A cover for closing an access opening that leads to an infrequently used space within a building, such as an attic, that generally provides an air seal, thermal insulation and/or acoustic insulation at the access opening. The cover may be in one or two portions, including a closure alone or a closure and a frame having an aperture that can be closed by engagement between the closure and the frame. When the cover is used alone it engages a frame or a wall circumscribing the access opening. The cover is sized and shaped to close a stairwell, or the opening at one end of a stairway, an opening in a generally vertical wall, a hatch, or a pull down ladder. The closure and frame are each made of one or more components.

Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the ventilation duct includes support sidewalls fitting in the shaft providing a ventilation passage between support top and bottom openings and a suspension member supported on opposed lateral sidewalls proximate the top opening holding one or more hinge connected panels that manually release to rotationally close the passage and are manually rotationally liftable to a home position allowing ventilation. A panel drain automatically closes when the panel is raised to home position. A releasable latching system between panel and a suspension member holder catches rising panels to hold them in home position. The suspension member may include end keys received in keyed supports so a specific panel faces a specific sidewall.

Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the underground ventilation duct includes one or more hinged panels closing a ventilation passage between the top and bottom of a support fitting in the shaft to prevent flooding. The panels have handles on their topside and pivotable arms on their underside and are liftable to an upright home position allowing ventilation, using tools to reach through grating covering openings on the shaft and lift the panel handles and after the panels are partially lifted, using reach tools to engage and lift the arms to press them again support sidewalls to exert lateral force on underside of the panels to complete upward rotation to the home position.

A system is provided for safe access to a roof through an opening in a roof of a structure having a fixed ladder leading upward to the opening. The system includes a mechanism to drive a set of pushrods to raise a hatch covering the opening. The system may include a section of ladder secured to the underside of the hatch. The system may have an extendable ladder driven by the drive mechanism to slide along the fixed ladder and extend through the opening in the roof when the hatch is raised. The system may include a safety pole driven by the drive mechanism to extend through the opening in the roof when the hatch is raised. The system allows someone who needs to access the roof for inspection or maintenance to safely open the hatch, climb up through the opening in the roof, and safely step onto the roof.

A roof hatch for enabling access to a rooftop of a building from an interior of the building includes a curb adapter configured to be disposed over a curb of the rooftop. The curb is formed around an opening in the rooftop that fluidly connects the interior of the building to an exterior of the building. Additionally, the roof hatch includes a cover coupled to the curb adapter by a pivoting member. The cover includes a support extending within an interior length of the cover. The roof hatch includes a gas spring coupled between the support and the curb adapter. The gas spring is configured to apply a force to the support, and the support is configured to distribute the force along the interior length of the cover.

The present disclosure relates generally to a roofing system including flashing, for example, suitable for protecting a roof from water leakage. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a roofing system including first, second, and third courses of shingles, where the second course overlaps the first and the third course overlaps the second. A flashing plate is disposed over the first course of shingles and partially under the second course of shingles. The flashing plate and the third course of shingles are spaced apart by a gap in a direction of the slope of the roof between a top edge of the flashing plate and a lower edge of the third course of shingles.

A preferred embodiment of a system includes a lifting device for lifting a motor vehicle, a support structure for mounting the lifting device in a pit, and a carriage for supporting the lifting device from the support structure and being movable within the support structure. The system also includes a cover coupled to opposite sides of the carriage so that the cover extends away from the carriage and continuously between the opposite sides of the carriage.

A preferred embodiment of a system includes a lifting device for lifting a motor vehicle, a support structure for mounting the lifting device in a pit, and a carriage for supporting the lifting device from the support structure and being movable within the support structure. The system also includes a cover coupled to opposite sides of the carriage so that the cover extends away from the carriage and continuously between the opposite sides of the carriage.

A tank cover, especially a cover on a sewage treatment tank, is provided with an access opening with a liftable hatch cover. Along with the hatch cover is a safety barrier or grate, either connected directly to the hatch cover or to structure surrounding the hatch opening. When the hatch is opened the barrier is deployed to prevent a worker from accidentally falling through the opening. In one form the barrier is pivotally attached to the bottom side of the hatch cover, and can be swung out as the hatch is opened to form an A shaped or roof shaped barrier, with the hatch cover and the barrier both inclined and essentially forming a roof over the opening. Braces or struts hold these components in the erected position and provide barriers from the sides. For entry of a person through the opening, the barrier or grate can be retained against the bottom of the hatch cover as the cover is swung fully open, through 180. In another form the barrier is secured to tank cover structure just below the hatch cover and can be left in place as a horizontal barrier when the cover is fully opened. For access into the tank the barrier/grate can be swung back in the same direction as the access cover and stacked on the opened access cover.

A device and system for transporting items up and down a folding attic stairway in a building, such as a residential structure, and into an attic space finally resting securely on the floor of the attic.