The Voice of Safety, Standards and
Compliance in Façade Access
SAEMA (Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association) is the UK’s leading trade association dedicated to raising standards and promoting best practice in the façade access industry. Our mission is clear: to protect lives, ensure compliance and drive technical excellence in the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of façade access systems.
From building cradles and suspended access equipment to the most advanced permanent access solutions, SAEMA provides the framework that ensures this specialist sector operates to the very highest safety and compliance standards. Our work safeguards the professionals who maintain the nation’s buildings and gives building owners and managers complete confidence that their systems are safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
Our Purpose
At its heart, SAEMA exists to make a difference where it matters most – keeping people safe at height.
We achieve this by:
- Setting industry standards – producing clear, practical guidance documents and codes of practice.
- Providing expert training – equipping members and their teams with the latest technical and compliance knowledge.
- Shaping regulation – working closely with regulators, health and safety bodies, and other trade associations to influence policy and industry direction.
- Promoting best practice – ensuring our members lead the way in quality, safety, and innovation.
Our Influence
Over decades, SAEMA has become the authoritative voice for the façade access sector. We work in partnership with organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), British Standards Institution (BSI), and other construction industry bodies to influence the development of national and international standards.
Our technical experts – many of whom have helped write the UK’s core guidance on façade access – ensure that SAEMA remains at the forefront of safety and compliance. When the industry faces new challenges, from technological innovation to updated legislation, SAEMA is there to provide clarity, direction, and solutions.
The Difference We Make
The difference SAEMA makes can be measured in safer worksites, fewer accidents, higher technical standards, and greater public confidence in the buildings where we live and work. By fostering collaboration between members, sharing technical knowledge, and providing a platform for collective action, SAEMA ensures that safety is never left to chance.
The SAEMA badge is more than a symbol – it’s your assurance of expertise, integrity, and uncompromising safety. Our members wear it with pride, knowing it sets them apart as the trusted choice in façade access.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure that anyone working at height using façade access equipment can return home safely at the end of the day – every day.
SAEMA: Setting the Standards. Safeguarding the Industry.
PARTICIPATE
To participate in the development of national and international standards relevant to the façade access equipment industry.
ENCOURAGE
To encourage adherence to safe and best practice for the provision of access to buildings and other structures for the purposes of cleaning and maintenance.
PROMOTE
To promote co-operation between its members and the work at height industry in general.
COOPERATE
To co-operate with other organisations, specialist bodies and institutions (property developers, architects, planning supervisors, insurance companies, facilities managers, etc) involved in the provision and maintenance of façade access systems and equipment.
ACT
To act in the best interests of the client in all matters relating to the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and testing of systems and equipment.
EDUCATION
To educate our members through our bespoke industry-leading training platform
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