Section 5 Vertical Offset Base and Safety Rail System Installation Instructions The vertical offset base and safety rail assembly are designed to be used in residential construction for sloped or flat leading edge protection. The vertical offset base can be installed on the fascia board of a sloped roof providing safety rail protection during the entire roof-sheathing and shingle-installation processes. The offset base and safety rail can also be used for floor openings, perimeter guarding, stairwell, and balcony areas.
Attaching Offset Base for Perimeter Guarding Step 1 Align the bend on the back of the vertical offset base to the surface of the floor, shown in Figure 1. Fixed Rail Adjustable Rail Align to floor Figure 2 Figure 1 Safety Snap Step 2 Header Joist (1.5 Thick) and Floor Joist (Truss) Use four (¼ x 3 1 /8 ) screw fasteners in the middle and bottom holes of the vertical base when installing the base to a header joist and corresponding floor joist. Install one row of the screw fasteners thru the header joist and penetrate the end of the floor joist, as shown in Figure 1. Step 3 Install the safety snap pin in the center hole of the vertical offset base; this is used to keep the vertical railing post from sliding through the base, as shown in Figure 1. Step 4 Install a railing post in the vertical offset base pocket, as shown in Figure 2. Choose a fixed railing post (the height of the railing bracket is fixed) or an adjustable railing post depending on the application. Step 5 When using adjustable railing brackets, set the top rail at a height of 42 ± 3 from the floor surface to the top of the horizontal top rail. Set the toe board at the bottom of the post and set the mid rail height half way between the bottom of the top rail and the top of the toe board, as shown in Figure 3. 42 ± 3 Top Rail Mid Rail Toe Board 8 Max 8 Max Figure 3 Step 6 Repeat steps 1-5 until all bases are installed at a maximum of 8 feet on centers to completely protect the exposed edge, as shown in Figure 3. Section 5 Page 2
Step 7 Install the 2 x 4 toe board against the vertical offset base and in direct contact with the floor surface. Fasten the toe board to the vertical offset base with screws (or 8d nails) in a minimum of two of the holes provided in the vertical offset base. When two toe boards abut (Figure 4), you must install a fastener in all four holes provided, as shown in Figure 5. Figure 6 Step 9 Install the mid rail (2 x 4 board) flat or on end, as shown in Figure 7. Abutting Toe Boards Figure 4 Figure 5 Step 8 Install the horizontal top rail (2 x 4 board) flat or on end, as shown in Figure 6. Figure 7 Step 10 Make sure that all horizontal rails overlap a minimum of 6 and should be secured to each of the railing brackets with either an 8d nail or screw fastener using the holes provided in the bracket, as shown in Figure 8. Min 6 Min 6 Figure 8 Section 5 Page 3
End-to-end Configuration Step 11 Single Wall Stud/ Single Floor Truss Use 3 screw fasteners when installing the base to a single wall stud. Use top, middle and bottom holes provided on either side of the vertical offset base, as shown in Figure 9. Single Stud Overlap Configuration Figure 11 Figure 9 Double Wall Stud/ Double Floor Truss Use 4 screw fasteners in the top and bottom holes on both sides of the base when installing the vertical base to a double wall stud, as shown in Figure 10. Double Stud Attaching Offset Base for Roof Work Guarding Step 1 After installation of the roof fascia board, position the vertical offset base along the leading edge of the roof. Align the holes of the vertical offset base with the desired roof rafter so that fasteners can be fully driven thru the fascia board and into the tail of the rafter. Step 2 Install a minimum of three screw fasteners on one side of the vertical offset base, screwing thru the fascia board and into the tail of the rafter. Figure 10 Step 12 Construct the corners of the railing system in either an end-to-end configuration or an overlap configuration. Fasten with either an 8d nail or screw fastener using the holes provided in the bracket. An additional fastener through both boards is required in the overlap configuration, as shown in Figure 11. Step 3 Install the safety snap pin in the center hole of the vertical offset base; this is used to keep the vertical railing post from sliding through the base. Step 4 Spacing between vertical offset bases shall not exceed 8 feet. Step 5 Install the adjustable vertical rail system along the leading edge, as indicated below. Section 5 Page 4
Additional Offset If an additional offset is required, attach the adapter tube to the base with the provided bolts and wing nuts. This will set the railing system out from the vertical surface an additional 1 /2, as shown in Figures 13 & 14. An important aspect of the vertical offset base is that the finished railing, as shown in Figures 13-15, is that the temporary guarding can be left in place throughout the installation of the finished product. Finished Stair Application 1.5 Adapter Tube Vertical Offset Base Bolt and Wing Nut Figure 14 Finished Balcony Application Bolt and Wing Nut Figure 13 Figure 15 Section 5 Page 5
8. Install the horizontal top rail (2 x 4 board) on end or flat. 1. Vertical Offset Base Installation Instructions - Perimeter Guarding Align the bend on the back of the vertical offset base to the surface of the floor. 2. Use 4 (¼ x 3 1 /8 ) screw fasteners in the middle and bottom holes of the vertical base when installing the base to a header joist and corresponding floor joist. Install one row of the screw fasteners thru the header joist and penetrate the end of the floor joist. 3. Install the safety snap pin in the center hole of the vertical offset base; this is used to keep the vertical railing post from sliding through the base. 4. Install a railing post in each of the vertical offset base pockets. Choose a fixed railing post (the height of the railing bracket is fixed) or an adjustable railing post depending on the application. 5. When using adjustable railing brackets, set the top rail at a height of 42 ± 3 from the floor surface to the top of the horizontal top rail. Set the toe board at the bottom of the post and set the mid rail height half way between the bottom of the top rail and the top of the toe board. 6. Repeat steps 1-5 until all bases are installed at a maximum of 8 feet on centers to completely protect the exposed edge. 7. Install the 2 x 4 toe board against the vertical offset base and in direct contact with the floor surface. Fasten the toe board to the vertical base with screws (or 8d nails) in a minimum of two of the holes provided in the vertical offset base. When two toe boards abut, you must install a fastener in all four holes provided. 9. Install the mid rail (2 x 4 board) on end or flat. 10. All horizontal rails should overlap a minimum of 6 and should be secured to each of the railing brackets with either an 8d nail or screw fastener using the holes provided in the bracket. 11. Use 3 screw fasteners when installing the base to a single wall stud. Use the top, middle and bottom holes provided on either side of the vertical offset base. Use 4 screw fasteners in the top and bottom holes on both sides of the base when installing the vertical base to a double wall stud. 12. Construct the corners of the railing system in either an end-to-end configuration or an overlap configuration. Fasten with either an 8d nail or screw fastener using the holes provided in the bracket. An additional fastener through both boards is required in the overlap configuration. Attaching Offset Base for Roof Work Guarding 1. After installation of the roof fascia board, position the vertical offset base along the leading edge of the roof. Align the holes of the vertical offset base with the desired roof rafter so that fasteners can be fully driven thru the fascia board and into the tail of the rafter. 2. Install a minimum of three screw fasteners on one side of the vertical offset base, screwing thru the fascia board and into the tail of the rafter. 3. Install the safety snap pin in the center hole of the vertical offset base; this is used to keep the vertical railing post from sliding through the base. 4. Spacing between vertical offset bases shall not exceed 8 feet. 5. Install the adjustable vertical rail system along the leading edge. Section 5 Page 6