Are You A Glass S.M.A.R.T. Window Cleaner?

First off,... we all need to know that all of our work is surface level.  That stands to reason right?  Well not entirely.  Because what we do on the surface of window glass can dramatically affect the structural strength and integrity of the entire plate and ultimately the entire building.  That is what everyone has been missing.  And that is what the IWCA Glass Committee has just now brought to the table for all of us to see.  So where do we go from here?

We should recognize that we are in fact Glass Surface Maintenance And Restoration Technicians.  As such we should be paying attention to the science that Penn State is bringing to us.  The first step involves recognizing that once the chemistry of the surface has been seriously altered the overall strength of that surface has been diminished.  By altered I mean the sodium atoms have been leached from the surface by water.  Also by diminished I mean now the surface is much more prone to PIFs.  A PIF is a Point Indent Fracture.  Which most every scratch begins with.  This is serious because that is how glass plates are cut when they come off the glass line, and in the shop.  They are scoured or scratched with a diamond stylus.  Then bent;.... and broken in half!

So the first step in our work should be to check out the surface of the windows we are cleaning.  How rough are they?  Do they already have scratches?  Do they have hard water spotting?  Do they have inclusions?  Have they been sealed?  If so by what?  Have they been sealed by a product that is in general resistant to scratches?  Not all sealants are!

The application of a sealant should be the first step on a brand new building.  Especially in a high pollution environment.  Or on a building that we just know is going to promote hard water spots.  Either from the minerals leaching from the exterior facade, or sprinkler heads positioned several feet from the glass.  Remember both we and our customers existing or potential must stop thinking of the service we render as just "window cleaning".  We are Glass Surface Maintenance And Restoration Technicians.  We are G-S.M.A.R.T.

Lets follow the science.  Include it in our educational materials.  And use it in our marketing campaigns.  If possible we should support our industry.  One way to do this is to join with the IWCA and work with the Glass Committee by going out into the field and bringing back to the GC the information they need to do their job.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

Member of the IWCA Glass Committee

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