If you are a facility manager, property manager, strata/body corporate manager, building owner or commercial maintenance planner for high-rise buildings, then it’s important to understand the increasing demand for sustainable and efficient building cleaning solutions.
This demand is driven by a range of factors, including compliance with local council legislation and regulations. Drone cleaning is the new standard in exterior building maintenance. Drone cleaning is an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective and safer alternative to traditional height-based building cleaning methods.
The Limitations of Traditional Height-Based Cleaning Methods
Traditional cleaning methods for high-rise buildings include the use of scaffolding, cherry pickers and individual support ropes/harnesses. There are significant drawbacks to using these methods, including:
- More labour and setup time, which results in higher costs and slower building maintenance timelines. In addition, cherry pickers are heavy equipment and can potentially damage exterior building surfaces if not used carefully.
- Higher safety risks, more manual handling of cleaning equipment and materials, and increased liability for any associated issues. For example, workers relying on scaffolding, elevated platforms, and ropes/harnesses have a risk of falling, even when using the best safety equipment.
- Limited access to certain types of building structures. For example, those with limited external space to enable scaffolding to be erected or cherry pickers to operate, as well as buildings with complex window systems or unique architectural designs (like domed roofs or curved external surfaces) that make the access required for traditional cleaning methods difficult.
The Eco-Benefits of Drone Cleaning
Drone high-rise building cleaning is a modern alternative to traditional methods. It provides a range of eco-friendly building maintenance benefits, including:
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- Reduced water usage thanks to precision drone spraying systems.
- Lower dependency on harsh chemicals due to the targeted cleaning capacity and enhanced aerial reach of drones.
- Maximised solar efficiency by the contactless cleaning of roof solar panels, helping to remove the buildup of dirt and other debris that blocks sunlight.
All these factors lead to a minimised environmental footprint, which aligns with contemporary green building standards and associated legislation/regulations.
Time and Cost Savings
Time and cost savings are achieved when drone technology is used to clean and maintain high-rise buildings via:
- Faster setup, mobilisation and completion of all associated activities. For example, pressure-washing drones operate 5 to 10 times faster than traditional external high-rise building cleaning methods, while also offering a thorough cleaning. Window-washing drones can complete high-quality, streak-free jobs in hours that would take days using a traditional cleaning method.
- Less equipment and fewer workers are needed, therefore leading to a lower overall project cost.
- Reduced downtime for property owners or tenants while cleaning activities are taking place in multi-residential complexes like high-rise apartment buildings. Builders and developers of new high-rise apartment buildings can even use drone cleaning technology for the post-construction cleanup of exterior surfaces prior to handover to owners and tenants.
Enhanced Safety and Access
Drone high-rise cleaning enhances safety and access by:
- Providing safe access to hard-to-reach areas in high-rise buildings, like windows, solar panels, signage and glass façades.
- Eliminating the need for workers to physically access risky heights.
Complying with modern safety regulations and risk mitigation protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does drone cleaning work?
High-rise cleaning drones are equipped with high-powered pumps, precision nozzles, water purification systems and advanced safety features. They can handle exterior surfaces ranging from glass to tough industrial building materials
Commercial cleaning drones are guided by highly trained and experienced drone pilots on the ground who are licensed by CASA (Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority).
Drones can currently clean buildings up to 20 stories high without the need for any other equipment, depending on factors such as water pressure and wind conditions.
How much does drone cleaning cost?
The cost of high-rise drone cleaning depends on a range of factors, including the height of the building, the type of surface (for example, brick or stone), the extent of cleaning required, and accessibility. However, it will generally be significantly cheaper than traditional high-rise cleaning methods.
Is drone cleaning contactless?
Yes, drone cleaning technology cleans safely and effectively without any direct contact with external building surfaces, helping to ensure the building’s structural integrity and avoiding any risk of damage. It is a highly sustainable exterior cleaning method.
What other cleaning applications do drones have?
Besides the exterior of high-rise buildings, drones can also be used to clean the exteriors of industrial sites and commercial properties like office towers, shopping centres and warehouses.
They can even be used on heritage buildings due to their contactless cleaning method, as well as on sensitive essential infrastructure like hospitals, aged care facilities, communication towers, wind turbines, storage tanks and schools.
Kleenit’s Sustainability Commitment
Kleenit is a forward-thinking Australian company and a commercial property services specialist. We have been operating for 30 years and have invested in state-of-the-art, sustainable technologies for commercial and high-rise cleaning.
Our investment in drone technology is part of our broader sustainability strategy, which includes using environmentally responsible cleaning agents and techniques. We have a track record of successfully using external drone cleaning technology in commercial, government and strata properties.
Our services are available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Hobart, as well as regional areas including Newcastle, Wollongong, the Central Coast, Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula, the Gold Coast and Carnarvon.
Besides high-rise drone cleaning, we also offer a range of traditional cleaning services, including:
- Pressure cleaning (of pavers, concrete, driveways, building and house exteriors, patios and decks).
- Commercial asset maintenance.
- Special cleaning services, such as mould removal.
- Graffiti removal.
Like to Find Out More?
Contact us today to find out more about our innovative Kleenit drone services and how we can help with your high-rise building’s external cleaning needs.
We would be happy to answer any questions you have, arrange an on-site consultation or demonstration at your high-rise premises, and provide you with a free, personalised quote.