Window cleaning: A high rise business deal

 

Tasting success in the competitive market is still an uphill task

 

 
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Window cleaning: A high rise business deal
 

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.

Window cleaning in the Middle East region is something totally different from other parts of the world as the cleaners have to face rough weather under scorch sun. In addition to this, they have to cope with wind waves, while hanging in the air with the support of suspended ropes tied from the roof of skyliners. Window cleaning methods vary right from skyliners to normal commercial and institutional premises as size matters a lot in this segment. However, courage and professional services matter a lot for cleaning high rise buildings. The major companies engaged in window cleaning for high rise building include Power Group, Grako, Cleanco, to name a few.

Competition

Like any other industry vertical, the competition is taking place in the window cleaning segment as well. The recent recovery is pushing many new projects in construction, hospitality, tourism, retail segments, etc. This is further creating more demand for window cleaning companies. Naturally, the growing demand is attracting new players into the window cleaning segment. However, the established players are shrugging off the emerging competition from new entrants.

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

The growing demand for window cleaning in the Middle East region is also drawing attention of equipment manufacturers from the western part of the world. Cleaning equipment manufacturers such as Baudoin, Ionic, Unger, IPC, Brodex, are focusing on the region’s market.

Baudoin

Netherlands-based Baudoin Wash Systems is offering modern equipment for window cleaning. The company is a leading player in the field of Wash-Systems for both outdoor and indoor window and façade cleaning. The Indoor Clean Pole is an innovative product from the company. The system offers an ergonomical and practical solution for the cleaning of all kinds of vertically and horizontally placed glass, windows and other smooth surfaces inside a building, object or boat, which are difficult to reach for window-cleaners i.e. when desks, small cases or equipment are placed in front of a window. When chemicals are used, a lot of water is required to wash off the chemicals. The use of pure water saves cleaning companies a lot of money on water and chemicals.

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.
 
The Carbo Clean Pole Wash Systems are built-in in for outdoor window cleaning. For instance, it can be fitted onto trailers, commercial vans and tower wagons or are placed as a solid installation in or on a building. Dependent of the demands and wishes of our customer a final system will emerge. The company is very flexible and able to deliver customized systems as it manufactures these systems independently.

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.
 
Baudoin’s window cleaning tools are equipped with water units, which make water free of minerals and metals. Nautic Cleaning Water is water free of lime, minerals, metals, bacteria or algae. Therefore this water has an extreme cleaning effect on the filthy surfaces of your boat. Drying after washing is a thing of the past when you use Nautic Cleaning Water. The explanation is simple, without soap, lime, etc in the water nothing stays behind during the drying up. The capacity of water systems ranges from 300 litres per hour to 2,200 litres per hour. Among the brands we carry are Soren, Unger, Wagtail, Vermop, etc.

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 is a range of products being offered from the US-based IPC Eagle in the Middle East region. The IPC High Pure range includes Green Tube GTO, GTE, High Pure HPO, HPB, HPE, HPG, in addition to modular poles, telescopic poles and speed brush. The extendable pole of this cleaning system enables glass and façade cleaning up to 14 meters in heights.

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?

The mineral free water provides incredible cleaning action and spot free windows without using chemical. It keeps windows cleaner longer leaving no residue or build up on the surface.
HighPure machines are supplied with filter set including sediment filter, active carbon filter, reverse osmosis membrance, deionizing resin catridge. The 30-metre hose to take the pure water with flow regulation valve will also be provided along with the equipment. There would be another hose to facilitate the waste water to flow from the reverse osmosis membrane.

Brodex

The UK-based Brodex offers window cleaning services. All of Brodex’s window cleaners are fully insured. On average, the company, as it claims, saves over 40 per cent of the total cleaning costs for its customers as it uses safe and reliable system. By using the very latest in pole cleaning systems, it’s able to access and clean windows safely in excess of 65 feet making it by far the safest and most cost effective cleaning method with excellent results. The company window cleaning process is totally environment-friendly and no chemicals are used.
 

Vertical challenge

Window cleaning of high rise buildings involves high risk of life as well. If it’s neglected for even a second, the error will cost lives of cleaners. The window cleaning for high rise building is not only high risk involved, but also scary when there’s wind. Making cleaners’ life and job vulnerable, the strong winds are a common feature in GCC.

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.
 
The regular inspections by government officials will also keep the cleaning companies alert on safety standards. The date and results of the last inspections should also be mentioned on the cradle ensuring the quality and strength of cradle and ropes. Experts say that the use of a suspended cradle is the safest option for window cleaning of high-rise buildings. The municipality’s health and safety department has set up a special section to oversee maintenance companies, but it is still under development, according to an official.

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

Normally, three methods are in practice for the window cleaning. The ‘Telescopic Ladder,’ ‘Rope Access’ and ‘Reach and Wash’ methods are in practice for the window cleaning. The telescopic ladder enables cleaners to reach considerably high of medium size buildings even the longest as its easily portable triple extensive mechanism will only tend to achieve a maximum reach of around 14.5 metres (approximately 47 and a half feet). However, the problem involves in this method is the temptation to over-reach when using a ladder to clean taller structures. Chances are that it can also have dire consequences in terms of increasing the possibility of a fall.

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 considered to be speedy and cost effective method of carrying out all types of cleaning works particularly window cleaning for high rise buildings. Rope access technique is a very simple and efficient means of access to be in situation where more costly means of access wouldn’t be considered, e.g, scaffolding and mobile work platforms. In the time taken to erect scaffold, that window cleaning task could have been completed utilising rope access techniques and minimizing the amount of disruption to the surrounding area. Building scaffolding for window cleaning of high rise building is somehow not feasible as well.

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.