Fall protection in installation shafts

Falls are among the greatest risks in construction. In Switzerland alone, around 10,500 fall accidents occur on construction sites every year, many of them with serious consequences or fatalities (SUVA). According to Suva, about 20 fatal accidents occur each year in the construction industry, most of them caused by falls (Suva) (Nau).

Behind these figures are people whose lives change abruptly after a single fall. Severe injuries, lengthy rehabilitation, or even permanent disabilities are the reality for many victims. In the worst case, their families must also live with the consequences.

Fall-proof fire barrier FireShield

This not only refers to the invisible danger of gases, but also the very obvious danger of falling. Time and again, openings are left unsecured or covered only with temporary measures. Even a single misstep can lead to a serious accident. Shafts and recesses must therefore be secured in such a way that no one can accidentally fall into them, even people who happen to be on the construction site. (Suva Merkblatt). A break-proof cover, a tested closure, or a well-designed barrier element like the FireShield ensure controlled entry and reliably eliminate fall hazards. This transforms a potentially dangerous situation into a safe and predictable work situation.

The legal requirements are clear: Fall protection is mandatory from a height of 2 meters. The principle applies that collective protective measures such as railings, covers, or nets take priority over personal protective equipment. (Suva Absturzsicherung). Nevertheless, temporary solutions are often used on construction sites – such as wooden boards or metal covers that shift, become damaged or are not break-proof.

No fall-proof fire barrier (soft barrier)

In addition, the Suva leaflet “Break-proof fire barriers” (Suva Merkblatt) stipulates clear requirements: Fire barriers must be covered in a breakthrough-resistant manner – using comprehensive, load-bearing materials such as gratings, checkered plate or FireShield – in order to prevent falls, and this must be done before or during the construction of the actual barrier.

Complex and expensive grating

This is exactly where FireShield comes in. The system is permanently accessible and tested for a surface load of up to 800 kg/m². It replaces temporary covers with a reliable, load-bearing solution – without any risk of falling. FireShield is waterproof even in the shell construction phase, facilitates installation in the shaft, and ensures safe working conditions during subsequent maintenance.

Compared to traditional protective measures, FireShield offers decisive advantages: Temporary covers are often unsafe and must be continuously checked or replaced. Personal protective equipment only protects individual workers, but is costly to use and not always correctly secured. FireShield, on the other hand, provides safety right from the start, saves time and money because no additional nets, railings, or temporary covers are necessary, and at the same time strengthens the confidence of builders, planners, and insurance companies.

FireShield also replaces expensive and complicated-to-install grating. Traditional solutions with heavy metal grates not only incur high material and transport costs, but also require additional installation work, as they must be cut to size, anchored, and checked regularly. FireShield, on the other hand, is integrated directly into the shell as a prefabricated element, is permanently accessible, and meets the highest safety requirements. This saves time, reduces costs, and eliminates one of the typical weak points in the construction process.

Built-in FireShield

For general contractors, architects, and specialist planners, FireShield means significantly greater occupational safety, less risk, and full control over construction processes and maintenance. This makes FireShield not just a fire protection solution, but a reliable safety standard for the entire construction and usage phase.