In any area where there are people, it is vital they are protected and kept separate from hazards such as heights, perimeter edges or water. Guardrails and handrails serve as a barrier between the public or contractors and hazards.
Once installed, it is vital guardrails and handrails continue to offer the highest level of safety, and the best way to ensure this is by using the highest quality components.
The problem with fabricated guardrails and handrails
A popular hazard protection option is fabricated guardrails and handrails. These are fabricated off-site and require a lot of preparation and design work which requires many draft versions. The prefabricated structures are then delivered to the site and must be installed by a skilled fitter with the required training and permits, creating many health and safety issues.
Furthermore, cutting holes for fitting breaches the railing’s anti-corrosion coatings which are further compromised by welding. This integrity can be restored via painting but this will have to be meticulously maintained once installed.
Many rails are exposed to corrosive conditions which can eat away at the material of the guardrail and once the structure is weakened sufficiently, the railing itself becomes a hazard.
Once fabricated guardrails and handrails become damaged, the only way to repair them is by cutting out the problem section and welding in a replacement, once again bringing up a whole host of issues.
The Kee Systems alternative
Kee Systems offers a simple, durable alternative to fabricated guardrails and handrails in the form of Kee Klamp® Key Clamps hot dip galvanised iron and Kee Lite® aluminium fittings. Slip-on components and lengths of tube ensure complete hazard protection without the issues that fabricated guardrails and handrails create.
Kee fittings are hugely flexible, only requiring a general arrangement drawing and removing the need for a highly skilled labourer and work permits, as anyone can fit the railing thanks to the use of simple hexagonal set screws locking the fitting to the tube.
There is also no cutting required, so the tube maintains its integrity, another benefit over fabricated systems.
In a modern marine climate, such as a town like Newcastle-Upon-Thames, the average lifetime of typical hot-dip galvanised fittings is calculated to be around 37 years.
The benefits of Kee Fittings
Kee Klamp® Key Clamps and Kee Lite® fittings offer a strong and durable solution to separating people from hazards, are more resilient to corrosion and can last up to seven times longer than fabricated barriers and handrails. They also eliminate the need for welding, cutting, threading or bolting and remove the need for skilled labour and permits for work.
With Kee fittings you can save time and money thanks to the quick and easy installation, as well as feel assured that your guardrail will do the job thanks to a wide range of components for every situation.
Thu, 03/23/2017 – 10:20
You need to be sure that once installed, guardrails and handrails continue to offer the highest level of safety. Fabricated handrails are prone to rust so the best way to ensure continued performance is by using the highest quality components such as Kee Klamp or Kee Lite.
