Fire safety in high-rise and commercial buildings has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years – and rightly so. With the introduction of the UK Building Safety Act 2022 and the rise in safety-led legislation, building owners and facilities managers must now take extra care in maintaining systems that prevent and mitigate risk of high-level fire incidents. A key part of that responsibility lies in ductwork and riser maintenance, where access can be difficult, especially in tall or confined structures.
This is where rope access becomes a crucial asset. From vertical shafts and external ducting to concealed risers and high-level ventilation systems, rope access enables safe, efficient and fully compliant work — all with minimal disruption to building operations.
Why Fire Safety Compliance Matters
UK fire safety regulations have become more robust in response to serious incidents and structural risks. Key legislation includes:
- UK Building Safety Act 2022
- Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
- BSEHV11 National Occupational Standard for Ventilation Hygiene
- NAAD21 guidance for ductwork cleaning and maintenance
These regulations require landlords, duty holders and facilities managers to ensure that fire hazards within ventilation systems are properly identified, maintained and cleaned.
Accumulated grease in kitchen extract ducts, debris in risers and blockages in ventilation shafts are not only hygiene issues – they are serious fire risks.
What Is Rope Access and Why Is It Effective?
Rope access is a method of working at height using specialist abseiling techniques to access difficult or high-up areas safely and efficiently. Certified rope access technicians (IRATA-accredited) use ropes, harnesses and anchor systems to navigate vertical and confined spaces that traditional access methods, like scaffolding or MEWPs, simply can’t reach.
In fire compliance work, rope access is invaluable for tasks such as:
- Internal and external ductwork cleaning
- Riser inspections and cleaning
- Ventilation access panel installation
- Grease and carbon build-up removal in hard-to-reach systems
- Condition reporting and compliance documentation
Benefits of Rope Access for Fire Safety Compliance
✅ Reach Confined and High-Level Areas
Many fire hazards exist in vertical risers, roof-mounted ducting, or enclosed shafts. Rope access allows technicians to access these locations without dismantling walls or installing scaffolding.
✅ Minimal Disruption
Unlike scaffolding, rope access does not block entrances, stairwells or public access routes – making it ideal for schools, hospitals, commercial kitchens and busy public buildings.
✅ Faster Response, Lower Costs
Time is critical when responding to fire risk notices or maintenance schedules. Rope access teams can be mobilised quickly and complete jobs in a fraction of the time – often at a lower cost due to reduced equipment needs.
✅ Fully Compliant Documentation
Professional rope access providers like Rope Access 24 Seven deliver full RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements), along with photographic documentation and reports for compliance auditing.
✅ IRATA and BSEHV11 Certified Teams
Our rope access technicians are IRATA-certified, and our ventilation hygiene specialists are trained to meet BSEHV11 and NAAD21 standards, ensuring every project is conducted safely and in full legal compliance.
Real-World Scenario: Fire Safety in Multi-Storey Buildings
A rope access company is contracted to clean and inspect vertical risers in a high-rise mixed-use development in London. Due to limited space and the presence of residential units above commercial kitchens, traditional access methods are not possible.
Using rope access, the team can perform:
- Full internal duct cleaning to NAAD21 standards
- Riser inspections and carbon deposit removal
- Access panel installation for ongoing maintenance
- Delivery of post-cleaning reports to satisfy local authority requirements
All work completed on schedule, with zero disruption to tenants or business operations.
Conclusion
High-level fire safety compliance is not optional – and rope access provides a powerful tool to help building managers meet legal obligations quickly, efficiently and safely. Whether you manage a high-rise, commercial kitchen, hospital or heritage site, rope access ensures no area is out of reach when it comes to fire prevention and compliance.
Ready to Safeguard Your Building?
If you need high-level cleaning, riser maintenance or ventilation hygiene services that meet UK fire safety standards, we are here to help.
📞 Call us on: 0203 640 8247
📧 Email: info@24sevengroup.co.uk
Rope Access 24 Seven – Trusted rope access solutions for fire-safe buildings.
For more information on our full range of services use these helpful website links Rope Access Ductwork, Rope Access Building Maintenance, Industrial Rope Access, Doff Cleaning and Pest Control.