Project Snapshop
Project: Elevated HVAC Maintenance Access Platform
Application: Access to maintenance doors along a 48-foot HVAC system
Challenge: Workers relied on a stepladder to reach access points more than eight feet above the ground
Solution: A 48-foot-long ErectaStep platform with stairs, a continuous walkway, and full guardrails
Result: Permanent, protected access along the HVAC system for personnel carrying tools and equipment
An elevated HVAC system had multiple access doors that workers needed to reach for routine maintenance and other tasks. Because the doors were positioned more than eight feet above the ground, employees relied on a stepladder that had to be moved repeatedly along the equipment.
Following a safety inspection, the facility needed a permanent access solution that would reduce fall hazards and provide a stable working surface.
The Challenge
Workers had to climb a stepladder while carrying tools and equipment, then step onto an elevated surface to complete maintenance. The ladder also had to be repositioned each time employees needed to reach another access door.
This process created several safety concerns:
- Workers carried equipment while climbing
- The ladder had to be moved between maintenance points
- Employees stepped from the ladder onto an elevated surface
- There was no protected walkway along the HVAC system
Planning the Access Platform
CH Bull designed a 48-foot-long by 6-foot-wide platform that could be secured alongside the HVAC equipment. The platform extended across the system’s maintenance points, providing a continuous walking and working surface in front of the access doors.
Stairs were included instead of a vertical ladder so employees could more easily carry tools, parts, and other equipment to the elevated work area.
The CH Bull Solution
The required ErectaStep components were available from CH Bull’s South San Francisco inventory and shipped within two weeks. CH Bull also coordinated the turnkey installation, which was completed within several days.
The finished system includes stairs, a continuous elevated platform, and full perimeter guardrails along the HVAC equipment.
Project Outcome
The new platform replaced repeated stepladder use with a stable, protected route to the HVAC access doors. Maintenance personnel can now move along the equipment and carry tools to the work area without repeatedly climbing and repositioning a ladder.
Need Safer Access to Elevated Equipment?
CH Bull provides pre-engineered platforms, stairs, walkways, and industrial access systems configured around your equipment, facility, and maintenance requirements.