A high-rise window replacement project in Stoke-on-Trent has demonstrated how alternative installation methods can significantly reduce costs while improving safety and programme efficiency.

MAC Site Services successfully delivered a 250-window replacement scheme at Hammond and Dickson House, a 15-storey residential building, using the Stronghold Anchor system, eliminating the need for external scaffolding and achieving a cost saving of approximately £160,000.

The project involved removing the building’s original single-glazed steel Crittall windows and installing modern PVC-U units throughout the tower block. Under conventional approaches, full perimeter scaffolding would have been required to carry out the works safely at height, representing a major cost and logistical challenge. Instead, the client opted for an internal-only installation strategy using the Stronghold Anchor.

By working entirely from inside the building, MAC Site Services was able to complete all window removals and installations without erecting scaffold. In addition to the six-figure saving, the approach delivered programme benefits, with the project finishing two weeks ahead of schedule and causing less disruption to residents and the surrounding area.

The Stronghold Anchor is a self-contained internal barrier safety system designed specifically for window and glazing installation at height. It requires no drilling or permanent fixings, can be installed by two operatives in under ten minutes, and leaves no damage to internal surfaces. Once in place, it provides certified anchor points for harnesses and load straps, allowing installers to work freely while maintaining full fall protection. The system can span openings of up to five metres and support up to three operatives simultaneously.

“This system helped us complete the project safely and ahead of programme,” said M. Charters, Project Manager at MAC Site Services. “Our fitters feel significantly safer working from inside the building rather than from external scaffold, particularly on tower block projects.”