What is Rope Access?

Rope access is a flexible, efficient and cost-effective height access method - but it’s not on everyone’s radar! In this blog post, we’re going to explain exactly what it is, and how rope access might be helpful to you and your projects.

Rope Access - a Modern Way to Work at Height

Maintaining buildings can be a real challenge when you need to access the roof, facade or other features at height. If the building is listed, on the older side, or a complex structure such as a church, things can get even more complicated. Traditionally, scaffolding or heavy machinery such as a cherry picker would be used to provide height access, but this can be expensive, disruptive, and might require space you don’t have. Rope access provides a less-invasive, safe, and quick approach to height access and is a useful option for homeowners, property managers, and commercial properties alike.

What is Rope Access?

Rope access is a method of safely accessing areas at height utilising a combination of ropes and safety systems. From de-mossing a garage roof all the way to off-shore construction, rope access is a highly versatile and well-established part of the construction industry.
Technicians are usually trained to Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) standards. IRATA is the leading global authority on industrial rope access and provides the training and assessment required to ensure registered technicians work to the highest safety, quality, and practice standards.

What can Rope Access Help with?

Rope access provides access solutions for a wide range of domestic, industrial, and commercial maintenance and construction tasks. It provides an idea solution when facing short-term, one-off or targeted projects, for which scaffolding would be excessive effort and cost. Rope access is also a great option if your project is in a location which scaffolding or machinery would not be able to access, or if your site needs minimal disruption. A few examples of common Rope Access projects include:

• Inspections and Surveys (inc. quinquennial inspections)

• Gutter and roof maintenance and repairs (inc. de-vegging)

• Facade repairs, maintenance, and cleaning

• Installations at height (such as signage, banners, and lighting)

• Leak investigation and repairs

Who can Benefit from Rope Access?

More or less anyone can benefit from considering Rope Access for their at-height project, including:

• managers/owners of commercial properties that need to maintain access

• older, complex, and/or listed buildings

• properties with restricted access or space, making larger equipment impractical

• those who require short-term access or repairs, such as residential leak investigation

Is Rope Access right for me?

Now that you know a little more about Rope Access and its applications, you may have decided that it’s the right approach for your project. But if you’re still not sure, we’re always more than happy to help. Get in touch through our contact form and one of our friendly team members will discuss your job and potential solutions with your, including a free quote.