Institute for Architectural Science and Technology (IAST)

Course Description

Façade access is often the last thing considered in design – and the first thing that causes problems in operation. This course addresses the full scope of access planning, from initial design-stage decisions through to 60-year maintenance strategy, covering BMU systems, abseil provisions, cradle installations, and ground-level reach solutions. You’ll learn how access strategy shapes façade design from the earliest stages: roof-level plant zones, parapet details, tie-back anchor locations, and the implications of building geometry on cleaning and inspection reach. The course also addresses the practical coordination required between façade engineers, architects, and access specialists, alongside the health and safety obligations that apply to maintenance access design. Presented by Eugene Korch (façade engineer and IAST Programme Director), the course draws on real project examples to demonstrate how early access planning prevents costly retrofit solutions and ensures that inspection, cleaning, component replacement, and sealant renewal remain feasible throughout the building’s service life. Combining elevation studies, access zone diagrams, and maintenance schedule templates, this course is designed to help you integrate access strategy into the design process rather than treating it as an afterthought.