Rope Access Mastic & Sealant: When Is It the Right Access Method?

Rope access sealant work is the repair or replacement of mastic, silicone and other joint sealants on parts of a building that are difficult to reach by ladder, scaffold or mobile platform. Trained rope access personnel use ropes, harnesses and specialist equipment to reach the joint, remove the failed material and apply new sealant.

It is often used on high-rise façades, cladding joints, window perimeters and other areas where scaffolding would be slow, expensive or impractical.

Rope access may suit short-duration repairs, restricted sites and tall buildings where the ground footprint for scaffolding or a MEWP is limited. If only a small number of joints need attention and the rest of the building is in good condition, rope access can be a sensible option.

It can also work well on buildings with sensitive landscaping, busy pavements or limited storage space, because the setup area on the ground is much smaller.

The right access method depends on the height and location of the work, how long the job will take, how much of the façade needs resealing, ground access, ground conditions, available working space, exclusion or public areas, building geometry, weather, equipment and material needs, rescue and emergency arrangements, and disruption to the site. These are assessed through a site-specific risk assessment following the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

For large-scale resealing across many floors, scaffolding may be safer and more efficient. For lower buildings with open ground, a MEWP may be better. Rope access is just one option in the work-at-height hierarchy.