In addition to safety on building sites and on finished buildings, fall protection systems are also an important factor in the economical servicing of buildings. Modern rope access technology and rail systems also allow aesthetic solutions which do not impair the visual appearance of the building.
This article informs you about significant aspects of fall protection systems for potential construction projects and in architectural design. These include planning, costs, legal requirements and special solutions. And you find out how the experts from INNOTECH can support you.
Early planning of fall protection systems
The integration of fall protection systems, including personal protective equipment, should take place as early as possible in the planning phase, ideally even in the development phase. As a rule, a couple of anchor points are just not enough for an efficient fall protection system.
Reasons to plan in good time:
- Costs: Early inclusion of fall protection systems when planning building projects can prevent unnecessary post-installations and structural adjustments, and this reduces material and working costs, and avoids surprises in the overall costs.
- Aesthetics: To seamlessly integrate fall protection systems and safety solutions into the building structure without them being visually obtrusive in any way, they must be planned in good time. This is because constructional measures such as openings in roofs or facades are often necessary for the installation of the safety solution. However, seamless integration into the building’s visual appearance is then only partially possible.
- Construction progress:Early planning of the optimum fall protection systems for facades and roofs can make the entire construction process significantly more efficient. As a rule, retrospective modifications require a lot of time and money. By integrating safety measures into the design phase, delays can be minimised and problem-free construction can be ensured.
The INNOTECH experts in fall protection system planning can unbureaucratically support architects with early planning. Rough drafts are often sufficient to allow the provision of a basic proposal.
Cost factors affecting fall protection
The costs for fall protection systems are made up of various factors, and they can also therefore vary greatly. Precise cost planning and control are decisive for the creation of a building project which is economical and efficient.
The most important drivers of costs and their influencing factors:
- Material and installation: When planning and implementing fall protection systems, the most significant cost factors are the material required and the installation costs. Depending on the system selected (lifeline or rail system), the material costs vary significantly. The characteristics of the building structure also play an important role in the selection of the right safety solution.
- Time: Planning in good time can avoid expensive retrospective adaptations, and therefore save time and money. Modifications later on are often time-consuming and require additional resources which can put a burden on the overall budget for the building project. The early integration of fall protection systems into the planning of building projects can minimise these cost factors.
- Planning effort: Time and effort for planning can be significantly reduced by availing of decades of know-how about safety solutions for facades and roofs from experts such as Innotech. Appropriate solutions can be developed quickly, and cost traps can be exposed in good time.
- Special safety solution: Every building structure requires an individual safety solution. Standardised systems are often insufficient, because most buildings have unique architectural features which require special fall protection systems. Special systems can result in higher costs, but can be tailored to the specific requirements of the respective building structure. That is especially important if the fall protection is not to impair the building visually.
Selection of the safety solution: Cost comparison of rail and lifeline systems
Rail systems such as TAURUS from INNOTECH:
- Costs: approx. 14,000 euros for 50 running metres, including installation
- Advantages: Robust, suitable for high user frequency and heavy loads
- Disadvantages: Higher costs and material requirements
Lifeline systems such as AIO from INNOTECH:
- Costs: approx. 4,500 euros for 50 running metres, including installation
- Advantages: Cheaper, more flexible and less conspicuous
- Disadvantages: Less robust than rail systems
Comparison of the two systems makes it clear how much the costs depend on the selection of the safety system. The specific requirements of the building project and the budget available therefore need to be taken into account when making the decision!
Thanks to their solid experience, the experts from INNOTECH can quickly estimate which solution provides the optimum fall protection system and which components in detail are required for it. If requested, they can create a rapid cost estimation.
Legal aspects and liability risks
The architect responsible bears significant responsibility for the safety of buildings. Compliance with legal requirements and standards is decisive in minimising liability risks and ensuring safety on the building site and later on during the operation of the building.
In this section we have summarised the most important legal requirements and standards relating to fall protection systems, and we indicate measures for minimising risks.
Important standards and laws
- DIN EN 795: This European standard defines the requirements for performance characteristics and test methods for anchorage devices. It subdivides fall protection systems into five types (A-E), where each type covers different requirements and areas of use.
- ÖNORM B 3417: This Austrian standard specifies how planning, implementation, use, servicing and testing of fall protection systems have to take place for servicing and maintenance measures. It provides detailed instructions on the implementation of safe fall protection systems.
- AUVA, DGUV and SUVA: In Austria, Germany and Switzerland the Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt (AUVA - Austrian accident insurance institution), the Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV - German Social Accident Insurance) and the Schweizerische Unfallversicherungsanstalt (SUVA - Swiss Accident Insurance Agency) provide guidelines and regulations about fall protection and accident prevention. They support architects and planners in the implementation of safe building projects.
Minimising liability risks
Liability risks are reduced when the following measures are complied with:
- Consideration of all relevant parameters, especially the load capacity and structure of the foundations for the respective anchor points.
- Selection of an optimum safety solution: Collective or individual, i.e. lifeline or rail systems, depending on area of use and onsite circumstances.
- Ensuring the correct installation by certified partner companies and/or experts in fall protection systems.
- Detailed description and photo documentation of all installation steps. For this, a very practical aid is the planning and documentation tool for fall protection systems, called INNO|doc.
- Include fall protection system experts early in the planning phase, in order to ensure the selection of the optimum safety solution and its perfect, professional installation.
- The risk is also reduced through the installation of proven systems and materials.
Solutions for complex building structures
Modern architecture often requires innovative fall protection systems which are both safe and aesthetically appealing. When it comes to safety, complex building structures and particular climatic conditions repeatedly present great challenges to architects and the partners of architectural practices. In this section, various problems and their solutions are discussed on the basis of practical examples of larger and smaller projects.
Climatic conditions
Extreme temperature differences arise in countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. These can have a negative effect on the stability and functionality of fall protection systems. Where applicable, flexible lifeline systems with special connectors can be used for this. These compensate the necessary expansion/contraction movements, and thus permit use even under difficult conditions.
Impeded access
Architecture is becoming increasingly innovative, and this results in more complex building structures and roof forms. However, these often impede access to specific areas, and therefore also require flexible safety solutions. This is where the TAURUS rail system from INNOTECH represents a solution which can be adapted to almost every form and structure, and can also be deployed in extreme situations.
Special cases
Standardised safety solutions do not always fulfil every requirement, especially when it comes to sensitive roof and facade areas. In these cases. special solutions are required. These always have to allow architects and their clients all the architectural freedom that they need, while ensuring absolute safety on the building site.
Aesthetic solutions
Another important aspect is the aesthetic integration of the safety systems into the overall architecture. Concealed safety systems, such as the TAURUS rail system in combination with personal protective equipment or the BARRIER-S24 hinged guardrail system can also be colour-matched and integrated seamlessly into the facade, in order not to impair the building’s visual appearance.
Some examples
- Concealed rail systems are hidden behind facade or roof elements, and therefore do not stand out visually. They can even be colour-matched very successfully. Nevertheless, in combination with personal protective equipment they provide absolute safety for all the servicing and cleaning tasks which arise. They are a very safe and also aesthetically pleasing solution for “artistically” demanding buildings.
- Hinged guardrails such as the BARRIER-S24 from INNOTECH provide secure collective protection and can be folded away. This means that they are visible only when in use. For the rest of the time, they lie flat on the roof, for example, until they are next required.
- Special solutions for crane systems are used principally in industry. For example, by mounting anchor points on the sides, collisions with the crane trolley can be prevented, as these would impair the crane’s functionality.
Collaboration with the experts from INNOTECH
Planning and implementation of fall protection systems require detailed analyses and collaboration with safety solution experts. In this section we explain how individual architects and planners can be supported in the implementation of building projects, by means of specialist knowledge and modern planning tools from INNOTECH.
- Requirements analysis: The first step in selecting the optimum safety solution is a comprehensive analysis of the facade structure and the roof system and surface, as well as all regional and climatic requirements.
- Onsite inspections: An onsite inspection like this allows all specific safety requirements for the respective building project to be determined. In this way, an exact plan can be created, and the optimally suited fall protection solution can be defined.
- Selecting the optimum solution: Based on the data collected, the optimally suited fall protection system is selected. For this, combinations of various solutions or even special solutions can come into consideration.
- Professional installation: The professional installation of the safety systems should always be undertaken by certified partner companies. They know exactly what matters, and they are able to install the fall protection system not just correctly, but also as quickly as possible, and above all safely.
- Consultancy from professionals: Fall protection system experts like those at INNOTECH support architects through detailed consultancy sessions and 3D visualisations. These demonstrate the seamless integration of the fall protection systems into the design planning right from the outset.
Summary
Early integration of fall protection systems, including personal protective equipment, into the planning of building projects is essential. Not only does it provide immediate benefits in terms of safety and cost effectiveness, it also guarantees safe and efficient servicing and cleaning of buildings in the long term.
Whether for larger or smaller projects, architects and planners should include experts in good time and use modern planning tools, in order to avail of the benefits of planning the fall protection system early on, and to structure their projects optimally.