Temporary Edge Protection Posts

Temporary Edge Protection Posts for Construction

Temporary edge protection posts provide a practical way to create temporary timber guardrails around exposed floor edges, stairwells, staircases and openings during construction.

Safety Platforms supplies a range of steel edge protection posts designed to be securely fixed to the supporting structure and used with suitable timber rails. Once installed, the posts and rails create a physical barrier around areas where permanent walls, balustrades, handrails or other edge protection are not yet in place.

Our range includes standard edge protection posts, staircase stringer posts and two-piece posts, providing options for different areas and fixing requirements around a construction project.

How Do Temporary Edge Protection Posts Work?

Temporary edge protection posts provide the vertical support points for a timber guardrail system.

The posts are positioned along the edge or around the opening that requires protection and securely fixed to the supporting structure. Suitable timber rails are then installed between the posts to form the horizontal guardrails.

This creates a straightforward post-and-rail system that can be configured around the dimensions and layout of the area being protected.

Different types of edge protection post can be used where protection needs to continue between horizontal floor areas, stairwells and staircases.

Edge Protection Posts for Exposed Floor Edges

During construction, exposed floor edges may require temporary protection before permanent walls, façades, balustrades or other protective features are installed.

Temporary edge protection posts can be positioned along these exposed areas and connected with timber rails to establish a clearly defined temporary barrier.

Because the system is configured using individual posts and timber rails, the layout can be planned around the dimensions and shape of the area requiring protection.

Corners and changes in direction can also be incorporated into the guardrail arrangement where required.

Stairwell Edge Protection Posts

Open stairwells are another common application for temporary edge protection posts.

During certain stages of construction, a stairwell may be present before permanent walls, balustrades, handrails or other protection has been completed. Temporary posts and timber guardrails can be installed around the opening to provide a physical barrier to the exposed edge.

The number and position of posts required will depend on the dimensions of the stairwell, the supporting structure and the required guardrail layout.

Using individual posts allows the temporary edge protection to be configured around different stairwell sizes and shapes.

Staircase Edge Protection Posts

Where temporary guardrails are required alongside a staircase, Safety Platforms supplies dedicated staircase stringer posts.

These posts are designed for fixing to the staircase so that timber guardrails can continue alongside the stair flight.

This allows temporary edge protection to be configured across different parts of the structure, including floor edges, landings, stairwell openings and staircases.

Dedicated components should be selected for each application, with all posts and fixings installed in accordance with the relevant product instructions.

Timber Guardrails for Temporary Edge Protection

Our temporary edge protection posts are designed to be combined with suitable timber to create the horizontal guardrails.

Using timber rails provides contractors with a straightforward way to create guardrail runs between fixed steel posts. Timber can be cut to suit the required dimensions and replaced where necessary during the course of a project.

This differs from our Telesafe system, which uses adjustable metal rails instead of timber.

For contractors who prefer a traditional post-and-timber-rail arrangement, temporary edge protection posts provide a simple and flexible solution.

Types of Temporary Edge Protection Post

Different areas of a construction project can require different post configurations.

Our range includes standard edge protection posts for applications such as floor edges and stairwell openings, staircase stringer posts for temporary protection alongside staircases, and two-piece edge protection posts for applications where that fixing arrangement is more appropriate.

Individual posts can be selected according to the layout of the project, allowing contractors to build a temporary edge protection system around the particular area requiring protection.

Temporary Edge Protection Posts or Telescopic Guardrails?

Safety Platforms offers two main approaches to temporary edge protection.

Our timber system uses steel temporary edge protection posts combined with suitable timber rails. This provides a straightforward solution where a traditional timber guardrail arrangement is preferred.

Our Telesafe system combines steel posts with adjustable telescopic metal guardrails. The rails extend and retract to accommodate different spans without timber needing to be measured and cut for each section.

The appropriate system will depend on the project, layout, supporting structure and how the temporary edge protection will be installed and used.

For an adjustable all-metal alternative, explore our Telesafe Telescopic Edge Protection range.

Choosing the Right Temporary Edge Protection Posts

Before selecting temporary edge protection posts, consider the area requiring protection, the supporting structure, the proposed fixing locations and the overall guardrail layout.

For floor edges and stairwell openings, standard posts may provide the required arrangement. Where protection needs to continue alongside a staircase, dedicated staircase posts can be incorporated.

You should also consider corners, changes in direction and the length of each guardrail run when determining the number and type of posts required.

The timber rails, posts, fixings and supporting structure must all be suitable for the intended application, and installation should follow the relevant product instructions.

If you are unsure which temporary edge protection posts you require, contact Safety Platforms with details of your project and we can help identify the most appropriate products and components.