A permanent height safety solution for a central state housing development

With over three decades of experience working across projects in Auckland, Alta Safety was engaged to design, supply and install a height safety system for Te Mātāwai to allow maintenance personnel to safely walk around on the roof and also access the building’s façade for maintenance and cleaning.

“It’s a permanent system for the ongoing maintenance of the building – the cleaning of the windows, the repainting of the building if needed, and any abseil activity that needs to happen on the outside of the building – and also to keep contractors safe while they’re on top of the roof walking around,” says Alta Safety’s Justin Earl. 

From initial consultation to the implementation of the system and the project’s completion, Alta Safety’s involvement on the Te Mātāwai project spanned over four years.

“We started designing the system back in 2019 with the project’s architects and went through a few iterations as the client’s needs changed and to suit their budget. We worked with the project managers to get the design through council consent and then partnered with Icon Construction, the contractor, to deliver the project.”

Integrated into the design of the building, mostly on the roof, Alta Safety worked with architecture firm MODE Design to ensure the height safety solution tied into the design seamlessly. It was also crucial for the system to perform for the lifetime of the building.

When this isn’t effectively included in the design and construction of large commercial projects and apartment buildings, the appearance and maintenance of the building can fall short. It is also the responsibility of the designer and building owner to ensure the safety of any personnel working in or on the building, says Earl.

For this reason, engaging a height safety consultant early in a project’s design is crucial – establishing communications early in the design process contributed to the success of the Te Mātāwai project. 

Developing the scheme requested by the client at the outset, Alta Safety implemented numerous adjustments to meet changing budgets and requirements.

“We had to rethink our initial designs and come up with something different that suited their needs and budget,” says Earl. It was with ongoing, clear communication that this was effectively managed with all parties working together to achieve the final result. 

Key considerations when designing a fall protection or abseil system

• Roofing material and build up
• Roof pitch
• Size and shape of the roof
• Identified use, e.g. abseil, general fall protection, etc.
• Ease of installation and coordination
• Budget

“So, early engagement is the key thing so we can coordinate it all together and you have the full picture to help in your decision making. When we do get to construction, there shouldn’t be any hidden challenges because we can iron it all out early,” says Earl.

“We started the process back with the architects, MODE Design, in 2019 and we finished our physical works on site with ICON Construction in 2023. MODE and ICON were a pleasure to work with and made this whole process easy.”

With a national team of expert project consultants, project managers, installers and recertification technicians, Alta Safety has completed over 6,000 projects across Asia Pacific.

Every project requires a custom design service for a unique solution, to meet the health and safety, access and maintenance requirements of the project, site or structure. 

From a bulk warehouse, high-rise building, industrial structure or any bespoke architectural design, all height safety solutions provided by Alta Safety are compliant and safe. If you’d like to learn more about working with Alta Safety, get in touch with the team or explore their other projects on ArchiPro.