By Sreenivasa Rao
Despite several challenges in window cleaning particularly for high rise structures, the Middle East region is witnessing growing business interest in this segment as cleaning companies are making a beeline to provide cleaning services. Window cleaning for high rise buildings is not a cake walk for cleaning companies, but the companies are confidently coming forward to take up this uphill task to stay afloat in the competitive market.
Competition
Ruling out the impact of increasing competition in the market, Mohamed Jahir Hussian, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Power Group, says: “The competition in this industry is becoming intense as new and new small companies are opened every now and then. However, these companies have not impacted us as our market segment is totally focussed on the market, which demands quality and environment-friendly services.” As GCC governments across the region have embarked on massive spending programmes of construction across different industry verticals, the demand for cleaning and facility management services has started gaining the momentum in the region. As part of its expansion plan, Power Group has also opened branch offices in Qatar and Kuwait.
“The infrastructure including airports, roadways, parking, ports and railways apart from the rapid construction activity have resulted in a great demand for our industry. Then our industry rose to the occasion answering the growing needs for management of properties and the concrete assets. Though the property market is yet to mature, facilities management services segment emerged as an industry that is growing across the GCC countries. Most notably across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where the scale of investment across the construction sector continues to be the largest in their region,” explains Hussian.
Product range
Baudoin
The main unit of the wash system is called Aqua force pure water filtration which filters tap water by means of seven different filters to eliminate 99% of contaminates such as existing minerals, lime, metals and bacteria to achieve pure water which is used as the only medium for cleaning. These filter units are available in permanent as well as mobile units in filtration capacities ranging from 100 to 2000 liters per hour.
Carbo Clean Pole Wash System which is mainly used for outdoor cleaning using pure water generated by the filtration units. The ergonomically shaped carbon pole has a length of 1.5 m to which a cleaning brush is connected and pure water is fed through the hose attached to the brush which in turn releases the water to clean. The strong carbon poles are extremely light even when extended with another 8 poles to reach a height of 13.5 m, weighing only 4.3 kilos which enables a person to maneuver it easily. The system has a wide range of accessories such as brushes to reach the unreachable and difficult areas.
Unger
Unger company is offering window cleaning kits, washers and belt system in the global market. Ergo Tec Double Holster comes with two front loop hold tools. These loop holds such as squeegees, etc, made of leather and easily attaches to belt with heavy-duty metal snaps. another product is ‘Bucket On A Belt.’ It keeps tools accessible at the cleaner side. The product is available in two versions. The new version holds two squeegees, strip washer and scraper for left or right handed use. The ‘Classic’ version holds one squeegee, strip washer and scraper. For right handed use only. Both versions come with a sturdy quick release strap for easy removal from belt and hold half quarter of cleaning liquid. By using a BucketOnaBelt hands are left free for the real work. Annoying, tiresome climbing up and down a ladder are eliminated. They even fasten to a ladder quickly and easily with the quick release strap.
Micro Strip Washer Strip Pac from the Michigan-based Unger is professional-grade equipment for every cleaning job. This Micro Strip Washer Pac enables new user to clean like a professional.
IPC High Pure
IPC High Pure and Green Tube range machines come with HPO 4 stage purification system, electric pump water hardness meter and filter set with 30mt flexible hose. The HighPure is a water purifier with four filter stages. Sediment filter would remove all solid particles larger than five micron. Active carbon filter remove chlorine, which otherwise damage the reverse osmosis membrane. The overall system will ensure the osmotic deionized water produced is 100 per cent pure.
Why Pure Water?
Brodex
Vertical challenge
The other side of the coin is not equally rosy as far as safety standards are concerned. The frequent accidents in the window cleaning industry are showing the lack of safety measures in practice. Recently, four cleaners were killed in different incidents in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, while cleaning windows at high rise buildings. Some companies not even report to the authorities concerned leaving some incidents under dark. Though some companies have adopted stringent safety measures and provided sufficient professional training to the cleaners, many companies ignore the safety features.Experts advise that window cleaners should always be attached with a lifeline to the building. If anything happens, the lifeline will save the life. However, safety of the equipment is important too and there are extensive guidelines on how this safety can be achieved.
However, the real problem is how to ensure the cleaning company selects a maintenance company that uses the safety equipment according to the government’s procedures. Generally, cleaning companies usually rent their cradles from maintenance companies. As the high rise building cleaning involves life risk, companies gives utmost priority to train the new recruits, even they are experienced, to complete the entire training programme schedule. Surviving on huge volume at the cost of quality will not work in cleaning segment as the end result is reflected from the customer satisfaction. No company can afford bad reputation as it can never be repaired.
Telescopic Ladder / Rope Access / Reach and Wash Method
A much more convenient, efficient, and ultimately safer window cleaning method for larger buildings is that of Reach and Wash window cleaning. The Reach and Wash window cleaning equipment consists of a long pole, which also acts as an effective conduit for the transfer of water, and other cleaning liquids coupled with a detachable cleaning head. The latest Reach and Wash cleaning tools are capable of reaching over 24 metres (80 feet). The Reach and Wash method can also have the advantage of being cost effective for the customer. Reach and wash system uses pure water. All that’s left after the cleaning are the pure water droplets which do not leave any marks. With pure water, the windows, claddings, etc. remain cleaner longer as compared to cleaning with detergent and water considering the heat and humidity in the region.
The Rope Access method is also known as abseiling cleaning. It’s been widely in used for skyliners. For even taller buildings, the use of rope access cleaning is considered to be highly effective and efficient method of cleaning windows. The cleaning companies in the Middle East region use this method particularly for high rise buildings. Window cleaners using this method, however, must be thoroughly and professionally trained and must also be certified by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). Cleaning at heights is always an intimidating and demanding chore. Further, the damp and dusty environmental and climatic conditions exacerbate the challenge.
Rope access is more efficient and economical than building ferries, cranes or baskets. For executing such works, we are using the professional, approved equipment of the world’s leading companies. Cleaning companies involved in window cleaning for high rise buildings should adhere to IRATA standards. The low-tech window washers may not be superheroes, but they are nearly superhuman in what they’re doing at hundreds of metres high. Suspended from single and thumb-thick ropes, they hang like spiders scores of meters in the air, cleaning the high-rise windows.