Treehouse inspections

Vertic’Alps Expertise carries out acceptance inspections and periodic inspections of treehouses and their access routes.

The scope of our work is defined according to the treehouse's use, design, access conditions and manufacturer's documentation. Assessment references and inspection frequency are specified for each assignment.

Depending on their scope, the selected references may include:

• Eurocode 5 for the substantiation of timber construction components.

• NF P01-012 for protection against falls from height, particularly guardrails on terraces, platforms and access routes.

Our work includes a documentary examination and a visual inspection, together with the necessary dimensional checks. The points examined are adapted to the construction and the manufacturer's manual.

We check in particular:

• The load-bearing structure: visible condition of beams, joists, posts, bracing and connections; identification of deformation, cracks, corrosion or timber deterioration.

• Connections to trees and other supports: condition of fixings, anchors, hangers and bearing systems; consideration of tree movement and growth in accordance with the design provisions.

• Floors, platforms and terraces: condition of components, fixings, surface continuity and damage liable to compromise safety.

• Access and circulation routes: condition and configuration of stairs, ladders, walkways and landings, according to intended conditions of use.

• Fall protection: presence, condition, dimensions and fixings of guardrails and other protective systems.

• Information for users: consistency of capacities, restrictions and instructions with the manufacturer's documentation.

The documentary examination concerns strength substantiation for the construction, its supports and their connections, as well as modifications and maintenance operations carried out.

The assessment of support trees is based on an appropriate arboricultural assessment, carried out by a competent professional, whose conclusions concerning the installation we examine.

A debriefing at the end of the assignment explains the observations and priority corrective actions.

We also share our analysis of the activity's risks on the inspected site, based on field experience and lessons from varied installations and settings.

This discussion focuses in particular on situations and risks not explicitly covered by standards, so that we can discuss areas requiring attention and improvement measures suited to the site.

Following our assignment, we provide:

• An inspection certificate.

• A summary of priority findings.

• A detailed inspection report in PDF format.

Our safety opinion concerns the assignment's scope. A favourable opinion is subject to resolving findings that compromise safety and providing the substantiation needed to reach a conclusion.

For the documentary examination, we request:

• The manufacturer's documentation, including drawings and operating, inspection and maintenance instructions.

• Structural calculation reports and strength substantiation for the construction, supports, connections and access routes.

• The arboricultural assessment of support trees, updated in accordance with the recommendations of the professional responsible for monitoring them.

• Previous inspection reports, with follow-up of corrective actions.

• Monitoring records for upkeep and maintenance operations specified by the manufacturer.

• Documents concerning modifications, repairs or changes of use of the installation.

• Additional substantiation specific to the fixing and protective systems used.

The list is specified when defining the assignment, according to the construction and selected references.

Work must be complete. The treehouse, its access routes and structural parts to be examined must be accessible, particularly beneath platforms and at connections to supports.

Any necessary clearance or dismantling must be arranged in advance.

A person familiar with the installation accompanies the inspector during the assignment.