Temporary Tread Insert with Bullnose Notch for Stairway Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temporary treads used in metal stairway frameworks during construction are inefficient, as they do not fully cover the stair pan area, are not slip-resistant, and pose fire hazards, failing to meet OSHA and building code requirements for safety and durability.
Innovation Solution
A temporary tread insert with a bullnose-shaped curved surface, notched to fit beneath the stair pan's bullnose, providing a non-slip surface and easy installation/removal, manufactured from fire-rated recycled materials, ensuring full-width and depth coverage of the stair pan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wood strips or chopped insulation board are used as temporary treads, then installation is simple and cost is low, but they do not fully cover the stair pan area and are not slip-resistant
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary tread insert changes the material parameters from wood or insulation board to a rigid, slip-resistant material with specific dimensional parameters (12 inches deep, 1.5-2 inches high) that precisely match the stair pan specifications, ensuring full coverage and compliance with OSHA and ANSI standards
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is made from composite or engineered materials that combine slip-resistant surface properties with structural rigidity, unlike simple wood strips or chopped insulation board, achieving both safety compliance and durability
2Ease of operation
If wood temporary treads are used, then they are easy to install, but they pose fire hazards and are not fire-rated
Solution Approach 1:
The material composition is changed from combustible wood to fire-rated material, fundamentally altering the fire resistance parameter while maintaining the temporary nature and ease of installation of the tread insert
3Quantity of substance
If wooden strips are inserted into stair pans, then they provide temporary tread coverage, but they do not prevent debris accumulation in the spaces between pan and tread
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is designed with specific local qualities including a bullnose shape that matches the stair pan contour and precise dimensional specifications (12 inches deep, 1.5-2 inches high) that ensure complete filling of the stair pan space, eliminating gaps where debris could accumulate
4Productivity
If conventional temporary treads are used, then they can be quickly installed, but they wear out, warp, and crack over time during construction
Solution Approach 1:
The insert uses engineered composite or rigid materials that resist warping, cracking, and wear, unlike simple wood strips, while maintaining the same quick installation process through the same insertion method into the stair pan
Solution Approach 2:
The material parameters are changed to include higher structural integrity and dimensional stability, ensuring the temporary tread maintains its shape and functionality throughout the construction period without deforming or deteriorating
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary tread insert and method for installation in a stairway framework during building construction. The temporary tread insert includes an insert body having an upper tread surface, a bottom surface and opposed side surfaces. A front end of the insert body has a substantially bullnose shaped curved surface. The upper tread surface has a notched surface extending along the upper tread surface. Also disclosed is the method of inserting the temporary tread insert into the stair pan of a stairway framework, where the stair pan includes a bullnose at a front end of the stair pan, and the bullnose has a portion extending laterally a distance into the stair pan. The temporary tread insert includes a notched surface. The method includes positioning the temporary tread insert above a bottom of the pan, inserting the notched end of the temporary tread insert beneath the laterally extending portion of the bullnose, and moving the rear end of the temporary tread insert downward until the notched end of the temporary tread insert engages the underside of the portion extending laterally from the bullnose.