Is a guardrail needed on top of a rectangular water tank?
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It is a 2-meter-high rectangular water tank designed in accordance with \"NBT 47003.1-2009 Steel Welded Atmospheric Pressure Vessels\"; it has a manhole on the top, and it is not necessary to install guardrails on the top of the tank. Due to the need for modifications, there is an insulating layer on top of the water tank; if guardrails are installed, this insulating layer will have to be removed. I went through dozens of relevant standards but couldn’t find any requirement that exempts the use of guardrails. According to the main relevant standards, including GB 4053.3-2009 Safety requirements for fixed steel ladders and platforms – Part 3: Industrial protective railings and steel platforms, and GBT 17888.3-2020 Mechanical safety – Fixed installations approaching machinery – Part 3: Stairs, ladders and guardrails, guardrails are required for platforms that are higher than 500 mm. But shouldn’t the top of the water tank be understood as a platform? Furthermore, in the national standard atlases such as \"12S101 Rectangular Water Supply Tanks\", \"03R401-2 Open-Type Water Tanks\", and \"16S211 Selection and Installation of High-Location Fire Fighting Water Storage Tanks\", the accessories included in these water tanks do not contain guardrails; however, I believe this cannot be considered strong evidence. Are there any other criteria that can justify the fact that guardrails on the top of such low, flat-pressure vessels are not necessary?
In my opinion: if it is not necessary for people to go up to the top for operation, inspection, or maintenance, then there is no need for guardrails; if such access is required, then guardrails must be installed
There is a manhole at the top; to ensure safe operation for personnel in opening and closing the manhole as well as for their entry and exit through it, guardrails must be installed
Installing guardrails is not a design requirement; it is a security requirement.
A guardrail is required whenever the height above the ground exceeds 1.5 meters; this is a safety requirement that has nothing to do with the type of equipment used