Rope-access specialist Skyriders recently assisted with a six-day waterproofing project at the Tramshed Shopping Centre in Pretoria. A four-person team used basic rope access and fall arrest principles to identify problematic areas on the roof and external walls, including jointing.

The shopping centre decided on the proactive maintenance project in order to prevent any future problems or damage resulting from inadequate waterproofing, Skyriders Marketing Manager Mike Zinn explains.

The rope-access team was required to apply a Sika waterproofing membrane on certain brickwork areas. The fact that Skyriders mainly worked on the roof and exterior minimised disruption to the fully operational shopping centre.

In addition, the company was called upon to assist with the installation of cable trays and piping for a back-up genset system in a confined-space service shaft. Skyriders can also can sub-contract a specialist if more technical at-height electrical work is required.

Skyriders is no stranger to the retail industry, having deployed netting platforms and rope access for maintenance and repair work at the Greenstone Shopping Centre in Johannesburg. Firstly, technicians entered the mall’s ceiling workspace to remove all dangerous and loose materials, in order to allow safe access for contractors.

Phase Two saw the installation of a temporary work platform system consisting of steel cables and heavy-duty nets. The netting system enabled specialised ceiling, fire protection, lighting and electrical contractors to access the affected areas.

The temporary work platform system was an ideal solution, as hanging scaffolding could not be used on-site due to the weight constraints, while erecting scaffolding from the ground up was also not viable, as this would have restricted the free flow of shoppers in the mall during the day.