Location: Riverside Energy Recovery Facility
Industry Sector: Energy From Waste
Scope of Work: Temporary sealing of louvre openings using a fire-retardant tarp system to retain heat within a live energy recovery facility during winter, pending permanent louvre installation.
Team Deployment: IRATA-qualified rope access technicians.
Overview:
A principal contractor required temporary weatherproofing across all louvre openings at an operational energy recovery facility in South East England. The permanent louvre installation programme was ongoing, and the building needed to retain heat through the winter period while that work continued. Think Access was brought in to design and install a temporary tarp protection system that could run alongside the main contractor’s activities without conflict, covering openings progressively as the permanent units were fitted working from opposite ends of the building toward the centre.
The works were carried out under CDM regulations with the principal contractor acting as both client and CDM duty holder. A full RAMS document, rescue plan and work at height permit were all in place before any operative set foot on site.
The Challenge:
The building was live throughout. The permanent louvre installation team was already on site, which meant the temporary protection scope had to be carefully sequenced to avoid clashing with their programme. Think Access started at the opposite end of the building and both teams worked toward the middle, meeting in the centre as the permanent units caught up.
Each opening required a fire-retardant tarp, fixed using heavy-duty TEK screws and cold-rolled steel angles, all fixed only to primary structural steel. Nothing could be fixed to cladding, flashings or any non-structural element. That constraint shaped how the team approached each opening, requiring them to identify suitable fixing points before any material went up. There were originally 13 openings in scope; the client later extended this to 10 additional openings, reflecting how the permanent installation programme evolved on site.
Working at height inside a live energy recovery facility brought its own pressures. Exclusion zones had to be established beneath every work point, equipment had to be tethered, and the team completed daily pre-start task sheets and RAMS briefings before each shift. The rescue plan was assessed and documented by the IRATA Level 3 supervisor at the start of every shift and updated as the task progressed through different areas of the building.
The Solution:
Think Access deployed a consistent team across multiple shifts throughout winter, working under an IRATA-qualified rope access supervisor. On arrival each day, the team reported to the site representative, took out the required permits, briefed on RAMS and rescue plans, and carried out equipment inspections before beginning work.
The installation method was straightforward but had to be executed precisely. Fire-retardant tarp was positioned over each louvre opening with sufficient overlap to prevent heat loss and wind ingress. Cold-rolled steel angles were used to frame and tension the tarp, secured with heavy-duty TEK screws into primary structural steel only. Once fixed, the team checked every installation for even tension, confirmed no loose material remained and inspected all seams and corners before moving to the next opening. Work stopped if wind exceeded 25 mph; the team checked forecasts at the start of every shift and monitored conditions throughout the day.
All daily activity was recorded through the GetKonnected platform, including timesheets, site references, operative details and client-facing notes. The site representative signed off each completed working day on site, with the Think Access manager verifying and closing out each timesheet promptly after each visit.
Results:
Think Access completed the temporary louvre protection programme across all openings at Cory Riverside Energy Recovery Facility, working alongside the permanent louvre installation contractor without disruption to either team’s programme. The fire-retardant tarp system retained heat within the building throughout the winter period as required, with every installation fixed to primary structural steel in accordance with the method statement.
The full programme was managed and documented through GetKonnected, giving the site representative daily visibility of operatives on site and sign-off records for every shift. No extra works were instructed throughout the programme. The principal contractor received a complete and auditable record of all activity on completion.
Temporary Works and Winter Protection by IRATA Rope Access: Built for Live Sites
If you need temporary weatherproofing or louvre protection installed safely within a live operational facility, Think Access provides IRATA-qualified rope access teams ready to deliver to a fully documented, permit-controlled standard.
