Height Safety Retrofit, System Upgrades & Rectification

Existing building. New height safety requirement.

RISSafety assesses your building and the infrastructure already on it, determines what the site requires, and provides a height safety solution designed for that building.

Retrofitting to an existing structure is a different task to specifying a system for a new build. The structure is fixed. The building is usually occupied and operating. Access is constrained. Whatever goes in has to work with the roof, the substrate and the plant that is already there.

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When buildings need retrofit or rectification work

• The building has no height safety system, but now requires roof or facade access
• An existing system no longer suits how the building is used
• An inspection has identified defects or non-compliance
• Components have deteriorated and need replacement
• New plant, solar or services have changed what access is needed
• An older system was never certified, or its documentation cannot be located
• A change of ownership, tenancy or management has prompted a review

How RISSafety approaches an existing system

Assessment first. We inspect the building and any system already installed before recommending anything. What is there, what condition it is in, what the substrate allows and what the site needs all shape the solution.

Retain what is suitable. Where existing components are in sound condition and appropriate for the intended use, they may be able to be retained as part of an upgraded system. Whether that is possible depends entirely on the condition and suitability of those components and is determined through assessment – not assumed.

Upgrade, replace or rectify the rest. Depending on the findings, that may mean replacing specific components, extending the system, or decommissioning and replacing it entirely.

Test and certify the result. Rectification work is only complete when the finished system has been assessed and appropriately certified.

What we can retrofit to an existing building

RISSafety designs, manufactures and installs a full range of height safety systems, including:

• Roof anchor points
• Horizontal static lines
• Roof walkway systems
• Ladder systems
• Guardrails – Saferail and Strongrail
• Access hatches
• Custom platforms and gantries
• Facade access and davit arms

Where a standard system does not suit the building, we design and fabricate bespoke solutions.

View all height safety systems

Common questions

Can height safety equipment be retrofitted to an existing building?

Yes. Retrofitting is common on established commercial, industrial and residential buildings. The system is designed around the existing structure, with the fixing method chosen to suit the substrate and the building’s access requirements.

Can parts of an existing system be kept?

Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the components, whether they suit the intended use, and what the assessment finds. Some retrofits retain sound elements and replace the rest; others require full replacement. An inspection is what determines which applies.

Who can rectify or replace roof safety anchor points on a commercial building?

Rectification should be carried out by a height safety specialist who can assess the existing system, design the replacement, install it into the existing structure and certify the finished work. RISSafety, Australia’s leading height safety company, provides all of these as a single scope.

Does RISSafety work on systems it did not install?

Yes. A significant portion of our service work involves systems installed by other providers.

Where does RISSafety operate?

Nationally, with branches in every Australian state.