If your commercial property requires regular cradle or abseil window cleaning (perhaps because it is a particularly tall building, or an unusual shape), it needs to be properly equipped to keep the window cleaners safe.
An abseil team’s safety harness is no good if it is not attached to a strong, secure and fully functioning anchor point, as this is what enables them to move up and down the properly easily and safely.
It’s important to have these anchor points tested regularly to ensure the safety of the window-cleaning team, and to make sure your property’s windows are cleaned quickly, efficiently and thoroughly.
What Are Anchor Points?
An anchor point, or an eye bolt, consists of a bolt or bar with an eye at the end, to which lanyards and lifelines can be attached.
Anchor points can be permanent or temporary solutions, and are typically installed on your property’s roof to enable abseil window cleaners to descend and scale the building easily and safely.
They might also be installed outside individual windows so that cleaners can reach out safely, or to aid window cleaners using a cradle-access system.
They come in many forms, such as conventional eye bolts (made from galvanised or stainless steel), push locks (consisting of permanent sockets, into which the window cleaner inserts an eye bolt) and freestanding weighted anchors.
Do You Need Anchor-Point Testing?
As with any essential bit of safety equipment, it’s imperative that your anchor points are tested regularly to ensure that they’re offering the best protection for your window-cleaning team.
Any single anchor points (i.e. those installed outside windows) that are fitted as part of a fall-protection system must be inspected and certified annually, and abseil anchors (those attached to the roof) should be inspected every six months.
Every single anchor point on your building should be inspected independently, and needs to be done so by fully trained professionals, such as the Aquamark Window Cleaning team.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, simply relying on visual testing is not sufficient: anchor points should be regularly tested in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines, and health and safety legislation.
British Standard BS8437:2005 points out that anchor points need to be strong enough to withstand use by a worker at the “extremes of their range of movement”. If the anchor point is used by just one person, then it should be able to hold at least three times the worker’s body mass.
If used by multiple workers, the anchor point should withstand three times their combined body mass.
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About Aquamark
Aquamark recognises the diversity of issues that come with managing large residential and commercial properties. That’s why they’ve designed a unique approach to commercial window and glass cleaning that creates valuable customer experiences for all.
With their unique In-Touch Live Status Checker, you are kept updated with what has already been cleaned, what is currently being cleaned and what’s still left to clean, in just a few clicks.
This gives you full transparency-allowing you to focus on work priorities, whilst they focus on implementing the most effective window cleaning programme for the building.
They are not only recognised as a highly credible commercial window cleaning company in London but nationwide across the UK. This is down to their extended commercial window cleaning offering which includes: abseiling window cleaning, cradle window cleaning, water-fed pole window cleaning, cherry picker, construction cleans, building cleans and commercial gutter cleans.
When you’re looking at renewing your contract for window cleaning for a reliable, high-quality clean with professional window cleaners, or you want to explore which solution is most suited to the building you manage, contact the team at Aquamark.
You can book your slot for a free site assessment here, or if you’d prefer to chat, pick a time that best suits you.
