A Fall Protection System for High-Rise Construction

Table 1

Design and performance criteria of FPSFHC.

Design criteria	Design	Performance criteria	Performance
Economical solution	Inexpensive materials	Production cost ≤ $30 000	Satisfied; (cost = $10 000)
Practical solution	Modular system avoiding bulky solutions	Easy to handle	Satisfied
Functional solution	Fall prevention barriers	Protection of working levels	Satisfied
No procurement problem	Standard materials	Local availability	Satisfied
Easy to produce	Simple rectangular panels	On-site production	Satisfied
No need for crane	Light weight panels	Few men to handle	Satisfied; (4-man team)
Speedy assembling and disassembling	Light weight modular system	One day per floor	Satisfied; (8 hours/floor)
Not to hinder construction activities	Mounted in a way that would not interfere with other construction activities	No obstacle and delay	Satisfied
Fall protection for the two upper most floors	3 × 5 m panels extending and protecting the top floor too	Gapless protection all along the perimeters of the top two floors	Satisfied; (special corner modules)
Strong enough to hold falling man and material	Steel frames (diameter = 40 mm pipes) covered with steel mesh (15 ×15 mm)	Should hold falling items weighting up to 1 ton	Satisfied; Held a load > 1 ton; (2-man + steel formwork)
No additional wind load	Panels covered with steel mesh	Should stay in place under wind	Satisfied
Physiological confidence	Gapless protection all along the perimeter of the working floors	Confidence of the construction workers	Satisfied
Reusable	Painted steel elements	No damage after repeated usage	Satisfied
Encompass the extensions of floor formworks	Panels placed 15° from vertical	Sufficient space for floor formwork extensions	Satisfied