Birmingham Tower Block Safety Inspection

 We currently undertake two Safety Inspections by Rope Access to Inkerman House Birmingham.

We have extensive knowledge of investigating, testing and surveying a wide range of reinforced concrete structures and buildings, including bridges, tunnels, coastal defences, historic buildings, multi-storey car parks, high-rise buildings, system built dwellings, swimming pools, industrial facilities and office buildings.

 

Understanding the design, material characteristics and deterioration processes affecting a particular reinforced concrete building or structure is essential in diagnosing the causation and extent of defects affecting a structure. This enables a durable and cost effective concrete repair to be instigated and decisions made with regard to life-costing. We provide in-depth reports detailing our findings and also provide advice on the most appropriate repair strategies and systems.

 

Undertaking a sufficient and appropriate concrete survey is a requirement of BS EN 1504, BS EN 1504

All of our Services at Complete Access are overseen by one of our in house IRATA Level 3 Supervisors 

Confined Space Cleaning and Inspections

Confined Space Cleaning & Inspections Birmingham

At Complete Access we have a wealth of knowledge in entering & working in Confined Spaces

Our Services include

Culvert Inspections to test concrete integrity

Silo and Ducting Cleaning

Confined Space Rescue and Supervision

Our Technicians are trained both in the classroom & practical scenarios
We can advise our clients on whether they are dealing with potential works that could
qualify as being a Confined Space

Roof Inspections Birmingham

Roof Inspections Birmingham

We carry out Roof Inspections & Defect Surveys to a large amount of High Rise Buildings in & around the West Midlands.

Roof Inspections are Paramount in sourcing out Defects
Defects such as blocked drainage or damaged surfaces can be detrimental to the buildings integrity.

Water Ingress can be very costly causing leaks, damp, damage to coursework or corrosion of re-bar causing concrete spalling.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any building inspections you may require 

In & around Birmingham and West Midlands

Concrete Investigation Birmingham

Concrete carbonation – surveys and depth testing

Cement paste has a pH of about 13 which provides a protective layer (passive coating) to the steel and protects reinforcement against corrosion. Loss of passivity occurs at about pH 11. Carbonation of the concrete, caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, has the effect of reducing the pH.

Carbonation depth is generally assessed on site using a solution of phenolphthalein indicator that appears pink in contact with alkaline concrete with pH values in excess of 9 and colourless at lower levels of pH. The test is covered by BS EN 14630: Products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures and Test Methods: Determination of carbonation depth in hardened concrete by the phenolphthalein method.

Rope Access and Fall Arrest Safety Eyebolts Birmingham

Rope Access and Fall Arrest Safety Eyebolts Birmingham

Here at Complete Access, our Technicians have been trained to install and test both
Safety Eyebolts for use for Rope Access and Fall Arrest purposes.

We carry out installation and testing for both Ourselves and End Users - We carry Professional Indemnity Insurance

Safety Eyebolts should be inspected and tested on a six monthly basis and Fall Arrest systems on a twelve monthly basis

IRATA Rope Access Birmingham

IRATA Rope http://www.complete-access.co.uk/

Health & Safety

At Complete Access we have a duty of care to make sure our technicians work well within guidelines and regulations set out by the Health and Safety Executive……….

• Working At Height Regulations (WAH) 2005 – We actively work to prevent falls from and equipment falling from height by ensuring our staff are trained in both the task in hand and the correct use of equipment supplied.
• LOLER 1998 – All PPE is visually inspected prior to every use and a full and extensive inspection is carried out on a six monthly basis. 
• PUWER 1998 – Correct issue and use of equipment is paramount to safety.

Training

  Our technicians are trained and certificated with the following:

• IRATA Levels 1,2 & 3 Conforming to BS ISO 22846.
• Confined Space Regulations 1997 – All technicians are certificated in accordance with National Occupational Standards. 
• City & Guilds Level 2 in Building Support Services.
• NEBOSH General Certificate Level 3
• IPAF 3a & 3b Certification.
• First Aid – All technicians are 1st aid trained and certificated. 
• IOSH – Technicians are certificated with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
• CCSNG – Safety Passports.
• Abrasive Wheels.

What Is Rope Access

What Is Rope Access

At Complete Access All of Our Technicians are overseen by an IRATA Level 3 on All jobs 

Cladding Inspection & Cleaning

Cladding Inspection Sampling & Cleaning

In today’s day & age it is imperative that the construction details of All cladding is known to the management of properties they represent 

Our Team regularly undertake sampling t& inspection to determine type of firewall, size of cavity and actual sampling of the cladding to be tested to BS EN 13501-1

Rope Access Building Inspection & Safety Defect Surveys

Building Inspections & Safety Defect Surveys

Our Team carry out Safety Inspections on a regular basis

Overview

Our building investigation team can provide you with expert advice in relation to the performance and quality of the materials used in buildings and structures. We have an in-depth knowledge of construction related materials and components ensuring that the building surveys carried out are always of the highest standard. We provide surveys to reassure you that buildings are constructed as designed and are performing well, which is essential when a purchase, major refurbishment or investment is being considered.

We can offer you a professional surveying and inspection service to:

• Reinforced concrete structures and concrete condition surveys.We specialise in the appraisal of reinforced concrete structures and buildings. Test and surveys we can provide include; measured defect and delamination surveys, reinforcement corrosion assessment, concrete core sampling, carbonation, covermeter, half-cell potential surveys and assessment of chloride contamination. Following the survey of a structure, we can provide a fully interpretative report of our finding and provide recommendations on the most effective repair strategy in accordance with BS EN 1504.
• Investigation of construction related faults and defects. We provide a full consultancy service to undertake investigations and testing to determine the cause and nature of defects which can affect both new and existing buildings and structures. Our teams are experienced in undertaking assessments of modern and historic buildings, civil engineering structures, system built structures and domestic properties. We offer a full range of services to assess materials and products including, coatings, renders, masonry and brickwork, wall ties, concrete and other cemtitious materials, windows, doors, cladding and roofing systems.
• Building and construction material failures. From foundations to roof tiles, we can provide you with specialist advice and reports which identify the exact causes of failure or likely future performance of a wide range of construction related materials and products. We provide site inspection and testing, specialist testing and analysis and provide full technical reports with recommendations for repair or remediation. The team can also assist in a wide range of dilapidation surveys.
• Building inspection. Our fully trained abseil teams carry out high rise safety inspections and rope access surveys to safely examine and test all areas of buildings and structures. Services range from localised measured defect surveys through to full durability assessments of buildings and structures. Our building investigation teams are specialist in the assessment of high-rise tower blocks and other forms of low or medium rise social housing.
• Determination of Constructional Details. A large part of the team’s work is related to the assessment of existing structures to determine as built construct details. These assessments employ a range of techniques and are normally undertaken for architects or structural engineers prior to refurbishment or significant change of use of a building or structure.

Drainage Replacement using Rope Access Methods

Cast Iron Drainage Replacement Rope Access Birmingham

We are halfway through a contract for E Manton Construction at Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The brief was to remove 100's of metres of old cast iron soil pipes and replace with new cast soil pipes..... due to the location of the soil pipes .... it was either scaffold the building or use the more cost effective method of Rope Access

We have had to use innovative hauling systems to get both horizontal and vertical old pipes down and new pipes in before fixing.

 

 

 

We have now completed installation of one elevation to The QE - horizontal and vertical cast soil pipes have been installed - we still have another ground to roof cast stack to install, two Vulcathene pipes to install and more old cast pipes to remove.

 

 

 

If Your Organisation requires any of our services - please dont hesitate to contact us

 

 

Building Inspection using Rope Access Methods

Building Inspection using Rope Access Methods

We have recently completed a two week Building Inspection to one of Leicester Universities blocks.

We were tasked to carry out a detailed  Defect Survey and also carry out a substantial number of Concrete Samples and Carbonation Tests.

The Job was not with out its problems right from the start..... the access was difficult and very time consuming ..... Our Rope Access Technicians ....Both IRATA Level 3's had to ascend the ropes at every location and accumulating over climbing 1km each in total.

Our IRATA Building Surveyors prior to taking concrete samples and carbonation tests..... had to use electromagnetic cover meter testing, which estimates the position, depth, and size of reinforcement buried in concrete. Testing can be carried out in accordance with the recommendations found in BS1881-204:1988.

 

 

If your Organisation can utilise any of our services please don't hesitate to Contact Us

 

 

Building Safety Surveys using Rope Access

Building Safety Surveys using Rope Access

We have inspected over 50 high rise buildings so far this year and this week we return to 4 tower blocks that are classed as High Priority due to the amount of previous  spalled concrete.

With Winter conditions now upon us, re-inspection was imperative, with the possibility of water entering cracks in the concrete and freezing and creating spalling.

Our Rope Access Surveyors   have been removing large amounts of potentially dangerous spalled concrete, once the spalled concrete has been removed, a protective coating is applied to the exposed areas.

All of our Rope Access tasks are overseen by an IRATA Level 3 Supervisor with over 6 years experience in Building Inspection and Surveys using Rope Access Methods

Contact Us if we can be of assistance to your Organisation

 

Rope Access Building Inspections

Rope Access Building Inspections

We are well underway with a new contract to deliver a multitude of services ..... all under the heading of Building Inspections

We have recently completed a full survey to the concrete structure to a building due for refurbishment on Oxford University Brookes Campus.

 Cover meter Survey 

Site determinations of concrete cover to reinforcement were made using an Elcometer 331 covermeter, in accordance with British Standard  1881:  Part 204: 1988. The particular model of covermeter employed is designed to locate steel within 100mm of the concrete surface. Minimum concrete cover to primary and secondary reinforcement was determined at specific parapet beam locations. Readings were verified  by  the removal of sections of concrete to allow for the reinforcement cover  to be physically measured.

 

 

 

 

Carbonation Survey 

Depth of carbonation was determined using phenolphthalein indicator in accordance, with BS EN 14630: 2006. The mean and maximum depth of the carbonation was measured to an accuracy of 1mm, using a depth gauge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If Your Organisation requires any of our Services Please don't hesitate to Contact Us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

Complete Access Rope Access Building Safety Inspection Works

Rope Access Building Safety Inpection Works

We have on going safety works at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the works consist of water ingress solutions to hundreds of metres of displaced coursework and to fix galvanised steel mesh over the cracks to prevent any spalling.

The galvanised steel mesh was wrapped around the cracks and fixed into the coursework using expansion bolts and square plate washers at various one metre intervals.

All of the works were overseen by Our IRATA Level 3   ..... we have previously carried out over 5 weeks of Inspections and Safety works at the QEH and the works are on going.

If your Organisation could benefit from Water Ingress Solutions    and Building Inspections 

Please don't hesitate to Contact Us 






 

Rope Access Concrete Inspections

Rope Access Concrete Inspections to a Car Park

We were tasked to investigate a multi storey car park to a shopping centre in Stroud..... the brief was to carry out a full defect survey and delamination hammer test.

On top of this defect survey we were tasked to carry out a number of cover, sample, carbonation tests

The job wasn't without its problems ...... pedestrians ....we supplied a full time grounds man to divert pedestrians in the right direction......and being in a car park .....our team had to work around parked cars ..... with our IRATA Level 3   on site ....things went smoothly

 

concrete sampling

 

carbonation sampling

 

 

if your Organisation requires a Professional Company to carry out Concrete Inspections / Defect Surveys  Please don't hesitate to Contact Us



Water Ingress Prevention using Rope Access Methods Birmingham

Water Ingress Prevention Birmingham

We have been tasked to carry out a large scale mastic insertion to panel joints to a high rise residential block in Birmingham.

Upon carrying out an inspection of the Block, it was plain to see that previous attempts to counteract the water ingress had failed drastically, this could be put down to a number of factors.....wrong type product had been used.....wrong method being carried out or just plain bad workmanship.

We were given the go ahead and submitted Our Risk Assessment and Method Statement
......we were good to go.

Our Specialised Rope Access Team  had prepared to spend quite a lot of time removing the failed mastic to the joints and also prepared the surface of the joint so the new silicone would have a good key.

Our Technicians .....who have carried out hundreds of water ingress prevention works only spent 4 days carrying out surface preparation and the insertion of the silicone..... approximately 360 linear metres of silicone was inserted.

 If Your Building is suffering with water ingress and could utilise Complete Access

Please do not hesitate to Contact Us 01527 545 687






 

Pressure Washing using Rope Access Techniques Birmingham

Rope Access Pressure Washing Birmingham

Our Team have just completed the Pressure Washing to 3 20 storey High Rise Tower Blocks in central Birmingham.

Pressure Washing at this height is a Specialist undertaking .....this is why Complete Access were chosen to undertake the task from Birmingham City Council.

Our task was to remove staining from the central heating overflow pressure valves and a build up of algae.

The results were really impressive even though the staining had been on the building for approx. 5 years.

 

For All Cleaning, Maintenance & Inspection ....Dont hesitate to contact us