High level cleaning to the highest standards

The skylines of our towns and cities seem to change constantly and modern buildings bring a number and range of challenges to those responsible for cleaning and maintaining them. Not only are new materials being used, but there is quite rightly a focus on making sure work at height can be carried out safely.

New methods of window cleaning, and other working at height operations, that are safer and more technically advanced have been developed following the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (and the 2007 Amendment). 

Once the job for a man with a bucket, sponge and a ladder, modern window cleaning for office buildings, shopping centres, sports stadiums and the like now requires operatives with specialist skills, training and equipment. 

 

Using advanced methods to work at height 

Water-fed pole systems which can work up to 20 metres in height (that’s about six floors) are normally the best option for cleaning at height. This means that windows, UPVC, facades, glass roofs, panelling and cladding can all be cleaned more easily, effectively and safely without having to leave the ground. 

Rushing up and down a ladder, and moving the ladder from window to window, is a thing of the past, with the added benefit of increased privacy and reduced disturbance for building occupants. Statistically many accidents occur while ladders are being used; however, this is usually due to poor training of users and poor maintenance of equipment rather than them being inherently dangerous.

Saving money and the environment

It is far more cost effective to clean from the ground and simply move the water-fed pole and hose to the next set of windows. Carbon fibre poles are much lighter and quicker to move than a ladder and take up less space while cleaning is in progress.

Traditionally window cleaning for large buildings required thousands of litres of pure water to be delivered to the site. Modern window cleaning is carried out using water that has passed through a compact, portable, sophisticated filtration system – preventing smearing and reducing the risk of algae growing on window panes. Not having to transport water reduces the financial and environmental cost. This method also means the use of chemicals is eliminated. 

Other advances

Like most industries, people are always looking to innovate and improve window cleaning. Heated pole systems have been developed to prevent water from freezing in cold conditions, but these are still a relatively new concept and will need more work to gain universal approval, as they can be costly and their effectiveness is not yet proven. 

Ask the experts

Water fed poles can be used on 95% of buildings, but for a minority of buildings, including those more than 20 meters tall, a pole system is inappropriate. For these buildings, highly trained operatives can use technically-advanced suspended-access equipment, such as cradles, mobile elevated work platforms, temporary scaffolds and rope access to enable cleaning and maintenance to be carried out safely. CAM's specialist operatives are fully trained in the use of access equipment for the cleaning of high-level areas. 

CAM Abseiling specialises in a range of rope access services – often the only way of gaining access without causing damage or disruption – for cleaning and maintenance at height and in awkward spaces. Its Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) trained rope access team can access all types of structures and buildings, internally and externally. Whatever your high level project, when determining the most appropriate method to be used you should always consult a specialist in working at height.