Fall Protection Fabric Grid Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fall protection systems in metal building construction fail to effectively catch and support workers who fall from elevated heights, particularly at the edges of building bays, leading to potential injuries and non-compliance with safety standards.
Innovation Solution
A passive fall protection system comprising a suspension fabric supported by a grid-work of longitudinal and lateral bands, where lateral bands are attached to intermediate purlins using safety clips, allowing for longer unfastened lengths to distribute the force of a falling load, and the bands are secured to the eave and ridge to absorb impact before it reaches mechanical fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lateral bands are attached to all intermediate purlins, then the system provides more support points, but the force of a falling load concentrates at these attachment points causing catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the attachment system into two types: fully attached bands providing support at regular intervals, and safety bands with longer unfastened lengths that span across multiple purlins without attaching to all of them. This segmentation allows the system to have both support points and force-distributing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different bands have different attachment characteristics: standard bands attach to provide support, while safety bands have extended unfastened portions specifically at critical locations to distribute impact forces. This local differentiation optimizes both support and shock absorption functions.
2Reliability
If the fabric is made stronger to absorb more shock, then worker safety improves, but the cost and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety bands with longer unfastened lengths act as intermediaries between the falling load and the fabric. They distribute and absorb impact forces before these forces reach the fabric and mechanical fasteners, protecting the fabric from catastrophic failure without requiring the fabric itself to be excessively strong or complex.
3Reliability
If heavy safety nets are erected to provide leading edge protection, then worker protection improves, but the cost and maintenance requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The fall protection system is integrated with the building's insulation system. The fabric that forms the fall protection network also serves as the vapor barrier portion of the building ceiling insulation system in the finished building. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heavy safety nets, reducing material costs and simplifying maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively distributes the force of a falling load over longer lengths of bands, reducing the shock absorbed by the fabric and ensuring compliance with safety standards by preventing catastrophic failure, thus ensuring worker safety and system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the relatively longer unfastened lengths of the lateral bands, at critical locations in the fall protection system, enables the system to distribute the force/shock of a load dropping onto the system over relatively longer lengths of the respective lateral bands
Implementation Method 2
The fall protection system of the invention also provides novel attachments of the lateral bands to eaves and ridges whereby the respective eave and/or the ridge absorbs an enhanced portion of the force of impact, when an object falls onto the fall protection system, before that force reaches mechanical fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides fall protection systems comprising a suspension fabric, supported by a grid-work of longitudinal and lateral bands, in metal building construction. The fall protection system uses safety clips to attach lateral bands to intermediate purlins, and also provides novel attachments of the lateral bands to eaves and ridges whereby the respective eave and/or the ridge absorbs an enhanced portion of the force of impact when an object falls onto the fall protection system. The invention further provides methods of installing such systems, and buildings embodying such systems.