GB2234996A

GB2234996A - Recessed safety step for a pitched roof

Info

Publication number: GB2234996A
Application number: GB9017170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Longworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-17
Filing date: 1990-08-06
Publication date: 1991-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-06
Also published as: GB9017170D0; GB8918787D0; GB2234996B

Abstract

A safety arrangement for exiting a roof-light 25 mounted in a pitched roof 22, the roof-light providing an emergency escape route from a room under the roof. A substantially horizontal step 33 is formed in the pitched roof adjacent the lower edge of the light, as part of recess 31. A prefabricated component, figure 5, may be used to form the step. <IMAGE>

Description

Description of Invention "Improvements in or relating to a safety arrangement THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a safety arrangement and more particularly relates to a safety arrangement for use with a roof-light.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a safety arrangement comprising a roof-light mounted in a pitched roof, the roof-light providing an emergency escape route from a room under the roof, the roof-light being provided with the movable casement or sash therein, the rooflight being associated with a substantially horizontal step formed in the pitched roof adjacent the lower edge of the light.

Preferably a step or platform is provided within the room at substantially the same level as the level of the step.

Conveniently the point where said substantially horizontal step is coincident with the pitched roof is no more than 1.5 metres from the lower edge of the roof.

Advantageously the step is formed by a prefabricated component which defines said step, defines two upstanding sidewalls and an upstanding rearwall and is provided with sealing means at the top of the upstanding sidewalls and at the top of the upstanding rearwalls and at the forwardmost edge of said step for effecting a substantially water-tight seal with the rest of the arrangement.

Preferably said component is provided with an outwardly directed flange lying in a plane which makes, with the plane of the portion of the component defining the step, an angle substantially equal to the angle of the pitch of the roof, the flange comprising said sealing means, said flange comprising the means to effect said seal.

Conveniently the lowermost part of the roof-light is provided with a deformable flashing to cooperate with the flange as carried by the upstanding rearwall.

Preferably the flange carried by the foremost edge of the step defined by the component carries a deformable flashing to over-lie the roof to form said seal.

Conveniently the or each flashing is formed of lead.

Preferably said component is formed from a glass fibre reinforced resin.

Advantageously said component is provided with means to prevent or minimise capillary action across the sealing means.

Preferably the means to prevent capillary action comprise a ridge or indentation formed integrally with the sealing means.

Conveniently said step is provided with areas of a realtively high co-efficient of friction.

Preferably a handle or secondary step is provided extending transversely at a position above the said horizontal step.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a pre-formed component for use in forming a safety arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, the component comprising means adapted to be positioned to define a substantially horizontal step, said means carrying two opposed substantially upstanding sidewalls and an upstanding rearwall, the upstanding sidewalls and rearwall being associated with sealing means adapted to seal the component to a roof structure.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a roof-light installed in accordance with present safety regulations; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the roof light of Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 illustrating roof-light installed in association with a safety arrangement in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the roof light of Figure 3 in use; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of an essential component of the safety arrangement illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 6 illustrates a sealing arrangement provided at the side edge of the component of Figure 5;; Figure 7 illustrates a sealing arrangement provided at the top edge of the component of Figure 5; Figure 8 illustrates the sealing arrangement provided at the lower edge of the component as illustrated in Figure 5; and Figure 9 is a top view of a modified component, similar to that of Figure 5.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, joists 1 are provided which support a floor area 2 within a room which is located immediately beneath a sloping or pitched roof 3. Further joists 4 support an elevated area of floor 5, which is adjacent the edge of the room.

The roof 3 consists of roof joists 6 which support tiles 7. The lower edge of the roof 3 is provided with a gutter 8. Mounted within the roof 3 is a roof-light 9.

The roof-light comprises a fixed frame 10 and a hinged or opening casement or sash 11, the sash 11 being hinged at 12 adjacent its upper edge so that the sash can be opened to provide an escape route from the room in the event of a fire.

Regulations in force of the present time require that the lowermost edge of the window frame 10 be located a maximum distance of 1.5 metres from the lower edge of the roof 7. It is believed that the reason that this requirement is in existence is that it is thought that if a person slides down a roof for distance of only 1.5 metres they would not be able to dislodge a fireman's ladder which is resting on the roof, whereas sliding from a greater height might give rise to such a difficulty.

Since the frame 10 is located at such a position, the opening provided is at a very low level within the room and thus a guard rail must be provided within the room to prevent small children within the room inadvertently falling out through the frame 10 when the casement or sash 11 is open.

It can be seen, from Figure 2, that the access to the roof-light 9 from within the room is very constricted, thus making it difficult to escape from the window in the event that a fire arises. Also it can be seen that as a person emerges from the roof light there is a serious risk that the person will topple down the roof, possibly dislodging a rescuer from a ladder.

Figure 3 illustrates a roof provided with a rooflight associated with a safety arrangement in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to Figure 3 joists 20 support floorboards 21 which form the main floor area of a room.

The ceiling of the room is formed by a sloping or pitched roof structure 22 comprising rafters 23 which support tiles 24. A roof-light 25 is mounted in the roof, the light consisting of a fixed frame 26 and a hinged casement or sash 27 which is hinged adjacent its upper edge, so that the casement or sash 27 can be moved to form an opening to provide an emergency escape route from the room.

In the region of the roof-light 25, that is to say towards the edge of the room, a second set of joists 28 are provided located at a level above that of the joists 20, these joists supporting a small platform 29 which is located under the lower region of the frame 26. A vertical wall 30 extends upwardly from the platform 29 to meet the lowermost portion of the frame 26.

A recess 31 is formed in the roof 22 below the frame 26. Mounted within the recess is a step-forming component 32 which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, this component resting on the joists 28 that support the platform 29. The step-forming component 32 forms a step 33 having a forwardmost edge 34 which, as illustrated, is located approximately 1.5 metres from the lowermost edge of the roof.

Referring to Figure 4 it is to be appreciated that if a person wishes to escape from the room through the roof-light 25, by standing on the platform 29 and then opening the casement or sash 27 it is possible to step relatively easily through the opening defined by the frame 26, over the wall 30, and onto the step 33. The step 33 is substantially horizontal and, indeed, it is envisaged that a number of people may stand on the step simultaneously without undoing convenience. It will be relatively easy for a person standing on the platform 29 to move onto the roof 22, whereas in the prior art arrangement it was relatively difficult to move from the area defined by the floorboards 5 beneath the frame 10 as shown in Figure 1 onto the roof 3.

It is also to be noted that it is difficult for a child to fall inadvertently through the frame 26 even if the sash or casement 27 is open, thus avoiding the need to have a safety barrier.

Referring now to Figure 5, the component 32 is illustrated in greater detail. The component may be formed from an appropriate material, such as fibre-glass reinforced resin and comprises a first substantially planar area 33 defining the step that has been mentioned above. Formed on the area 33 may be a plurality of ridges or straps 35 formed of a material having a relatively high co-efficient of friction to minimise a risk of any person slipping. Upstanding from the two sides and the rear of the area forming the step 33 are sidewalls 36, 37 and a backwall 38. The upper edges of the sidewalls 36 are inclined to the horizontal by an angle corresponding to that of the pitch of the roof.An outwardly extending flange 39 is provided which extends outwardly, in a plane inclined to the horizontal by an angle equal to the angle of pitch of the roof, the flange extending generally upwardly from the top of the rearwall 38, outwardly from the top edges of the sidewalls 36 and 37, and generally downwardly from the leading edge of the step 33. The flange 39 may be provided with an anticapillary strip 40 to prevent water traversing the flange due to capillary action. The anti-capillary strip may be in the form of a ridge or indentation or may take some other form.

At the lowermost edge of the flange 39, that is to say the edge of the portion of the flange 39 that extends downwardly from the front edge of the step 33 there is a lead flashing 41 which is bonded into the glass fibre reinforced resin during fabrication of the component 32 as illustrated.

Figure 6 of the drawings serves to illustrate how part of the flange 39 projecting from the sidwall 37 engages with the roof. As can be seen, the sidewall 37 extends vertically upwardly and then forms the flange 39 which is provided, in this embodiment, with an anticapillary step 42. This flange rests upon a batten 43 supported by two rafters termed a double trimmer 44.

Roof tiles 45 rest upon the top of the flange 39. Thus a waterproof seal is provided in this region of the component 31.

Figure 7 illustrates how the flange 39 provided at the top of the rear wall 38 of the component 32 is sealed to the frame 26 in which the movable casement or sash 27 is mounted. The lower part of the frame 26 is provided with a lead flashing 46 which, as is shown, rests on top of the flange 39 provided at the top of the rearwall 38 of the component 32. The flashing extends down the flange 39 and may even extend past an anti-capillary step 47 provided in the part of the flange. The flange 39 is supported by two underlying battens 48 which are mounted in position above the top of the wall 30. Thus a waterproof seal is provided by the flashing 46.

Turning now to Figure 8 it can be seen that the flashing 41 provided at the lower edge of the flange 39 projecting downwardly from the leading edge of the step 33 rests on top of the tiles 49 which are mounted on conventional battens 50, thus again providing a waterproof seal.

From the foregoing description it will therefore be appreciated that in producing a roof structure illustrated in Figure 3 initially a component 32 as illustrated in Figure 5 is fabricated, having the features described above, and then that component is incorporated into the roof, in the position illustrated in Figure 3, utilising techniques that will be readily appreciated by a builder since the seals between the lower edge of the window and the components 32 are formed utilising a conventional flashing and the seal between the lowermost edge of the component 32 and the roof is also formed utilising a conventional flashing. The side seals between the component 32 and the portions of the roof to either side of the step 33 are also formed in a manner which will readily be appreciated by one familiar with roofing techniques.

It is preferred that the step 33 slopes forwardly with a very slight slope to prevent the accumulation of water, but provided that the step 33 is substantially horizontal, it is envisaged that people who have to utilise a roof-light, such as the roof-light 25 of Figure 3, as an escape route will easily be able to climb, from the platform 29, through the frame 26, onto the safety step 33.

It is envisaged that components such as the component 32 may be pre-fabricated having slightly different designs depending upon the degree of pitch of the roof. Thus a number of components may be prefabricated for use with rooves of different conventional pitches. Furthermore, the component 32 could be formed in several pieces rather than as a single moulding. Thus the component may comprise a base forming the step and sides and a rear wall provided with side and bottom flashings. This would enable the component to be provided as a flat pack. The side and rear walls could be formed to a standard size and be trimmed or cut in order to fit different roof pitches.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of a component similar to that illustrated in Figure 5. The same reference numerals are utilised, in Figure 9 as in Figure 5, for the same parts.

It is to be noted, however, that in the component illustrated in Figure 9 each outwardly extending flange 39 is provided with a plurality of anti-capillary strips 40, provided at each edge of the flange and centrally of the flange. Each anti-capillary strip is in the form of a ridge or indentation forming a substantially vertical "step" in order to minimise any capillary effect.

The lower flashing 41 extends not only across the lowermost edge of the flange 39, but also extends partly up the flange 39. Thus a greater area of lead flashing is provided in the embodiment of Figure 9 than in the embodiment of Figure 5. This facilitates the use of the illustrated component with a high profile tile or sheet roof.

The rear wall 38 of the component is angled at approximately 100 to the vertical, and the side walls 36, 37 are also angled in a similar manner. This angling of the back wall and the side wall facilitates the moulding process, and also enables a plurality of moulded components to be stacked together for storage or transport purposes. Furthermore, since the rear wall 38 is inclined to the vertical, when the step is horizontal, it will be appreciated that the component may be mounted on the roofs having slightly different pitches without undue convenience, since the planar area 33 need not be precisely horizontal but could be slightly inclined without any adverse effects being experienced.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9 a transversely extending handle or secondary step 51 may be provided, in the form of a metal tube which extends transversely between the side walls 36, 37 at a point spaced above the step 33, and spaced inwardly from the rear wall 38. The tube may be connected to the side walls 36, 37 in any convenient way. Thus an appropriate arrangement of washers and a cooperating screw may be utilised or a metal insert may be provided within the side walls of the component as the component is fabricated, the metal inserts being adapted to receive appropriate bolts or the like. It is envisaged that the provision of such a secondary step or handle 51 may facilitate use of a safety arrangement in accordance with the invention.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a component formed of glass fibre reinforced resin, it will be appreciated that the component could, for example, be formed of plastic, which might be vacuum formed and receive support from galvanised iron straps passing under the component, epoxy coated steel, aluminium or any other appropriate material provided with an impervious surface coating.

Whilst the flashing 41 has been described as being formed of lead which is bonded to the glass fibre reinforced resin during fabrication of the component 32, the flashing could be formed from a different malleable material and may, for example, be attached to the component 32 after fabrication by means of clips or the like.

While the invention has been described with reference to one specific example of the invention it is to be appreciated that many modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the claims. Whilst seals have been described as being formed from lead flashing, other conventional sealing techniques may be utilised to prevent the ingress of water.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A safety arrangement comprising a roof-light mounted in a pitched roof, the roof-light providing an emergency escape route from a room under the roof, the roof-light being provided with the movable casement or sash therein, the rooflight being associated with a substantially horizontal step formed in the pitched roof adjacent the lower edge of the light.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a platform is provided within the room at substantially the same level as the level of the step.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the point where said substantially horizontal step is coincident with the pitched roof is no more than 1.5 metres from the lower edge of the roof.

4. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the step is formed by a prefabricated component which defines said step, defines two upstanding sidewalls and an upstanding rearwall and is provided with sealing means at the top of the upstanding sidewalls and at the top of the upstanding rearwalls and at the forwardmost edge of said step for effecting a substantially water-tight seal with the rest of the arrangement.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said component is provided with an outwardly directed flange lying in a plane which makes, with the plane of the portion of the component defining the step, an angle substantially equal to the angle of the pitch of the roof, the flange comprising said sealing means, said flange comprising the means to effect said seal.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the lowermost part of the roof-light is provided with a deformable flashing to cooperate with the flange as carried by the upstanding rearwall.

7. An arrangement according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the flange carried by the foremost edge of the step defined by the component carries a deformable flashing to over-lie the roof to form said seal.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the or each flashing is formed of lead.

9. An arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 8,wherein said component is formed from a glass fibre reinforced resin.

10. An arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein said component is provided with means to prevent or minimise capillary action across the sealing means.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the means to prevent capillary action comprise a ridge or indentation formed integrally with the sealing means.

12. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step is provided with areas of a relatively high co-efficient of friction.

13. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a handle or secondary step is provided extending transversely at a position above the said horizontal step.

14. A pre-formed component for use in forming a safety arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, the component comprising means adapted to be positioned to define a substantially horizontal step, said means carrying two opposed substantially upstanding sidewalls and an upstanding rearwall, the upstanding sidewalls and rearwall being associated with sealing means adapted to seal the component to a roof structure.

15. A safety arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A safety arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A component for use in creating a safety structure as claimed in claim 14 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A component for use in creating a safety structure as claimed in claim 14 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.