ABOVE AND BEYOND: ACCESS TECHNIQUES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES

摘要

There are many reasons that architects, engineers, contractors, and others may require access to the exterior of a building or to the underside of a bridge structure. Often times suspended scaffolding, supported scaffolding, mast climbers, aerial work platforms, or snooper trucks provide access adequate to perform the necessary tasks. Occasionally, conditions are encountered where the use of traditional means of access is not feasible or economical. Under such conditions, the use of rope access techniques can provide an efficient alternative. This paper will present the advantages and disadvantages of each of these systems and describe how utilizing rope access can provide access to areas many would think inaccessible, or at least extremely difficult and costly to access. What is rope access? What is required to be certified to perform this work? What is the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT)? What types of structures can you access from ropes? These questions will be answered and the following case studies presented: the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.; the Bridge of the Americas in Panama City, Panama; the Bank of America Building in Providence, Rhode Island; and others to demonstrate the capabilities rope access can provide and how incorporating rope access into survey, inspection, and repair programs may better serve the Client.