Rope Access Trade Solutions

Rope Access Trade Solutions Ltd (RAT Solutions) is a UK incorporated industrial contractor based in South Shields, founded in 2016. The company delivers PCN-certified non-destructive testing, IRATA rope access, industrial surface preparation and protective coatings into heavy industrial, chemical manufacturing, steel manufacturing and process plant environments. NDT and inspection sit at the operational core of the business; rope access and coatings are the complementary disciplines around which its service model is built.
 

Current NDT inspection delivery

RAT Solutions holds an active service agreement with British Steel, covering four discrete inspection scopes across the manufacturing estate, delivered by PCN-certified personnel on a planned and reactive basis. The company also maintains an active operational presence at the AkzoNobel Gateshead chemical and coatings manufacturing facility and delivers recurring inspection deployments across chemical, process and petrochemical plant operators in the North East. Inspection is delivered by PCN-certified Level 2 technicians, working to PCN-governed procedures and recognised acceptance codes, with reporting issues in client-approved formats. Where access constraints require it, the same certified technicians deliver inspection via IRATA rope access – combining PCN inspection competence and certified work at height delivery within a single operator.
 

Core service lines

PCN-certified NDT inspection; IRATA rope access (Levels 1-3); industrial abrasive blast cleaning to ISO 8501 1 (Sa 2 / Sa 2 1/2 / Sa 3) and UHP water jetting to NACE WJ 1/2/3; protective coatings application across the major coatings houses (AkzoNobel/International, Jotun, Hempel, Sherwin Williams); and confined space delivery under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 with full atmospheric monitoring, LOTO and rescue provision.
 

Accreditations

ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 (ISOQAR); PCN (BINDT administered); IRATA International operator member; SSIP, Constructionline, RISQS, CIRAS, SEQual, DROPS, ISN and Avetta. Each accreditation is independently audited on a recurring cycle and represents sustained evidence of operational control rather than badge collection.
 

Sectors served

Primary steel manufacturing (British Steel); chemical and coatings manufacturing (AkzoNobel); chemical, process and petrochemical plant operators; rail infrastructure (RISQS controlled); marine and port infrastructure on the Tyne and Tees; bridges and highways structures; and onshore support for offshore-related assets.