Major fire engineering contractor hails bespoke solution

One of the country’s leading fire engineering businesses has hailed a comprehensive working at height solution from Nationwide Platforms.

Hall and Kay Fire Engineering, whose business dates back to 1878 in Lancashire, today provides some of the UK’s leading fire engineering services on major projects nationwide.

With a substantial proportion of the business’ work taking place at height, including the installation and testing of fire sprinkler systems, Hall and Kay looked to Nationwide Platforms to deliver a safe and productive means of access.

Installing sprinklers in high build rack storage systems is a major challenge, with a requirement to work at heights of up to 50 metres, but also to access closely spaced steel frames to install pipes. With the emphasis on installer safety, Hall and Kay were faced with the prospect of using large boom lifts which were fitted with baskets that did not allow their engineers the precise and close access they required.

In a tailored response to this issue, Nationwide Platforms used their powered access expertise to modify the cage of a large 40m boom lift for hire, installing a basket of one metre width where previously the cage had a width of more than two and a half metres.

With the basket of the machine now more readily able to access areas required for fire installation systems, often between dozens of rows of steel racking, Nationwide Platforms reacted to the entrapment risk. The powered access leaders installed the SkySiren^® on the machine, adding an extra safeguard in case of any trapping incident.

Finding a unique working at height solution

Nationwide Platforms’ Sales Director Dave Barton said:  “It’s been a pleasure working with Hall and Kay to help provide their engineers with a safe and effective means of completing their tasks. Fire prevention systems are crucial in buildings but having the means to access installation points is not always straightforward, particularly where racking is involved.

“By looking closely at what was required we were able to provide a solution that made installation and maintenance tasks more effective, whilst also providing the SkySiren as a safeguard in entrapment situations. Hall and Kay Fire Engineering carry out some exceptional work, so it’s with that in mind that we developed a tailored solution designed to their exacting requirements.”

With a workable solution in place, Hall and Kay were then able to utilise their new method of access on their sites across the country.

Dave Sykes, Contract Manager at Hall and Kay, said: “Wherever we’re working, safety is our absolutely priority. Thanks to the developments made by Nationwide Platforms we have a means of installing and maintaining fire sprinkler systems that represents a best practice solution and meets the high standards we set.

“By having the ideal machine with a modified cage our engineers can more easily access the areas they need to reach and avoid using other methods of work which may allow the same levels of productivity or safety.”

See a video of the SkySiren^® anti-entrapment solution in action.