RAT is a system of work positioning, utilizing skills and equipment developed in the climbing and caving world. These skills have been adapted in the latest 15 years for industrial use, especially at offshore constructions. Rope access is a cost-effective and safe alternative to scaffolding and other more traditional methods of access.

The true benefits of rope access are realized when the current cost to access an area is disproportionate to the amount of work that has to be carried out. Small crews of multi-disciplined technicians can often accomplish in hours, work that previously took days to complete using conventional access methods.

A well-planned, small, multi-disciplined composite crew is capable of performing various planned maintenance tasks as well as all kind of inspections. The use of RAT has allowed the inspection of buildings and structures on- and offshore to be carried out extremely efficiently and safely.

SOFT

SOFT is a trade organization that aims to unite all the suppliers and users of Rope Access Technique (RAT) in Norway and the rest of Scandinavia. SOFT aims to work to promote safety and quality of work carried out by using the RAT, both with regards to personnel, environment and equipment. The organization will continue working to protect the interests of members and represent them to the authorities and public bodies.

SOFT has developed four standards for RAT. Minimum requirements in these standards aim to protect the corresponding requirements from international organizations, and SOFT will represent Norway in the international efforts. This includes ongoing efforts in both the CEN (EU) and through the ISO. It is a comprehensive work that is now underway internationally to standardize the work with RAT and in this work, SOFT is preparing a Norwegian Standard (NS) for approval trough 2010. This standard will be matched with other national organizations.

FORCE Technology Inspection Norway is a member of SOFT. Our technicians and supervisors as well as personnel hired from subcontractors are all SOFT certified. This way we can assure that the work is executed in the best possible way, concerning both HSE and quality.