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Facade Access Solutions supports building owners, developers and contractors across the United States. Our North America teams plan, install and maintain permanent facade access solutions for high-rise towers and complex facades from coast to coast. We stay with each project from the design stage to long-term service.
Our permanent building maintenance units (BMUs) are engineered to perform under each of these conditions, keeping iconic US towers safe and accessible. We are part of Alimak Group, a global leader in facade access. More than 1,000 employees and 39 global locations stand behind every US project. Over 16,000 units installed worldwide back our track record of safe building access at height across North America.
Our US product range includes permanent facade access products for buildings of all heights.
Building Maintenance Units travel along the roof to give safe, repeatable access across large facades. Each BMU is engineered to the building geometry and roof load. Our BMUs reach every corner of the envelope while handling wind, seismic and freeze-thaw loads.
Our davit systems suit smaller roofs and intermittent access needs. They transfer working loads safely into the building structure. Powered davits and portable davits remain the most popular permanent access choice on mid-rise office and hotel properties across North America. They give owners a cost-efficient route to compliant rooftop access.
A monorail carries a cradle along a fixed track for atriums, soffits and recessed facades. Railscaf adds a flexible track-based option for harder geometries. Mall atriums, mixed-use podiums and shaded entry canopies across US cities often use monorail systems to reach areas a roof-mounted BMU or davits cannot serve.
Tiebacks and lifelines provide rope-descent and fall-protection anchors for facade work. They support safe access where a full machine is not required. Our horizontal lifeline systems give passive protection across building perimeters with low parapets. They protect users equipped with a harness and lanyard from falls as they traverse the line. Our anchor systems meet OSHA 1910.27 and ASME/ANSI A120.1 requirements, with each anchor designed for a 5,000 lb ultimate load and a 4:1 minimum safety factor.
Permanent powered platforms suit US supertall residential and hotel towers with long, repetitive glass elevations. Our powered platforms use modular sections that assemble with end or intermediate stirrups for changing facade lengths. Code-required safety features come fully integrated, including emergency descent, tilt detection and slack cable sensors. Corrosion-resistant materials suit coastal and humid US sites from Miami to Seattle. Systems meet OSHA 1910.66 and ASME A120.1 requirements for powered platform operation. This keeps maintenance cycles short and predictable across thousands of square feet of glass.
We support a building across its full life. Our US building access solutions cover new towers, design-stage planning and upgrades to existing systems.
For new construction, we design and install facade access systems that fit the architecture from day one. Projects often need wind tunnel data, seismic input and snow-load review built into the BMU calculations.
Our integrated design services bring access planning into the early design phase. This keeps systems compliant and hidden within the building line. On signature US towers, early integration also addresses crane runway lengths, parapet heights and rooftop mechanical interference before they reach the site.
Our retrofit services add to or upgrade access systems on existing US buildings without disrupting tenants. Beyond facades, we also deliver infrastructure access solutions for bridges, tunnels and nuclear facilities.
Our US services keep access systems safe, compliant and ready to use. We service our own equipment and systems from other manufacturers.
Our service solutions cover planned maintenance and call-outs to keep systems running. Local service teams cover major US metros on the East Coast, Gulf Coast and West Coast.
Our inspection, safety and compliance service checks systems against federal OSHA rules and state requirements. This includes ASME/ANSI A120.1, IWCA I-14.1 and IBC provisions, with New York facades also covered by Local Law 11/FISP. The full set of applicable codes, regulations and standards is available on our central reference page.
Our refurbishment solutions extend the lifespan of aging BMUs and platforms by replacing components and controls. Most permanent facade access equipment carries a 25 to 30 year service life. We help building owners decide between refurbishment and full replacement to meet current OSHA expectations.
Genuine OEM spare parts keep older systems reliable and compliant. We hold parts inventory in North America to shorten lead times for US clients.
Our asset management service tracks inspection records and service history in one place.
Our training prepares operators and competent persons to use systems safely. Courses align with OSHA 1910.66 (Powered Platforms), OSHA 1910.27 (Rope Descent Systems) and IWCA I-14.1.
Facade Access Solutions North America brings together a team focused on solving complex access, safety, and cost-efficiency challenges. Backed by more than 120 years of combined experience, 16,000+ machine installations worldwide, and over 300 projects delivered annually, we combine global capability with local support.
Our presence across the United States gives clients direct access to world-class engineering and manufacturing expertise. This comes alongside responsive project management and service teams who understand regional requirements.
The combined expertise of Tractel, Manntech and CoxGomyl allows us to deliver the right permanent facade access solution for virtually any building requirement. Through one dedicated US team, clients gain access to the full portfolio of all three brands, supported by the global strength and engineering heritage of Alimak Group.
Tell us about your building and your access needs. Our US team will help you plan, install or service the right system.
US permanent facade access equipment follows OSHA 29 CFR 1910.66 and ASME A120.1. These standards call for an annual load test plus routine inspections by a qualified person. ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 also gives guidance for window cleaning safety on suspended platforms. New York City buildings carry an extra cycle under Local Law 11/FISP, which requires a facade inspection every five years.
Key references include OSHA 29 CFR 1910.66 (Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance) and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.27 (Scaffolds and Rope Descent Systems). ASME A120.1 and ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 add further requirements for powered platform safety and window cleaning. The International Building Code (IBC) and local rules such as NYC DOB requirements also apply. State-level rules in California (Cal/OSHA Title 8) and Illinois often add local layers as well. A consolidated overview is on our codes, regulations and standards page.
Yes. Our US service teams maintain and inspect systems from many brands. Our OEM spare parts and refurbishment programs keep older units safe and compliant.
Yes. We bring access planning into the design stage so that systems stay compliant and well-integrated. For US projects, that includes seismic loading on the West Coast, hurricane wind loads in coastal states and snow loads in the Northeast and Midwest from the first drawing.
Our equipment handles heat, humidity and salt-air loads typical of US sites. We specify corrosion-resistant materials for coastal projects in Florida, Texas and California. Sealed control systems and protective coatings suit deep cold in the Northeast and Midwest, while UV-rated finishes match the Sun Belt. Local service teams also adjust maintenance intervals to suit each building’s exposure profile.