The Brief:
As a trusted rope access company offering comprehensive solutions requiring rope access in Essex, we were approached by our friends at Hamton Environmental Services, a facilities company tasked with a unique challenge. They required help in resolving a significant roofing issue for a globally renowned car manufacturer with a huge car manufacturing plant in Essex. The car manufacturer was facing ongoing problems with pigeons accessing their engine production warehouse through breaches in the roof. The building featured old-style Cathedral roofs, with some spaces reaching heights of 70 to 80 meters. Over the years, sections of roof capping had blown away, leaving gaps that pigeons exploited to enter the facility.
The bird guano from these pigeons posed a severe hazard to both the machinery and employee health, threatening to disrupt production entirely. Initially, the client believed the only solution was to erect scaffolding across the entire warehouse. However, this approach came with a staggering estimated cost of over £100,000 just for the scaffolding, along with the added downsides of operational disruption and significant installation time.
Recognising the scale and complexity of the project, we proposed an alternative solution using our expert rope access technicians to address the problem efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively. Our team has been providing rope access in Essex for a number of years, and it would take all of our experience and know-how to reach and carry out the rope access repairs on time, and within budget.
The Solution:
Upon assessing the site, we identified that traditional scaffolding was not only cost-prohibitive but also unlikely to provide full access to the irregular shapes and heights of the Cathedral roof structure. Instead, our experienced rope access technicians employed a specialist method known as aid climbing.
This technique involved our rope access technician firing a catapult to attach a rope to the lowest accessible roof beam inside the warehouse. Once secured, the team climbed up to this beam, anchored themselves safely, and repeated the process to reach progressively higher beams. This method allowed us to scale the internal structure systematically until we reached the topmost points of the roof.
From there, we safely secured ropes across the exterior of the roof surface. This enabled our team to climb from the outside up to the roof level and carry out the necessary rope access repairs. Using self-drilling hex screws, we installed new cladding to seal the breaches securely, preventing further pigeon infestations and ensuring long-term durability. Our team have completed many projects requiring rope access in Essex, but few have provided the view of the Thames we had during this project!
The Outcome:
Our rope access repairs successfully sealed the roof breaches, preventing further pigeon activity and eliminating the associated health and machinery hazards. By opting for our rope access in Essex solutions instead of scaffolding, the client saved over £100,000 and avoided extensive disruption to warehouse operations.
Not only was the project completed safely and on budget, but we also finished within the timeframe it would have taken just to erect the scaffolding. The client was delighted with the results, and their operations continued uninterrupted.
While our rope access approach eliminated the need for scaffolding, the project was not without its challenges. Wind speed was a critical factor, as safety regulations prevent us from working at wind speeds exceeding 23 miles per hour. This meant we had to carefully plan our operations around calm weather conditions.
Additionally, the client had a strict rain policy in place, prohibiting any roof work when surfaces were wet. Daily communication with the client was essential to coordinate schedules, maximise productivity during weather windows, and ensure safety compliance throughout.
Despite these challenges, our team maintained flexibility and focus, ensuring minimal disruption to the client’s operations while completing this unique project requiring rope access in Essex.
Rope Access in Essex: Cost-Effective and Efficient Solutions
This project highlights why rope access technicians are an ideal solution for complex, high-level repairs. As an experienced rope access company, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative, cost-saving solutions for projects requiring rope access in Essex, without compromising safety or quality. Avisan always strictly adheres to our trio of core values. Service. Safety. Satisfaction.
If you’re looking for expert rope access in Essex, or the surrounding areas, contact our team today. We’re here to provide tailored, efficient solutions for your high-level maintenance challenges, and as you can see here, we could save you a huge amount of money on repairs!
