Abstract: System 1 for positioning a functional platform 5 at an elevated position relative to external walls of a building 2, such as to allow surveying or maintaining the building 2. The system 1 includes an elongate, flexible element 10, a carriage 4 mountable to the flexible element 10 and operable to move along the flexible element 10, the carriage 4 configured to suspend the functional platform 5 operatively below the carriage 4, and a pair of support assemblies 6. Each support assembly 6 includes a mount 14 configured to be fixed to the building 2 to define a position axis 7, and an elongate support member 13 configured to connect to the mount 14 to be rotatable about the position axis, the support member 13 defining a free end 11 configured to support the flexible element 10. The system 1 also includes a retraction mechanism engageable with the flexible element 10 and operable to retract and tension the flexible element 10 between the support members 13.