Manchester Airport Skylink
Our Inspections Team carried out a roof leak survey on the Skylink Bridges
The Scope
Vertical Access were commissioned to carry out a roof leak survey of the sky link bridges at Manchester airport that was built in the 1990’s to establish possible mechanisms of water ingress.
Over 6000 square meters were surveyed by our inspection team using mobile access platforms & work restraint systems.
The Challenge
The challenge was to carry out the essential survey work, working around access restrictions at a very busy international airport while causing minimal disruption to its operation and the travelling public.
Our Response
Vertical Access worked closely with Manchester Airport and the main contractor throughout the planning and delivery of the survey, coordinating activities around the airport’s day-to-day arrivals and departures to minimise disruption to operations.
When limitations with the airport’s building maintenance access systems, combined with two Skylinks being out of service, prevented the original access strategy from being implemented, the team quickly reviewed and adapted the methodology. A revised safe system of work was developed using mobile elevated work platforms, requiring additional personnel, training and a transition to night-time working supported by traffic management.
Throughout the survey, regular management visits and safety inspections were undertaken to maintain safe working practices within the live airport environment.
The team worked beyond the initial survey requirements to investigate potential mechanisms of water ingress and provide the client with clear, actionable information on the faults identified. To support this, our site and project teams worked with the client and Vertical Access digital resources team to develop a bespoke digital recording application.
The system enabled survey information to be captured, collated and presented in an accessible format, allowing individual defects to be easily identified and accurately located for subsequent remedial works.
Outcome & Feedback
This successful project came in on time and under budget.
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