CANY pioneered the use of Industrial Rope Access (IRA) back in the 1990s. Few were using it at that time in the business of building enclosures or façade restoration and repair, but CANY recognized it as an accurate, efficient and cost-effective way of getting up close to New York City buildings.
IRA is an alternative to the more typical but disruptive rigging and scaffolding. It involves certified SPRAT* practitioners rappelling down on ropes from the roof to floor level, to undertake close-up, hands-on inspections on buildings and in areas that are harder to reach by more traditional methods. Used extensively today in the New York City mandated Facade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP), it allows our teams to navigate the complex overhangs, projecting cornices, multiple setbacks, flagpoles, masts and spires that make our city so distinctive.
Effective use of IRA demands particular skillsets. Obviously, a willingness to descend over the side of some of NYC’s tallest and most iconic buildings, but also the ability and experience to understand, accurately record and convey what’s seen in a meaningful way to the rest of the team.
CANY has consistently invested in IRA, and today has a deep bench of certified practitioners who include members of the senior leadership team, studio leads, project and assistant project managers, half of whom are women. We’re no longer the only ones using this method for up-close inspections, but we’re probably the most experienced.
IRA has become an essential part of our toolkit to provide an efficient, low impact, cost-effective way of maintaining the city’s skyline and keeping New Yorkers and its visitors safe.
To find out more about how CANY can help in your project contact Thomas Seminara, Chief Business Officer, at tseminara@cany.com.
Footnote: SPRAT is the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians and all IRA practitioners at CANY are SPRAT certified.
