Old School House Apartments

Select Access was appointed to provide permanent working-at-height infrastructure at the Old School House residential development in Arklow, Co. Wicklow. The project required a coordinated solution for accessing and working safely within the building’s roof areas. The agreed scope included an aluminium access ladder, associated wall brackets and freestanding guardrail, creating a more clearly defined route from the building’s access point to the areas requiring future inspection or maintenance. The solution had to suit the existing building configuration while providing dependable access for authorised personnel without unnecessarily penetrating the roof surface.

Our technical and operational teams coordinated the installation against the approved project drawings and manufacturer requirements. The freestanding guardrail was assembled in controlled sections using counterweighted support frames, allowing collective edge protection to be provided without fixing through the roof membrane. The access-ladder position, bracket measurements, exit clearance and surrounding guardrail arrangement were checked before final fixing. Controlled work areas and agreed material routes were maintained throughout the installation. Once assembled, all dimensions, fixings and system components were checked against the design, with the completed works photographed to support the project handover.

The completed installation provides a defined and practical means of reaching the roof while offering collective protection within the relevant working areas. By combining a purpose-designed aluminium access ladder with freestanding guardrail, Select Access delivered an integrated solution rather than treating access and edge protection as separate requirements. The non-penetrative guardrail arrangement also helped protect the integrity of the existing roof build-up. The resulting infrastructure supports safer future inspection and maintenance activities, giving facilities teams and authorised contractors a more controlled route for working at height at the residential development.