02.12.2021 | Facade

A day’s work in rope access technology for facades

Safety is created above all through the correct workflow. Since 2019 rope access technology has been officially registered in TRBS 2121 as authorised working equipment. It is a rope-supported access process for installation, cleaning, and service tasks on facades. A debriefing and analysis takes place afterwards. In our blog, we’d like to show you this chronology for the individual steps of rope access technology, and to explain each of them briefly.

1 Ratings

Specialist series: Fall protection for facades

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7 tips on installing concealed fall protection systems on façades, with or without rope access technology

Safety systems should not spoil the aesthetics of the façade. Nevertheless, they are important for maintenance & cleaning. The imposing glass structure was in the spotlight when it was time for cleaning the windows, because nobody had thought about the fall protection system required for this on the building’s unusual façade. So that you avoid being confronted with exactly this challenge, we have put together 7 tips for concealed fall protection and rope access technology.

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Correct planning and implementation of rope access technology on facades

Fall protection with rope access technology is an ideal solution for facades if they are also planned in good time. Architects increasingly decide to install rope access technology. The best way to integrate the rope access technology seamlessly into the building structures is to factor it in at the planning stage. The challenges arising during planning and implementation and the mistakes to avoid are summarised below.

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Holistic rescue concept for facades

After a fall every minute counts. Of course, the goal must be to avoid accidents through even better planning, equipment and training. If accidents do happen, rescue measures must be professionally prepared in order to keep the consequences as low as possible. One missing link to the rescue chain can lead to serious injuries and death. In this article you will learn how rescue concepts are prepared in connection with facade work and how rescue measures are to be carried out in an emergency.

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What is rope access technology and what are its benefits for facades?

Safety & beauty on facades - no problem with rope access technology. Because of very differing facade types, a safety system is required with which the user can reach otherwise inaccessible locations for cleaning and servicing tasks. This is particularly where the illusion of safety occurs more quickly than most people would like. Thanks to its great flexibility and high safety standards, one process which currently enjoys favour is rope access technology. In this article, we explain to you the concept and its benefits.

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5 modern facade types on which rope access technology is possible

Facades differ greatly. Every facade is unique and has its own special requirements in terms of safety, because each building shell must be cared for, serviced and, where necessary, repaired. In order to avoid the illusion of safety, a sustainable safety concept is therefore absolutely essential. In this blog, we would like to introduce to you 5 facade types where we have already gained experience in the past and were able to apply fall protection using rope access technology.

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A day’s work in rope access technology for facades

Safety is created above all through the correct workflow. Since 2019 rope access technology has been officially registered in TRBS 2121 as authorised working equipment. It is a rope-supported access process for installation, cleaning, and service tasks on facades. A debriefing and analysis takes place afterwards. In our blog, we’d like to show you this chronology for the individual steps of rope access technology, and to explain each of them briefly.

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Rope access technology on facades - all information at a glance

Definition, benefits, system, processes, legal foundations & more. Buildings are becoming higher, more modern, more complex, more spacious... The safety technology for working at height on these buildings must be correspondingly well-developed and flexible. This is why agile and dynamic rope access technology is being used with increasing frequency. It provides optimum fusing of aesthetics and safety on facades, and simultaneously provides the users with maximum flexibility when performing facade tasks such as cleaning, servicing, or repairs.

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All-round protection on facades with the (S)TOP application principle

Industrial safety on facades is essential. Dangerous behaviour in the workplace must be avoided under all circumstances. In our example, the solution would be suitable fall protection for cleaning the ceiling-high window. Ideally, risks are already eliminated in advance,e.g. by means of correct workflows. We now consider, in terms of facade safety systems, what the acronym (S)TOP represents and what lies behind it.

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7 steps of risk assessment of facades

Tasks on facades harbour risks which have to be minimised. Safety concepts for risks of falling from facades, on roofs, and also in industry have been our special field since 2001. Facade safety is an especially exciting area, because there are an incredible number of different facade types, each with its very own requirements.

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How To Achieve the Optimal Invitation to Tender for Facade Protection

Our experts share their best tips. The earlier the technical advice and planning for facade protection takes place, the better you’ll have your costs under control and the more successful you’ll be in the tendering process. Discover our 3 professional tips for this.

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Fall Protection for Facades: How Much Does it Cost?

All cost items at a glance. Roland K. opens the envelope and pulls out a multi-page stack of paper, and his heart almost stops. The offer for securing the facade of his current construction project is much higher than he’d previously calculated in the tender. Our architect Roland K. here could have avoided this sinking feeling that comes with discovering unanticipated costs. Because with good and early planning, cost-effective solutions for fall protection on your facade can be found. Read on and find out what the costs are made up of, and how you can plan and implement facade security in a way that will save you money.

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Whoops, facade safety forgotten – what can be done?

Necessary steps & expert tips that work. Inclusion of an experienced expert for facade safety early in the project pays for itself in the end, through appropriate know-how and attractive cost benefit advantages. And even if the fall protection system has been forgotten, a partner like this usually has a final ace up his sleeve.

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Fall protection on facades: 2 best practice examples

Stylishly matched to the project’s architecture. For every fall protection system, the focus is on saving lives. A holistic, sustainable safety concept for the facade safety system is the best possible gain for construction projects. At the same time, the safety system should integrate into the overall concept of the building, and complement the architecture. Discover two best practice examples for façade protection below.

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High-level view of fall protection on facades

Fall protection on facades needs to be stylish and safe. Every year, hundreds of people suffer accidents on roofs, facades, and other workplaces at height. The shockingly high number of such accidents could be reduced if suitable fall protection systems were in use. However, at the same time the facade safety system should not detract from the beauty of the building, because every structure has its own aesthetic value.

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Fall protection for Lobster’s facade

Even very modern facades also need fall protection

Time to travel new paths. That’s the motto of Lobster Data GmbH in Tutzing (Bavaria). But it’s not just as a software provider that Lobster puts its faith in developing and selling highly innovative solutions. Recently the company management decided to travel new paths in terms of safety too.

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Med Campus Linz - safe facades with TAURUS

Safety at dizzying heights: TAURUS from INNOTECH as fall protection for the MED CAMPUS Linz

The building’s modern, aesthetic facade, designed by the LORENZATELIERS architectural practice, obviously has to be cleaned and maintained regularly. So that these cleaning and maintenance tasks on the external components of the facade, plus the window and glass elements, were made as safe as possible, those responsible decided on a TAURUS professional fall protection system.

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TAURUS for façade protection at Axel Springer

TAURUS rail system, the perfect fall protection system for all types of modern facades

Regardless of the facade type, the topic of safety is always of decisive importance. Especially for intelligent facades which adapt to different weather conditions and to the actual position of the sun, regular servicing and cleaning is always necessary. Find out in this post how TAURUS is the optimum solution as fall protection for facades.

However, the better the safety solution is thought out, and the better the safety concept is designed, the more quickly and safely the climbers can perform their respective activities.

Michael Pett

The correct planning and implementation of rope access technology are correspondingly important, because a sustainable safety concept is the only protection against the illusion of safety. But enough of the theory! Let's take a look at how the individual principles of facade safety are experienced in the practical working day. Similar to a sports competition, use of the system requires a certain level of qualification, preparation, and compliance with rules. A debriefing and analysis takes place afterwards. In our blog, we’d like to show you this chronology for the individual steps of rope access technology, and to explain each of them briefly.

 

Prerequisite for rope access technology on facades

A basic prerequisite for the use of rope access technology on facades is successfully completed training in rope access and positioning technology, because the employees must demonstrate the necessary suitability and training to practice the activity.

 

Preparation for rope access technology

  • Risk assessment:
    It is necessary to determine the risks to the employee in advance, and to eliminate them as far as possible.

 

  • Rescue concept:
    In addition to the risk assessment, a rescue concept must also be developed. This must always be adapted to the situation which exists (environment and construction progress).

 

  • Personal protective equipment against falls from a height:
    Personal protective equipment against falls from a height is prepared for the intended use and inspected for its readiness for use.

 

  • Rescue gear:
    The rescue gear must also be prepared, e.g. suitable rescue devices. For rope access technology, compliance with rope lengths is an important item.

 

  • Weather conditions:
    The weather conditions should be checked in order that rope access technology on the various facade types can be implemented to the highest standards.

 

On the construction site or building - Part 1

In general one team should be positioned at each working point. The teams take the following work steps:

  • Reporting the tasks

 

  • Closing off the working area as per guidelines
    - Above (anchor points)
    - Below (working area/surface lying underneath - falling objects, etc. ...)

 

  • Risk assessment and adaptation of the rescue concept to the actual situation and the tasks at the location

 

  • Agreement of escape routes

 

  • Provision of the rescue equipment, i.e. the rescue material must be in the place where it is actually needed

 

  • Preparation of the PPE against falls from a height
    - Donning of harness
    - Preparation of the ropes including checking the lengths, knots, etc. (securing of knots and rope end knots)
    - Preparation of sliders (visual inspection)

 

Tip from the experts: Remember the partner check, because four eyes see more than two!

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On the construction site or building - Part 2

  • Preparation of the necessary tools, and securing them against falling

 

  • Creation of access protection suitable for the local conditions, using  EAP-LOCK-11,EAP-LOCK-13 or temporary protection. This applies, for example to transferring from a ladder to the facade, or to transferring from a standing area within a facade to the exterior

 

  • Inspection of the anchor points or the rail system

 

  • Secured attachment of the ropes/sliders

 

  • Checking redundancy: duplicate protection must always be provided in rope access technology (suspension rope and lifeline)!!!

 

  • Execution of cleaning, maintenance, and care tasks

 

  • JOB DONE!

 

  • Safe dismantling of anchor points (e.g. sliders, temporary points)

 

  • Tidy stowage of PPE against falls from a height, ropes, etc. - in general no equipment should be left lying around (not even overnight)

 

Processes of rope access technology

For rope access technology, there must always be permanent redundancy, i.e. duplicate protection, for example by means of suspension rope and lifeline (also known as working line and safety rope). In addition, the rescue aspect always needs to be borne in mind, because it must be possible to perform an emergency rescue at any time.

  • Vertical access processes:
    In broad terms, vertical rope access technology refers to ascent and descent using a rope hanging vertically. Regardless of the facade type, this process is possible only on facades where the user can ascend or descend directly up or down. This means that the user is positioned on a seat board, and moves directly upwards or downwards. Descending or ascending can take place in different ways, e.g. by means of a hand or a chest ascender.

 

  • Horizontal access processes:
    For these processes, distinctions are made between horizontal movements on structures (beams), cable spans, and fixed points; different process steps are therefore needed, but these are outside our present scope. Movement along horizontal planes is always based on the alternate loading and easing of load on a lanyard (using either a foot loop ascender or two lanyards which can be released under load, depending on the structure). In other words, at least two positioners are alternately loaded and eased.

 

  • Rope change processes:
    Rope changes are very complex, and are used e.g. when rescuing people. In these cases, the person hanging from the rope has to be “overtaken”. Accordingly, a change of working line is necessary. This is the sole option to get from A to B. Various training courses (IRATA, FISAT) deal with rope changes in detail. To illustrate how this can work out in practice, here is an example of a horizontal rope change:

 

Follow-up for rope access technology on facades

  • Documentation of the tasks
    The documentation must be completed neatly and concisely. Either in hard-copy logbooks, or using a digital solution such as the Anodic documentation tool to save yourself paperwork.

 

  • Recorded in the logbook
    Rope access technicians must provide evidence of rope usage hours and must enter working times into a logbook or rope usage book.

 

Summary: Rope access technology on facades

One thing is certain: After working on the facade, industrial climbers know that they have done a hard day’s work. However, the better the safety solution is thought out, and the better the safety concept is designed, the more quickly and safely the climbers can perform their respective activities. Whether installation, care, servicing, or repair - in the long term the selection of the appropriate system for rope access technology has a major effect on its cost and resource efficiency when used.

Has rope access technology on facades captured your interest? Then simply download our current Whitepaper and browse through the world of this flexible safety system.

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