Pensar needed adjustable access stairs that could move between work positions around a water treatment plant tank. SafeSmart supplied AdjustaStairs because the articulating stair geometry allowed the same unit to serve changing access heights while keeping the treads level. The movable system gave the crew stair access close to the active work area instead of tying the route to one fixed location. AS 1657 applied to the project, and versatility was the main operational outcome.
Changing Work Positions Required Movable Tank Access
Pensar needed quick stair access into a water treatment plant tank. As work progressed, the stairs needed to move frequently and mount close to each active position.
The work sequence moved around the tank, so one permanent access route would have left crews travelling back to a fixed point. The project team instead needed one stair system that could support a series of positions as the work area changed.
Why Fixed Stairs Could Not Follow the Work
Fixed stairs would have tied the access route to one location while the work continued to move. Pensar therefore centred the access plan on relocation, allowing the stairs to follow the crew around the tank.
Vertical reach, landing space, the supporting surface and the mounting method determine the stair model and setup for each tank position. Mapping these inputs against the work method gives the crew a clear access route at every stage of the task.
AdjustaStairs Created a Movable Access Route
SafeSmart supplied AdjustaStairs for the application. The articulating stair system changes angle while the treads remain level, allowing one stair set to serve a range of vertical heights within its model limits. Pensar could relocate the same unit and set it at the next work position as the task moved around the tank.
The Australian AdjustaStairs range includes 600-millimetre and 1200-millimetre widths, with models covering vertical reaches from 0.49 metres to 4.0 metres. Larger units use support trusses beneath the stringers. Step count, width, height range and footprint work together to determine the model for each access position.
How Adjustable Access Stairs Adapted to the Tank Work
Articulating Geometry Kept the Treads Level
The stair stringers articulate across an adjustment range from 30 to 45 degrees. As the pitch changes, the tread mechanism keeps the walking surfaces level. This allowed Pensar to use the stairs at changing heights without changing to a different access system.
Relocation Kept Access Close to the Task
The project team moved the stairs as the work position changed. This kept the access route close to the task instead of sending workers back to one fixed entry point. Planning the movement route, crew requirements, mounting method and support surface made relocation part of the work sequence.
Mounting Connected Each Setup to the Tank
AdjustaStairs works with different support and landing arrangements across the product system. For tank access, the connection detail links the stair to the support and landing position. A defined fixing method and suitable support surface make each relocated setup repeatable.
Model Selection Balanced Height and Footprint
Step count and vertical reach guide model selection, while the access height changes the required run and approach angle. Considering these dimensions together allows the tank access stairs to fit the available footprint and meet the landing position.
AS 1657 and Tank Entry Controls
AS 1657 applied to the Pensar project. The installed angle, landing interface, support surface and fixing method were treated as one stair configuration rather than separate selection decisions.
Model size, installed angle, landing interface, handrail arrangement, fixings and available clearance shape the complete access route. Where tank entry uses permit or confined-space controls, the site work method coordinates those controls with the stair position and entry path.
Operational Outcomes for the Pensar Crew
Access Followed the Work Around the Tank
Pensar repositioned the supplied stairs as access needs changed around the tank. The crew could establish access close to the active work area rather than return to one fixed location.
One Stair System Served Changing Heights
The adjustable geometry allowed the project to use the same stair system across changing placements and heights within its range. This gave the team the versatility required for the moving work positions.
The Access Method Stayed Simple
The project team selected a stair system that directly answered the movement requirement. One movable unit supported the changing work sequence without establishing a permanent stair at every position.
How to Plan Movable Tank Access
Select movable water treatment plant access stairs around the complete work sequence rather than one nominal tank height. Record every intended position, the top landing location, the base surface, mounting method and available clearance before choosing the stair model.
Separate access from the work position when planning equipment. Adjustable stairs provide movement between levels, while industrial access platforms provide a standing area for sustained work. Defining both functions prevents a stair from being used as a work platform and clarifies the equipment required at each tank position.
Configure Adjustable Access Stairs for Every Tank Position
Send SafeSmart the required vertical reach, available footprint, landing geometry and support details for each tank access point. The team can configure the AdjustaStairs model and identify where the task also requires a separate work platform or an engineered connection.
