One of the largest privately owned home improvement businesses in the South East is said to be increasingly turning to Stronghold, an internal safety system designed to keep installations moving safely and efficiently when traditional scaffold simply isn’t an option.

Romford-based Crystal Windows and Doors has seen Stronghold transform how it approaches complex window installations where external access is restricted or impossible.

“We first came across Stronghold when we had a window install job where scaffold couldn’t be used, but we still needed to fully comply with the Work at Height Regulations,” explained Peter Fox, health and safety officer at Crystal Windows and Doors. “There was a clear risk of a fall from height, and I needed a solution that was demonstrably safe.”

Stronghold allows trained operatives to carry out window repairs and installations entirely from inside the building. The system is designed to be assembled in under 10 minutes by two operatives, safely spans openings of up to 5m, and supports up to three engineers at once. Secure anchor points provide unrestricted movement while maintaining full harness protection.

After visiting Stronghold founder and owner Daniel Cheddie’s showroom to see the system first-hand, Peter was impressed. “Daniel set the system up and walked me through exactly where it can be used, how it’s certified and the training required. It’s versatile, lightweight and extremely strong, and it ticked every box for us.”

Following some training, Crystal’s teams began using Stronghold regularly. “We are now hiring the system more and more and the fitters are happy using it,” said Peter.

Crucially, Stronghold is also reported to be delivering significant commercial benefits. “Scaffolding on small installations can cost £600 to £1,000, and in some cases we’ve even had to cancel jobs because neighbours wouldn’t allow scaffold to be erected,” added Peter. “Stronghold eliminates those issues. It shortens lead times, it avoids upsetting customers, and we’ve had zero complaints about using it inside their homes.”

“Stronghold exists for those moments when scaffold just isn’t viable, but safety can’t be compromised,” said Daniel Cheddie. “Seeing companies like Crystal rely on it to keep projects moving, protect their teams and improve customer satisfaction is why I developed the system.”

Peter added: “We don’t refuse jobs anymore because there’s no safe means of working at height. Stronghold is a clear benefit to our business, and the support from Daniel has been first class.”