Applus+ rope access NDT capabilities
As one of the founding members of IRATA and with over 25 years’ experience in the industry, Applus+ employs rope-access skilled NDT technicians to work closely with our clients to deliver suitable, safe, and effective access solutions.
At Applus+, we maintain a strong global IRATA presence through six Operator memberships and three Trainer memberships across our international rope access operations.
We operate within the IRATA Training, Assessment and Certification Scheme (TACS) through three IRATA-approved training centers located in the United Kingdom (Grangemouth); Qatar (Doha); and Australia (Perth), and hold three Trainer memberships, aligned with these centers, enabling Applus+ to deliver certified rope access training compliant with IRATA’s stringent operational, safety, and competency requirements.
On the other hand, our confirmed IRATA Operator memberships include Applus UK LTD, Applus Pty Ltd (Australia), Velosi Certification LLC (Qatar), Applus Technical Services LLC (UAE), Applus Singapore Pte Ltd (Singapore), and Applus Netherlands B.V.
As part of our rope access NDT services, Applus+ provides a full package of related industrial services, including a range of NDT inspections, fabric maintenance, mechanical, rigging and lifting services, and LEEA inspections. We have a wide geographical presence to assist clients wherever they are based, and Applus+ has one of the largest rope-access training facilities in the UK. Our personnel are trained to the highest of standards, and our crews are fully conversant in all new IRATA legislation.
Applus+ provides rope access NDT to our clients with a safe, cost-effective service, completing projects to the highest of standards. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience across a wide range of industrial sectors, and Applus+ holds numerous rope access accreditations, ranging from safety standards to management system standards.
NDT methods deployed via rope access
Applus+ rope access NDT technicians are qualified to deploy a full range of inspection methods at height, in confined spaces, and on offshore structures. Methods include:
| NDT Method | Typical application at height | Asset type |
|---|---|---|
|
Ultrasonic Testing (UT) |
Wall thickness measurement, corrosion mapping | Offshore structures, bridges, storage tanks |
| Phased Array UT (PAUT) | Weld inspection complex geometries | Pipelines, pressure vessels, wind turbine towers |
| Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) | Surface crack detection on ferromagnetic components | Structural steel, FPSO topsides, flare stacks |
| Liquid Penetrant Testing (LPT) | Surface crack detection on non-magnetic alloys and stainless steel. | Stainless steel piping, aluminum structures, and architectural cladding |
| Visual Inspection (VI) | Coating condition, fabric maintenance, structural integrity | Wind turbines, chimneys, bridges, storage tanks |
Industries and applications: where Applus+ deploys rope access NDT
Applus+ deploys rope access NDT solutions across the following sectors:
- Oil and gas exploration and production
- Oil and gas service providers
- Petrochemical plants
- Nuclear plants
- Breweries
- Distilleries
- Manufacturing plants
- Offshore oil and gas platforms, FPSOs, and subsea structures
- Wind energy: onshore and offshore wind turbine towers and blades
- Civil infrastructure: bridges, chimneys, cooling towers, and high-rise structures
In addition, rope access inspection techniques can be used by any company to carry out inspection, rigging and lifting, fabric maintenance, or mechanical work at height.
Benefits of rope access NDT over traditional access solutions
Rope access NDT and inspection provide our clients with an excellent alternative to traditional access solutions, as they are both time- and cost-efficient, as they avoid the need for cumbersome scaffolding.
- No scaffolding required: eliminates the cost and lead time of erecting and dismantling scaffolding or deploying MEWPs, reducing total project cost and duration significantly.
- Access to difficult locations: rope access reaches locations inaccessible to conventional platforms — offshore topsides, wind turbine nacelles, flare stacks, bridge undersides, and storage tank roofs.
- Minimal operational disruption: rope access teams mobilize and demobilize rapidly, with minimal plant footprint, enabling inspection and maintenance without production shutdown in most scenarios.
- IRATA-certified technicians: Applus+ is a founding member of IRATA. All rope access personnel hold IRATA certification and are dual-qualified as NDT technicians, ensuring inspections are conducted to the same standard as ground-level work.
- Full service capability: a single Applus+ mobilization covers NDT inspection, fabric maintenance, coating repairs, mechanical and rigging work, and LEEA-certified lifting operations — eliminating the need for multiple contractors.
Proprietary access technology: the Applus+ HEX Access System
Applus+ developed the HEX system at the request of a client to provide an alternative access solution for the internal inspection and maintenance of Horton-type storage spheres (spherical gas tanks).
The HEX system provides a purpose-designed internal access solution for Horton-type spherical storage vessels, where conventional rope access or scaffolding is not viable. It enables NDT inspection and maintenance of the full internal surface without the need for temporary structures, reducing inspection downtime and eliminating the safety risks associated with conventional internal access methods. The HEX system is part of the Applus+ portfolio of proprietary access and inspection technologies, available exclusively through Applus+.
Frequently asked questions about rope access NDT
What is rope access NDT, and how does it work?
Rope access NDT combines IRATA-certified rope access techniques with non-destructive testing to inspect structures and assets at height or in difficult-to-access locations (without scaffolding or MEWPs). Technicians are dual-qualified in both rope access (IRATA Level 1, 2, or 3) and NDT methods (UT, PAUT, MPI, LPT), enabling them to conduct inspection work at height to the same standard as ground-level operations.
What types of structures can be inspected using rope access?
Rope access NDT is applicable to any structure where height, geometry, or environmental conditions make conventional access impractical: offshore platforms and FPSOs, wind turbine towers and blades, flare stacks, chimneys, bridges, storage tanks, pressure vessels, cooling towers, and industrial plants at elevation. Applus+ has deployed rope access NDT on assets across more than 50 countries.
Why choose rope access over scaffolding for NDT inspection?
Rope access is faster to mobilize, significantly less expensive than scaffolding, and can reach locations where scaffolding is not viable. For offshore wind energy and high-structure applications, it is often the only practical access method. It also minimizes operational disruption, as teams can continue working while the asset remains in service.
Does Applus+ provide rope access NDT for offshore oil and gas assets?
Yes. Applus+ has extensive experience in offshore rope access NDT, including topside structural inspection, FPSO hull and deck inspection, flare stack inspection, and subsea riser and jacket structure assessment. Offshore teams are fully IRATA-certified and comply with all relevant offshore safety management requirements.
Can advanced NDT methods such as PAUT be deployed via rope access?
Yes. Applus+ rope access teams are qualified to deploy advanced NDT methods, including Phased Array UT (PAUT), Time-of-Flight Diffraction (ToFD), and Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM), from rope-access positions. Equipment is selected and configured for deployment at height, without compromising inspection quality or code compliance.
Why choose Applus+ for rope access NDT services?
Applus+ is one of the founding members of IRATA and has over 25 years of experience in rope access NDT. The Applus+ offering combines full NDT method capability, fabric maintenance, mechanical and rigging services, and LEEA-certified lifting in a single mobilization — across more than 50 countries. Applus+ also holds one of the largest rope access training facilities in the UK and maintains all relevant IRATA accreditations.
Applus HEX Access System
Applus+ developed the HEX system following a request from a client to provide an alternative access solution for the internal inspection and maintenance of Horton type storage spheres (spherical gas tank)