The EN 13374 standard helps take occupational safety to the highest level by defining the performance, design and test methods of suitable guardrail systems in construction and maintenance work, primarily temporary construction guardrail systems. Temporary edge protection systems are formed using handrails, railings and fasteners installed to reduce the risk of personnel falling in environments requiring work at height, such as roofs, construction sites and facade maintenance. EN 13374 guardrail systems regulate tests such as installation procedures, material quality and durability in order to prevent accidents caused by height in temporary construction guardrail solutions and help protection systems operate more safely and consistently. Dekosi stands out as the right address for sourcing guardrails and temporary edge protection systems complying with safety standards.

Edge protection systems complying with the EN 13374 classes are products expected to include one of the following: an intermediate guardrail, a main guardrail or a toe board. After the basic requirements for the toe board and main guardrail have been defined, it is essential to state which of the intermediate protection or main protection systems can be chosen for the notable opening between these two options.

What Is the EN 13374 Standard For?

When it comes to building work, temporary edge protection systems with EN 13374 certification meet expectations wherever safety is required. In such cases, choosing temporary edge protection products of the type and class appropriate to the work being carried out helps provide an ideal protection system. Companies implementing temporary guardrail solutions must always confirm whether the certificate proving compliance with this standard covers the system class and type planned for use on the building site. Construction safety guardrail systems can under no circumstances be used in areas that do not match the system type and class specified in the certificate of conformity to this standard. The areas where temporary edge protection systems are most often used can therefore be listed as follows:

  • They are used around openings that create discontinuity in various slab areas such as flues, staircases, elevator light wells and shafts,
  • They are used in the immediate vicinity of floor slab edges,
  • They are used at the edges of floor staircases,
  • At window openings that create discontinuity between building elements,
  • In and around every area where formwork must be carried out,
  • They are frequently used in hazardous working environments arising from differences in level.

These edge protection systems can provide effective protection against accidents such as falls in areas that are not suited to the intended use or where a much more effective collective protection measure is required. Temporary edge protection systems are known as very important equipment that takes occupational safety to the highest level in elevated working environments. Making quality a priority when choosing the company from which these products are sourced is a very important matter. Choosing companies that work with a focus on quality and trust helps achieve the expected safety from these systems by ensuring compliance with guardrail standards and temporary guardrail regulations.

How Is a Guardrail Complying with Safety Standards Chosen?

Temporary edge protection systems manufactured to EN 13374 standards are evaluated under three separate categories: Class A, Class B and Class C. Accordingly:

  • Class A guardrail system: The Class A temporary edge protection system can provide effective resistance only to static loading. It has the ability to support any person leaning on the protection or walking alongside it, and to collectively arrest a falling person. Class A offers ideal use for angles of less than 10°. Where the guardrail system itself is inclined from the vertical towards the working surface, this must be no more than 15°. If there is an edge protection system here, the gaps must be dimensioned so that a sphere 470 mm in diameter cannot pass through. Where there is no intermediate guardrail or it is not continuous, it is recommended that this protection system be dimensioned so that a sphere 250 mm in diameter cannot pass through,
  • Class B guardrail system: Class B protection systems provide high resistance to static loading or low dynamic effects. They offer high resistance to impact against the protection and can support people walking alongside it who are at risk of falling. They can also be said to be able to collectively arrest people falling or rolling from any inclined surface. Class B guardrail systems can be used at angles of less than 30° with no limit on fall height, or at angles of less than 60° with a fall height of less than two metres. In addition, the inclination of Class B guardrail systems must not deviate more than 15 degrees from the vertical towards the working surface. Class B guardrail systems must be dimensioned so that a sphere 250 mm in diameter cannot pass through any gap in them,
  • Class C guardrail system: Class C guardrail systems can be described as offering very high dynamic force resistance, connected to safety requirements in order to prevent personnel at risk of sliding from steeply inclined surfaces from falling. They can also collectively arrest people tipping and sliding from any steeply inclined surface.

Temporary construction guardrail systems may be suitable for use at angles between 30° and 45° with no limit on fall height, or at angles between 45° and 60° with fall heights of less than five metres. When this angle is greater than 45° or 60° and the fall height exceeds 5 m, using temporary edge protection systems within the scope of this standard is not appropriate. In such cases the guardrail systems must be brought much closer to the working area to reduce the fall height. It is also important that a suitable guardrail system is built. It must not be possible for a sphere 100 mm in diameter to pass through any gap in a Class C guardrail system.

The EN 13374 standard defines the working performance, design features and test conditions of temporary construction guardrails and temporary edge protection systems to be used when working in elevated environments. In order to minimise the risk of workers falling at installation heights of up to 4 m and the risk of various materials falling below, it is decisive in terms of guardrail standards in specifying how products such as intermediate guardrails, handrails, posts and fasteners and toe boards should be installed. This ensures material compatibility and makes it easier for personnel actively working in various environments to comply with occupational safety regulations.

Guardrail manufacturing complying with this standard is successful in defining the minimum performance and material requirements of temporary construction guardrail systems. This means all protective equipment on site is tested and approved under similar conditions within the framework of guardrail standards. Thanks to dynamic and static load tests, workers' movements in real conditions can be simulated. This naturally guarantees how well the system will withstand the expected forces and prevent falls. Temporary guardrail solutions help businesses create an ideal working environment while also allowing personnel to work in an area complying with standards.

Dekosi: Quality in Guardrail Systems

Having become an industry leader by manufacturing EN 13374 tested products to the highest quality standards, Dekosi designs products such as construction safety guardrails within the scope of the regulations and offers them to customers. To experience the difference of Dekosi, which has been delivering work that makes a difference in the manufacture of temporary edge protection systems for many years, all you need to do is visit our website. When it comes to temporary edge guardrail solutions, Dekosi continues to develop and grow day by day.

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