Northern Strands
Northern Strands Latest News

Latest News

Suspended Access Division completes first job in Ontario

Recently Evolution Mining purchased the Red Lake Gold Corp mine in Northern Ontario. Northern Strands was contracted to replace the Gold Corp logo on the headframe. Recladding over the existing cladding. North West Industries set up all the cladding before the job and had it logo’d. We had to provide access to hang the sheets. Headframe was about 200’ tall. They couldn’t launch the system off the ground due to the location of hoist ropes and crane location. We had to install the system with the use of the crane. Northern Strands developed a rescue plan as well.

Our Suspended Access Division can rent out our swing stage equipment or we can quote a job with manpower provided. We also provide Suspended Access Training. 

Contact us today for a quote:

Phone: 306-242-7073

Email: staging@northernstrands.com: 

Website: https://www.northernstrands.com/suspended-access-systems.aspx

Suspended Access Brochure: https://www.northernstrands.com/pdf/suspendedaccessbrochure.pdf





Northern Strands Offers Unique Suspended Access & Fall Protection Solutions for Regal Towers

Both Regal Towers have been part of Saskatoon's skyline for decades. Yet they are some of the most well kept and upgraded buildings in the city. Currently Boardwalk Communities is replacing Regal Towers windows. Candor Build Construction Company was in need of Swing Stage Equipment for this project. They subcontracted Northern Strands to install the suspended access equipment that would be needed to install the windows. 

Being an older building, Regal Towers lacked fall protection anchors that are commonplace in newer buildings. This meant there was nothing conventional for the outrigger beams or lifelines to anchor to (Outriggers are horizontal beams that extend over the parapet wall for the suspension cables of the swing stage platforms to connect to. This presented some unique challenges for our Suspended Access team.

The Northern Strands Swing Stage team had to devise solutions to overcome the lack of traditional anchor points:

  • Engineers approved the installation of D-Plate points. Multiple anchors were installed at various points across the roof. All anchors were labeled and softeners were included at potential wear points.


  • Wood cribbing boxes were fabricated to raise the outriggers over the parapet wall.


  • To anchor the outriggers our team used the utility building that sits on top of the main roof, after engineers had deemed the structure was adequate. Our Suspended Access crew wrapped cable around the entire building structure and softeners were once again employed on the wire rope at the structure corners to prevent damage. This was a unique and forward thinking solution


  • Panoramic views of the overall set up:




Northern Strands has the largest Suspended Access equipment fleet in Saskatchewan. We are locally owned and operated out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 

Contact Northern Strands to quote your next job

staging@northernstrands.com
306-242-7073
 

Northern Strands Suspended Access Division Completes Outrigger Davit Work

The Northern Strands Suspended Access team recently completed Outrigger Davit work at the Cory mine head frame. The Outrigger Davit was extended 10 feet high with 8 feet of reach to reach up and over a 52" parapet wall and ground obstruction. The system was rigged up in 5 days. Northern Strands is one of only a handful of companies in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba to have specialized suspended access equipment on hand and ready to go.

The Outrigger Davit allows for easy clearance over tall parapets while the beam and counterweights are at a safe rooftop level. 


Rather than using the Rolling Outrigger Northern Strands set up a 10 foot high by 8 foot outreach Outrigger Davit for Swing Stage Suspension Systems. 


For more information on Suspended Access Systems, Davit Arms, or Suspended Access Training:


Carson Lowen - Suspended Access Technician
Fax: (306) 974-5527
Email: cloewen@northernstrands.com

Northern Strands Designs a Unique Custom Swing Stage For Children's Hospital Construction

Northern Strands is currently working with multiple contractors on the new Children's Hospital in Saskatoon, where the footprint demands alternate solutions to scissor lifts and boom lifts. Aerial lifts are not always the solution. Swing Stage platforms are often times more economical than other access solutions. With no less than 10 Suspended Access work platforms on site in various configurations, here's proof that Northern Strands has the swing stage equipment and expertise to get you up to your elevated work areas.



Think that Suspended Access Platforms only go straight up and down? Think again!

Northern Strands also installed this unique rigging system (seen below), for an international contractor at the Children's Hospital construction site in Saskatoon.  This contractor needed the elevated work platform to have the ability to move in and out in relation to the wall, as it was sloped in design.  To complicate matters, the crowded footprint of this project did not allow for the use of boom-type man-lifts. With very little fuss, Northern Strands supplied extended reach outrigger beams that utilize a secondary rolling trolley system, which gave the contractor exactly the abilities they needed.  This was not the first custom solution Northern Strands has provided to the multiple contractors on at the Children's Hospital.





Northern Strands offers the largest rental fleet of suspended access equipment in Saskatchewan. Northern Strands Suspended Access Division rents and sells:
- Swing Stages
- Man Baskets
- Portable Electric Winches
- Under Bridge Access Platforms
- Blade Access Platforms
- Boiler Maintenance Platforms
- Specialty Rigging Products
- Rooftop Hoisting Solutions


To inquire about renting please contact Northern Strands Suspended Access Division:
Call 306-242-7073
Email staging@northernstrands.com

Should Outrigger Tiebacks for Powered Suspended Access Equipment Be Wire Rope?

In the industry there is a misconception that portable outrigger beams and parapet clamps being used with powered suspended access equipment can be tied back using fibre rope, and often times it is old vertical lifeline rope that is used for this application.  However, using rope in this application is an incorrect practice.


Under the national CSA Safety Code For Suspended Platforms, the tieback cables for portable outriggers and parapet clamps must be of equal strength as the primary suspension rope.  Since most powered climbers use a 5/16” or 8.4mm diameter wire rope that has a breaking strength of 10,000+lbs, the use of 5/8” polysteel lifeline (which has a breaking strength of only 9,000 lbs when new) is not adequate.  In addition to that, ropes are usually terminated at the anchors with knots, and ANY knot will reduce the strength of rope by at least 25%.  While ropes of the proper strength and construction (and when terminated with the proper approved knots) can be used with rope access systems and manual bosun’s chairs, they should never be used with any powered suspended equipment that has wire rope as the primary suspension line.


At Northern Strands, we will always supply the proper tieback cables and wire rope clips for this connection, and provide complete instruction on proper rigging of tieback cables as part of our Suspended Access Equipment Training course.

The picture below shows an example of a correct outrigger tieback with wire rope

For more information visit http://www.northernstrands.com/suspended-access-systems.aspx

"Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated."

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