VIDEO: Everything you need to know about mast climbing and MCWPs

Are you new to the idea of mast climbing as opposed to scaffolding when it comes to accessing a building facade?

The traditional method of accessing a high-rise building for re-cladding, brickwork and maintenance was through expensive and labour-intensive scaffolding, but there is a better way. Our video will demonstrate why mast climbing is a safer, quicker and better alternative to scaffolding.

At BFT Mast Climbing, we are proud of the safe, quick and resources-light way that our mast climbers can help project leaders gain access to a building facade, including curved ones. They can securely hold personnel and loads of up to five tonnes, which helps to reduce the need for manual handling and helps protect subcontractors and staff while they are at work on your project.

All productivity benefits will make a big difference to the speed, safety and profitability of nearly any project that we work on, so what have you got to lose? With nearly 2000 mast climbers that we own ourselves we have the largest and newest fleet of MCWPs in the UK and we are capable of supporting hundreds of projects across the country simultaneously.

Our fleet includes:

BFT 90 - For lighter projects and hard-to-access buildings
BFT 120 - For medium duty
BFT 130 - For medium to heavy duty projects
BFT 150 - For heavy duty projects including brickwork

You can also rest assured that our mast climbers conform to all the height, manual handling and other health and safety regulations and legislation you would expect, including BS7981 and EN 1495. We often use a mix of different machines on projects to ensure your program has the right machine and this flexibility is just one of the many advantages to using BFT Mastclimbing.

Our professional, technical consultancy team will hold your hand through your first mast climbing project and provide as much consultation as required, often spotting challenges and providing solutions before you do! Particularly with more challenging facades which step in and out, have balconies or large curves we can create bespoke adaptions to the platforms to make even the hard to reach places easily and safely accessible for you.

You can also rest assured that our mast climbers conform to all the height, manual handling and other health and safety regulations and legislation you would expect, including BS7981 and EN 1495. Our professional, technical consultancy team will hold your hand through your first mast climbing project.

We can help you speak with your subcontractors if you or they have never used MCWPs before and need that extra professional voice to help your subcontractors understand the benefits of to the programs that these platforms bring. All our staff go through rigorous IPAF-accredited training to ensure they know the ins and outs of every machine at our disposal.

We offer training and consultation to help you maximise the benefits of mast climbing, which include reduced program time, reduced costs, reduced pressure on site logistics and reduced injuries through handling of materials. If this is your first time watching and learning about mastclimbing, don’t be scared to ask us questions about our process, our people and our equipment. There are no such things as stupid questions!

In fact, we are so confident in our mast climbers that we would invite you to see them in action in our Leighton Buzzard headquarters, where we have recently invested £500,000 in providing a first-class training facility for our dedicated staff. We are passionate about the benefits that mast climbing can bring to projects across the UK, and we want to pass that enthusiasm onto you.

If you want to learn more about how mast climbing can help solve your building access issues, phone 0808 178 9772 or email BFTsales@bftmastclimbing.com

Understanding the Government Code of Remediation

The Government Code of Remediation is structured into four parts: the scope; undertaking remediation; living with remediation; and general compliance. Each part addresses key aspects of cladding remediation projects, to mitigate fire safety risks that are present within buildings that feature external cladding whilst ensuring the safety and satisfaction of residents. It applies to buildings regardless of occupancy levels, whether fully, partially, or temporarily occupied.

Resident-Centric Approach

The Code puts residents at the heart of remediation. It is a direct response to the Grenfell tragedy, designed to protect residents from potential fire hazards and ensure their concerns are acknowledged throughout the remediation process.

Roles, Responsibilities And Accountability

The Code mandates that roles and responsibilities related to remediation must be clearly outlined and understood by all parties involved in the project. This includes contractors, developers, building owners, tenants, residents, and management companies, so each party knows its duties and is held accountable. Parties involved in the project cannot avoid Code compliance by delegating or subcontracting their obligations.

Effective Communication and Active Engagement

It’s stated in the Code that good communication needs to be maintained from the outset of the project so that residents remain informed and sufficient transparency is achieved. Proper channels should be implemented to ensure that residents can meaningfully engage in the decision-making process. The Code acknowledges potential language barriers and encourages the use of electronic forums to ensure information is disseminated efficiently. Residents should be kept up-to-date with project developments, enabling them to contribute and participate in the design and delivery of the project.

Minimising Impact On Residents

A significant focus within the Code is on minimising the impact of remedial works on residents. Contractors and developers are expected to take measures to reduce disturbances from on-site activity, including noise, dust, and general inconvenience so that disturbances to the residents are kept to a minimum. Balancing health and safety considerations with cost and time factors is another key pillar of Part 3 of the Code. The goal is to create the least inconvenience to the residents and achieve potential cost savings for contractors and developers.

Mental and Physical Health Of Residents

Acknowledging the potential impact on residents' mental and physical health, the Code mandates careful consideration and documentation of these aspects throughout recladding projects. This additional step of record-keeping holds parties accountable for their actions and highlights the seriousness of their responsibilities.

Revaluating Your Access Method

The Government Code of Remediation sets a high standard for remediation projects with a key goal to minimise the effect recladding has on the residents. The core objective of the Code revolves around mitigating the impact on residents' homes and common facilities, while concurrently prioritising the safety and security of the building and its inhabitants.

In this context, the Code calls into question the appropriateness of using scaffolding for extended periods. A two-year presence of scaffolding, according to the principles outlined in the Code, appears incongruent with the commitment to minimise impact and ensure safety, particularly concerning security issues and prolonged inconveniences for residents.