Asda, a Leeds-based retailer with 633 stores across the UK, is owned by the Issa brothers from Blackburn. The self-made entrepreneurs started their careers running a local petrol station, which grew into the EG Group, a chain of filling stations, before they became the majority stakeholders in Asda.

The Challenge:

Regular planned maintenance is required for the plant and equipment on the roof, as well as the central valley gutters. City FM, Asda’s facilities management provider, appointed Gravity Solutions to establish a safe access policy for their roofs. Gravity Solutions recommended installing the Ascent aluminium access walkway with a guardrail to provide maintenance personnel with a flat, free-draining, anti-slip walkway surface.

The Solution:

The Ascent™ Aluminium Walkway was installed level with the roof slopes where it traverses the roof. It was affixed to the roof sheet with bespoke self-drill fixing screws and a weather-tight washer, allowing attachment without large-scale penetrations and subsequent weatherproofing. Gravity personnel installed the walkway following comprehensive installation guidelines.

The walkways are designed and tested in accordance with EN 516:2006 and BS EN 14122-2 & 3:2016, and are manufactured at their Sheffield facility to CE/UKCA standards in line with BS EN 1090 manufacturing procedures. Made from 6082-T6 structural grade aluminium, the Ascent™ Aluminium Walkways are 100% recyclable, ensuring safety for current maintenance personnel.