Safety barriers in shaft openings are a critical application for preventing the risk of falling from height and ensuring occupational safety on construction sites. These openings create discontinuity in vertical areas such as elevators, flues, staircases and service risers, and pose a serious danger to workers. These areas are physically delimited with edge protection systems, barrier panels and wall brackets complying with the TS EN 13374 standard. Wall-bracketed systems in particular allow installation without drilling into the slab and can also be used as an opening and closing gate.
Safety barriers reduce the risk of falling. They also prevent materials from falling and equipment from being damaged. Closing off shaft openings during the construction process ensures both worker safety and the continuity of the workflow. When used together with safety nets complying with the TS EN 1263-1 and 1263-2 standards, an impact-absorbing and high-strength protection system is achieved. While these systems help maintain order on site, they also help fulfil legal obligations.
A shaft opening is a special passage area extending from the foundation to the roof of a building, allowing infrastructure elements such as electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems to be routed vertically. It is generally found in apartment blocks, business centres and high-rise buildings. These openings allow installations such as elevator systems, ventilation ducts, and water and gas pipes to be positioned safely and in an orderly manner. A shaft opening offers advantages in terms of both aesthetics and safety by keeping installations out of sight within the building.
Shaft openings also perform critical functions such as fire safety and air circulation. Thanks to ventilation shafts, stale air inside the building is expelled and clean air circulation is provided. These openings can also be used as escape routes in emergencies. Shaft design is determined by technical details in building projects and is dimensioned in accordance with standards such as TS EN. A properly planned shaft opening supports both the trouble-free operation of the installations and the long life and safety of the building.
If safety barriers are not used in shaft openings, serious consequences can arise for both workers and building safety. These openings create discontinuity in vertical passage areas such as elevators, flues, service risers and staircases, and carry a risk of falling from height. Shafts left without barrier systems or safety nets can cause workers to accidentally step into these areas, particularly during the structural construction process. This leads to fatal accidents, serious injuries and work stoppages.
The risk of falling materials also increases. Equipment falling into shaft openings during construction causes both material losses and danger to workers on lower floors. When safety barriers are not used, these areas also carry secondary risks such as fire, water leakage and electrical faults. When protection systems complying with standards such as TS EN 1263-1 and TS EN 13374 are not used, non-compliance with occupational health and safety regulations arises. This in turn can lead to legal sanctions and problems during inspections.
Safety barriers have become mandatory in order to ensure the safety of both people and property in the face of the intensity and risks of modern life. Uncontrolled access, accidents and security breaches can have serious consequences, particularly on construction sites, in factories, in public areas and at event venues.
Barrier systems are therefore strategic safety solutions providing a physical obstacle, order, deterrence and access control.
The situations that make safety barriers mandatory are as follows:
Preventing Unauthorised Access
Barriers prevent unauthorised entry by allowing only authorised people to access certain areas. This reduces security breaches on both private property and in public areas.
Physical Security and Deterrence
Barriers that are visually striking and physically make passage difficult have a deterrent effect on potential threats. The level of security is increased particularly at public buildings, military facilities and critical infrastructure by using crash-tested barriers.
Risk Management and Emergency Safety
In industrial facilities and sensitive areas, barrier systems minimise risks by restricting access to hazardous zones. In situations such as fire, explosion or technical failure, barriers keep the area under control for safe evacuation and intervention.
Shaft safety is a critical area of protection for preventing falls from height, material loss and workplace accidents on construction sites. Vertical discontinuities such as elevator, flue, service and stairwell openings in particular pose serious risks to both workers and equipment.
Dekosi offers modular and durable barrier systems complying with the TS EN 13374 standard to ensure safety in these areas.
Wall-Bracketed Barrier System
Dekosi's wall-bracketed barrier system is a practical solution that can be installed at the edges of shaft openings without drilling. Thanks to wall brackets, the barriers are fixed directly to shear walls and can also be used as an opening and closing gate. This feature offers a great advantage in terms of both safety and ease of access.
The system offers high impact resistance with barrier panels manufactured from galvanised steel. Designed in accordance with the TS EN 13374 standard, these barriers minimise the risk of falling around shafts while saving time during installation. Preferred especially at elevator and service openings, this system creates a safe zone without disrupting order on site.
Temporary Edge Protection Barriers
Dekosi's temporary edge protection systems create a fast and safe barrier around shafts with telescopic guardrails and clamp-on posts. These systems can be adjusted to suit different floor heights and are reusable thanks to their demountable structure.
Edge protection barriers eliminate the risk of falling in stairwells and open edge areas. Fixed with ground support plates, the system provides stability on reinforced concrete slabs. Thanks to its lightweight structure it is easy to transport and offers an advantage in on-site logistics. Thanks to its compliance with the TS EN 13374 Class A standard, it fully complies with occupational health and safety regulations.
Ground Support Plate
The ground support plate is the fundamental component that allows temporary edge protection systems to be fixed around shafts. Dekosi's plates are fixed to the ground at four points, making the barrier system resistant to risks such as bending and twisting.
These plates can be used on both concrete and soil ground. Thanks to their demountable feature they can be reused on different projects and offer a long-term cost advantage. Because the quality of the fixing components is as critical as the robustness of the barrier system in shaft safety, Dekosi's ground support plates form the foundation of safety.
Standardising safety on building projects both protects worker health and ensures that structures serve safely for a long time. Standards provide a fundamental framework for preventing workplace accidents, guaranteeing material quality, ensuring legal compliance and increasing project efficiency. National and international norms such as TS EN, ISO and ASTM make safety in the building sector sustainable and auditable.
Ensuring Occupational Safety
Standards define in advance the risks to which workers may be exposed and make the necessary protective measures mandatory. Hazards such as falling from height, electric shock and material collapse in particular are brought under control by standards such as TS EN 13374 and ISO 45001. This reduces workplace accidents and prevents loss of labour.
Guaranteeing Structural Durability
Safety standards require building elements to pass certain tests and comply with durability criteria. Materials such as concrete, steel and insulation are inspected according to TS EN 206-1 and ASTM norms, resulting in long-lasting and robust structures. This provides protection against earthquakes, fire and environmental effects.
Legal Compliance and Ease of Inspection
Projects complying with standards pass legal inspections smoothly and are protected from penalties. Certificates such as ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 prove the existence of quality and safety management systems, providing credibility on both public and private projects.
Operational Efficiency and Project Continuity
Standardised safety practices organise the workflow and optimise equipment use. This prevents loss of time, reduces costs and speeds up project delivery. In addition, analysing risks in advance prevents unexpected stoppages.
