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For years, architects have been creating increasingly unique and challenging buildings, utilizing a wide variety of materials and facade constructions. Natural materials such as wood are also being used more frequently to give buildings a warm and characteristic appearance.
Wooden strips have been used as part of the cladding on the TNO building in Utrecht. Commissioned by Van Zoelen, Sky People inspected and repaired this cladding. The wooden facade elements give the building a natural look, but wood is and remains a natural product. Under the influence of temperature variations, moisture, wind, and other weather conditions, wood can shift over time. As a result, wooden strips can warp, twist, or partially detach from the facade.
Rope access facade inspection in Utrecht
To carefully inspect the condition of the wooden cladding, Sky People's rope access technicians were deployed. Using industrial rope techniques, our technicians were able to safely and efficiently reach virtually every part of the facade.
Rope access is an efficient solution for this type of facade inspection, as there is no need to erect bulky scaffolding or mobile elevated work platforms. As a result, inspection and repair work on hard-to-reach facades can often be carried out with minimal disruption to the building's occupants and surrounding environment.
Inspection and restoration of the wooden cladding
During the work, the wooden strips were systematically checked for, among other things:
- loose or damaged fasteners;
- warping and twisting of the wood;
- partially detached facade elements;
- potential risks of falling parts;
- other visible defects in the cladding.
Where necessary, our technicians repaired the fixings and carefully re-secured loose wooden strips. This reduced the risk of the cladding coming loose further and allowed the structure to be safely preserved.
Safety nets against falling facade elements
At locations where it was known in advance that certain wooden strips were partially loose, additional safety nets were installed. These nets served as an extra safety measure during the execution of the work.
Should a wooden component come loose during inspection or repair, the nets prevent the material from falling down in an uncontrolled manner. This not only increased the safety of our rope access technicians, but also that of people and objects around the building.
Facade maintenance in hard-to-reach locations
This project demonstrates how rope access can be utilized for facade inspection, facade maintenance, and repair work at height. By performing inspection and repair directly from ropes, the required work could be carried out in a targeted and efficient manner.
Sky People carries out rope access work throughout the Netherlands for facade inspections, facade maintenance, repairs, assembly work, and securing loose facade elements, among other things. Even in locations where traditional access methods are difficult, costly, or practically unfeasible, our technicians can offer a suitable solution.
