The Liverpool Tower Challenge

Radio City Tower, a radio and observation tower in the heart of Liverpool city centre offering breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding city. Also known as St Johns Beacon, this Grade II listed building is 138 metres tall, is the second tallest free-standing building in Liverpool and the 32nd tallest in the United Kingdom.

This iconic skyscraper is frequently used for charity and abseiling events and can only be maintained by operatives using rope harnesses. Over the last 20 years, the use of ropes had significantly damaged the integrity of the original waterproofing and it needed replacing.

A waterproofing challenge of this complexity could not be met by conventional roofing contractors. It needed operatives with experience who had worked on the tower. Specialist roofing and general contractors, Orb Rope Access Ltd, were chosen as they had previous knowledge of the building, working at extreme heights.

This incredibly unique project possessed many design and installation challenges. For example - a protective timber upstand ring was designed, made at roof level, and installed to the top of the roof edge detail. Applying waterproofing at such height comes with an abundance of other challenges.

Winds at height proved to be one of the greatest. As well as securely harnessing themselves to the building, the contractors had to ensure all tools and products were also firmly secure to avoid any items falling from the roof.