post to the structure.
Below are small diagrams showing how a typical post is mounted onto a concrete slab by bolting a foot. On its right-hand side, you can see a flexible, adaptable cantilever fix bolted to a steel perimeter.
Apart from mounting them on slabs, they can also be mounted on precast concrete to formwork beams and sheet piles.
There are many envelopes available to reduce the risk of work at height exposure. However, the edge protection system must be fitted to the precast elements or steel beams before being lifted into position.
Do you know of any other Edge Protection Systems?
We’ve recently seen an increase in demand for edge protection systems. There is a lot of innovation going on.
The roofing edge protection freestanding systems work through a lever arm that is coupled with the counterweight. This is a simple example of a guardrail, but similar designs can be made with mesh panels.
The standard protection ranges from one to one meter. But some clients want to protect the entire slab, including the floor.
This is how it is being done: compress posts, which have mesh panels on each side, floor to the ceiling.
These compression posts can be secured by friction. Different mechanical means create a compressive force within the post and use that to effectively gluing the posts between the floor & soffit. This friction fitting, which can be very fast and simple to rig a column, allows us to eliminate the need for bolts in the slab.
Attachments are available for most aluminum timber formwork beams that are currently in use.
The innovative solutions are both for precast or steel fabricated staircases. This means that there is no need to continue using traditional methods of scaffold fitting, or any other labor-intensive method for customizing staircases.
Barriers can be installed at ground level. They come with feet support feed which allows you to attach your barriers at ground level as demarcation fencing. This extends the useful life of the mesh barriers and lowers the overall cost.
