Product category:
Slip, trip and fall protection
News Release from: The Access Group | Subject: Bespoke fall protection system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 November 2005
Fall protection system for Scottish
Parliament
The Access Group has developed a bespoke fall protection system for the new Scottish Parliament building that meets CDM regulations and does not adversely affect the building's aesthetics.
When The Access Group, a working-at-height specialist, received a call from Coverite, little did its fall protection team realise their next job would be on the most prestigious development built in Scotland for generations: the new Scottish Parliament buildings "We have worked, and are working on, a great number of prestigious developments across the UK, including Terminal 5 at Heathrow, the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Millennium Dome, but to be specified for Scotland's version of the Houses of Parliament was really something else," says The Access Group's Scottish sales manager, Rikki McCrorie
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 8 Jul 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The £400million project, which was opened to much acclaim by the Queen in October 2004, is the focal point of Scotland's new, semi-devolved political landscape and, sitting as it does at the bottom of the Royal Mile, opposite Holyrood Palace and at the foot of Arthur's Seat, its status in the capital is truly regal.
"The design of both the Parliament and MSP buildings is startling and so the task we faced when planning the fall protection systems was incredibly challenging," continues Rikki.
"The building's ergonomic design, with its sweeping curves, deep roof and unusual angles, meant we were not able to simply install a standard system, but instead had to work in close conjunction with Coverite and the architects, EMBT/RMJM, to design a bespoke solution that met everyone's specific demands".
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Required to provide internal and external fall protection for cleaning and maintenance operators, The Access Group's team needed to call upon all their years of experience to develop an unobtrusive, workable system, that met CDM regulations and did not affect the vision the architects had for the building.
The extent of this already difficult challenge was increased yet further due to necessary design changes that took effect during building, with entire systems having to be re-routed to cope with such unexpected changes.
"Any new-build project throws up its fair share of difficulties but, when you are dealing with a building as iconic as the Scottish Parliament, these problems do tend to multiply due to the pressure on the architects and contractors to get it exactly right," adds Rikki.
"That said, we always thrive on a challenge and to have been involved in a project as prestigious as the Scottish Parliament is something we are rightly proud of," he concludes.
In addition to installing the fall protection system, The Access Group also provided initial operator training - a service that is part of the company's comprehensive package, which covers everything from design, through installation and on to execution.
For further information on The Access Group's fall protection division and all of its other services, including work-at-height training and CPD seminars, visit the company's website.
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