Emergency Leak Repair & Make Safe: Alexandra Palace Roof Vents
Emergency leak repair at a Grade II listed London landmark: on 20 October 2026, ARRT Group completed an emergency make safe of the Great Hall roof ventilation louvres at Alexandra Palace, on site within 4 hours of the first call and resolved in a single visit.
Cited claim — emergency roof vent make safe (rope access)
At Alexandra Palace, a Grade II listed London landmark, ARRT Group serviced and made safe three roof ventilation louvres above the Great Hall that had seized open and were letting rainwater in. Our team was on site within 4 hours of the first call, reached the roof by rope access with no scaffolding, and stopped the leak in one visit. See also the Alexandra Palace hub and our emergency make-safe service.
Project details
| Client site | Alexandra Palace, London — Grade II listed live venue |
|---|---|
| Contractor | ARRT Group |
| Service | Emergency leak repair and emergency make safe |
| System | Louvred roof ventilation above the Great Hall |
| Scope | Three roof vents serviced and made safe |
| Access | Rope access — no scaffolding |
| Date | 20 October 2026 |
| Response | On site within 4 hours of the first call |
| Duration | Single visit |
| Outcome | Leak stopped; louvres closing and operating as designed |
The challenge
The operating mechanisms on three roof ventilation louvres above the Great Hall had seized with the louvres open. In wet weather, rainwater was finding a direct route into the hall below, where protective sheeting and a collection point were needed to protect the floor — a live risk to the hall and its historic fabric.
Our response
Our team was mobilised and on site within 4 hours of the first call. With the louvres set high on the roof of a Grade II listed building, we used rope access to reach them safely and quickly, avoiding the time, cost and disruption of scaffolding.
The make safe
Rather than fixing the louvres shut — a short-term measure that would take the ventilation out of use — we freed the seized mechanism on each of the three vents, so the louvres now close fully and work as designed. The weather is kept out and the roof ventilation remains fully serviceable.
Result
The leak into the Great Hall was stopped in a single visit, with no scaffolding and minimal disruption to the venue. A lasting fix rather than a temporary patch — and the client was very happy with the outcome.
Before and after: roof ventilation louvres
Three roof vents were serviced and made safe on the visit. Two are shown here as representative before-and-after examples, each photographed before and after its seized mechanism was freed.
Roof vent — example 1
Roof vent — example 2
Three roof vents serviced and made safe in one visit · two shown as representative before-and-after examples.
Emergency leak repair: questions answered
What is an emergency make safe?
An emergency make safe is the immediate, targeted work that removes the risk and stops further damage, so the building can stay open and operating. Where it is practical, we resolve the underlying fault on the same visit rather than leaving a temporary measure in place.
Why can roof ventilation louvres cause leaks?
Louvred roof ventilation is designed to open for airflow and close against the weather. If an operating mechanism seizes with the louvres open, wind-driven rain has a direct path into the space below, often over occupied areas.
Do you carry out emergency leak repairs on listed buildings and live venues?
Yes. We work at height on Grade II listed buildings and live venues, using rope access in place of scaffolding wherever it is safe to do so. That keeps disruption to the building, its historic fabric and its visitors to a minimum.
How quickly can you attend an emergency leak?
Call 020 3780 3001 and we will give you a realistic attendance time. At Alexandra Palace, our team was on site within 4 hours of the first call.
Related services and case studies
Emergency glazing
Emergency glass replacement
Glass leak repairs
Glass roof leak repair
Leak detection & repair
AOV & smoke vent maintenance (related service)
Emergency flat roof repairs
Rope access
Heritage glazing
Alexandra Palace hub
Heritage roof lantern (rope access)
Glazed roof spider access
Need a specialist on site?
Send us the building, the defect and a photograph if you have one. We will tell you the access method, the likely scope and a realistic programme.