Solid Wall Insulation via Rope Access (SWIRA)

The Sustainable Home Survey Company (SHS) is the UK’s leading community-focused
energy management assessment company and social incubator. SHS’s management team has
delivered over 15 low carbon ventures to market, and actively supports team members in
identifying and growing spin-out companies.
In partnership with Avalon Sustainable Energy Solutions (ASES) - SHS propose the UK’s
first rope access solution for external wall insulation to provide energy efficiency solutions to
many high-rise homes in the UK.
The UK has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by
2050. Amongst the lowest cost methods to achieving this is the retrofitting of current building
stock to required levels of energy efficiency – this must almost always begin with fabric
improvements via insulation. However, the UK will require substantial innovations for solid
wall insulation to be delivered at scale. Increasing energy prices and energy insecurity
exasperate the problem socially, creating a compelling socio economic imperative for a lowimpact
and practical solid wall insulation solution.
Solid Wall Insulation via Rope Access (SWIRA) synergises the innovations of rope access for
cavity wall insulation and moves them to a new dimension – solid wall insulation –
incorporating innovative surveying and detailed design to provide a bespoke and cost
–effective system for the UK housing stock.
Successful deployment of the SWIRA solution requires co-ordination amongst many different
stakeholders including, architects, system designers and manufacturers, property managers
and owners, planners, councils, policy makers, energy companies and residents. Before this
can be achieved, the addressable market requires: further segmentation and appraisal,
customer proposition validated, supply chain readiness verification; and development and
establishment of an infrastructure roadmap.