If you are the owner or manager of a high rise building such as a hotel, resort, office block, shopping center or university you will appreciate the value of clean windows and the importance of a well-maintained building.
High rise window cleaning is a specialized field where experts use specialized equipment to access and clean the windows of tall buildings. Cleaning high rise buildings windows are very different from residential jobs and there are many factors to consider. These include how access to the windows will be facilitated, public spaces below such as parking lots and any potential hazards as well as weather conditions and actual building design will affect the amount of time that is needed to clean the windows.
High rise window cleaning is considered high risk and in order to reduce the risk of injury to any patrons below, every piece of equipment that is used to clean the windows is attached by a clip or lanyard to the people cleaning the windows. This prevents any equipment from accidentally falling to the ground and injuring anyone below.
Considering the risks involved, it’s important to make sure you use the services of professional high-rise window cleaner, someone who is reputable, specializes in commercial buildings and has the industry experience to produce quality results. When you schedule the initial consultation with your High-Rise Window Cleaning Service provider ask them a few questions before they start such as
- Do they have WorkCover accreditations for construction site safety, elevated platform work and work safety at heights? High rise window cleaning is considered a high-risk occupation and employees are therefore governed by stringent safety procedures and standards that are set out by the Workplace Health and Safety Administration. All high-rise window cleaning employees must be insured and commit to annual and comprehensive safety training.
- Do they prepare Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and a JSA’s prior to commencing? You will want assurances that all patrons that frequent your building while work is taking place are protected including those cleaning your windows.
- Do they provide no obligation free quotes? The quote stage is an early indication of how the company will conduct themselves professionally and how thorough their window cleaning services might be. After all, if they are not meticulous at this stage, they will likely not take the extra care and time for your windows.
- Does their cleaning service include removing paint, silicone, and concrete? A quality service provider will use products that effectively remove any salt residue, dust, pollen, and hard water stains. Some companies may even offer to restore scratched or damaged glass. Be sure to ask if the company offers interior window cleaning as part of their services as some high-rise window cleaners only focus on cleaning the exterior windows.
High rise window cleaners will also use specific tools appropriate for the height, size, and different types of windows. Windows on hospitals, office blocks and commercial facilities traditionally can only be reached with specialized aerial access equipment such as powerlifts, bosun chairs, and suspended rigging platforms. In addition, high rise window cleaners will use products that are effective in removing grime, dust, salt residue, pollen and suborn water stains. These products are designed to leave the windows clean, clear and free of squeegee streaks or soap marks.
High rise window cleaning is a preventative maintenance measure and should be done at least twice a year. In the case of brand-new buildings, we often see the window sealant cause stains which become etched into the glass and cannot be removed. We, therefore, recommend windows are cleaned up to four times in their first year of construction and then twice a year thereafter.
While the industry is saturated with ads for commercial window cleaning services, sadly not all have the correct equipment and properly trained cleaners to do high rise cleaning safely effectively and efficiently. It helps to scrutinize the service provider carefully before committing to a service.