Project case study
Reservoir Access Ladder Installation
Client
Local authority client
Location
Leinster, Ireland
Sector
Water Industry
Duration
8 weeks design + fabrication, 1-week install
- 30+ years delivering projects like this
- Free site survey
- Quote within 48 hours
30+ years
Engineering experience
EN 1090 / EN ISO 14122
Fabricated to standard
Quote within 48 hours
Free site survey
Drogheda based
Working Ireland-wide
Overview
NR Engineering delivered a complete access upgrade for a rural service reservoir, replacing legacy galvanised ladders that no longer met current standards. Scope covered internal stainless access, top-slab walkway and handrails, and secure hatched access.
Scope of works
- Reservoir survey and access assessment
- Stainless internal access ladder with rest landing
- Top-slab walkway and handrails
- Secure hatched access cover
- Removal and disposal of legacy access
- Installation during planned outage
- As-built drawings and inspection records
Challenges
The reservoir served a populated area and could only be taken offline for a short planned outage window. Confined-space entry was required for the internal ladder install, and the new access had to be future-proofed for the operator's ongoing inspection programme.
Solution
All steel was prefabricated and pre-finished off-site. A confined-space-competent crew installed the internal ladder during the outage, while a second crew worked simultaneously on the top-slab walkway, handrails and hatch. Total site time was reduced to under a week.
Materials used
Fabrication process
All ladder and handrail components were TIG welded in our stainless workshop. Walkway grating was hot-dip galvanised by our regular Irish galvanising partner. The hatched access cover was fabricated and tested for fit before delivery to site.
Installation process
Confined-space entry procedures were followed throughout the internal ladder installation. The top-slab access was fitted with the asset on a planned outage and signed off by the operator's inspector before re-commissioning.
Project gallery
Results
The reservoir was returned to service with a fully compliant access system, supporting the operator's future inspection programme and ensuring safe access for routine maintenance and water quality sampling.
Project context
Sectors, assets and materials involved in this water industry project
What this project touched — the facility type, the assets worked on, the steel grades specified and the engineering disciplines applied.
Asset
Reservoirs
Chamber and roof access systems, hatches and handrails for service reservoirs and water towers, built for potable-water contact.
Material
Stainless Steel
Grade 304 and 316L stainless worked in a segregated bay, pickled and passivated for water, food and pharmaceutical duty.
Material
Galvanised Steel
Hot-dip galvanising to EN ISO 1461 for external and wet-environment steelwork, with vent and drain holes designed in.
Asset
Fixed Access Ladders
Permanent means of access fabricated and certified to EN ISO 14122-4, with safety cages, gates and rest platforms.
Capability
Fabrication
Cutting, forming, drilling and assembly in our Drogheda workshop, working from approved fabrication drawings.
Capability
Welding
MIG, TIG and MMA welding by welders coded to EN ISO 9606, with procedures and visual inspection records on request.
Related services
More from NR Engineering
Why NR Engineering
Why engineers and facilities managers choose NR Engineering
Three decades of design, fabrication and installation for industrial, water and construction clients across Ireland — with the paperwork, certification and programme discipline to match.
- 30+ Years
- Engineering and fabrication experience
- 500+ Projects
- Delivered across Ireland
- 40+ Clients
- Repeat industrial and construction clients
- Nationwide
- Drogheda workshop, site teams Ireland-wide
What we guarantee
- Free site survey and measure
- Written quotation within 48 hours
- Fabricated to EN 1090 / EN ISO 14122
- Coded welders, Safe Pass certified crews
- Agreed programme dates in writing
- 24/7 emergency callout for maintenance clients
Client feedback
What Irish contractors and plant managers say about working with us.
“NR delivered our structural steelwork on programme and to spec. Their site team integrated cleanly with our main contractor.”
“We've used NR for hygienic stainless modifications across two pharma sites. Documentation and finish are first-class.”
“Reliable callout, properly skilled crew and a workshop that can fabricate spares when OEM lead times don't suit.”
Next step
Tell us what you need built, installed or maintained.
Send us drawings, photos or a short description. We'll come back with a written quotation — usually within 48 hours — and arrange a free site survey where it's needed.
- Free site survey and measure
- Written quotation within 48 hours
- Fabricated to EN 1090 / EN ISO 14122
- Coded welders, Safe Pass certified crews