Data center access solutions
Safe Access Systems for Data Centres
Access challenges in data centres aren’t optional risks — they’re critical design problems. From rooftop HVAC units to tight riser spaces, every access point must be safe, compliant, and built for long-term reliability.
Data centres - whether hyperscale, colocation, or edge - present specific access and height safety challenges:
- Rooftops crowded with HVAC, cooling towers, and solar panels
- Tight risers and cable trays needing vertical access
- Confined service rooms and underfloor areas with poor entry options
- High-risk work areas where fall protection is patchy or improvised
Unplanned downtime or safety incidents during maintenance can cost more than just time - they risk compliance, infrastructure, and lives.
The Solution
We design and deliver custom access systems that solve these challenges:
- Rooftop access using static lines, rail systems, and non-slip walkways that keep technicians securely attached and free to move.
- Cooling tower and HVAC access with engineered stairs, guardrails, and platforms for safe, routine servicing.
- Confined space solutions including rated ladders, hatches, and anchor points for safe entry and retrieval.
- Cable tray and service riser access with modular, space-efficient ladder and platform designs.
Built from corrosion-resistant, low-maintenance materials, every system is fire-compliant, backed by a 25-year warranty, and tailored to integrate with existing building services and security protocols.
Designed for Data Centre Operations

- Seamlessly integrate with facility access controls and BMS
- Minimise disruption during installation and maintenance
- Support compliance with AS/NZS and confined space standards
- Backed by full service: audits, design, fabrication, install, certification
Height Safety Compliance in Data Centres
Design Phase Obligations
During the design phase, architects and engineers in Australia are legally required to address fall risks at the source. Under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations, anyone designing a workplace structure (including data centres) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the structure is without health and safety risks – this means designing out hazards like falls from height​.
In practice, compliance involves incorporating permanent fall prevention measures in the plans: for example, designing safe access to rooftops and elevated HVAC platforms with compliant fixed ladders, guardrails, and walkways (to AS 1657:2018), and providing fall-arrest anchor points or static lines (to AS/NZS 1891 series) where needed​.
Legally, the WHS Regulations mandate that fall hazards be eliminated or minimised by design - work should be done from ground level or on solid constructions where possible, and if not, a safe system of work with adequate fall protection must be built in​.
Following Australian Standards is not strictly mandatory by law​, but it is considered best practice and is usually necessary to meet the general duty of care; in fact, compliance with AS 1657 and AS/NZS 1891 is often used as evidence that a design provides safe access in common data centre scenarios (rooftops, confined cable risers, etc.)​.
Ongoing Obligations for Facility Managers
Once a data centre is operational, the facility manager (as the PCBU under WHS law) has a duty to maintain and monitor all height safety systems.
Legally, all fall protection equipment and structures must be kept in safe working order – the WHS Regulations require a program of regular inspections, testing, and certification to ensure that control measures (like roof anchors, static lines, guardrails, and access ladders) remain effective.
For example, permanently fixed anchor points and lifeline systems should be inspected by a competent person and re-certified at scheduled intervals (commonly every 12 months, or more frequently if used often).
Personal protective equipment such as harnesses and lanyards must also be maintained and inspected per AS/NZS 1891.4 requirements. Legally, any issues (e.g. a damaged anchor or ladder) must be rectified promptly, and records of inspections, maintenance, and worker training should be kept to demonstrate compliance.
Best practice for data centre operators is to go beyond the minimum – this includes proactive maintenance (with inspections before due dates), periodic audits of all height access areas, and thorough training and permit systems for special scenarios like
confined spaces or vertical
cable risers that combine height and access hazards​. By exceeding basic compliance and continually managing these risks, facility managers ensure ongoing safety for anyone working at heights in and around the data centre.
Contact Us
For top-quality, custom-engineered and food grade access solutions for your facility, contact Safetylyne today. Our experts are ready to provide comprehensive safety audits, recommendations, and installations to ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency for your operations.
