 Sage Gateshead Music CentreThe spectacular roof of the Sage Gateshead Music Centre - which weighs in at 750 tonnes - is made from 3.000 stainless steel panels and 250 glass panels. If the roof was laid flat its 1.200 square metre area is big enough to accommodate two foot-ball pitches.
Architects Forman Foster, approached Safety@Height to provide a fall arrest system across the spine to enable safe access for maintenance workers to reach the attachment anchors for abseiling down the face of the building. After discussions over a de-sign period of three years we provided the most aesthetically pleasing solution comprising of stainless steel rail which exactly matched the profile of the building and gave continuous fall protection along the roof. The accounting giant Sage Group has just invested £50m in developing a new 575,000 sq. ft global headquarters at Newcastle Great Park. The development in-corporates an innovative style of architecture reflecting the ambience of both the prestigious location and the company's high profile name. Sage HeadquartersNewcastle Project Architects, Ian Darby Partnership, required safe access to the plant room roofs but wanted a solution that would be sympathetic to the building. Working with them and trained installers, HCL Safety Ltd, the decision was made to use the GlideLoc Aluminium Y Spar Ladder System. As the user is continually connected during ascent and decent, no hoops or cages are required. Rotary tops were installed to give the user safe transfer onto the upper roofs. Darren Blake from Ian Darby Architects says:
'We wanted the most discrete solution possible but it also had to restrict access for the use by trained personnel only - the GlideLoc System matched our requirements in every way and it was cost effective!' | 
