St Mark’s Square, Bromley

Client

The Property Crew

Duration

4 weeks

Location

Kent

Sector

Construction

In July 2022, a fire took hold at a new build apartment of 5 rooms in Bromley, Kent. Half of the home was destroyed in the fire that took four hours and around 100 firefighters to put out. Part of the roof of the block of apartments was also damaged. No injuries were reported but there was significant damage to the building.

Orb Rope Access was called in by developers U and I, and property maintenance and refurbishment contractor The Property Crew, to use our expertise in working at height to help make the site safe.

The brief

Remove loose cladding and unsafe elements of the fire-damaged roof that might cause injury to users of the building, teams working on the renovations, or members of the public
Inspect all fire-damaged areas located at height for structural integrity
Waterproof affected areas.

The building

The St Mark’s Square self-contained apartment is located in a 19-storey new build block that is part of a mixed-use development of residential and leisure properties. There is a Vue cinema, cafes, restaurants and a Premier Inn Hotel in the St Mark’s Square development, so this is a busy area for footfall.

The work

Access was challenging because we were unable to rigg from the structure, so instead, we used mobile anchors. These are temporary attachment points designed for use on flat or sloping roofs.

Because the fire damaged cladding was positioned above a public area we needed to work safely and swiftly with precision, to avoid injuring anyone in the area or causing further damage to the structure.

Benefits to the client

Rope access was the only way to reach the cladding and roof to complete the works due to the structure of the building and limited access to such a compact and busy residential and leisure development. Rope access doesn’t require scaffolding or powered access systems so doesn’t need vehicular access, and the work doesn’t impact the ground area below.

In terms of cost, a rope access team was far less expensive for the client than assembling scaffolding or using MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms). Because we are also quicker, it saved labour costs.

This was the first time Orb Rope Access worked with U and I and The Property Crew. The collaboration of their local knowledge and our expertise in working at height was productive and successful. Having worked with us, the clients now understand the capabilities of rope access and the benefits of using us for working at height.

Benefits to people who use the building

Once the area was made safe, residents and leisure visitors were able to go about their normal day without disruption while the Orb Rope Access team got the work done above them, out of the way.

"We were approached by The Property Crew and asked if we could help them remove some fire damaged cladding and re-waterproof the affected areas. I made an initial site visit but didn’t see the full devastation until we were able to get up on the roof and have a closer look. Once all the burnt, charred, and melted material had been removed we than had to build a plywood frame to cover the gapping holes in the building. Once this was done, we then had to coat the wood and roof areas with a Liquid Plastics membrane to complete the works. It was a challenging project with many different elements that had to all come together at the same time."

Matt Lavery

Director, ORB Rope Access

What our clients say about us

Absolutely delighted with the outcome of the works, can't praise ORB highly enough for the all elements of the project, will certainly be using them again on any future projects.

The gutters on our building had not been cleaned for some years. In places they were choked with vegetation and this was causing water ingress into the building whenever we had heavy rain. Access, because of height was an issue. Orb Rope did a fantastic job and resolved the water ingress problem which had become a big concern. The technicians came when they said they would, carried out the work they said they would and left the area clean and tidy. The work was done promptly. We found the technicians knowledgeable and helpful. We would have no hesitation in recommending your company.

“Orb Rope Access have run several projects at Scarisbrick Hall. We have found them to be efficient, reliable and have completed their works on time and on budget. We would have no hesitation in recommending them. Well done Matt and team, keep up the good work.”

" I have worked with Matt and Orb since 2010, on many various tasks within the stadium and training ground, this includes floodlight painting and lamp changes, high level window cleaning, maintenance and repairs to various roofs to include tin, plastic and fiberglass roofs. The fitting of new high level signage and banners, and many other jobs. They helped to develop our rescue plan for our own engineers when working on the floodlights. They are always available when we have had storm damage, working well into the night to complete repairs. I would not hesitate to recommend them to any other company for any type of rope work/high level maintenance, and have done on several occasions. "

"Orb Rope Access have completed numerous projects at St Johns for the past 5 years; Including the reseal of the famous St Johns Beacon! I find them professional, reliable, and very financially competitive. They are a highly recommended contractor of mine and a joy to work with."

"Orb Rope Access were introduced to us as we required a high-level structural inspection solution. Given the nature of the project we needed a service partner who could provide excellent levels of safety coupled with knowledge and capability in delivering the standards we required. Orb didn’t fail to impress, there attention to detail and professionalism throughout the process was second to none."

"I have had the pleasure of working with Orb rope access on a few roofing projects now, and have to say that despite the difficult nature of the work that they do in terms of access they also have an ability to transfer that expertise and attention to detail to the work carried out on site. Top work from a top company!"

"Inleaf specialise in the design, installation and maintenance of living walls throughout the UK. Living walls, by their nature, often require specialist access for installation and maintenance and so we commonly work with Orb Rope Access to provide specialist advice and assistance with projects that require abseiling access. Orb Rope Access have always been friendly, straightforward and professional to deal with. We've found them to be 100% reliable and excellent at working closely with our team when on site, either following specific instructions or using their own initiative when required."

This is the second time we have used Orb for high-level work. We are very satisfied with the job done. The team arrived on site at exactly on time, kept me informed of progress and provided photographs of the completed work for my records. I would have no hesitation in using the company for future work.

Here at Liverpool Cathedral , as you can guess there is a challenge to gain access to problems at height. We have used the services of ORB for several years now and they provide us with a professional and safe service which is beyond our means.

Before ORB came to us for roof work it was very difficult to find anyone who would go on the roof. Scaffolding is very expensive. The men who come to carry out the work are polite and a pleasure to deal with and St Oswald's are so grateful for their expertise.

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Get In Touch

At Orb Rope Access we are very proud to be an IRATA Member Company and hold Safe Contractor status. If you are looking for a trusted partner to assist with projects that require working at height or confined space, please get in touch for a no-obligation quote or by calling 0781 333 9064.