Case Studies - Barrier Point

Barrier Point

We had a customer who approached us who had a building that they needed to survey, carry out repairs on and re-paint and had carried out a feasibility study on all methods of access. Or they thought they had, until they remembered that they had used our services on previous projects when all other options failed or became impractical.

The customer informed us that they had explored the more traditional methods of accessing this symmetrical type circular building that was 12 stories high, and the previous access methods studied were MEWP's machines and Scaffolding, when studying these options there were more barriers than solutions especially in terms of the shape and the size of the particular building and additionally the vicinity in which is resided at (i.e. near to the river wall and landscape architecture). So after realising that the previous methods could not be used decided to contact us, as we were known to them as the “access specialists” who could normally provide the safest and most cost effective solution.

We studied the requirement and the scope of works and came to the conclusion that the building could be easily/safely accessed by Industrial Rope Access methods for the following reasons:

We worked around an original concern of the customer regarding exposure to height where individuals would be wearing harnesses, so we evaluated the exposure times of working at height and compared to the original types of access methods and these were the results of plausible means of access methods:

We have compared scaffolding vs. Rope access due to the reason of hydraulic access machines could not be used due to potential weight restrictions with the underground car parks and inaccessible areas that the machines could not park in. So we compared the hours of exposure to height with proposed contractors that would be needed to carry out the planned scope of works.

Option 1:
Proposed Contractor	Type of works	Hours of work covering the scope of works based on 6hrs average @ height	Type of exposure	Type of planned rescue/evacuation	Total hours of exposure@ Height
Scaffolders	Installing access framework for additional contractors	4 weeks erection and 3 days dismantling covering 4 individuals to complete intended scope of works due to complexity of building and limited access and meshing of scaffolding	Potential Fall Arrest	Mechanical System relying on suitably trained staff and levels of competency of first aid aiders	294 hours
Surveying	Surveying all areas of building to ascertain areas of damage and for recommendation of repair	1 person approximately 4 days	Collective protection on walkways, possible falls to lower levels on ladder access	Common reliance on third party for evacuation of incapacitated casualty alternatively same method as above	24 hours
Power washing	To carry out cleaning and preparation works prior to painting	2 individuals one week i.e. 5 days	As above	As above	60 hours
Painters/ decorators	To carry out painting and repair works to facia	4 individuals 4-5 weeks, time consuming to work around obstructions i.e. scaffolding	As above	As above	654 hours Based on 5 weeks duration
				Total hours of method type: A	978 hrs

Option 2:
Proposed Contractor	Type of works	Hours of work covering the scope of works based on 6hrs average @ height	Type of exposure	Type of planned rescue/evacuation	Total hours of exposure@ Height
Industrial Rope Access personnel	Surveying all areas of building to ascertain areas of damage and for recommendation of repair	2 individuals 2 days	Work in suspended access in harnesses and safety seats	ALL personnel are trained to carry out assisted rescue/evacuation and are first aid trained	24 hours
Industrial Rope Access personnel	To carry out cleaning and preparation works prior to painting	2 individuals 3 days	Work in suspended access in harnesses and safety seats	ALL personnel are trained to carry out assisted rescue/evacuation and are first aid trained	36 hours
Industrial Rope Access personnel	To carry out painting and repair works to facia	4 individuals 4 weeks	Work in suspended access in harnesses and safety seats	ALL personnel are trained to carry out assisted rescue/evacuation and are first aid trained	480 hours
				Total hours of method type: B	540 hours

A saving of 438 hours of exposure to height or 44.7% less exposure to height

(There were also additional benefits to choosing Industrial Rope Access)

There was quick erecting/dismantling of the ropes on a daily basis so reducing the possible threat of security through unauthorised third parties attempting access the properties, where the traditional means of scaffolding could be an issue.

There are no obtrusive framework extensions on the building while the works are in duration, by Industrial Rope Access as explained in the above section as the ropes are dismantled on a daily basis so you do not see the ropes after the works are finished.

As well as a vast amount of benefits already mentioned the customer was also happy on a cost saving of approximately £50,000..... From the original quotation supplied!