Poster campaign highlights role of modern steeplejacks in church maintenance

[THE LATEST EDITION of ATLAS’s 21st Century Steeplejack Campaign – which raises awareness of the diverse range of access methods and services its members can offer – focuses on the role of modern steeplejacks in working on churches and other religious buildings.

Aware that many people still only associate steeplejacks with ladder access to churches, the campaign involves a series of posters being distributed to different industries and ATLAS members. The first focused on process engineering plants and the second is concerned with ecclesiastical buildings.

As ATLAS points out, the conservation and preservation of the nation’s historical and ecclesiastical buildings – including cathedrals, churches, listed buildings and monuments – is crucial in preventing their decline. The steeplejack industry has an established track record in the restoration and maintenance of those highly-valued, iconic buildings, to ensure that they remain safe, structurally sound and visually stunning.

According to ATLAS: “Due to the age, value and public use of many heritage buildings and structures, it is essential that any work is carried out sympathetically and with as little disruption as possible. Access can often prove challenging because of the fragile building façade or intricate architecture and ATLAS members have experience in providing appropriate solutions whatever the project using a combination of traditional steeplejack methods, rope access, specialist scaffold, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), mobile towers and even industrial drones.” What may be less obvious is the fact that the building materials used in historical and ecclesiastical structures are often more susceptible to damage than those used in more modern structures. That is where the skills of a specialist contractor are required when it comes to their repair and maintenance.

ATLAS continued: “By working closely with organisations such as the National Trust and English Heritage, as well as architects, surveyors and facilities management companies, ATLAS members undertake a wide range of specialist repairs and maintenance to heritage buildings.”

ATLAS has created a poster to demonstrate a sample of its access methods and services available at ecclesiastical sites. The poster is available to download from the ATLAS website at www.atlas.org.uk. Copies of the poster can also be ordered in the post by completing a form on the same website. q

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