Façade Access & Fall Protection

Façade access systems are an essential component of providing a safe and code‑compliant working environment and may include ladders, guardrails, façade access anchors/davits, swing stages, Building Maintenance Units (BMUs), and other systems required for exterior building maintenance (EBM) or routine interior maintenance. While many qualified professionals can design safe and compliant façade access solutions, California’s regulatory framework includes state‑specific requirements. Under Cal/OSHA regulations, only a licensed Scaffold Inspection and Testing (SIT) company is authorized to prepare the Operating Procedures Outline Sheet (OPOS) required for permitting. An OPOS is defined as establishing “safe window cleaning and exterior maintenance procedures for buildings and structures. An OPOS shall include all of the necessary elements in pictorial and written form, to instruct employees in the safe use of roof supported building maintenance equipment or window cleaning procedures not covered by these Orders”.

Martin/Martin, Inc. holds SIT License No. 46 and provides comprehensive façade access consulting services, including load testing, annual inspections, and OPOS development. The firm employs both engineers and architects and maintains a staff of more than 100 licensed structural engineers nationwide.

Please contact Martin/Martin, Inc. to support your façade access certification and compliance requirements.

Contact our team for more information at FallProtection@martinmartin.com. 

We perform load testing of new and existing façade access and fall protection installations nationwide. Proof testing prior to use is required by OSHA and recommended by ANSI Z359. Our team oversees on-site load testing and typically self-performs the work using professional engineers and technicians. With registered professional engineers in nearly every state and six qualified fall protection engineers dedicated to this specialty, we are well equipped to support projects of any scale. The firm is also registered with Cal-OSHA under its California SIT license.

On-site fall protection hazard assessments are available to evaluate compliance with local and industry standards. This service is intended for new or existing facilities that lack fall protection systems or have incomplete installations. Although OSHA requires fall protection, these systems are often overlooked during new construction since most building codes do not mandate them. Proper fall protection is frequently necessary for safe access to roof drains, mechanical equipment, and other roof-mounted components. Each assessment identifies areas where systems are missing or deficient and may include rough order-of-magnitude cost estimates for retrofits and new installations needed to bring the facility into compliance.

Extensive experience is brought to the design of façade access and fall protection systems for new construction projects. We collaborate closely with architects and general contractors throughout the design process. Engaging a consulting engineer early can save tens of thousands of dollars compared to delegated designs that are not incorporated during the DD or CD phases. Early integration allows these systems to be efficiently coordinated with the building’s structural framing.

Decades of experience with structural renovations on existing buildings allow us to effectively support retrofits and system upgrades as facility needs evolve. Long-standing relationships with owners and property managers provide valuable insight into existing structures, enabling efficient evaluation of appropriate façade access and fall protection solutions. Because installation costs are often driven by the need for additional structural support, careful attention is given to minimizing impacts on existing structures while still meeting current industry standards.

We regularly collaborate with leading national manufacturers of façade access and fall protection systems. Engineers licensed in most states can provide stamped packages that include construction drawings, shop drawings, Revit/BIM models, supporting calculations, on-site inspections, load testing, and certifications. BIM specialists support projects requiring full building model integration, and steel detailing engineers assist with shop drawings for specialty or custom-fabricated installations.

Independent evaluations and peer reviews are available for both new and existing systems when a second opinion is desired. As an independent engineering consultant—not a manufacturer or distributor—recommendations are made without bias toward specific products or quantities. A fresh perspective often helps identify overlooked issues or introduces alternative solutions that may be a better fit for the project. In our experience, involving a neutral consultant leads to stronger outcomes and allows potential issues to be identified earlier in the process.