How to Make the Right Choice When Buying or Installing Guardrail?
What do you do when you need something? You Google it right! When you need a guardrail, selecting the suitable barrier requires more involvement than initially expected. It can be overwhelming with so many options. You find out that there are so many options available. GI, SS, FRP Aluminum, Welded, Non-penetrating, … The possibilities go on. With all of this in front of you, how do you make the right choice? You should consider many points and features available while you make this decision. 1. What is the application of the guardrail?2. Where do you need the guardrail?3. how long do you need the guardrail to last?4. What codes apply to your guardrails?5. How fast do you need the guardrail to install?6. How do you want the guardrail to look? We’ll review each area you should consider while making this decision. 1. What is the application of the guardrail? It’s a simple question but an important one. There are a few factors that will change the type of guardrail that you need.If you need the industrial guardrail for protection, then you need to make sure that the guardrail meets the standards applicable to you, like BIS, OSHA, or EN. The type of protection you need would also change the guardrail you want. We suggest using a 40 NB Structural Fittings based modular pipe guardrail for fall protection. However, the size and code will change if you want a more robust barrier system to protect people from forklift traffic. If you need to use it as a warning line, then the requirements are easier to manage by light duty handrail. Then it would help if you considered whether the guardrail would be temporary or permanent. For example, if you plan on taking the guardrail down when the work is done, then you want to focus on temporary guardrails like a parapet clamp guardrail or temporary guardrail. On the other hand, if you wish for the guardrail to remain in place so that the working or walking surface is always protected, then you want a system designed to stay in place. 2. Where is the guardrail going? The most common locations that we see are STP, ETP, WTP, Industrial Buildings perimeter, Solar rooftop, and machine guarding. Other potential sites include a mezzanine, a dock, or inside a warehouse. Each location has its own set of considerations that would change the guardrail you choose. Weather plays a role in the system that you choose. Saline and water-rich areas, corrosive gas fumes, snow, and heavy rain will corrode the material if you don’t choose carefully. If you live in a windy area, you’ll want to ensure that any system is designed to meet your local requirements. Ensure that you take this into account so that you don’t have a guardrail flying off your structure, damaging equipment, or, more importantly, putting lives at risk. The roof material will influence how you want to mount a guardrail. If you have a roof warranty, you don’t want to lose it by poking holes in the roof. If you don’t have a roof warranty, then you don’t want to exasperate potential roof leaks by poking holes in the roof. A complete modular aluminum lightweight guardrail constructed from tube clamp fittings is an ideal solution. 3. How long do you need the guardrail to last? You may think this is a meaningless question, but I see the answer to this is ignored more often than you realize. A cheaper short-term solution will cost less initially, but when you consider money, energy, and time spent on maintenance and replacing that mean stuff, it becomes more costly. Guardrail is not immune to this problem. Some options are temporary and used for permanent solutions because they are cheaper. However, those savings come at a cost. Powder-coated steel will not last as long as galvanized steel, and you will have to replace the railing sooner than you expect. Welding has pros and cons as well. The weld points will be an area of accelerated corrosion despite galvanization. Aluminum and SS 316 do not rust and provide a better life in a humid and corrosive environment. If you only need it for a year or two, then buying a lower-quality option may make sense. However, if you want something that will protect people long, you need to stop and ask yourself if the option you’re considering will do just that. 4. What codes apply to your guardrail? We found a lack of understanding, most often in this area. We noticed in India IS 4912 code is ancient and needs updating as per OSHA or EN code. They talk about a lot and set the minimum safety standard that employers must provide. For rooftops, we do not have any set standards. Edge protection and safety in roof work require an area of consideration. Check your local regulations and company standard to select the correct guardrail.You might have a presumption that welded railing only offers good strength. Still, proven evidence is that EnduRail built from Structural Fittings and slip-on pipe fittings, has surpassed the load requirement of OSHA and EN standards if configured correctly. 5. How fast do you need the guardrail to install? Installing guardrails is part of project management. Procurement and execution both involve proper detailing. Mild steel welded guardrail needs site welding, grinding, and post-fabrication sandblasting and painting. All are time-consuming and skilled staff requirement jobs. Prefabricated GI railing management is not easy. You have to consider volume management and transit damages. If a small part needs modification or procurement, the handover process will get delayed and, in turn, project. A modular aluminum guardrail system is easy to procure, manage and install without a skilled workforce. Procure structural fittings and pipes in pre-coated finish and start the installation as the project progresses. On-site modification and dismantling are also easy if required. 6. How do you want the guardrail to look? Why does the look of the guardrail matter if safety is the only important thing?
Advantages Modular Handrailing has to offer over Steel Handrails?
While steel handrail has often been used for decades; it is only because at the time it was the best option available. With the advancement in technology however, steel is not the best option anymore and can pose some serious safety hazards as well as financial burden. The case against steel is quite solid and when it comes to having the safest workplace and the most economical structural solutions, steel just does not make the cut due to high maintenance and early replacement due to corrosion. There are numerous reasons why steel handrail is a fading trend and being replaced with aluminum Modular Safety Handrailing solution. Many plants and other industrial workplaces are making the switch to more durable and modular handrailing of aluminum – EnduRail from Chemey. Why EnduRail®? Aluminum is proved to have Lowest Life Cycle cost when Total Cost of Ownership is considered, since over its entire lifespan, an aluminum structure may prove to be the best option in terms of installation, maintenance, operation, and disposition costs. The case for ALUMINIUM becomes even stronger when the project is in a Highly Corrosive Environment like STP/ETP/Coastal area. (* A Report by Deloitte Inc., with Aluminum Association of Canada) It provides a safe, the most cost effective, reliable, durable, and versatile barrier system to your Railing requirement when you need to protect people, equipment, or your on-site inventory. Advantages of EnduRail Modular Handrailing Easy Installation & Design Long Lasting -No recurring maintenance cost Modular Design – can be removed and reinstall. Anti-Spark – Safe in area pertaining to Spark hazard. No Welding or Special skill or permissions on site Compliance: OSHA 1910.29 / EN 14122-3 EnduRail -all aluminum modular handrail offers a strategic integrated Guard and Safety Railing solutions to meet your safety requirements with absolute confidence for industrial structures, loading docks, walkways, Effluent Treatment Plants, and railings in aggressive coastal environments. To start any handrail project just plan for pipe, fittings, and simple tools. Mark chalk line and base flange positions. Drill anchor hole and start installation by cutting pipes of required size. There is no welding, threading or special permits required when you use Endurail modular handrailing in your projects saving you both time and money. Keep viewing more at Endurail Projects & Advantage – https://youtu.be/9GlOv59vjpo
Simple Solution for Non-Simple Handrail Projects
EnduRail Structural pipe fitting, also known as a slip-on pipe fitting, tube clamp fittings, or pipe clamp is used to build structures such as handrails, guardrails, modular barricades, solar panel support, and other types of pipe or tubular structure. Endurail fittings are the best option for DIY enthusiasts for more creative applications such as bench, coffee table, modular GYM, clothing racks, shelves, and building architectural use. Because of the modular design of standard fittings, assembly is easy without welding or threading and only simple hand tools are required. There are endless possibilities to build tubular structures as there are more than 50 types of slip-on pipe fittings combine in many ways to create any custom structure. Fittings used are aluminum alloy castings, and come in many styles such as elbows, tees, crosses, flanges, and adjustable tube clamp fittings. The fittings are not threaded; they simply lock onto the pipe with the supplied hex set screws. The primary advantage of Endurail fittings is its simplicity to use. The fittings slip on the pipe and are usually locked down with a set screw. Using only an allen key when the knurl point set screw is tightened down it locks the fittings into the pipe and a connection equivalent to a weld is created. Do not let its simplicity fool you into thinking the connection is week. Endurail fittings are rated for more than 400 kg of pull-out force. This strength qualifies for use in most industrial applications. Other advantages of using structural pipe fittings are easy installation and reconfigurable design. Since there are no permanent welds in the structure, the set screws of the fittings can simply be loosened, allowing them to be repositioned. The project can be disassembled and stored if needed, or even taken apart with fittings and pipe recycled into a new project. Keep viewing more on structural pipe fittings @ https://youtu.be/j2URpQK-9Jk To start any handrail project just plan for pipe, fittings, and simple tools. Mark chalk line and base flange positions. Drill anchor hole and start installation by cutting pipes of required size. There is no welding, threading or special permits required when you use Endurail modular handrailing in your projects saving you both time and money. Keep viewing more at Endurail Projects & Advantage – https://youtu.be/9GlOv59vjpo
Safe Access to Rooftop Solar Installations-Rooftop Railing & Walkway
Rooftop Solar Installations are growing, so grows the need of people working on roof and their safety. On a metal roof there are many safety concerns. The metal ribs of standing seam roof and Crest of troughed sheet can cause a significant trip hazard. Additionally, the metal roof may not be designed for people to be walking on any part other than the seam/purlin support. These concerns of Rooftop are taken care by EnduRail®– modular lightweight but strong rooftop railing EnduPlank™k/EnduFloor™ – modular walkway solution Both Systems are principally designed to attach to metal roofs. It connects to the standing seam or troughed roof top using clamps and screws. These sections can easily be installed to form Safe Guardrail andwalkway around rooftop solar panel installations. Find more about EnduRail® and EnduFloor around a roof top solar at www.chemey.com Meeting Your Requirements for Roof Railing When selecting a rooftop railing, you will be burdened with several non-negotiable requirements. Fortunately, EnduRail non-penetrating system for Standing Seam and Penetrating system for Industrial Troughed roof offers many features that covers all concerns. Must Be OSHA Compliant For a roof railing to be effective in preventing a fall, it must be able to resist the loads as laid out in OSHA 1910. OSHA requires that the top rail of the railing must be able to withstand90 kg of point load without failure. EnduRail roof railing exceeds this requirement and has the testing documents to prove it. Always ask for the test documentation. Needs To Navigate Around Obstacles Most roofs were not designed with railing in mind. There are often obstacles on the rooftop that make the installation of railing difficult. EnduRail uses modular fittings and standard pipe that make it easy to navigate obstacles that are located on the rooftop. Aesthetics – Has to Look Good Safety and aesthetics do not have to be mutually exclusive. EnduRail roof railing has plenty of features that make it a great looking solution. Anodized Fittings and Pipe This means that the railing is less visible and blends in better with its surroundings Powder Coat Fittings and Anodized Pipe or All Powder Coating The railing can also be powder coated so that it blends in perfectly with the aesthetics of the building. Continuous Throughout EnduRail has a continuous railing. There are no breaks in the railing, making it look more pleasing and well-integrated into the building environment. Quick Installation A roof railing that can be installed efficiently is another must! EnduRail’s modular design makes assembly rapid without the use of welding or drilling. An Allen key, torque wrench, pipe vise and pipe cutter are all that is needed to install this roof railing. Long Lasting The EnduRail roof railing system is All aluminum. It is the ultimate solution even in corrosive or saline environment. EnduRail systems are built for long lasting durability. Whatever the issues are surrounding roof railing, EnduRail has the solution. The EnduRail railing system is the industry leading roof railing solution because it performs well in all circumstances. Learn More About Why EnduRail Aluminum Railing
