5 tips for upgrading height access across your portfolio

If managing a large portfolio spread over a wide area is a challenging task, upgrading the height access systems is daunting. Not only are you dealing with human safety, the sheer scale of the challenge and the complexity can make it seem insurmountable.

Here’s our top 5 tips to make it a bit easier:

1) Consider who you actually need to protect

Height access systems are almost infinitely variable and there is no one right option. A suitable system for a HVAC contractor needing quarterly access to condensers in the middle of a roof is completely different to what’s required for an annual roof wash. If the gutters require cleaning by hand, there will be a different system used compared to gutters that are typically cleaned using a suction lance.

Consider also what equipment and competence your contractors will have. Do they already hold ASNZS 23229 & 15757 certification and possess the necessary height safety equipment required to operate from the access system you propose to install? All this will affect the selected system as well as the overall cost.

One added benefit of a well thought through permanent safety system is that it can reduce the time spent by contractors establishing the worksite, thus reducing the cost to the property owner.

2) Establish what you have currently

Knowing what you are dealing with on your roof currently tells you how big the gap is. Its remarkable how many companies we work with already that have height safety systems installed they were completely unaware of!

A good place to start is at the desk using Google maps or existing plans and documentation. Many councils have GIS map tools on their website which have high resolution aerial footage taken from aircraft which tends to be pretty good quality. At this stage also consider talking to your contractors about what’s working well for them currently.

3) Mix high level budgets into your considerations

When building a house, you typically start with some sort of budget or maximum figure in mind. You then talk with a builder and architect about various ideas, getting a pulse for the approximate costs of each of your choices and wants. There’s no point in putting money into getting a solution drawn up which you have no chance of being able to afford.

Find a height safety company you can sit down with and quickly brainstorm out options and high-level budgets. You should be able to rough out a concept plan for your sites pretty quickly without the need to go through a full design and tender phase.

Many companies go right through a detailed design and tender process, only to fall over in fright at the final cost. Save yourself and your contractor time and hassle by working with high level budget numbers early on.

4) More is not always better

As noted earlier, it’s amazing the amount of time we come across unused height access equipment. But it’s also remarkable the amount of times there is new equipment installed that allows you to do 80% of the project, but just missed that critical last piece.

Just like architects need to get a lot of feedback from the users of the home they design, in the same way you should involve the contractors in the design of the height access. They will be able to take your plan and mix it with their reality to get a workable solution - this will generally also save you money by not investing in unnecessary equipment.

5) Consider the visual amenity

Too often height access systems are designed just from the plan view, without fully considering where it will be seen from. This may be fine with anchor points and roof lines, but when you start putting handrails and walkways around customer facing areas it can significantly alter the look of the building.

And our number one caution, take care when installing handrails around parapets. A key reason they exist in the first place is to disguise a sloping roof behind- as soon as you install a handrail onto the roof you reveal the angle above the parapet, drawing extra attention to what was hidden in the first place!

Have questions? Let us help!

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