How to choose a permanent guardrail: support, material, nets

A permanent guardrail is chosen according to where it is to be fitted and what holds it up. For balconies, mezzanines and roof edges, aluminium or galvanised steel balustrades or guardrails are used; for skylights and pits, nets are used. Before buying, check that the support can bear the loads stated by the manufacturer, and ask for the assembly manual.

The types

• Permanent aluminium guardrail: light, corrosion-resistant, for roofs and edges. The Svelt model is one example.
• Balustrades: panel or rope type, 80 or 100 cm high, for mezzanines, stairs and balconies. Examples are the panel balustrade h 100 cm and the rope balustrade h 100 cm.
• Posts and poles: the vertical posts, also with a straight pole, in painted or hot-dip galvanised steel.
• Connecting accessories: brackets, joints, right and left end pieces, toe-board profiles and toe-board joints, which complete the system.
• Nets: metal nets for skylights, such as the Pasini net, and nets for truck loading and unloading systems.
• Bases: flat support elements, for example the CSC 119-E flat base, for installing the system where drilling is not possible.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

• Material: aluminium (EN AW 6060 alloy) for lightness and corrosion resistance; S235JR steel (Fe 360 B) for sturdiness; galvanised steel for those who work outdoors. The catalogue also includes plastic or polypropylene parts.
• Finish: hot-dip galvanising, which protects steel from rust in a lasting way, even outdoors.
• Distance between posts: for some systems it is 1 m at most. Respecting it is part of the safety of the system.
• Height: balustrades come in 80 and 100 cm. Ask the designer or the safety manager which height is required in your case.
• Custom length: some parts are ordered in the length you need. Measure the edge before asking for a quote.
• Weight and holes: the components range from a few grams to a few kilos and have 6 to 8 mm holes for the fixings. They are needed to choose the right anchors.
• UNI-ISO 2768 standard: it concerns dimensional machining tolerances, not load capacity or load resistance. For those, read the manufacturer's documentation.
• Warranty: for some products it is 10 years.

Common mistakes

• Not checking the support: a guardrail is only as safe as the parapet wall or floor slab it is anchored to is sound.
• Leaving gaps between modules: each module must be connected to the next with the joints provided, with no open spaces.
• Using anchors other than those specified: you need the ones in the manual, chosen according to the material of the support.
• Forgetting inspections: loose fixings and corrosion are hard to see without a periodic check.
• Mistaking a guardrail for a personal fall protection system: the guardrail protects whoever is behind it; it does not replace harnesses and lifelines where they are required.

Frequently asked questions

Aluminium or galvanised steel guardrail: which is better?

Aluminium is lighter and does not rust, so it is convenient on roofs and for quick installations. Galvanised steel withstands knocks and heavy loads well, and is the choice for industrial environments.

Can a permanent guardrail be fitted without drilling?

With flat bases it is possible on a flat surface, but it depends on the support and the system chosen: ask the manufacturer or the AMES technicians for confirmation.

How often should it be checked?

At the intervals indicated by the manufacturer. In any case, check the fixings after strong wind, knocks or work on the roof.

How do I protect a skylight?

With a metal net fixed to the structure, or with a guardrail around the perimeter. The choice depends on the size of the opening.

All the systems are in the permanent guardrails collection: for a quote or to understand which components your edge needs, write to the AMES technicians.