Yes. Water-fed pole cleaning keeps the cleaner on the ground instead of up a ladder, uses only purified water and reaches up to around four storeys, which makes it one of the safest ways to clean office windows.
Why working from the ground matters
Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of serious injury at work. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 say work should not be done at height where it can reasonably be done safely another way.
A water-fed pole is that other way for most offices. The cleaner stands in the car park or on the path and the brush does the climbing.
What about the water?
The water is mains water run through a purifier that removes the minerals. Pure water dissolves dirt and dries without leaving spots, so no detergent is needed. Nothing goes down your drains except clean water.
Is it safe for the building?
The brush is soft and the water is plain, so it is gentle on glass, frames, seals and powder-coated aluminium. Run-off is clean water, which is kinder to planters and paving than a bucket of soapy water.
What to check before you book
Ask how high they can reach on your building, not in general. Ask what they need from you: parking, access to the back elevation, any time restrictions. And ask what is not included, so there are no surprises on the first invoice.
How high can it reach on an office?
On most office buildings we reach up to around four storeys from the ground. The real limit is often access rather than height: how close the cleaner can stand, whether there is a canopy, planting or a car park in the way, and whether there are overhead cables nearby. Those are checked on the site survey.
For glass we cannot reach from the ground, we say so clearly, rather than stretching the kit beyond what is safe.
Does it disturb people working inside?
Hardly at all. There is no ladder against the window and no one at eye level outside the glass, just a brush moving quietly across it. Most staff barely notice. Inside glass is a different job, done by hand at a time agreed with the office.
What about slips and trips outside?
Hoses are run along walls and away from entrances, and paths are left clear for staff and visitors. The water that runs off is clean, but it can make paving wet for a short time, so busy entrances are often cleaned before the office opens.
Does it work on all types of office glass?
It works on almost all modern office glass, including double glazing, tinted panes, toughened glass and powder-coated aluminium frames. Purified water leaves no detergent residue, which is kinder to coatings and seals. Glass with film on the outside, very old glass and anything damaged is checked on the survey and treated with extra care, or left alone if cleaning could make it worse.
Source: the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Source: HSE guidance on work at height.
Quick questions
Does pole cleaning work as well as a ladder and squeegee?
On outside glass, yes. The brush also cleans the frames and sills, which a squeegee alone does not.
Can it be done while we are working?
Yes. It is quiet and there is no one outside the windows on a ladder. Some offices still prefer early mornings.
