Patent Publication Number: US-10309094-B2

Title: Building access system and a method for providing a building with such a building access system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2016/055687 filed on Mar. 16, 2016, published in English under PCT Article 21(2), which claims the benefit of priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 1550316-2 filed on Mar. 16, 2015, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a building access system having the features of the first part of claim  1 . The invention also relates to a method for providing a building with a building access system having the features of the first part of claim  25 . 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent times the requirements on buildings, e.g. multi-tenant buildings with several storeys, but also buildings with one or a few storeys only, being equipped with means admitting easy access for everyone by means of elevators are increasing. These requirements make the buildings more expensive since elevator arrangements are costly installations. Particularly if the building only comprises two, three or four floors, the conclusion might be that it is not worth the price installing an elevator arrangement at all. 
     This problematic is even more pronounced within the existing building stock, particularly for residential buildings, since it not only involves considerable investments to provide existing, e.g. older buildings with elevator arrangements. Such buildings are generally not adapted for receiving an elevator arrangement, and a considerable reconstruction of the building may be required, since such an installation is very space demanding. It may for example require using some of the available space normally used for apartments close to the staircase. Elevator arrangements must also be so located that easy access is provided for each apartment in the building. 
     These factors may in some instances even make it questionable whether it is worth the investment to equip an existing building with an elevator. 
     A more attractive alternative may in such a case be to demolish the building and instead construct new buildings equipped with elevator arrangements. 
     JPH1135254 proposes a home elevator for installation in an existing one or two-family building. It comprises an open deck on a lower floor and a veranda on an upper floor and is arranged for connection to an exterior wall on the window side of an existing house. Entrance is provided through respective landings. The elevator room goes up and down between the floors Entrance is provided through sliding doors to the veranda and the open deck. Such an arrangement is limited to be used for a one-family house, and in particular there is no safe connection to the building. 
     DE 102005050066 shows a system wherein a separate supporting structure, with supporting elements resting on the ground, and cross bars connected thereto, is arranged to support a number of balconies, such that all vertical loads on the balconies are taken up thereby. An elevator arrangement uses the same supporting structure as the balcony arrangement, and the elevator runs via rails connected to the supporting structure. Since buildings move with respect to the ground, or vice versa, several problems may be associated with such a construction. It is also a disadvantage of such a system that the provisioning of a soil foundation is not always desirable, or even possible. 
     It is also known to equip existing residential buildings with external elevator arrangements. Such external elevator arrangements are then built in connection to existing staircases, where a wing is built out next to each stairwell. This is an extremely expensive and space demanding alternative, which also is very time consuming to build and install, and out of question where available external space is limited, e.g. in areas where the building stock is dense. 
     Thus, the option based on existing solutions is to undertake an expensive, time-consuming installation, requiring space that for example normally is used as living areas, for the installation, which may reduce the size of existing living areas or other localities, e.g. offices or anything else, and is very costly. It may be so costly that it requires increasing the costs for the apartments, offices or similar that is not acceptable to tenants or owners. 
     The alternative would be either to demolish the building, or to leave it as it is, which may be unsatisfactory, in particular if other renovation measures are to be undertaken, since the standard of the building will then not be increased to a level corresponding to the costs for taking such other measures. 
     Also for the building of new houses it is sometimes a disadvantage that the costs and the space demanded for equipping the buildings with an elevator are unnecessarily high, e.g. if low-cost alternatives are to be built, or for more temporary buildings, which then may have to be built without an easy access facility comprising an elevator. 
     Particularly considering the fact that residential densification in urban areas is becoming more and more attractive at the same time as there is a need for less expensive apartments, further at the same time as the requirements on access facilities are increasing, it is realized that none of the existing solutions is satisfactory. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a building access system as initially referred to through which one or more of the above mentioned problems can be solved. 
     A particular object is to provide a building access system which is less space demanding than hitherto known access systems comprising an elevator facility. 
     It is particularly an object to provide a building access system which is cheap and which is easy and uncomplicated to install on a building, and which further meets high safety standards, in use as well as during mounting. 
     It is a particular object to provide a building access system which can be installed without demanding access to, and reducing available internal space on existing buildings, neither living areas, nor in the stairwells. 
     Still further it is a particular object to provide building access system which is easy to fabricate and to mount. 
     It is a particular object to provide a building access system which is easy to transport to the building where it is to be mounted. 
     Still another object is to provide a building access system which can be mounted in a fast manner. 
     Another particular object is to provide a building access system which is flexible, which with advantage can be used when building new buildings, and also for existing buildings, independently of whether they are equipped with balconies or not, and substantially independently of how apartments, offices etc. are organized in the building. 
     Still other objects are to provide a building access system which meets high security standards and further which is aesthetic and comfortable for the residents of the building. 
     Therefore, a building access system as initially referred to is provided which has the characterizing features of claim  1 . 
     It is also a particularly an object to provide a method for providing a building with an access system having the features of the first part of claim  25  through which one or more of the above mentioned objects can be met. 
     Therefore, a method is provided which has the characterizing features of claim  25 . 
     Advantageous embodiments are given by the respective appended sub-claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will in the following be further described, in a non-limiting manner, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an access system according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising an elevator module surrounded by balconies on two sides thereof as mounted on an external wall of a building, 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an access system according to another embodiment of the invention, comprising an elevator module with a multi-storey balcony module on one side thereof as mounted on an external wall of a building, 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified perspective view of an access system as in  FIG. 2  in an enlarged scale with the elevator module in a position for connection to the house wall for illustrative purposes, 
         FIG. 3A  is a simplified perspective view of a section of an alternative access system with the elevator module in a position for connection to a soil foundation and the balcony module in position for mounting to the wall via the mounting arrangement, 
         FIG. 3B  is a simplified perspective view of a section of an alternative access system in a position for connection to mounting elements connected to an attic joist floor of the building, 
         FIG. 4A  shows exemplary access systems comprising an elevator module and separate balcony (sub-) modules in a position for mounting on a wall of a building, 
         FIG. 4B  shows the access systems of  FIG. 4A  in a mounted state on the wall, 
         FIG. 4C  shows alternative exemplary access systems comprising elevator module divided into elevator submodules and separate balcony submodules in a position for mounting on a wall of a building, 
         FIG. 4D  shows the access systems of  FIG. 4C  in a mounted state on a wall, 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified perspective view of an exemplary balcony module with the front wall removed, 
         FIG. 6  is a view in perspective of a supporting frame structure of a balcony according to one embodiment, 
         FIG. 7A  shows a supporting frame structure as in  FIG. 6  with a grate floor and an inner roofing for mounting to the supporting frame structure on opposite sides thereof, 
         FIG. 7B  shows the supporting frame structure with a grate floor and an inner roofing to be mounted to a mounting arrangement according to one embodiment of invention, 
         FIG. 7C  shows the supporting frame structure with a grate floor and an inner roofing of  FIG. 7B  when mounted to the mounting arrangement, 
         FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a vertical structural hollow section of a mounting arrangement for illustrative purposes with different (additional) connecting elements, 
         FIG. 9  is a very schematic cross-sectional view in perspective of a water protective arrangement connected to a balcony according to one embodiment, and 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the water protective arrangement and the water leading off functionality. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a section of a building access system  100  comprising an elevator module  2  with an elevator shaft  2 A for an elevator and two balcony modules  1 , 1  disposed on two opposite sides of the elevator module  2 . Each balcony module here comprises three (shown) balconies  1 A,  1 A,  1 A;  1 B,  1 B,  1 B, where the balconies of a respective module are disposed vertically one above another. It should be clear that in other implementations, each specific balcony may comprise a separate module separately mounted and connected to the/an elevator module, and to a mounting arrangement. In other embodiments the access system may comprise an integrated module comprising an elevator module and a number of balconies or balcony modules disposed on one side of the elevator module in one or more planes. 
     In still other embodiments, balcony modules, for one or more storeys or planes, may be provided which are adapted to be disposed on one side only, or even on three sides, of an elevator module. It should also be clear that balconies disposed on two or more sides of an elevator module may be disposed in parallel planes, or in planes which are not parallel, but e.g. vertically displaced (in a mounted state) with respect to one another. The number of planes may also be different on different sides. Such and other different implementations and variations are of course also to be covered by the present invention if the building access system comprises separate modules; i.e. the elevator modules and balconies or balcony modules are not integrated, or integrated in different manners, e.g. one module comprising an elevator module and one, two or three balconies, or balcony modules, for each plane, cf. examples in  FIGS. 4A-4D . 
     In  FIG. 1  is schematically illustrated a mounting arrangement  3  comprising so called vertical structural hollow sections (only one shown in  FIG. 1 ) mounted to the external wall  4  of a building, to which mounting arrangement  3  the two three-plane balcony modules and an elevator module  2  are mounted, on rear side edges thereof. Each balcony comprises a balcony door  16  provided in a side wall  13  of the respective balcony for providing access to the elevator running in the elevator shaft  2 A. In  FIG. 1  also front walls  15  and optional corner walls  14  of the balconies are shown. It should be clear that the mounting arrangement alternatively may comprise other elements than vertical structural hollow sections, e.g. vertical elements which are not hollow, and that such elements, irrespectively of hollow or not, may have any appropriate cross-section, e.g. square shaped, rectangular etc. 
     In the shown embodiment the balconies are provided with water protective arrangements  11  as will be further described below with reference to  FIGS. 9-10 . Water protective arrangements are of course not necessary for the functioning of the inventive concept, and may, if provided at all, be of any other kind. 
     The mounting arrangement  3  is connected to the wall  4  of the building as will be further described below. 
     It should also be clear that the inventive concept is not limited to any particular kind of mounting arrangement, but that the modules, separately, or as one or more integrated modules, may be connected to an external wall of a building in any appropriate manner. The mounting arrangement may alternatively, or additionally, be connected to mounting elements, also denoted second, suspending, mounting elements, of different kinds and arranged in different manners. The mounting arrangement may then e.g. be connected thereto and exclusively or additionally supported thereby, whereby such second, suspending, mounting elements may comprise bars or beams forming part of, or being fixedly connected to, the attic joist floor, or to the wall of the building. Still further, separate, e.g. different, mounting arrangements or elements may be used for elevator modules and balcony modules, and the elevator modules may be supported and carried by means of soil foundations, whereas the balcony modules are connected to the building, in the sense of carried and supported thereby via the part of the mounting arrangement connected to and supported thereby. 
     Further, balcony should be interpreted in a broad sense; it may e.g. in some instances, at least at the bottom floor, be a veranda, a terrace or similar; it may also relate to any kind of platform etc. Still further it does of course not have to be a glass balcony, it may alternatively comprise one or more solid walls, railings etc. The balcony door may in some embodiments comprise but a door in a balcony railing or a door of semi-height, on condition that there is a door in the elevator shaft which is closed except for when the elevator arrives. Different kinds of elevators may also be used. The elevator module may be exclusively mounted to the wall, or provided with additional supports as well, but which does not require any real fundament, or catch trap, although the use of such elevators of course is not excluded. Alternatively, the elevator module is supported, solely or additionally, by a fundament on the ground or a soil foundation of any appropriate kind, whereas the balcony module(s) is/are connected to the building. An inner balcony door  7 , leading to the living area, is illustrated by means of dashed lines. 
       FIG. 2  shows an alternative access system  101  according to the invention which comprises an elevator module  2 ′ comprising an elevator shaft for an elevator and a balcony module  1 ′ comprising a number of balconies  1 B, 1 B disposed vertically one above another. It should be clear that each balcony also may be comprised by a separate balcony module, in which case there are a plurality of balcony modules disposed in association with the elevator module  2 ′, on one and the same side thereof. Like elements bear the same reference numbers as in  FIG. 1 , and will not be further described. 
     The mounting arrangement  3 ′ comprises two first vertical structural hollow sections (only one shown) adapted for connection of the elevator module  2 ′ to the house wall  4 . Each first vertical structural hollow section is L-shaped with a first leg section  31  adapted to interconnect the elevator module  2 ′ with the house wall  4  in a vertical direction, and a second leg section  32  perpendicularly disposed with respect to the first leg section  31  and adapted to be disposed at a respective lower side edge of the elevator module  2 ′. 
     In  FIG. 2  a supporting element  34  of a second mounting element (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the mounting arrangement according to one embodiment is indicated, which here serves the purpose of mounting/connecting at least a side of the balcony module  1 ′ which faces away from the elevator module  2 ′ to the wall  4 . 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial view of the access system  101  shown in  FIG. 2 . For explanatory reasons the elevator module  2 ′ is illustrated in a state just before mounting to the mounting arrangement  3 ′ connected to the house wall  4 . Thus, here the rear outer side edges  201  of the elevator module  2 ′ are to be connected to the first leg section  31  whereas the lower outer side edges  202  thereof are to be connected horizontally, or vertically, and hence rest on, the second leg section  32 . 
     In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the first vertical structural hollow sections are integrated in the elevator module for attachment together with the elevator module to a house wall. Also for integrated building access systems the mounting arrangements may be partly or wholly integrated with the building access system; alternatively, the mounting arrangements are separate therefrom, and in still other embodiments parts of the mounting arrangement are integrated, other parts not. In exemplary embodiments mounting arrangements are integrated in an elevator module forming part of an integrated module. Many variations are possible. 
       FIG. 3A  shows an alternative access system  106  according to the invention which comprises an elevator module  2 ′ comprising an elevator shaft for an elevator and a balcony module  1 ′ comprising a number of balconies  1 B,  1 B disposed vertically one above another. It should be clear that each balcony also may be comprised by a separate balcony module, in which case there are a plurality of balcony modules disposed in association with the elevator module  2 ′, on one and the same side thereof. Like elements bear the same reference numbers as in  FIG. 1 , and will not be further described. 
     The mounting arrangement  3 ′″ here comprises at least partly separate mounting arrangement structures  3 A,  3 B for the balcony module  1 ′ and for the elevator module  2 ′. The first mounting arrangement structure  3 A comprises two first vertical structural hollow sections  33 ′ (only one shown), see e.g.  FIGS. 7B, 7C , adapted for connection of the balcony module  1 ′ to the house wall  4 . Each first vertical structural hollow section  33 ′ is supported by a console element  34  e.g. as described with reference to  FIG. 7B  or any other console element, or no console element at all. The elevator module  2 ′ is here arranged to be supported or carried by a fundament disposed on, or in, the ground, e.g. a soil foundation  3 B. The elevator module  2 ′ may additionally be connected to the building, e.g. the wall  4  and/or the balcony module, e.g. via the first mounting arrangement structure  3 A, for connection, but not carrying, purposes and for keeping it in place on the wall and with respect to the balcony module. 
     For explanatory reasons the elevator module  2 ′ is illustrated in a state just before mounting to the mounting arrangement  3 ′″ connected to the house wall  4  and ground respectively. 
       FIG. 3B  shows another alternative access system  107  according to the invention which comprises an elevator module  2 ′ comprising an elevator shaft for an elevator and a balcony module  1 ′ comprising a number of balconies  1 B,  1 B disposed vertically one above another. It should be clear that each balcony also may be comprised by a separate balcony module, in which case there are a plurality of balcony modules disposed in association with the elevator module  2 ′, on one and the same side thereof. Like elements bear the same reference numbers as in  FIG. 1 , and will not be further described. 
     The mounting arrangement  3 ″″ here comprises second, suspending, mounting elements  36 ,  36 , e.g. comprising bars or beams forming part of or being fixedly connected to the attic joist floor of the building (or in alternative embodiments, not shown, to the wall of the building). The first vertical structural hollow sections  33 ″″,  33 ″″ are connected to, and e.g. suspended by the second, suspending, mounting elements  36 ,  36 . 
     For explanatory reasons the elevator module  2 ′ is illustrated in a state just before mounting to the mounting arrangement  3 ″″ in  FIG. 3B , and the second, suspending, mounting elements  36 ,  36  are shown as being drawn out from the wall or attic of the building for illustrative purposes, in real they do only protrude a sufficient distance for allowing mounting of the first vertical structural hollow sections  33 ″″,  33 ″″. In one embodiment, also the elevator module  2 ′ is connected and suspended by means of second suspending mounting elements, common with, or separate from, the second, suspending, mounting elements  36 ,  36 . 
     The elevator module  2 ′ may alternatively be arranged to be supported or carried by a soil foundation  3 B as in  FIG. 3A , or as described with reference to any other described embodiment. 
       FIG. 4A  schematically shows a building access system  102  with an elevator module  2 ′ similar to the elevator module shown in  FIG. 3 . It comprises an entrance plane and three planes for association with, in this embodiment, three separate balcony modules  1 B′,  1 B′,  1 B′ provided on one side thereof. It also shows an access system  103  with an elevator module  2  similar to the elevator module shown in  FIG. 1  but with six balconies formed by each a separate balcony module  1 A′,  1 A′,  1 A′,  1 B′,  1 B′,  1 B′ arranged to be mounted in three planes on two sides of the elevator module  2 . Thus, in this embodiment, each balcony comprises a separate module, and the elevator module is an integrated module for a plurality of vertical planes. The balcony modules and the elevator modules are shown in position for being mounted onto the wall  4  of a building. 
     In  FIG. 4B  the balcony modules  1 B′,  1 B′,  1 B′;  1 A′,  1 A′,  1 A′,  1 B′,  1 B′,  1 B′ and the elevator modules  2 ′,  2  are shown in a mounted state on the wall  4  of the building. 
       FIG. 4C  shows alternative embodiments of access systems  104 ,  105  in which separate mounting means  33 ″ are provided for each of a plurality of separate balcony modules  1 B″,  1 B″,  1 B″;  1 A″,  1 A″,  1 A″,  1 B″,  1 B″,  1 B″, here only provided with railings, but of course, in alternative embodiment the balconies may comprise walls, e.g. comprise glass balconies, for separate mounting of each balcony module to a wall  4 . In these embodiments the elevator modules comprise separate elevator submodules  2 ″,  2 ′″, one for each a plane. Separate, optionally additional, mounting means  3 ″ are also provided for each elevator module for mounting to a common mounting arrangement fixed to the wall  4 . To the left in  FIG. 4C  the separate elevator modules  2 ″ are adapted for being associated with balcony modules on but one side thereof, whereas to the right in  FIG. 4C  an implementation is illustrated wherein each elevator submodule  2 ′″ is adapted for being associated with two balcony modules, on two sides thereof, and hence comprises doors and openings on two sides. The bottom elevator submodules  2   0  comprise elevator entrance doors, which may be located in a side wall or in the front wall thereof (not shown). 
       FIG. 4D  shows the access systems  104 ,  105  of  FIG. 4C  mounted on to the wall  4 . 
       FIG. 5  very schematically illustrates a section of a balcony module  1  e.g. as in  FIG. 1 , with the balcony front walls removed for illustrative purposes. As discussed above, a balcony module may comprise but one balcony  1 A, or a plurality of balconies  1 A,  1 A. Similar elements bear the same reference numbers as in  FIG. 1 , and will not be further described. The balcony doors  16 ,  16  are arranged in respective side walls  13 ,  13  of the balconies  1 A,  1 A to provide access to an elevator module (not shown). In  FIG. 1  are also shown the respective supporting floor frame structures  6  of each balcony  1 A on top of each of which a grate floor  12  is disposed. Entrance doors  7  from the balconies to apartments or similar are provided for in any desired manner. 
       FIG. 6  shows an exemplary supporting floor frame structure  6  of a balcony. It comprises an outer frame  60  with a rear section  62  adapted to be arranged horizontally along the wall of the building, a front section  63 , two side sections  64  and a plurality of support beams  61  extending in parallel from the rear section  62  to the front section  63 . The side sections  64 ,  64  are provided with holes  65  for connection to vertical beams of a mounting arrangement as will be discussed with reference to  FIG. 8  below, and/or with holes  66  for connection to (second) vertical structural hollow sections of a mounting arrangement as will be discussed with reference to  FIG. 7B  below, according to different embodiments. The frame  60  also comprises holes  67  for connection of balcony walls (not shown). 
       FIG. 7A  shows a supporting floor frame structure  6 ′ substantially corresponding to the frame structure  6  of  FIG. 6 , comprising holes  66  for direct connection to second vertical structural hollow sections  33 ′ by means of fastening means, and holes  69  for connection by means of additional fastening means to one end of a pull rod  40  via holes  41  provided therein, which pull rod in the opposite end comprises a hole  42  for connection by means of a fastening means to a corresponding second vertical structural hollow section  33 ′. 
     A grate floor  12  is adapted to be disposed on top of the supporting floor frame structure  6 ′. 
     A roofing structure  22  is connectable to the lower side of the supporting floor frame structure  6 ′. The roofing structure comprises ridges or seams, here disposed in parallel and extending in a direction from one side section  64  towards the other  64  of the frame structure  6 ′. It may be connected to the frame structure  6 ′ in any appropriate manner, and it is adapted to form a roof of another balcony located below, unless it is the lowermost balcony, in which case it just forms a base plate or a bottom roof; the functioning is the same. One purpose of the ridges is to conduct water leaking through the grate floor and the frame structure towards the sides of the balcony. It may e.g. be made of sheet metal. In one embodiment it comprises corrugated metal. 
       FIG. 7B  shows the structures forming floor and roof of  FIG. 7A  in a mounted state, i.e. the supporting floor frame structure  6 ′ with the grate floor  12  mounted on top of it and the roofing structure mounted beneath. In addition thereto the pull rod  40  has been connected to the frame structure, e.g. by means of screws and bolts or any other appropriate fastening means. The frame structure is connectable to two second vertical structural hollow sections  33 ′,  33 ′ disposed on either side of the frame structure by means of appropriate fastening means, e.g. comprising bolts  71  to be introduced into through holes in the second vertical structural hollow sections and through the holes  66  in the side sections  64  of the frame structure  6 ′, and bolts  72 . The opposite end of the pull rod  40  is correspondingly fastened to the vertical structural hollow section  33 ′ by means of fastening means, i.e. screws  73  and bolts  74 , or in any other appropriate manner. 
     In an advantageous embodiment the mounting arrangement further comprises console elements  34  having the shape of an inverted L and comprising a first leg portion  34 ′ for connection to the wall of the building, and a second leg portion  34 ″ disposed perpendicularly thereto onto which the second vertical structural hollow section  33 ′ rests. The console element further comprises a wedge  340  adapted to the shape of the console element and comprising a number of through holes  341 ,  341  for bolting to the wall of the building. 
     In advantageous embodiments console elements similar to console elements  34  are also provided for providing additional support to first vertical structural hollow sections intended for supporting the elevator module. 
       FIG. 7C  shows the frame structure  6 ′ of  FIG. 7B  mounted onto the second vertical structural hollow sections  33 ′,  33 ′, of the mounting arrangement. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing a second vertical structural hollow section  33  onto which horizontal beams  38  are welded, or attached in any other appropriate manner, e.g. via cooperating coupling recesses and protrusions or similar (not shown). It should be clear that throughout the description, when referring to vertical and horizontal respectively, reference is made to the mounted state of the mounting arrangement, or the access system, i.e. when it is mounted onto a building. The horizontal beams  38  may in different embodiments be connected and further supported by one or more of pull rods  35 ,  35 A, supporting struts  39  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     The frame structure  6  may here be connected to said horizontal beams by means of fastening elements (not shown), e.g. comprising bolts and nuts or similar, through mating holes  65  in the frame structure  6  and holes  35 ′ in the horizontal beams  38  respectively. It should be clear that the pull-rods  35  cannot be provided on the side of a supporting floor frame structure facing an elevator module for practical reasons. It should also be clear that different additional supporting elements can be provided for in any desired manner also when the supporting floor frame structure ( 6 ,  6 ′) is connected directly to second vertical structural hollow elements ( 33 ′), cf.  FIGS. 7A-7C . 
     To the left in  FIG. 8  exemplary cross-sections of beams, pull rod and struts are illustrated. 
       FIG. 9  schematically illustrates a water protective arrangement  155  connected to the outer edges of a balcony and serving the dual purposes of leading off water collected on the balcony floor, e.g. rain water, or water accidentally or intentionally poured out on the balcony floor, and protecting an underlying balcony, terrace or wall from rain water incident obliquely towards the building. Water flowing through the grate floor  12  and the supporting frame structure is assembled on top of the inner roofing  22 , which preferably comprises ridges or corrugations  23  assisting in leading the water towards the outer edges or portions of the balcony. The protective arrangement  105  is arranged to surround the outer front and side edges of the balcony; in  FIG. 9  a view from the rear side of the balcony shows one of the side sections of the protective arrangement  105 . The protective arrangement  155  comprises a bent plate structure comprising a first outer, outwardly sloping plate portion  110 . In one embodiment said first outer, outwardly sloping plate portion  110  is attachable to the balcony by means of a flange portion  121  at its upper edge, preferably to the frame side section  64 , and to the frame front section (not shown), (or to an interconnecting element in any appropriate manner, not shown), such that it will be connected inside the lower edges of the balcony walls  13 . The balcony wall or railing  15  is (additionally) secured by means of a pillar  17  to the front and side sections  64  of the supporting frame structure. 
     The protective arrangement  155  further comprises a bottom plate portion  111  and a rear plate portion  112 . The bottom plate portion  111  is connected to, or integral with, the outer lower edge of the front portion and is arranged to slope slightly outwards. It comprises a plurality of drainage holes  114  adjacent the interface with the outer plate portion  110  allowing water to flow out through said holes. At the opposite end of the bottom plate portion, and preferably integral therewith, the rear plate portion  112  extends, in a mounted state, substantially in parallel to the wall of the building, and at its upper edge being provided with an outwardly sloping water fall-off portion  113  adapted for connection to the lower side of an inner roofing  22 , at the outer edges thereof, below the frame section  64 . By means of holes  116  disposed in bottom edge portions of the frame sections, water is allowed to flow through said holes  116 , onto the water fall-off portion  113 , and down onto the outwardly sloping bottom portion  111  and out through the drainage holes  114  provided therein. The first outer plate portion  110  mainly protects against rain water falling in onto the building. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the water protective arrangement shown in  FIG. 9 . The arrows indicated w schematically illustrate the flow-off of water. Similar elements bear the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 9  and will not be further discussed herein. 
     As discussed with reference to  FIG. 9  the first, outer, plate portion  110  is arranged to slope outwards, forming an angle β with a plane perpendicular to the wall of the building, here shown as the angle with the upper portion of a balcony wall of a balcony located below. Correspondingly the bottom plate portion  111  forms an angle α, smaller than β, with said wall. The angles may take different values which are not critical as such as long as water is allowed to flow off in an efficient manner, and, as far as β is concerned, it is capable of assuring that incident water is hindered from entering sideways into the structure and to some extent onto at least an upper portion of an underneath located balcony wall or similar. As an example only, β may be between 30° and 75°, whereas a may be between 5° and 30°. It should however be clear that these figures merely are given for exemplifying, and by no means limiting purposes. 
     Also the elevator module, or respective elevator submodules, may be provided with corresponding or similar water protective arrangements. 
     It should be clear that the invention is not limited to the explicitly illustrated embodiments but that it can be freely varied within the scope of the appended claims. 
     For mounting of the building access system on an existing building, old balconies (if any) are removed. If the building does not comprise any balconies, doors need to be taken up in the wall, or a window be replaced. If so called French balconies are provided, such doors may with advantage be used. 
     The building access system may comprise partially or entirely integrated mounting arrangements, or entirely separate mounting arrangements. It is also not restricted to any particular mounting arrangements as long as it can be securely, reliably, and easily mounted onto a wall of a building, and further allows secure and reliable and easy mounting of the elevator and balcony modules thereto. 
     It may be provided as substantially pre-fabricated modules for transportation to the building where it is to be mounted, or as separate elements. 
     A module may also comprise an integrated module comprising an elevator module and one or more balcony modules, on more than one side of the elevator module, or on one side only, and/or with balconies in one or more planes (vertically seen in a mounted state). 
     The building access system may further be provided with a water protective arrangement or not. It should also be clear that the water protective arrangement can be used as a separate entity that can be added, or be built in from the beginning. The water protective arrangement can also be used with other types of balconies, glass balconies or not. It may also be fabricated as an optional add-on product, applicable for many different types of balconies, or other types of platforms etc. 
     It is a particular advantage of the invention that a building needing to be provided with an elevator, will through the inventive concept at the same time be provided with balconies, or if balconies were already provided, with new balconies, which adds considerably to the value and comfort of the building. 
     A further advantage resulting from the invention is that one or more extra floors may be cost efficiently added on top of existing, lower buildings, e.g. on top of 2, 3 or more storey buildings. It is estimated that the cost for such an addition can be achieved at a cost that is about 50% in comparison with new production. 
     It is also an advantage that a very easy access to an elevator is provided from each apartment or office or similar.