Safety barrier for roof construction

Abstract

A roof covering includes a thin film safety barrier coupled between the lower flanges of spaced roof purlins for supporting the weight of a person thereon in the space between the purlins. The preferred safety barrier includes a plurality of layers with at least one of the layers being vapor impervious. In the preferred embodiment, fasteners are used to couple straps to the purlin lower flange with the barrier there between in order to secure the barrier to the purlins.

1 . A method of covering a roof structure of a building having a plurality of laterally spaced, elongated roof purlins, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing a stretch of a flexible, vapor impervious barrier adjacent the purlins so that the stretch extends in a direction generally transverse to the purlins and thereby spans the space defined between adjacent purlins; and    (b) securing the stretch to the purlins in such a manner that the barrier serves as a safety for preventing an individual from falling through the space defined between adjacent purlins,    step (b) including the steps of overlying the barrier with at least one of a plurality of elongated straps so that the at least one of the straps extends at least substantially across the stretch, positioning the at least one of the straps in general alignment with one of the purlins, fastening the at least one of the straps to the one purlin so that the stretch is secured between the one purlin and the at least one of the straps, and repeating the overlying, positioning and fastening steps for each of the purlins covered by the stretch.    
     
     
         2 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 1;  and 
 (c) after steps (a) and (b), placing an exterior roof covering over the purlins.  
 
     
     
         3 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 1;  and 
 (c) after steps (a) and (b), installing insulation above the barrier.  
 
     
     
         4 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 step (a) including the step of dispensing said barrier from a roll thereof.    
     
     
         5 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said stretch being a first stretch,    step (a) including the step of placing a second stretch of said barrier in a direction transverse to the purlins and side by side with said first stretch and overlapping a portion thereof to present an overlapped area, and repeating step (b) for said second stretch.    
     
     
         6 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 5 , 
 step (a) including the step of holding said barrier in place relative to the purlins by adhering said stretches to the purlins.    
     
     
         7 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 6 , 
 step (a) including the step of adhering said stretches to the purlins by using double face tape with one face thereof against the purlins and with said barrier against the other face thereof.    
     
     
         8 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 5 , 
 step (a) including the step of bonding said first stretch to said second stretch in said overlapped area.    
     
     
         9 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 step (a) including the steps of using double face tape in said overlapped area for bonding    said first stretch to said second stretch and inserting safety barrier overlap fasteners in said overlapped area.    
     
     
         10 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 5 , 
 step (b) further including the step of positioning the at least one of said straps to overlap said overlapped area.    
     
     
         11 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 step (a) including the step of holding said barrier in place adjacent the purlins by adhering said barrier thereto prior to step (b).    
     
     
         12 . A method of covering a roof structure as claimed in  claim 11 , 
 step (a) including the step of using double face tape for holding said barrier in place adjacent the purlins.    
     
     
         13 . In combination: 
 a roof having a plurality of laterally spaced, elongated purlins;    at least one stretch of a flexible, vapor impervious barrier extending in a direction generally transverse to the purlins and spanning the space defined between adjacent purlins; and    an attachment assembly configured to secure the at least one stretch to the purlins in such a manner that the barrier serves as a safety for preventing an individual from falling through the space defined between adjacent purlins,    said attachment assembly including a plurality of elongated straps, with each of the straps being positioned in general alignment with a respective one of the purlins so that at least one of the straps extends at least substantially across the stretch at each of the purlins,    each of said straps being fastened to the respective purlin in an overlying relationship with the barrier such that the stretch is secured between the strap and the respective purlin.    
     
     
         14 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , said barrier comprising two layers of vapor impervious material with a safety mesh bonded therebetween.  
     
     
         15 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , said barrier comprising a layer of polypropylene and a layer of foil with a polyester mesh bonded therebetween.  
     
     
         16 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , said barrier comprising a single layer material.  
     
     
         17 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , 
 said attachment assembly including self-tapping screws for fastening the straps to the purlins with said barrier therebetween.    
     
     
         18 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , 
 said barrier comprising a plurality of layers of thin film material with at least one of said layers being vapor impervious.    
     
     
         19 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , 
 said roof purlins each presenting a longitudinally extending lower flange,    each of said straps being fastened to the respective lower flange in an overlying relationship with the barrier such that the stretch is secured between the respective lower flange and purlin.    
     
     
         20 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , 
 said at least one stretch of barrier including a plurality of side-by-side stretches, wherein adjacent stretches present an overlapped area; and    a plurality of fasteners interconnecting the adjacent stretches in the overlapped area.