What is industrial rope access?
Rope access is a way of working at height using two independent ropes: a working line and a backup line, both anchored to the structure. Technicians descend, ascend and move across a building on ropes, so there’s nothing to build from the ground up.
The industry is governed by IRATA, the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association. IRATA technicians are trained and assessed at three levels: Level 1 operatives, Level 2 advanced operatives and Level 3 supervisors. Every RAT Work job runs under an IRATA Level 3 technician.
Why rope access instead of scaffolding or MEWPs
- Set up in hours: there’s no scaffold to erect, and no weekly hire while the structure stands.
- No ground footprint: no pavement licences, road closures, or platforms blocking your car park or entrance.
- Reaches what platforms can’t: overhangs, tall elevations, courtyards, steep roofs and live buildings.
- Off site as soon as the work is done: no dismantling period.
Scaffolding is still the better choice for some jobs, such as heavy structural work or long programmes with lots of materials at height. If that’s the case, we’ll tell you.
What we do on rope
- Building inspections and condition surveys, close enough to touch the defect
- High-level maintenance: gutters, cladding, sealants, signage, lighting and painting
- Façade repairs, including loose masonry and render
- Emergency repairs and make-safe
- Safety netting and bird proofing
- Conservation work on listed buildings
Who we work for
Main contractors and principal subcontractors, facilities and building managers, H&S leads, and scaffolding companies that need a rope access or netting partner.
What every job leaves with
- A site-specific RAMS before we arrive
- LOLER and PUWER records for every rope, device and harness
- Certificates for every technician on site
- A completion certificate for your CDM file, H&S manager or insurer
