eandg Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Working through warrant issues identified by our building control officer and one that may have been a bit of an oversight on my part is complying with the (Scottish) requirement for cleaning windows and roof lights. We have a tall window which is approximately 4.8m above a half landing in the stairway. We also have five rooflights but I think these are just within the 4m limit. From my meeting of the Regs I need to find some way of cleaning the top of the window which complies with BS8213 (which is available online but only behind paywalls). Any thoughts/advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Water fed pole with a brush on the end? Pretty common. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eandg Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 1 hour ago, Onoff said: Water fed pole with a brush on the end? Pretty common. Yep - that's how you'd do it in practice but does that comply with regs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Borrow the regs from your library, if your local library does not have it they should get it on an inter library loan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 We had this in our warrant application and plans "High level windows to be clean via water fed pole system to be ratained with the property or by a professional window cleaning company (this does not remove the requirement for the water fed pole system). Water fed pole system will allow for the windows to be cleaned from a solid load bearing surface. Any openable windows are to be fully reversible in order to be cleaned from inside the property. Rooflights 1800mm above ground or floor level need not be designed to be safety cleaned." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMo Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) This kit is a 4.5m pole. https://www.ungerglobal.com/uk/products/stingray-indoor-cleaning-kit-450-os Not cheap, but in theory would give a 6.5m + reach., So give s tick in the box for internal Window cleaning. External can be by ladder or wet pole as above suggestions Edited January 19, 2022 by JohnMo Missed word Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eandg Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 3 minutes ago, Ralph said: We had this in our warrant application and plans "High level windows to be clean via water fed pole system to be ratained with the property or by a professional window cleaning company (this does not remove the requirement for the water fed pole system). Water fed pole system will allow for the windows to be cleaned from a solid load bearing surface. Any openable windows are to be fully reversible in order to be cleaned from inside the property. Rooflights 1800mm above ground or floor level need not be designed to be safety cleaned." Thanks - sounds exactly what I'm after without having the BSs to hand. Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 The only thing with a water fed pole system is that the professional kit doesn't use "normal" tap water. The cheapo ones you just attach to your hose tap. They use variations on de-ionised water or a reverse osmosis system. Ordinary tap water can and does streak. That's the systems that just use water and no detergent. Imho, if you can get to the glass it's Fairy Liquid in a bucket with a dolly and squeegee. Microfibre cloth to pick up any runs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassanclan Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Say they have been fitted with Pilkington Aktiv self cleaning glass! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 21 minutes ago, bassanclan said: Say they have been fitted with Pilkington Aktiv self cleaning glass! ...even get some stickers printed up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recoveringbuilder Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 1 hour ago, JohnMo said: This kit is a 4.5m pole. https://www.ungerglobal.com/uk/products/stingray-indoor-cleaning-kit-450-os Not cheap, but in theory would give a 6.5m + reach., So give s tick in the box for internal Window cleaning. External can be by ladder or wet pole as above suggestions Really don’t see how this works? Manual won’t open for further details but how do you clean windows without water. I’m only asking because we have 6m cathedral windows which I have attempted to clean with my long window brush, had to remove curtains blinds etc and put down towels to catch the water but in my experience the longer the pole is the harder it is to manoeuvre, I think this one would really only be any good for dusting them down not properly cleaning them, I would love to be proved wrong because we ended up having to hire a scaffold tower to go up and clean the windows properly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billt Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 The manual says that it has a small tank attached to the brush with a battery powered pump that sprays cleaning fluid in the centre of the brush head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Karcher do an extension pole for their window vac. I don't think it's massively long but I'm sure you could rig something up with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) 11 hours ago, eandg said: BS8213 I've put Building Standards Technical Handbook Scotland April 2021 on my OneDrive for you. It is covered under 4.8.3, it doesn't cover telescopic brush poles for example but you will not encounter any issues. Internally, the same scenario applies, you'll comply. Edited January 19, 2022 by craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recoveringbuilder Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 20 minutes ago, Ralph said: Karcher do an extension pole for their window vac. I don't think it's massively long but I'm sure you could rig something up with it. I did think about that but the karcher is quite heavy and I can’t see the extension pole being much good, the trouble with all these things is you have to buy before you try, believe me I know, I have a cupboard full of things that promised to do things that they never did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eandg Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 40 minutes ago, craig said: I've put Building Standards Technical Handbook Scotland April 2021 on my OneDrive for you. It is covered under 4.8.3, it doesn't cover telescopic brush poles for example but you will not encounter any issues. Internally, the same scenario applies, you'll comply. Thanks Craig - it's the method statement of how I comply with the standard which I need but hopefully Ralph's above does so and doesn't necessitate any redesign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now