TLF was given the opportunity to assist CTE in assessing an access issue on their existing exhaust stacks. New environmental regulations called for emissions monitoring probes to be placed near the top of the stacks, nearly 200 feet above street level. The probes would be required at two different elevations on each stack. For CTE, that meant building and maintaining two platforms and one spiral staircase for each exhaust stack.
TLF proposed a solution:
Build the staircase on the west stack only, and build a bridge from the first platform to the east stack. In the event of an incident that would leave the bridge inaccessible, an OSHA compliant caged ladder was designed for the east stack. (Background photo shows bridge under construction.) This solution eliminated the need for the staircase on the east stack, thus reducing construction and long-term maintenance costs.

Click on photos for a more detailed slideshow view.