Requirements on the climbing system

Operators of electricity networks represent a central client segment at HighStep Systems AG. The HighStep System will meet today's as well as tomorrow's requirements put on a climbing system by operators within the electric utility space.

Requirements from a network provider's perspective

• The safety requirements must comply with and reliably fulfil the established standards of trade associations and insurance companies.
• The part of the system attached to the tower must not need any regular maintenance expenditure, because the towers are only climbed infrequently.
• The system must be easy to handle, and be ready for use quickly and easily where towers stand in the middle of fields, on hills or even in mountain ranges.
• The system must be able to be installed on different types of towers, so that only one climbing solution is required for a whole network.
• The system must not be susceptible to environmental effects, such as wind, weather and lightning strikes.
• The assembly and installation of a climbing system should be as simple as possible and cost as little as possible.

Additional requirements

• Employees must secure themselves before climbing. The climbing system itself prevents unsecured climbing.
• The user has to climb several times in the course of a day, and this should be as easy and natural as possible.
• Climbing must not be restricted to trained fitters, sometimes less well-trained employees also have to climb the towers, for example supervisors and managers.
• A high-voltage tower with 2 lines should not be equipped redundantly, so the climbing system is mounted in the centre of one tower wall instead of separately on two corner legs.
• To keep costs to a minimum, engineering should not be necessary before the climbing system is installed for each type of tower or even each tower.
• Ascending the tower on a lift instead of climbing it oneself.
• Performing certain work by means of automated devices instead of having someone climb up.
• Using the climbing system as a material transporter.
• Using the climbing system to take a deflection pulley to the top.
• Instead of a bulky ladder, install a slender rail so as not to detract from the design.