Whether you’re trying to complete repairs on a high-rise building, wash difficult-to-reach windows or even perform certain construction tasks high-above the ground, there’s one central problem you’ll need to find a way around. Of course, this is the problem of how you’re going to reach these high and inaccessible sites.
Traditionally, there are a few different ways to do this. Complicated scaffolding is one way. Specialty lift services are another. Nothing is wrong with either of these methods and, depending on the circumstances, they can be great tools that are perfect for certain jobs and locations. But today, we’d like to draw your attention to a third method: rope high access services.
This method of reaching inaccessible places uses a system of ropes and pulleys to allow maintenance workers, repair professionals and cleaners to reach areas that would otherwise be impossible to access. It’s more than just a simple means of lift service, however. To help you learn more about what it is and how it can benefit you, we’ve built this quick and simple guide to rope access services and why they should be an essential part of your maintenance or cleaning service.
As someone who’s looking to get the best deal and the best service possible, you’ll likely be wondering why you should choose a rope high access system for your next project. After all, if scaffolding is an option, as well, why not just go with that?
It’s important to realize that every project is different. No one high-access solution will always be the right one, and instead, you should evaluate each project on an individual basis, assessing the pros and cons for each as you decide which choice makes the most sense. Sometimes, you may want to go for scaffolding, while at other times, a specialty lift service is the right option.
In many cases, however, rope access services offer advantages that other systems just can’t compare to, making them the clear choice. With this in mind, here are seven reasons we recommend rope high access for your window cleaning service or maintenance services.
One of the best things about rope access is that it’s incredibly cost-effective. This is first and foremost because there’s so little equipment involved. All it takes is industrial ropes, pulleys, safety harnesses and the like. There’s no need to purchase heavy machinery or construct a complex network of catwalks and platforms. This results in far more affordable costs overall.
There’s a second reason rope access services are so affordable, however, and that has to do with time. Like any conscientious business owner, you know that time is money. The faster you can get something done, the less it will cost you, in most cases. Likewise, the longer something takes, the more money it will usually cost. And while something like scaffolding takes time to construct and tear down, a rope access system can be assembled quickly, resulting in fewer dollars spent on your part.
Additionally, scaffolding is subject to many requirements and standards, and it must meet these to ensure it is safe. You’ll need to obtain permits, permission and approval. Plans must be drawn up and approved, a process which costs several thousand dollars on average. Because rope access setups require none of these additional safety measures due to its inherently safe nature, it becomes the cost-effective choice in many cases. No permits are necessary, cutting down on both time and money for you.
We mentioned how fast industrial rope systems could be set up and taken down earlier because of how it benefits your wallet, but this speed is also a benefit in and of itself. No one wants to waste time on tasks like cleaning or maintenance, and everyone would prefer it if these tasks could be completed as quickly as possible. With ropes systems, this is exactly what will happen.
Ropes systems equal fewer working hours on your part when it comes to coordinating and scheduling the operation, as well as fewer working hours from the workers, which results in lower costs all around. This lets you get back to doing what you do best while enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing your building is clean and well-maintained, both inside and out.
At first glance, rope systems look like they might be extremely dangerous. With the absence of clear and solid platforms, the entire system seems inherently dangerous. This is one case where appearances are deceiving, however. The reality is that industrial rope access systems are exceptionally safe, more so than any other means of high access.
The reason this is so safe is that workers are supported by two different ropes — one main line and one failsafe, in the unlikely event that the first rope breaks. Any tools are also safely tied together so that passersby below can stay safe even if a worker drops a tool.
When it comes to safety, the record is clear and impossible to argue with. For the safety of both workers and pedestrians below, rope systems have the best track record over every other form of high access methods.
The flexibility and ease of movement allowed by ropes systems mean that your project can adapt as it needs to. If you’re using rope access for a building cleaning service, for example, you’ll be able to move around quickly and easily without having to climb from one level or platform to another, or even having to adjust your lift machine.
This high degree of flexibility also makes rope systems ideal for working with more non-traditional architectural shapes, such as domes, ducts and other areas that would be harder to reach with traditional methods. While these conventional methods make it difficult to reach anything that isn’t straight up or directly to the side, ropes allow you to reach almost anything, letting you reach tight corners, high ledges and recessed spaces with ease.
There’s no denying that, for all they can be useful, scaffolding setups can also be highly disruptive. They take up space in the street below a building, often forcing pedestrians to detour around. Even people trying access the building in question may be inconvenienced as the door may be blocked, or windows may need to be covered, blocking the view from the inside. The sheer bulk of scaffolding makes it difficult to ignore and often makes it an inconvenience to everyone just trying to go about their days.
Rope systems, on the other hand, are highly unobtrusive. All it takes is a few ropes hanging down the side of a building to get the job done. These ropes won’t be in the way of passersby, and neither will they obscure the doors or windows. This makes them not only fast, cost-effective and safe, but it also makes them convenient.
We mentioned how disruptive something like large scaffolding could be as it sits on the sidewalk and crawls up the side of a building. But what’s also worth noting is how unattractive this can be. These types of scaffolding also hide a building’s natural aesthetic, masking it in layers of sheets and platforms.
Rope systems are smaller, less obvious and take away far less from a building’s natural beauty. From far away, you might not even notice the ropes and the workers, and from a close-up view, it’s easy to ignore them and see the building itself. Even if the ropes and workers are obvious, they’re far less bulky and unattractive than a large scaffolding construction. For this reason, many people find rope access systems to be the way to go.
Building a scaffolding system requires large numbers of materials, all of which you'll need to dispose of later on. Lift machines require fuel to run, whether that’s petrol, electricity or oil, and none of that is extremely healthy for the earth. Of these three options, rope systems leave the smallest footprint on the earth. Minimal materials are required, and the ones that are used can be re-used again and again, resulting in less waste overall.
We know your building has tens or even hundreds of windows to let the light in, and all of those windows need to be cleaned from time to time. No matter how well you take care of them, they will always get streaky, greasy or dirtied by environmental factors like weather or birds. So, how can you keep them clean?
Lift services and scaffolding are two possible methods. However, rope access services might be the best solution out there. With just the use of a few ropes, harnesses and pulleys, one or two workers can quickly and effectively clean every window on your building, and they can do it without heavy equipment of any kind.
Cleaning the windows isn’t a process you want to stretch out. After all, it needs to be done on a frequent basis, and no one wants it to take days to complete. This is one of the most compelling reasons to choose rope services. They allow the cleaners to come in, get the job done and be gone far faster than any other system will allow. Plus, all of this will happen at a cost-effective price, and without endangering anyone nearby.
The next time you’re ready to schedule your regular window cleaning, consider switching to a ropes-based cleaning service to save time, money and hassle.
High-rise buildings need to be repaired and maintained just as often as every other type of building. The only difference is how much more difficult and complicated it becomes when the repairs need to take place stories above the ground.
For large-scale operations, scaffolding is often constructed to give the workers a way to reach these spots. Smaller-scale projects might use lift machines. Perhaps the best way to access these hard-to-reach spots for maintenance, however, is with rope systems.
Just a few of the different maintenance projects you can complete using rope access services include:
Every building gets dirty sometimes. Whether it’s just the natural accumulation of dust, dirt and weather damage or a whole lot of graffiti, there will always be occasions when you need to wash the outside of your building. But while it might be easy enough to clean the exterior of the first story or two, it becomes a lot more complicated to reach the upper levels.
This is where rope access systems come in handy. They let workers pressure-wash your building from top to bottom quickly and easily, without going to all the trouble or spending the money to hire a lift machine. This way, the job can get done promptly and efficiently, without having it drag on for days.
Is it time for your building’s routine cleaning? Have you recently purchased an older building in need of renovations? Or maybe you’re just looking to get the windows on the 20th floor washed? However it is that you’re planning to use rope access, Performance Services is here to help.
We’ve been in the business of helping you reach new heights for more than 25 years, and we’re passionate about providing clients like you with the tools and services they need to keep their buildings clean and well-maintained. Most importantly, we care about getting it done quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively, so you can get back to your work with minimal interruptions. We’re also a family-run business, meaning when you decide to work with us, you can feel confident that we’ll treat you like one of us, and none of your questions or concerns will ever be lost in the corporate shuffle.
If you’re looking for rope access services in PA, VA, MD, NY, NJ or DC, then we want to work with you. To get started, request your free estimate today. And if you have any more questions about who we are or what we do, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Performance Services, Inc.
6222-A Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111
P. 1-800-839-5026
F. 717-565-3220
E. info@psi-info.net
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