Modern buildings with complex facades and artistic building and roof forms require a fall protection system adapted to the situation. Here, external circumstances such as areas which are difficult to access, temperature variations, aesthetic and structural requirements increase the challenge of making the right choice.
Once the construction of the building is complete, significant efforts and constructional measures are often necessary when the desired safety system has to be installed retrospectively. All this is in turn linked to increased costs and a failure to plan for the fall protection system. The aspect of safety should also not be overlooked, because subsequent cleaning, servicing and repair tasks can be performed in safety only if a professional system has been installed.
The following look at practice illustrates some problems and their respective solutions.
1. Large temperature differences
Extreme temperature differences arise, especially in countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. And that is not just seasonally, but also between day and night time. Especially on sheet metal roofs/facades, this can become a challenge which should not be underestimated.
A fall protection system must be able to cope with any expansion movements of facade components or substructures. While lifeline systems are generally temperature-flexible, rail systems require a rigid approach. INNOTECH has developed special connectors which allow expansion compensation, and thus permit the use of aluminium rails even under difficult conditions.
2. Locations which are difficult to access
Architecture has become increasingly innovative, and this has resulted in more complex building structures and roof forms, and in more inaccessible locations on facades and roofs. This is where the TAURUS rail system provides a flexible solution which can be adapted to almost every form and structure, and which can also be deployed in extreme situations such as roller coasters.
3. Sensitive roof and facade areas
However, there are always construction projects where standardised solutions cannot fulfil all requirements. An example of this is a cableway station in the Tyrolean Alps. Here, during the construction phase, it was necessary to install a lifeline system on the roof, to a height of 1.80 metres. After completion of the building, this fall protection system needed to run close to the roof cladding, in order to allow cleaning and maintenance of the glass elements of the facade.
The challenge was that, during the construction phase, the glass elements for the facade were stored on the roof, and these of course had to be protected under all circumstances from potential clashes with the safety solution. However, without an effective fall protection system, it was impossible to install these glass elements on the facade.
In addition, although the roof’s substructure was sufficiently stable to withstand the forces from a standard system in the event of a fall, the required height of 1.80 metres for the special posts represented a further problem: In the event of a fall, the leverage forces would have overloaded the substructure.
This was a dilemma solved by the INNOTECH experts through the use of a tripod designed specifically for these circumstances. Not only was this tripod easy to dismantle and transport, it almost completely absorbed the forces if an emergency arose. This special solution successfully mastered all the initial challenges.
After installation of the facade elements, it was possible to remove the tripods and mount the standard posts for the lifeline system onto the same base plates as had been used previously for the tripods. The lifeline system was now at its standard height, and the tripods were available for use in other projects.
4. Invisible or aesthetic integration
Another important aspect is the visual integration of safety systems into the overall architecture. In such a case, the fall protection equipment is more or less “invisible”, and it in no way impairs the aesthetics of the building. For this reason, the fall protection systems are integrated into the facades.
The TAURUS rails can also be coated or anodised. Such systems provide architects with greater freedom of design, precisely because they can be optimally adapted in terms of colour (e.g. coating in more than 200 RAL colours is possible).
Despite legal requirements, temporary or insufficient solutions which can put safety at risk are often used. Against this background, if an accident involving personal injuries occurs, then serious legal consequences may threaten, and not only can these become very expensive, they can also permanently damage the image of all involved.
This is why INNOTECH experts advise architects and developers to rely exclusively on professionals to provide a certified overall safety solution, and – as already mentioned – to consult with them as early as the planning phase.
Innovative fall protection systems for facades and roofs
The practical difficulty is often to find a suitable protection system which, as well as being effective and safe, also fulfils the “artistic” aspirations of the architects. However, technology in the area of fall protection systems has developed hugely, and it is nowadays able to master all architectural challenges.
Here are a few practical examples from INNOTECH:
Concealed safety using the TAURUS system: Especially for aesthetically sensitive buildings, visual integration of safety measures is essential. The balancing act: The fall protection system must fully withstand the forces from a fall, but must not be visually obtrusive, while being simple and safe to access – even in locations such as glass facades, which are difficult to reach.
For such cases, INNOTECH has developed special sliders which create a connection between the concealed TAURUS rail and the visible area of the facade. This technique enables industrial climbers, for example, to move in safety or to abseil to the required location. Subsequent cleaning and servicing tasks can thus be performed simply and safely.
Concealed safety with hinged guardrails: Hinged guardrails are a further example of modern combinability and innovative fall protection systems. Hinged guardrails (BARRIER-S24) provide safe collective protection without being visually obtrusive, because they can easily be completely folded away when not in use.
Special solutions for crane systems: Especially for industrial applications, it has often proven necessary to equip ceilings and indoor cranes with fall protection systems. In some cases, for mounting the necessary anchor points only a few centimetres are available between the upper surface of the crane girder and the roof structure.
It must also be ensured that no collision with the crane trolley can occur, and that the crane’s functionality is not impaired. The fall protection system therefore sometimes has to be displaced laterally by a few centimetres. And for this, INNOTECH has also developed very effective, and above all safe solutions.
Summary
The integration of fall protection systems with architecture can demand innovative approaches and modern combinations which fulfil safety requirements while ensuring architectural integrity. By involving fall protection specialists early on, architects and planners can ensure that their buildings remain, or become, both safe and beautiful.
Well-conceived fall protection systems can also help to reduce the maintenance costs of buildings. Numerous INNOTECH projects demonstrate that creative solutions and tailored systems allow the implementation of effective safety measures which fulfil the requirements of modern architecture.
Find out more in our guideline about flawless, efficient safety systems in architecture.