Most rope access companies, ourselves included, herald cost savings as the number one benefit of using rope access as opposed to scaffolding for work at height. However, rope access provides many advantages in addition to significant cost savings. In this blog, I will introduce how rope access can be an effective solution in sensitive environments.
Some work locations are challenging to access. In addition to the challenge of height, there can be complicating factors such as a delicate natural environment or hazardous industrial activities taking place in proximity to where a job needs to be done. The equipment used in rope access is relatively unobtrusive when compared to bulky scaffolding. Rope access can be done with little disruption to sensitive environments. Here are two examples where Pacific Ropes was able to enter into sensitive environments to provide necessary work without interfering with the activities taking place in the vicinity.
Bridge Over a Railyard
A busy city bridge was in need of concrete repairs. This bridge is located above a rail yard, so it was necessary to install Roc-Bloc netting on the bridge to protect the rail yard below. The rail yard was unable to accommodate access for large aerial lifts, so the solution was originally thought be be scaffolding. However, scaffolding wasn't feasible either, as it would have to be dismantled every time a train needed to pass through.
Unfortunately, the price of using scaffolding in that location was going to be high: estimations ranged between $300,000 and $400, 000 for the project. The city came to us as an alternative.
Our team incorporated several rope access systems, including aid climbing routes, ascent and descent lines, large re-anchors, and horizontal tension lines for access below the bridge deck. We used inches with a pulley system to lift and install formwork, concrete, rebar, anchors, cables and netting. We performed the concrete repairs and installed the netting.
In addition to saving the city money, rope access was an efficient way to perform the bridge repairs without disrupting the rail yard below.
Conservatory
A tropical conservatory needed to replace its roofing panels. It was determined that in order to protect the sensitive ecosystem in the conservatory, it was necessary to install debris netting while the panel replacements were taking place. It was originally thought that scaffolding would be required in order to install the netting. This was a cause for concern because the conservatory would need to be closed to the public while the scaffolding was in place. The scaffolding could also potentially damage the wildlife in the conservatory. It was decided that rope access could be examined as a solution.
Upon consultation, Pacific Ropes was able to come up with a safer and less disruptive alternative for installing the netting. We used temporary anchorages, haul systems, and access systems to position our team to place the netting. We completed the task in 5 days, compared to the 3 weeks it would have taken to using scaffolding. The netting was established without it being necessary to close the building to the public, and the tropical wildlife was protected. As a bonus, using rope access provided 50% cost savings.
The above scenarios are just a few examples of how rope access can be used in creative ways to complete tasks in sensitive locations. The possibilities are endless! Reach out to us if you have a job in a sensitive location and let's see if we can collaborate.
