Edge Protection System Compliant with TS EN 13374

An edge protection system compliant with the TS EN 13374 standard must include either a main guardrail, an intermediate guardrail and a toe board, or an intermediate protection and toe board system. While the basic requirements are defined here for the main guardrail and toe board, it should be noted that for the notable opening between these two, either an intermediate protection or an intermediate guardrail system may be chosen.

The nets used as an intermediate protection system must comply with the requirements of the TS EN 1263-1 standard. The net fixings must meet the loading requirements of the guardrail classes set out in the TS EN 13374 standard. The nets must also be tensioned so that they are not slack. Accordingly:

• Main guardrail: The vertical distance between any upper point of the main guardrail and the working surface must be at least 1000 mm. It is very important that main guardrails are continuous. In addition, any horizontal gap must be less than 120 mm,
• Toe board: The vertical distance between any upper point of the toe board and the working surface must be at least 150 mm. Toe boards must be designed so as to prevent gaps forming between them and the working surface. Even if a gap exists, it must be such that a sphere 20 mm in diameter cannot pass through it,
• Intermediate protection system or intermediate guardrail: While the dimensions of the guardrail system and its components in the TS EN 13374 standard correspond to the values in Article 6 under the heading "Working at Height" in Annex 4 (A) of the Regulation on Occupational Health and Safety in Construction Work, the values in this standard are given in far greater detail.

What an Edge Protection System Should Be Like According to the Standard

Temporary edge protection systems within the scope of the TS EN 13374 standard are examined under three separate categories: Class A, Class B and Class C. These can be listed as follows:

• Class A: Class A protection can provide 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 person walking towards or falling against the protection.

Class A is used for angles of less than 10°. The inclination of the guardrail system itself from the vertical towards the working surface must be no more than 15°. If there is an intermediate guardrail, the gaps must be dimensioned so that a sphere 470 mm in diameter cannot pass through. If there is no intermediate guardrail or it is not continuous, the guardrail system must be dimensioned so that a sphere 250 mm in diameter cannot pass through.

• Class B: Class B protection can provide resistance to static loading and low dynamic effects only. It has the ability to support people leaning on the protection or walking alongside it, and to collectively arrest a person walking towards or falling against the protection. It can also collectively arrest a person falling or rolling from an inclined surface.

Class B is suitable for use on temporary systems 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.

The inclination of Class B guardrail systems must not deviate more than 15 degrees from the vertical towards the working surface. A Class B guardrail system must also be dimensioned so that a sphere 250 mm in diameter cannot pass through any gap in it.

• Class C: This protection system provides high dynamic force resistance, connected in line with safety requirements to prevent personnel sliding from a steeply inclined surface from falling. It can also collectively arrest a person tipping or sliding from a steeply inclined surface.

It is 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. If the angle is greater than 45–60° and the fall height exceeds five metres, temporary edge protection guardrails are not suitable for use when evaluated within the scope of the standard. In such cases the guardrail systems should be brought much closer to the working area to reduce the fall height, or a suitable guardrail system should be designed. It must not be possible for a sphere 100 mm in diameter to pass through any gap in a Class C guardrail system.

When the temporary guardrail classification is evaluated, there is no dynamic loading requirement in Class A. It is sufficient for it to meet the static loading requirements set out in the standard. Class B is expected to be designed to meet the static loading requirements. In addition to the static loading requirements, it must also have the capacity to absorb 1100 J of kinetic energy in a zone extending up to 200 mm above the working surface and continuous along the guardrail. Components located higher up are expected to absorb 500 J of energy.

In Class C there is no static loading requirement. Class C is expected to have a greater kinetic energy absorption capacity in any zone extending up to 200 mm above the working surface and continuing along the guardrail. Components located higher up must have an energy absorption capacity of 500 J.

What Is the TS EN 13374 Standard?

When it comes to building work today, temporary edge protection systems holding a certificate of conformity to the TS EN 13374 standard meet expectations. In this case, choosing temporary edge protection systems of the class and type suited to the work being carried out ensures a sound protection system. Accordingly, in the manufacture of temporary edge protection systems, manufacturers must confirm whether the certificate of conformity to this standard covers the class and type of system planned for use on the building site. Temporary edge protection systems can under no circumstances be used in areas that do not match the system class and type specified in the certificate of conformity to this standard. The areas where temporary edge protection systems are most often used can be listed as follows:

• Around openings that create discontinuity in various slab areas, such as staircases, flues, shafts and elevator light wells,
• In working areas that pose a hazard due to differences in level,
• At and around locations where formwork must be carried out,
• At the edges of floor staircases,
• At window openings that create discontinuity between building elements,
• In the immediate vicinity of floor slab edges.

These systems are an ideal solution for providing protection against accidents such as falls in places that are not suitable for use or where a more effective collective protection measure is required.

Temporary edge protection systems are very important equipment that ensure occupational safety in elevated working areas. The choice of company supplying these products is very important. A company with a quality-focused working system provides effective and high-quality protection in fields such as building construction. Dekosi is a qualified company that manufactures edge protection systems in accordance with standards. To experience the quality of Dekosi, which has attracted attention with its qualified services in the sector for many years, you can visit our website and get in touch with our expert team.