Building Maintenance Units (BMU) & Facade Access Systems
A Building Maintenance Unit (BMU) provides permanent, controlled access to the exterior of a building for cleaning, inspection and maintenance.
Metreel designs and manufactures Met-Track®, a bespoke travelling ladder and cradle suspension system for facade access at height, including facades, curtain walls, glazed areas and non-load-bearing panels.
Met-Track® Travelling Ladders
Designed to protect workers as they perform maintenance tasks at extreme heights.
Met-Track® Travelling Ladders
Met-Track® is Metreel’s enclosed track system for the suspension and guidance of travelling ladder and cradle access equipment. The track is fitted to the building structure and guides the ladder or cradle along the required maintenance route, providing repeatable access to facades, curtain walls and glazed areas for cleaning and inspection.
Each system is designed around the structure it serves. Track layout, ladder or cradle configuration and mounting points are specified to match the building’s geometry and the areas that need to be reached.
The enclosed track construction protects the running gear and guidance components from weather and debris, reducing wear over the system’s working life. Materials and finishes are selected to suit the installation environment, from coastal exposure to standard external elevations, and are matched to the building’s aesthetics where the track is visible.
Typical applications include glazed atria, curtain wall elevations and non-load-bearing panels on both new-build and retrofit projects.
Internal and External Installation
Met-Track® can be installed internally or externally depending on the building design and the access route required. Internal installation is typically used where the track can be integrated within an atrium, light well or internal facade. External installation runs the track along the outside of the structure, following the building’s elevation.
Manual and Powered Systems
The choice between a manual or powered system depends on the size of the ladder or cradle and the complexity of the travel or transfer arrangement. Manual systems suit shorter runs and simpler transfers between track sections. Powered systems are specified where the travel distance, ladder weight or transfer complexity make manual operation impractical, and can include a motorised drive and transfer mechanism at track junctions.
Integral Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint
Met-Track® can be supplied with an integral fall arrest or fall restraint system for personnel using the ladder or cradle. Fall arrest is designed to stop a fall that has already occurred. Fall restraint prevents a worker from reaching a position where a fall is possible. Metreel supplies both fall arrest and fall restraint equipment as standalone systems, and either can be integrated into a Met-Track® installation depending on the access route and the site’s risk assessment.
Bespoke Design and Building Integration
Met-Track® is designed and manufactured in-house, with track layout, materials and finishes specified to suit the installation environment and the building’s structure. Where possible, steelwork and fittings are concealed within the building’s construction, so the access system does not affect the facade’s appearance once installed.
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Building Maintenance Unit FAQs
As someone interested in building facade access systems, we’re here to answer all of your questions. For any further help or advice, please reach out to the Metreel team on 0115 932 7010.
What Is a Building Maintenance Unit (BMU)?
A BMU is a fixed or semi-permanent access system installed as part of a building’s structure, used to reach areas that are otherwise unsafe or impractical to access because of their height, location or construction. Unlike temporary access methods such as scaffolding or rope access, a BMU is designed into the building and remains in place for the life of the structure, giving maintenance teams repeatable, controlled access without re-erecting equipment for each visit.
What’s The Difference Between a BMU And a Travelling Ladder System?
A Building Maintenance Unit (BMU) is the general term for a permanent access system installed on a building. A travelling ladder system, such as Met-Track®, is one type of BMU, using a ladder or cradle guided along an enclosed track rather than a cradle suspended from a jib or crane arm.
Do I Need Planning Permission For a BMU?
Planning requirements depend on the building, the local authority and whether the installation affects the external appearance of the structure. Because Met-Track® can be designed to conceal steelwork and fittings within the building’s construction, it’s worth raising the installation with your architect or planning consultant at an early design stage.
Manual or Powered BMU, Which Do I Need?
This depends on the size of the ladder or cradle, the length of the travel route and the number of track transfers required. Shorter, simpler routes are typically manual. Longer runs or complex transfer arrangements are more often specified as powered systems. Metreel can advise on the right configuration for a specific structure.
What Does Building Maintenance Unit Involve?
BMU installation typically starts with a site survey and structural assessment, since the track and mounting points must be designed around the building’s geometry, load-bearing capacity and the areas needing access. This is followed by detailed design, covering track route, ladder or cradle configuration and manual or powered operation, before manufacture and fitting to the structure.
Metreel designs and manufactures Met-Track® in-house, working from initial building specification through to installation, including internal or external mounting and integral fall arrest or fall restraint where required. Steelwork and fittings can be concealed within the building’s construction during design, minimising impact on the facade’s finished appearance.