Palace Roof Tile Repairs

Slate tiles on historic buildings can sometimes come loose, often due to a combination of thermal expansion and wind action. When this happens, it is important to remove any loose slates if there is a risk that they could fall into areas where people are walking below. A high-level rope access team can be an effective means of reaching these areas and often carries a lower cost than scaffolding.

Since mid-April, an area of the inner gardens has been cordoned off due to the risk of falling slate tiles. We have now carried out the careful removal of loose and slipped slate fragments, making the area safe once again for visitors.

Access to the roof and tile removal was carried out by Beccy and Kalie from Prime Access Ltd.

Roof repairs using rope access are carried out with a strong emphasis on safety. The team are certified by IRATA, the globally recognised organisation that sets safety standards for rope-based working at height. They use specialist climbing equipment, including harnesses and ropes securely fixed to structural points on the building to support the climber. In this case, the large chimneys on the Jocelin Range building were used as anchor points. Ropes were secured around the base of the chimneys, with rope protectors fitted to safeguard the historic fabric and ensure the rough stone could not abrade the ropes.

Before any work begins, a detailed risk assessment and method statement are completed to identify hazards and ensure all safety measures are in place. During the repair process, technicians maintain continuous attachment through dual-rope systems for fall protection, while communication is closely managed between team members on the roof and at ground level. This approach allows efficient and controlled access to hard-to-reach areas.

We hope these drone images provide additional context for the work that was carried out.