At VIP Building Services we are often found on the outside looking in at your building.

Sometimes this perspective helps us see opportunities for improvement and safety measures to improve your facilities and limit your liabilities.

Depending on your type of facility the holiday season often includes setup and teardown of specialty lighting, decorations, party rooms, food and beverage and many other non-traditional building operations. The facilities are “on display” and utilized by groups within and without your normal control.

If you didn’t learn your lesson from Clark Griswold, holiday decorating can be dangerous. Last year, an estimated 13,000 people in the US were hurt involving holiday decorations.

That’s up from 10,000 in 2007.

Electrically Challenged

At VIP we can help you provide a safe and clean environment to maximize the safety of your facility both before and after the holidays. The VIP Building Services team can provide cleaning and high dusting for interior and exterior areas, power washing of walkways and party areas, and dozens of other services to insure that you have the safest possible holiday season.

I-14 Safety Compliance

The window cleaning business could also be referred to as the building access business. Anyone can put soap on glass and wipe it off, but few have the expertise to safely and effectively access the outside of high-rise buildings, while complying with all pertinent codes and standards.

Let one of our VIP experts stop by for a free consultation. You’ll be glad you did.

By the way the smudge on the window that we can’t seem to remove is on your side!

Provided that key best practices are thoroughly incorporated into vendor contracts and standard operating procedure language, this credit is not difficult to achieve, but still requires a level of expertise to effectively create the plan and methodology.

The requirements are for the implementation of a plan for:

 Maintenance equipment

 Snow / ice removal

 Cleaning of building exterior

 Exterior paints and sealants

 Cleaning of sidewalks, pavement and other hardscape

Although we certainly don’t have too much to worry about with Snow and Ice removal in Metro Phoenix, operating sustainably with regards to maintenance equipment, the processes by which exterior building surfaces are cleaned and serviced, can have significant adverse environmental effects if not properly performed.

Many organizations already employ at least some practices which can help with compliance, and VIP Building Services can support your sustainability initiatives with specific focus on this Credit.

For more information please visit www.vbsaz.com

Solar PV is often hyped as requiring virtually no maintenance

Solar clouding, also known as panel soiling, has been proven to reduce the generating output from photovoltaic (PV) installations. All PV manufactures recommend regular cleaning. Solar clouding directly reduces the generating efficiency of PV modules. The economic benefit of increased production greatly outweighs the cost of periodic maintenance of the PV panel surface.

According to the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), PV electricity output will decline approximately 10% due to accumulation of dirt, dust, and other residues. Research cited by SEPA indicates that PV electricity generation will decline 15-20% in areas where bird droppings, urban pollution or dust from farming operations are common. Annual or bi-annual cleaning of panel surfaces eliminates these efficiency losses.

“The proper procedures for performing solar system cleaning have largely been ignored by most system operators because they are not familiar with National Fire Protection Agency’s recommended practices for electrical equipment maintenance,” said Rich O’Connell. “This includes the safety aspect of protecting employees who are spraying water and chemicals on energized solar electrical systems. General liability concerns along with the lost revenue from shutting down a system makes assigning this maintenance task to untrained resources a distinct risk.

For more information please visit www.vbsaz.com

The International Window Cleaning Association is the resource for the most up-to-date safety standards and other regulations.

The ANSI/IWCA I-14 is an American National Standard published in 2001. The intent of the I-14 Standard is to improve the level of safety in the window cleaning industry. The 1-14 Standard provides safety guidelines that benefit building owners, managers and contractors. Safety in the workplace is a shared responsibility; by following the voluntary I-14 Standard, both lives and assets are protected.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration references the I-14 Standard in violations by window cleaning contractors of the OSHA Section 5(a) 1- General Duty Clause. In these citations, OSHA states that the violations could have been remedied if the contractor were following the requirements of the I-14 Standard.

The nature of the citations range from contractors needing to upgrade their equipment, improve their safety training and providing a written work plan to working with the building owner or manager with re-assessing the safety of the facility.

In a more significant case study, the I-14 Standard helped to eliminate the liability of a property manager after an accident occurred.

During the summer of 2005 in Massachusetts, a window cleaning company had scheduled the cleaning of a six story building’s windows a few weeks after they had submitted their work plan to the property management company. Part of that work plan included the documentation provided by the property management company which assured the window cleaner that the building had a certified roof anchor system and the system was recently inspected. The work plan also showed a diagram of the system and included documents verifying the window cleaners that would be on site were trained in the use of the equipment.

The crew arrived at the site and the supervisor went over the system one more time using the roof anchor layout posted on the roof door. The supervisor then left. The window cleaners then made the decision to not follow the plan by having one worker suspend from the portable rigging device and the other was going to push the device back and forth on the roof. The workers did not tie the device back nor did they use the anchors for safety line attachment. There was no parapet wall and as a result, the rig was pushed off the roof. One worker was killed and the other sustained permanent injuries.

In the federally filed lawsuit that followed, the attorneys for the workers claimed the building owner was negligent because they did not do enough to protect the workers from having the accident. The judge reviewed the case and dismissed the building owner because it was proven they did all they could and in accordance with the American National Standard for Window Cleaning Safety.

After reviewing the new I-14.1 Window Cleaning Safety Standard, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International applauded the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) for its commitment to finalizing a project that was five years in the making and ultimately won the approval of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

“We joined the IWCA I-14.1 Committee in November 1999 to support and develop a consistent and comprehensive national safety standard for window cleaning operations,” said BOMA President Sherwood Johnston, III. “As a member of the committee, BOMA sought to address safety in a manner that was fair, reasonable, achievable and cost effective, and in which safety regulations were based on reliable data and not marketing forces. I believe we’ve accomplished that through the approval of this window cleaning safety standard.”

BOMA and IWCA realize that each respective organization represents one of the two parties which are most affected by the I-14.1 Standard. This fact helped to define shared responsibilities for window cleaning safety by contractors and property managers.

Why you should hire an IWCA Safety Certified Window Cleaner
The International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) Safety Certification program provides education to help window cleaners work safer by training them in accordance with the safe work practices identified in the IWCA/ANSI I-14 Safety Standard.
As part of the IWCA Safety Certification program, window cleaners study all facets of window cleaning safe practices and equipment. They then must pass three preparatory exams, followed by a final in-person proctored exam. Upon passing the final exam, they will be recognized as being IWCA Safety Certified for five years before being required to renew their certification.
When you are contracting professional window cleaning services, choose one with the training needed to apply best practices and safe use of equipment at your building to protect you, your tenants, and the public.

More information can be found at http://www.iwca.org/

Every year the Monsoons hit the Greater Phoenix area typically within a day or two of my car being washed.    Each time they leave behind a mess of dirt and mud and  cars, streets, buildings and windows to be cleaned.

During July it is not uncommon to have several weeks of Monsoon weather so washing up is almost pointless.

At VIP we did a little research to find out when the average Monsoon season starts and ends.

Did you know that;

• The average start date of the Monsoon in Phoenix is July 7th
• The average end date  is September 13th

That is an average of over 8 weeks of Monsoon Madness!

The good news for locals is that it can cool things down a bit and also, most of us are impressed with the changes in weather and forces of Nature.  That being said we found a couple of other Monsoon facts that you may find interesting.

• The average date of the first break in the Monsoon is August 16th
• The wettest Monsoon on record occurred in 1984 with 9.38 inches of rain!

For a complete historical record of Monsoon activity for the State of Arizona try visiting this National Weather Service Site.

VIP Building Services understands your Monsoon cleaning needs and provides the best Results, Reliability and Value to get your Buildings ready for your customers with that  professional look and feel.  We will work with you to schedule cleanings on a regular basis or as needed during the crazy Monsoon Season.

Just for fun we found this high speed drive right into the big July 5th, 2011 Phoenix Monsoon. 

Talk about needing your windows cleaned.

Unsightly mineral deposits

Hard Water Removal is a good idea for routine and preventative maintenance cleanings; however, routine WILL NOT remedy damaged surfaces, and VIP’s Stain Removal Process must be used to remove pock marks and restore glass and frames.  Most companies that provide hard water removal utilize a technique called “acid washing” that typically consists of dangerous acids, such as Hydrofluoric, Hydrochloric, Phosphoric or Muratic to dissolve the mineral build-up.  Acids are not only dangerous to humans and the environment, they also dissolve the surface of the glass, causing burns and distortion.

VIP also offers structural pressure washing for building facades, stairwells, and awnings, as well as steam pressure washing for sidewalks and parking lots. Pressure washing may restore the look of the exterior fascia of a building without the need for repainting, saving thousands of dollars.  VIP Window Cleaning uses the latest in Pressure Washing Technology. We will safely remove dirt, mold and stubborn stains due to atmospheric pollution, bringing new life to your exterior surfaces. We specialize in the hard to reach places, utilizing advanced rigging techniques and aerial lifts to reach where others cannot.

If you can’t remember the last time you scheduled a thorough building cleaning, it’s probably time.  Call VIP today and let us handle the details – 480-929-9400 or contact VIP online.

Window Cleaning- A large part of what we do is windows. Window cleaning has been referred to as the building access business. Although standard window cleaning may be fairly simple, the training and expertise involved in multi-story and high-rise operations are much more technical and complex.  VIP utilizes various methods to access a building: stage platform, rope descent systems, lifts, water-fed poles, ladders and extension poles. VIP performs commercial and industrial window cleaning, as well as construction site clean-up.

Hard Water Removal - Glass is extremely porous and requires substantial maintenance. Building owners often underestimate the amount of regular maintenance required to maintain the pristine appearance of glass walls and windows.  Glass that is not cleaned regularly can stain; left untreated, staining can lead to corrosion.  The exterior glass and frames of commercial buildings are exposed daily to misdirected sprinkler heads, ultraviolet rays, precast leaching, runoff and oxidation–all of which leave deep embedded deposits that will be baked in by the sun.  Routine cleanings WILL NOT remedy the damage, and VIP’s Stain Removal Process must be used to remove pock marks and restore glass and frames.  Most companies that provide hard water removal utilize a technique called “acid washing” that typically consists of dangerous acids, such as Hydrofluoric, Hydrochloric, Phosphoric or Muratic to dissolve the mineral build-up.  Acids are not only dangerous to humans and the environment, they also dissolve the surface of the glass, causing burns and distortion.

High Dusting and Cleaning – VIP employees have full access to the hard-to-reach windows, ledges, duct-work and lighting.

If you can’t remember the last time you scheduled a thorough building cleaning, it’s probably time.  Call VIP today and let us handle the details – 480-929-9400 or contact VIP online.

VIP Window Cleaning

Ask VIP about Bird Abatement Services

Pigeons and other birds are irritating, dirty pests, plus they carry a surprising number of transmittable diseases.  New bird control measures are humane, effective and environmentally friendly and include everything from building spikes and netting to scary looking balloons and plastic owls.

VIP’s Bird Abatement services guarantee to not harm birds while removing and keeping them away, keeping your building cleaner and your tenants safer. Find out which method of bird abatement works best for your building and your budget.

Leo is great for so many applications, including:

• Interior atrium lobbies
• High cleaning and dusting
• Lamp and ballast replacement or repair
• Window and skylight cleaning
• Exterior building maintenance
• Signage installation
• Painting

Specs of lift: 78′ working height, Fits through an opening 40″ wide and 78″ tall, Working footprint- 13.5′ x 13.5′, Weight- 6,834 lbs, Maximum applied load on working surface- 20.94psi.

Contact VIP to Rent LEO

Download Spec/Price Sheet

There are hundreds of rules and regulations that contractors must follow to safely perform their work. In order to protect themselves to the fullest extent, building owners must carefully document all contractor activities. The I-14 requires that building owners receive a “Plan of Service” from their contractors that should include all their activities. Below are some of the documentation that should change hands between property management and window cleaning contractors.

What Contractors Need from Building Owners
* Letter of Assurance of Inspection: A letter informing the contractor that the roof has been inspected and certified
* Copy of Anchorage Certification
* Copy of Manufacturer’s Instructions and Specifications (if necessary): Only needed if there are working parts within the anchorage system.

CLICK HERE FOR BUILDING OWNER ASSURANCE SAMPLE

What Building Owners Need from their Contractor
Assurance of Compliance with Applicable Regulations documentation is vital. Taking a contractor’s word for compliance is insufficient and opens up large possibilities for liability.

1. Plan of Service – I-14 requires that the contractor give a detailed plan of how the building will be accessed and cleaned. This plan should include anchorage description and locations, hazardous work areas, drop zones, public protections, and safety features.
2. Proof of a Formal Training Program – again, documentation is vital.
3. List of Approved Equipment
4. Emergency Procedures – get this in writing.
5. Fall Protection Letter – this is a letter describing what kind of fall-protection the workers have and will use.
6. Certification of Insurance – make sure to have an updated copy before work begins. Keep in mind: if the lawsuit award in court is $5 million and your contractor has only $1 million of insurance, who is picking up the rest of the bill?

What Can VIP Do For You?

As a building owner, property manager or building engineer, you must ask yourself how in the world are you going to keep all the laws, regulations, and standards straight? How do you keep on top of it all? Over and over again, you will find that having knowledgeable contractors as your vendors is the way to go. Window cleaning is no exception.  VIP has been a strong crusader for industry standards of safety and offers the following questions you will want to ask a potential window-cleaning vendor.

1. Can you facilitate and schedule the required inspections?
2. Are you enrolled in the International Window Cleaning certification program and do you have any window cleaners that have completed the certification process?
3. Are you an active member of the International Window Cleaning Association and do you attend there safety training seminars?
4. Do you ensure proper rigging and safety procedures with a full-time compliance manager?
5. Do you have an in-house safety training program?
6. Do you have your own quality control manager or do you require the property manager to oversee the quality of your work?
7. Do you provide an operational plan of service (OPOS)?
8. Do you have signed and logo-ed work trucks?
9. How will you educate building engineers and management regarding all pertinent standards and regulations?
10. Can you provide $6,000,000 worth of liability insurance?