Rail Connect

Rail Connect improves on standard davit systems by replacing fixed working positions with continuous horizontal movement, delivering clear efficiency and operational gains.

Traditional davit systems use fixed roof bases, requiring technicians to fully rig and de-rig at each position as they move along a façade. This approach suits buildings with limited access requirements but becomes time-consuming and labour-intensive on long or continuous elevations.

Rail Connect combines RailPro External with a mobile deviation arm that runs on trolleys along the rail. Once set up, the arm simply slides to the next position while ropes remain connected, eliminating repeated rigging cycles and reducing downtime between drops.

In practice, this means more time working and far less time managing equipment. On large façades, completion times can fall by 30–40%, with reduced fatigue and a smoother, safer workflow. Loads are also distributed along the rail rather than concentrated at individual bases, which can suit buildings with structural or aesthetic constraints.

While Rail Connect carries a higher initial cost than fixed davits, labour savings on buildings needing extensive coverage often outweigh this quickly. Fixed davits remain effective for limited access areas, but Rail Connect is better suited to modern façades where efficiency, speed, and repeat access are priorities.

Rail Connect requires sufficient structural capacity at the roof perimeter, but its distributed rail anchoring often makes it suitable where traditional davit bases are not. Loads are spread along the rail rather than concentrated at single base points, reducing demand on individual fixings.

Most reinforced concrete and steel-framed buildings can accommodate Rail Connect with standard fixing solutions, subject to verification of slab thickness, material strength, edge distances, and load paths. New builds can use cast-in anchors, while retrofit projects typically use surface-mounted anchors with waterproofing integration.

Masonry, timber, or historic structures may require additional assessment or secondary steelwork, but Rail Connect is frequently more feasible than fixed davits in these scenarios. A site survey and structural calculations are always required to confirm suitability and final design.

Rail Connect is exceptionally effective for window cleaning, particularly on high-rise and fully glazed buildings where extensive façade coverage is required. Unlike traditional fixed davit systems, Rail Connect allows cleaning teams to move horizontally along the façade without dismantling and re-rigging equipment at each drop.

Once set up, the deviation arm glides along the RailPro rail while ropes remain connected, enabling crews to reposition in minutes rather than repeating full rigging cycles. This significantly reduces non-productive time, allowing teams to clean more glazing in a single day and complete jobs faster overall.

In practice, this delivers major productivity gains, lower labour costs, and improved scheduling flexibility. Crews experience less fatigue from repeated climbing and equipment handling, which often leads to better work quality and stronger contractor preference for Rail Connect-equipped buildings.

For buildings requiring regular window cleaning, Rail Connect frequently pays for itself through reduced service time, improved efficiency, and long-term operational savings.

Yes, this is one of Rail Connect’s key advantages. It is often the preferred solution for buildings where the roof perimeter cannot support the high, concentrated loads created by traditional davit bases.

Conventional davits apply significant point loads at each base location, which many modern buildings, especially those with cantilevered edges, lightweight perimeter slabs, or architecturally driven roof designs, are not designed to accommodate without costly structural reinforcement.

Rail Connect works differently. Loads are distributed along the rigid rail via anchors spaced along the perimeter, rather than being concentrated at a single base. This significantly reduces the load at any one fixing point, making it feasible on buildings where davit bases would be impractical or prohibitively expensive to support.

In many cases, Rail Connect not only solves the structural challenge but also avoids the need for major strengthening works, making it both a technically and commercially attractive alternative. As with all systems, a structural assessment is required, but Rail Connect frequently enables façade access where traditional davits cannot.

Technicians using Rail Connect must hold valid IRATA certification, as the system builds directly on standard rope access practice. Levels apply in the usual way, with Level 2 and Level 3 technicians typically leading operations and managing rescue procedures.

In addition to IRATA competence, technicians require Rail Connect–specific training. This focuses on how the system differs from fixed davit setups, particularly the use of the RailPro External rail, trolleys, deviation arm, supporting leg, and rope rollers, and how loads are distributed through the rail rather than concentrated at a single base. Training also covers pre-use inspection, correct setup and rigging, safe descent and ascent, and controlled horizontal repositioning along the rail without de-rigging.

Emergency procedures, system limitations, weather considerations, and site-specific constraints form part of this training, ensuring technicians know how to respond if issues arise. Instruction is typically delivered through practical, hands-on sessions on the installed system, supported by a site induction before first use. Refresher training should be included within routine IRATA skills updates to maintain competence.

Rail Connect generally requires a higher initial investment than traditional fixed davit systems, as it combines a continuous RailPro External rail with specialist deviation arms and trolleys rather than a series of individual bases. On equipment price alone, traditional davits are usually the cheaper option.

The difference becomes clearer in use. Rail Connect allows technicians to move along the façade without repeated de-rigging, significantly reducing labour time on buildings with large glazed elevations or frequent access needs. These efficiency gains can quickly offset the higher upfront cost through lower service charges.

Structural considerations also matter. Traditional davits apply high point loads that can trigger expensive reinforcement, whereas Rail Connect distributes loads along the perimeter and can avoid major structural works on some buildings.