Safety parapet.

摘要

A safety parapet of the kind used on road bridges and at road edges to prevent vehicles leaving the road comprises at least two posts (20) and a rail (30). The rail (30) is secured to at least one of the posts (20) by means of an elongate fastener (50) having an enlarged head and a body of smaller transverse dimension. The head of the fastener (50) is received in a recess (32) formed in the rail (30), the recess (32) having a relatively large part in which the head is located with the body of the fastener (50) projecting to a relatively narrow opening towards the post (20). The free end of the fastener (50) engages the post (20) to secure the rail to it. Disposed between the post and the rail is a spacer (60) through which the fastener (50) passes. The spacer (60) has an abuttment surface which abutts the rail (30) so as to oppose deformation of the rail (30) in the region of the recess (32). The spacer (60) abutts the rail (30) across its entire transverse dimension and has at least one flange (56) extending to an angle to the abuttment surface. The flange (56) fits closely, in use, against a longitudinal surface of the rail (30). Preferably, the spacer (60) has two flanges (56) so arranged as to fit closely against two opposite longitudinal surfaces of the rail (30). The spacer (60) may also include tie means (70) which extend through an opening formed in the rail (30) the tie means engaging at each of its ends one of the flanges (56) on the spacer (60) so as to secure the rail (30) to the spacer (60). The construction described can produce a parapet capable of meeting safety standards imposed by government authorities. <IMAGE>