Safe access methods
9.1 Where a person standing on the ground, a floor or other permanent stable surface cannot safely clean a glazed surface use one of the following methods.
a. Provide windows of a size and design that allows people to clean the outside safely from inside the building (see Diagram 9.1). If windows reverse for cleaning, fit a mechanism to hold the window in the reversed position. For additional guidance, see BS 8213-1.
Diagram 9.1 Safe reaches for cleaning
b. Provide access ladders as follows:
- for ladders up to 6m long: as shown in Diagram 9.2
- for ladders between 6m and 9m long: with safety features, as shown in Diagram 9.3.
c. Provide access equipment such as suspended cradles or travelling ladders, with attachments for safety harnesses (see Diagram 9.3).
d. Provide suitable anchorage points for safety harnesses (see Diagram 9.3) or abseiling hooks.
e. Provide walkways at least 400mm wide, either with guarding at least 1100mm high, or with anchorages for sliding safety harnesses (see Diagram 9.3).
f. If the methods described in (a) to (e) are not possible, provide space for scaffold towers from which glazed surfaces can be cleaned.
Diagram 9.2 Ladders a maximum of 6m long
Diagram 9.3 Ladders a maximum of 9m long
