Products & Systems / SafeClamp® handrail
GRP guardrail arrangements
Define the protection.
Design the guardrail.
Coordinate rails, posts, infill and supports around the people and hazards the arrangement must serve. Set the duty and design requirements before selecting the component layout.
Start with the use of the space
Who uses the route?
What must it protect?
Hand support, separation and protection at an exposed edge are different functions. Identify the required role of each part of the arrangement.
Working access
Describe maintenance activity, equipment access and expected users. Include tools, materials and the need to reach operating points.
Exposed edges
Identify the hazard and the protection required. Coordinate the upper rail, intermediate protection and any toe board with the finished deck.
Controlled routes
Define the space that must remain accessible and the area being separated. Include openings, gates and interfaces with adjacent routes.
Where the route serves building or public access, agree the relevant barrier and accessibility requirements. Do not assume an industrial access arrangement is suitable for every occupancy.
SafeClamp® component basis
Choose matched parts.
Coordinate the assembly.
The published SafeClamp®reference describes 50 mm diameter pultruded GRP tube with a 5 mm wall and matched moulded fittings. Confirm the current product specification for the proposed design.
| Element | Design information to establish |
|---|---|
| Rails and posts | Heights, post positions, rail continuity and the loading the arrangement must resist. |
| Fittings | The joint type, engagement, fastening and changes of direction or slope. |
| Intermediate protection | Rail or infill arrangement, openings and attachment to the supporting components. |
| Bases | Mounting geometry, reactions, anchorage and the supporting substrate. |
| Toe boards and gates | The lower-edge detail, access opening and operation required within the complete layout. |
Component size does not establish a guardrail capacity. Review the assembled system, including the connections and supports, for the intended duty.
Set the acceptance criteria
Agree the loads.
Verify the arrangement.
Record the standards and criteria that apply to the project. Keep the layout consistent with the assumptions used in the design or relevant test evidence.
Actions and movement
Define horizontal and concentrated actions, their direction and combinations, with the permitted movement. Confirm the post spacing from the complete design.
Geometry
Agree the rail height, intermediate openings, infill and toe protection. Include changes in finished level and the usable width of the route.
Machinery access
BS EN ISO 14122-3:2016 addresses stairs, stepladders and guardrails for permanent machinery access. Establish whether its scope applies to the installation.
Other settings
Identify the applicable building, accessibility and asset-owner requirements for the actual location and users. Review the arrangement against that basis.
Special environments
Define chemical exposure, temperature, weathering and any fire or electrical requirements. Assess the complete assembly, including metallic connections.
Request evidence that matches the selected components, layout and support conditions. A generic compliance statement is not a substitute for that review.
Transfer the guardrail reactions
Design the base.
Check the supporting asset.
The connection to the structure is part of the guarding design. Existing surfaces and thin edges need to be established before fixing positions are finalised.
Substrate
Identify material, thickness, condition and edge distances. Locate reinforcement, services and constraints on drilling or fixing.
Mounting
Compare base and side mounting against clear width, access and the support reactions. Coordinate the detail with deck edges and drainage.
Installation
Specify the anchor and assembly method. Agree inspection and any required testing within the project acceptance process.
The complete route
Keep access clear.
Resolve every opening.
Show stairs, ladders, gates, doors and equipment-removal routes on the plan. Review corners, returns and changes of level alongside the protection required.
Coordinate the guardrail with how the asset is operated and maintained. Agree removable sections and their management where permanent continuity is interrupted.
Before installation
Confirm the accepted layout, current components and substrate information. Resolve differences before changing the detail.
Before release
Check connections, bases, rail continuity, openings and condition against the specification. Record the required inspections.
In service
Inspect damage, movement and loose components. Review alterations and replacement parts through the agreed maintenance process.
Plan the guarding package.
Start with a marked-up plan.
Include the route, levels, intended users, openings and proposed fixing surfaces.
Questions about GRP guardrails.
Is a handrail the same as a guardrail?
A handrail can provide hand support. A guarding arrangement has a protection duty. Establish which functions are required and design the system accordingly.
Can the same post spacing be used everywhere?
Post spacing depends on the actions, components, connections and support conditions. Confirm it within the design.
Can mesh infill be included?
Include the infill requirement in the layout and design. Its openings, attachment and effect on the system need review.
Does GRP remove electrical risk?
Do not infer an electrical safety rating from the material alone. Assess the complete installed assembly and environment.
What helps you review our requirement?
A plan with levels, users, hazards, openings and substrate information, together with the relevant project standards and design criteria.
Define the guarding.
Send the route plan.
Share the layout and intended duty. Ask Vital to review the components, supports and information needed to develop the arrangement.