Light Pole to Handrail?

[Rabbit12]

Thoughts on this?

I know there's been some discussions on here about handrail posts and how it's tough to make those work on paper. What if you also add a light pole and a luminaire to the handrail? I can't imagine someone being on a service platform in a design wind event, but could see someone being up there with a 40 MPH wind. If that's the case and you combine LL+WL your posts almost certainly fail unless they've been upsized.

 

[JLNJ]

If you are looking for something in the code to hang your hat on, how about ASCE 7-16 2.5.2.1?

That "Extraordinary Event" combination gets you at least a 50% decrease in the Live Load component.

Despite dhengr's impassioned post, I find it unreasonable to cross one thing with a miniscule probability with another thing with an even more miniscule probability and then design for that combined case.

 

[r13]

Depends on what type of equipment the platform services, sometimes no one can predict, or control, the timing for sending worker to do the work, though a safety conscientious employer will have additional safety setups (lifeline, for instance), we simply can't bank on it, unless agreed upon (something written).

Do a quick calculation, use worst combination to see how difficult the connection would be, and if it is feasible, then negotiate for less, if necessary.

 

[GC_Hopi]

Non starter. I have seen guardrail calc and its a commodity game so the vendors will pass the design by the skin of their teeth. However this is not to say I haven't see light poles on guardrails allowed by others and the probability of failure as likely low but my risk tolerance is not that high.

 

[Rabbit12]

All thanks for the well thought-out responses. I'll report back with a conclusion when I get to one. After quite a bit of thought I think I'm going to analyze for the 200 lbs load + a 60 MPH WL, or WL/LL only. These platforms will be low use platforms so I can't see anyone being up there with a wind greater than 60 MPH as there would be no need.