An underground storage vault having a hatch affixed to a hatchway. The underfloor storage vault may be incorporated into a larger structure such that the surface of the vault's hatch may be flush with the surrounding floor, allowing for the hatch to be easily concealed. Once the concealment has been removed, fasteners can be undone so that the hatch can be removed from inhibiting access to the hatchway. Valuables and possessions can be stored in the vaults storage compartment and safely secured by re-affixing the hatch to the vault's hatchway.

A manhole frame includes one or more handholds near the entrance to the manhole so that the ladder rungs can be made lower and the access space at the entrance to the manhole thereby increased. The handhold can be cast into the cover-supporting lip, or can be a movable handle which is below the level of the manhole when not in use or extended above ground level when in use.

A safety landing may include a first support panel positionable within the shaft and having a first support surface and a second support surface spaced apart from the first support surface. At least a first platform may have a first end that is movably connected to the first support panel and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The first platform may have an upper surface, an opposing lower surface and an end surface at the first end. The first platform may be movably between a closed position in which the first platform extends laterally across the shaft, and in which the lower surface rests on the first support surface and an open position in which the first platform is generally upright and the end surface of the first platform rests on the second support surface.

In one embodiment, an electronically controlled hatch system for safe ingress, egress, hazard detection, and methods thereof are provided to reduce or eliminate hazards to personnel, including protection of people above and below a scuttle hatch, access port, skylight or elevated deck. Said hatch system reduces the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access port. In certain embodiments, severe weather, hazard, security, and other safety information are detected and transmitted to a central control unit for processing and regulating the opening and closing of a hatch covering the access port and/or raising and lowering a safety railing system based on said information and/or user input. Said hatch system may include an actuator and guides for automatically locking/unlocking and opening/closing a hatch, an actuator and guides for automatically raising/lowering a railing system, safety monitoring detectors/apparatuses, and a centralized controller.

A tunnel connector for an in-ground storm shelter which allows inhabitants to enter the in-ground storm shelter from a trailer house without being exposed to external environmental factors. The tunnel connector includes a U-shaped enclosure wall, a staircase, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall. The first lateral wall and the second lateral wall are connected perpendicular to the staircase across each other to provide lateral protection. The U-shaped enclosure wall includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an interconnecting sidewall. The interconnecting sidewall is terminally connected in between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The first lateral wall is adjacently connected to the first sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. Similarly, the second lateral wall is adjacently connected to the second sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. The tunnel connector is installed in between a floorboard of the trailer house and the in-ground storm shelter.

A device has two anchor sleeves (3) in a concrete wall (2) accommodating two parallel anchor bolts (6) of a U-shaped step iron (1) form-fittingly. Between coupling parts formed by the anchor sleeves (3) and the anchor bolts (6), a detent assembly (7) has at least one detent tongue (8) sprung in the radial direction on one of the coupling parts (3, 6) and a detent recess (9) that receives the detent tongue (8) on the other coupling part (6, 3). A guide surface (15) for the detent tongue (8) is inclined in the peripheral direction and extends in the radial direction over the engagement depth of the detent tongue (8) adjoining the detent recess (9) at least in a peripheral direction.

Disclosed is a variable sliding manhole safety guard including an installation support part that is installed on an inner wall of a manhole to be installed and has a rail structure vertically extending by a predetermined length and configured to change a vertical position of a movement guide, the movement guide that is mounted on the rail structure to change a vertical position, has a structure vertically extending by a predetermined height, and is mounted on a safety fence in an integrated structure, the safety fence which is mounted on the movement guide in an integrated structure and includes a plurality of frames forming a cylindrical structure having an outer diameter corresponding to an inner diameter of a manhole entrance, and in which an openable entrance door is installed in an upper one surface thereof.

A device has two anchor sleeves (3) in a concrete wall (2) accommodating two parallel anchor bolts (6) of a U-shaped step iron (1) form-fittingly. Between coupling parts formed by the anchor sleeves (3) and the anchor bolts (6), a detent assembly (7) has at least one detent tongue (8) sprung in the radial direction on one of the coupling parts (3, 6) and a detent recess (9) that receives the detent tongue (8) on the other coupling part (6, 3). A guide surface (15) for the detent tongue (8) is inclined in the peripheral direction and extends in the radial direction over the engagement depth of the detent tongue (8) adjoining the detent recess (9) at least in a peripheral direction.

In one embodiment, an electronically controlled hatch system for safe ingress, egress, hazard detection, and methods thereof are provided to reduce or eliminate hazards to personnel, including protection of people above and below a scuttle hatch, access port, skylight or elevated deck. Said hatch system reduces the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access port. In certain embodiments, severe weather, hazard, security, and other safety information are detected and transmitted to a central control unit for processing and regulating the opening and closing of a hatch covering the access port and/or raising and lowering a safety railing system based on said information and/or user input. Said hatch system may include an actuator and guides for automatically locking/unlocking and opening/closing a hatch, an actuator and guides for automatically raising/lowering a railing system, safety monitoring detectors/apparatuses, and a centralized controller.

A safety railing system for an underground utility enclosure includes a utility hatch frame for the underground utility enclosure or a utility hatch cover for the utility hatch frame, and a folding safety railing. The folding safety railing includes a first panel pivotally connected to the utility hatch frame or the utility hatch cover, and a second panel pivotally connected to the first panel. The folding safety railing unfolds so the first and the second panels stand vertically along one or more edges of the utility hatch frame.