The Kepler University Clinic was created in 2015 at two locations, from the merger of three well-known hospitals. Since then, it has functioned as the high-performance medical centre for the approximately 1.5 million inhabitants of Upper Austria. All surgical, conservative and diagnostic services, plus a comprehensive centre of medical expertise for women, children and young people are available to patients at the MED Campus Linz location.
And in addition, the architecture of the MED CAMPUS of the University of Linz is extremely impressive. 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.
Details of the project
In the course of the MED Campus project of the University of Linz, a total of around 1040 running metres of TAURUS rails were mounted and installed as an overhead system on the seven floors of the main building. In addition there was also a somewhat smaller subsidiary building. As an overhead system, the TAURUS rail system allows the cleaning and maintenance employees to move completely safely and without restriction over the whole facade in order to perform their work. Because of the system’s very high level of user-friendliness, the employees can concentrate fully on their activities.
The greatest challenges
Above all, the greatest challenge of this project was that there were some points along the facade of the MED Campus Linz where an elevating platform could not be positioned. And naturally the aesthetics of the facade had not to be impaired in any way.
Nevertheless, a professional, appropriately certified fall protection system for servicing and cleaning tasks is absolutely essential for a building like the MED Campus Linz, and not just for legal reasons – after all, the responsible parties at the university were and still are more than aware of their responsibility to the employees. For them too, the topic of safety is at the very top of their list of priorities.
In addition, the fastening elements for TAURUS, i.e. the sleeve anchors and the holding sleeves, had to be cast into the reinforced concrete elements in the concrete factory in advance, in order to significantly simplify the installation process. For this too, the sleeves were always positioned in such a way that all reinforced concrete parts could be manufactured the same.
“In the end, thanks to this decision, we were able to avoid the onsite drilling of around 750 drill holes in an overhead position, and naturally this was a huge financial and time-saving benefit”, recalls Erwin Eichinger from Eichinger Absturzsicherungen GmbH.
“The integration of modern materials and design principles not only ensured the maximum possible safety, but also achieved a long working life for the system. This is particularly important for ensuring the permanent protection of the workforce while at the same time minimising the maintenance costs”, he notes about the TAURUS rail system with satisfaction.
The solution: TAURUS
The TAURUS rail system provides operators with a definitively innovative technology in terms of fall protection.
Forward-looking solution...
“As an overhead system, the Taurus rail system not only provides safety, but is also a forward-looking solution for the challenges of servicing and cleaning tasks at a dizzying height” is how Erwin Eichinger describes it.
But the rail system is also a winner because of its optimum adaptability, and is ideally suited for virtually all facades and substructures. In addition it is very free-running, and curves, slopes and inclines can easily be overcome without attaching and re-attaching. This also means that the servicing and cleaning workers are continuously secured, and so they can concentrate fully on their work. The rails are made from aluminium, and provide the whole system with the best levels of stability and load capacity.
Why Innotech?
The LORENZATELIERS architectural team did not simply select the TAURUS rail system by chance as the primary product for securing the tasks to be performed on the facade of the MED Campus Linz. Above all, they decided in favour of this solution on the basis of its optimally appropriate aesthetic qualities.
It was also decisive that TAURUS is very easy to install, and that seamless support was provided during the project phase by the experts from INNOTECH. “INNOTECH not only convinced us with its aesthetically appealing system, but also through the practical installation solution. The collaboration with the whole project team demonstrates how well-considered safety concepts make day-to-day tasks easier and yet simultaneously fulfil the highest standards”, says Erwin Eichinger delightedly.
Summary
The MED CAMPUS of the University of Linz is not just an architectural masterpiece – it’s also an example of how modern facades with complex structures and substructures can nevertheless be secured in the best possible way. In the case of the MED Campus Linz, the TAURUS rail system was the best fall protection system – it blends almost invisibly and seamlessly into the facade’s modern architecture, and provides absolute safety to servicing and cleaning staff during their dangerous activities.
If you are indeed seeking a professional fall protection system for the facade of your company building, then simply contact us. Our experts find the best solution for every challenge. And also discover our guideline for safe facades.
