Access solution expert Northern Site Services (NSS) – after having completed its first year of operations in the Middle East – says that it has been a tough first year, especially since the company had to focus its energies on educating the market on the benefits of using its innovative access solutions.

“More recently, the response has been far more encouraging as clients have begun to realise the benefits that the systems have to offer, especially in terms of helping achieving project schedules well on time. We will be visiting the Big 5 show this year to view what is on offer in our field of expertise, and intend to make a significant impact with our participation at next year’s event,” says a company spokesman.
Commenting on the benefits of the system, he says: “Compared to the complicated and constrictive conventional scaffolding – which is used by the new-age malls of Dubai with intricate domes and concourses – the lightweight NSS aluminium access system gives clients more flexible access without imposing any restrictions on other contractors.
The company, which set up operations in Dubai under the name of NSS (Middle East), has a shared facility in Jebel Ali Industrial Area – stretching well over 25,000 sq ft – which is well stocked with components required for the major expansion projects unfolding in this region. In fact, it will be moving shortly to a new dedicated facility in Sharjah as the company begins to establish its autonomy in the market place.
Within a year of its establishment, NSS (Middle East) has achieved a niche in the market place, and already has an impressive list of projects that include the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), New Emirates Engineering Center hangars and the Jet Aviation projects.
“We are convinced about the potential of the market and are encouraged by the excellent customer feedback received. Market studies also indicate that there is a huge market for diversifying into newer systems such as alloy tower equipment that is used in the maintenance of buildings and malls. This is the reason why we are planning to launch our alloy tower equipment systems in Dubai. These towers, conforming to European standards, will be lightweight and easy to assemble,” the spokesman indicates.
In the field of specialist access, NSS has the skills, experience and the resources to successfully tackle every project - whether large, small or complex.
“The results are first-class customised solutions installed to the very highest standards of quality and safety. NSS (Middle East) is not only a specialist access solutions company, but also a complete one-stop shop for all access requirements, ranging from alloy tower equipment to conventional scaffolding,” he adds.
“These custom-design access solutions that meet the specific requirements of the project and can range from internal to external or inclined access solutions and are widely applicable in many fields from process industries to power generation, marine, aviation, construction and the maintenance sector.
The access solutions are suitable for:
• Fast-track projects;
• Difficult-to-access areas of the structure;
• Program over-runs requiring tasks to be performed simultaneously;
• Areas where the scaffold footprint is to be kept to a minimum/eliminated to allow third-party contractors to proceed with works otherwise hindered because of mass scaffolding.
• Maintenance work on building structures, without causing a shutdown of the industrial operations.
“Although purpose built, each unit is made from standard components, creating a virtually endless scope for flexible solutions. The use of aluminium spanning and bridging units in the system offers a number of advantages, apart from the obvious versatility - they are lightweight and exhibit a massive strength-to-weight ratio. The panels can be formed to suit the curvature of the areas to be accessed. Our in-house design team begins with ensuring a quick turnaround of concepts into reality. These are then trial erected and tested to the correct loading and safety specifications. Additionally, the simplicity of the designs means that labour levels can be limited to a small number of highly-experienced teams,” he says.
NSS has vast experience in airport construction projects as well. At London’s Heathrow Airport, the company has provided a suspended tracked system that provides access for external cladding work. A single rig tracked down the length of the concourse reducing erection time. At Chek Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong, a similar tracked access system on the inside of the building was used to install the soffit lining. An innovative feature of the system, which spanned 37 m, was the systematic rise and fall along with the geometric shape of the building. The use of suspended solutions allows for the groundwork’s below to proceed without any hindrance, he adds.
Already in the Middle East, NSS has undertaken two prestigious projects in Doha including the Khalifa Sports Stadium, where an inclined tracked access tower (7.5 m length by 1.4 m width by 22 m high) was used for the installation of glazing. By increasing/reducing the tower using a telescopic beam, the system followed the geometric form of the substantial arched tubular structure.
“The second project was the Al Sadd Stadium, which presented NSS with the ideal opportunity to prove its superior flexibility over conventional scaffolding. Using a tracked system at the rear of the grandstand and a running track on the field side, a platform area of 350 sq m was achieved, while leaving the area below free to install stadium seating,” he concludes.