Australia’s building codes stipulate that structures such as bridges, car parks, elevated walkways, balconies and stairways must have safety systems installed to prevent accidents and injuries.
Jakob’s stainless-steel products help meet design and safety compliance standards, providing fall protection for building and bridge infrastructure that is visually appealing as well as functional.
Here’s how.
Bridges
Webnet mesh of the right height and aperture size can create a non-climbable safety barrier on bridges without detracting from their architectural design and appearance.
For example, 316-grade steel mesh was installed on the Albert Cotter pedestrian bridge in Sydney to meet safety regulations.
The malleability of the mesh also meant it could be formed into shapes to echo the curved design of the bridge itself.
Car parks
When it comes to car park fall protection, stainless-steel mesh can provide a viable and lower-cost alternative to enclosing the whole structure.
The transparency of the mesh also facilitates the entry of breeze and natural light into the structure. And as well as being functional, the mesh can be used as a facade support structure for artistic displays or planter boxes.
Examples include:
- Randwick racecourse carpark – in this project the webnet mesh only took three weeks to install. It was also used to support the installation of over 5,000 yellow discs to add a playful and decorative element.
- Thomas Street Dandenong carpark – the brief here was to bring the car park up to date with current safety codes. This was done by “wrapping” the entire structure in mesh to create a permeable and lightweight but very strong safety barrier.
Staircases
Stainless-steel mesh can provide an excellent balustrade for staircases, offering fall protection and an unobtrusive appearance.
An example is that of Carlton House in Melbourne. In this renovation of a rather dark Victorian cottage, white-painted mesh was installed to form a staircase balustrade that blends in with the new minimalist, light-filled design.
Balconies
Decks or balconies of 1m or more above the ground need non-climbable balustrades of at least 1m in height to prevent falls.
The filigree-like appearance of webnet mesh can be ideal for meeting the building safety regulations, without impacting the appearance of the structure.
Get in touch with our team to find out how Jakob’s stainless-steel products can be used for fall protection systems in your project.
