Abseil rails
Continuous BS EN 795 Class D rails mounted to the parapet or facade head — let rope-access teams move horizontally without re-rigging. The cleanest aesthetic solution for high-rise facades that need ongoing access.
Facade access systems — abseil rails, davit arms & BMU support
Specialist facade access systems — abseil rails, davit arm cradles and fixed anchors. Designed, installed and certified for safe ongoing maintenance and cleaning at height.
What is facade access systems?
Facade access systems are the engineered safety infrastructure that lets maintenance crews work on building facades safely and repeatedly — across the lifetime of the building. The four core system types are abseil rails (continuous BS EN 795 Class D rails mounted along the parapet or facade head for rope-access tie-back), davit arms (pivoting beams that suspend cradles or operatives over the facade), fixed abseil anchors (discrete tie-back points at known coordinates), and suspended cradles (powered access platforms working off davit arms or monorail tracks, for tasks better suited to a platform than rope access). Apex designs and installs all four — typically as part of the original construction handover, or retrofitted onto existing high-rise where the original facade access provision is inadequate. Every system is BS EN 795 certified, load-tested and supported by an annual inspection programme to keep it in regulatory use throughout the building's life.
Part of Fall Protection Division.
How we deliver.
Davit arm systems
Pivoting davit arms for cradle and operator suspension — fixed (permanent) and portable variants. Used where abseil rails aren't viable, or where suspended platforms are preferred over rope-only access.
Abseil anchors
Discrete BS EN 795 Class A anchors at engineered coordinates — used for tie-back, single-position rope work, or as supplementary anchors on a rail-fitted facade.
Suspended cradles
Suspended access cradles and platforms working off davit arms or monorail tracks — for facade tasks better suited to a powered platform than rope access, sized to the building and the work.
Survey, design & certification
Facade survey, structural assessment and working-radius analysis; a fully-engineered BS EN 795 scheme with drawings and load calculations ready for tender or build; proof-load testing on commissioning and an annual recertification programme for the life of the building.
Where we deliver.
Facade access systems are required on any building where ongoing maintenance — cleaning, signage, glazing, repair — needs to happen above safe pole-reach. Apex delivers across the UK.
- Commercial offices & high-rise
- Hotels & hospitality
- Hospitals & healthcare
- Residential towers & BTR
- Mixed-use developments
- Education & universities
- Stadiums & event venues
FAQs.
What's the difference between an abseil rail and a fixed anchor?
An abseil rail (BS EN 795 Class D) is a continuous mounted rail along the facade head — rope-access teams clip on at one point and traverse the entire run without unclipping. A fixed anchor (BS EN 795 Class A) is a single discrete tie-back point. Rails suit facades that need repeat ongoing access; fixed anchors suit specific known maintenance positions.
Can a facade access system be retrofitted to an existing building?
Yes — most existing high-rise can be retrofitted with an abseil rail, fixed anchors or replacement davit infrastructure. The design starts with a structural survey to confirm parapet capacity and identify the most economical mounting strategy. Apex specialises in retrofit where the original facade access provision is inadequate or has aged out.
Do you design as well as install?
Yes — Apex's in-house engineering team designs the system from first principles, sized to the facade, the user pattern and the buyer's budget. We're not tied to a single manufacturer, so the design picks the best-value system for the project rather than the one with the highest commission.
How often does a facade access system need recertifying?
BS 7883 requires annual inspection and recertification of personal fall protection systems. Apex provides annual programmes with documented test certificates and remedial works carried out in-line — so the system stays in regulatory use without break in the building's compliance.
Can you also deliver the maintenance work itself?
Yes — the same rope-access teams that install the system can also deliver the ongoing facade maintenance (cleaning, signage, glazing repair, mastic renewal) it was built for. Many clients value the continuity — one team that knows the building and the system intimately.
Talk to our Fall Protection team about facade access
Contact our Fall Protection team today about your project. We aim to respond within 24 hours.