You may have heard the term and can conjure up a teeth chattering image of a daredevil dangling from a rope at a breathtaking height.  In fact, as per IRATA International, a rope access system is a safe method of working at height where ropes and associated equipment are used to gain access to and from the work position, and to be supported there.  This system is commonly employed in tasks that require access to elevated areas – which is exactly where BC Building Science comes in!  Numerous types of tests are performed on buildings both during construction and at completion.  A few of these include sealant thickness and pull tests, eyebrow polyurethane thickness and adhesion tests, paint thickness and adhesion tests, and targeted water tests.  Normally these would be conducted fairly close to the ground or in an accessible location higher up, such as a balcony, but once rope access enters the picture, the entire building’s exterior is open to testing.  At BCBS, our rope access specialist is Al, who on a regular basis securely harnesses in and gets down to business far above everyone else’s comfort level!

That tiny speck at the top of the building?  That’s Al!