10761

If you look calmly at these shots, then you are a fearless person or a professional window cleaner. This is a very dangerous profession. Fearless Roko Camaj, an Albanian immigrant who adored his job as a World Trade Center window cleaner, tragically died on September 11, 2001.
August 15, 1994: Roko Camaj at 2 World Trade Center, taken from the observation deck on the 170th floor.

No one suspects what danger this romantic profession is fraught with. window washing
in the city of skyscrapers - an incredibly dramatic occupation. Not everyone agrees to work on the edge
abysses, risking their lives for the "clean" views that open from the windows.

August 13, 1987: It is not always possible to straighten up. (Marie Bergtraum School of Business.)

August 20, 1976: And not always the work is done by professionals (Gerard Avenue in the Bronx.)

Who dares to condemn Edward Massey for the unsettling appearance in a photo taken in
November 1972 by Robert Walker? (Mr. Massey in a cap with a cigarette in photo number 6).
The steel cable holding the scaffolding where Massey and his partner were working broke off at level 53
floors of the skyscraper 1 Astor Plaza on Times Square. The loose and swaying end of the scaffold hung
at the window on the 52nd floor, opening a life-saving exit for two workers.

November 15, 1972: Edward Massey, left, has just come down from a platform hanging from
window of the 52nd floor of the skyscraper 1 Astor Plaza. The steel cable snapped when Mr. Massey and his partner
worked on the 53rd floor. None of them were hurt.

Mr. Walker's photo has it all, from a frightened window cleaner to a hard-working rescue team,
and dangerously hanging scaffolds, and, of course, the view from the window from an incredible height. No matter how "photogenic"
It seemed that window cleaning was a job that required skill and timing to take a good picture.

August 25, 2006. Paul Aspuru and Oleh Hulyas clean the windows of the World Trade Center.

Sara Krulwich was commissioned to take photographs of Mr. Kamai in August 1994 at the World
mall. “I accompanied him outside. I will never forget the moment I put on my seatbelt and
stepped into a lift cradle attached to the tower of the mall. This is one of the best New York experiences
for which I love my job,” says Sarah.

Down on the ground, watching the film, Ms. Krulwich and her editors decided that the photographs taken side by side with
by Mr. Kamai are less successful than the pictures taken from the windows of the building.

April 27, 1987: Andrew P. Kaplan demonstrates his climbing skills.

Luck may play a role. For example, Marilynn K. Yee (Marilynn K. Yee) did not suspect that in January 2006
will create an abstract expressionist portrait of the window washer Riccardo Espejo (Ricardo Espejo) in the form of George
Washington. She just wanted to take pictures of a new store called Despana on Broome Street.
“I decided it was going to be a strong shot, and captured the soapy suds and the shadow of a washerman at work,” says Mrs. Yi.

January 26, 2006: Ricardo Espejo cleans the windows of the Despana store on Broome Street.

Perseverance is also an important factor. In August 2006, Fred R. Conrad climbed
4 meter ladder to the roof of the World Trade Center to clean the edge of the parapet and shoot like Paul Aspuru (Paul Aspuru)
and Oleh Hulyas clean the windows. This photo of the fearless Konrad was never published.

“Now, five years later, I want to photograph window cleaners again more than ever. That would be amazing!” Konrad said.

However, to those who still remember Mr. Kamai at these heights, the view may seem a little empty.

Along with the appearance of the tallest buildings in the world in New York, the question arose of washing their windows. After all, it is one thing to wash the windows in your apartment, and quite another in a 50 or even 100-story building in which there are thousands of them. And they need to be washed much more often than we are used to doing at home.

A window cleaner at the Empire State Building, 1936.

In the world-famous New York skyscraper, the Empire State Building, there was a special division in which eight people worked on a permanent basis. All of them were responsible for the cleanliness of 6514 windows of the tallest building in the world at that time. According to the standard adopted by the management company, each window had to be washed inside and out at least once every two weeks. Some windows during this time became more dirty than others, some less, but it was necessary to wash everything without exception. In addition, a grandiose office building, the view from the windows of which was one of the main competitive advantages, could not afford to let dirty stains and smudges interfere with this beautiful view.

Washers were divided into twos, each of which was responsible for 25 floors. The two that completed their front of work first received the right to wash the uppermost floors and some free time on the observation deck of the skyscraper. Pairs were needed so that the workers looked after each other and could come to the aid of a comrade in case of emergency. Due to the increased danger, it was forbidden to work during very strong winds, in rain or snow, although the workers themselves considered rain to be the most successful time for washing, since everything was easier to wipe off and it was not necessary to carry a lot of water with them. In anticipation of good weather, the workers entertained themselves with card games in the locker room.

The window, regardless of the floor, was washed as follows. First inside. And here everything is simple, since everyone, it seems to me, has done this at least once in their life. Difficulties began further. The washerman opened the lower sash, climbed out (on the 80th floor, for example), hooked a thick leather strap to a special hook on the outside of the frame, closed the window, hooked the second strap to the second hook, and stood up with his feet resting on the window sill, the width of which was only 4 cm. After that, he began washing the outer surface. Despite the primitiveness, the design was quite reliable and kept a person even if one of the belts broke.

Illustration from Modern Mechanix, September 1934.

The most dangerous thing was in winter, when outside the window there were sub-zero temperatures and a piercing icy wind blew. The frames were often wedged, and the window sills and windows were covered with a layer of ice and snow on the outside. In the event that a worker for some reason could not open the window while outside, his friend from the deuce or one of the office workers who were inside the building came to his aid. If suddenly there was no one to help the poor fellow stuck at a height, then the only way out was to break the glass with his foot.

A rag in his pocket, chamois for wiping on a strap around his neck, a washcloth in a bucket, and a brass scraper with an elastic band fastened to his belt with a chain. The bucket was left inside so that, God forbid, it would not fall on someone's head. For the same reason, it was impossible to use brushes. Only soapy water was used for washing. No ammonia or miracle cleansers that are so popular today. It took four minutes to clean one window. Three, if you're in a hurry. Then back to the room and repeat everything again. And so from morning to evening every day with breaks for bad weather. Each worker had to clean 75 windows a day. One of the disadvantages of this technology was that the washer with his work and his presence paralyzed the work of the office for some time. Someone was simply distracted by an outsider, someone was curious to look at a peasant hanging outside the window, and someone had to free up their place at the window so that the washer could get out.

In 1934, in an interview with the American magazine Modern Mechanix, the head of the Empire State Building cleaning team, Richard Hart, spoke about his 65-year-old employee, who spent his whole life only working on windows and finally decided to retire. A day later, he asked to come back, saying that he really lacked the dizzying heights and breathtaking views that he was used to. As the years go by, height soaks into your blood, Hart said, and you'll never be able to work on the ground again. The work of washers was considered quite prestigious and well paid. According to Hart, the average washer income was $30 a week, or $1,560 a year. This was more than what a factory worker ($430 a year) or an ordinary builder ($907 a year) earned, and was roughly equal to the income of a skilled electrician ($1,559 a year). But here it was not necessary to have an education, and work, unlike a plant or factory, was much easier, took place in the fresh air and with good views. Of the minuses was the risk of falling down, as well as difficulties with insurance. Most insurance companies rated their work as incredibly risky and refused to sell the policy. In those years, about 3,000 window cleaners worked in New York, and despite the fact that about 10 people died annually, there was no shortage of people who wanted to learn a new profession.

A short video about the Empire State Building washermen filmed by British Pathe in 1938.

In the 50s of the last century, with the advent of fully glazed facades, the washing technology changed and the leather belt with hooks was replaced by hanging cradles and mechanical scaffolding. Today, hooks on frames can only be found in some pre-war houses, where they have been preserved and are sometimes still used today.

During the reconstruction of the Empire State Building, all windows were replaced with so-called swing-ins. And this is a pretty convenient design, if we talk about washing. These windows fold inward so you don't have to climb out and risk your life to clean them.

The only, but significant disadvantage in all this is time. Dealing with them in four minutes will not work for sure. The design is interesting and I even devoted a whole post to washing such a window at one time. Now only 4 people are monitoring the cleanliness of the windows of the Empire State skyscraper. It takes them about 2 months to clean all the windows in the building, after which they start all over again.

A moment of self-promotion. This is also important. I do individual tours of New York and specialize in all sorts of non-tourist places and routes. Write if you are suddenly going to New York and you are interested in looking at it from different angles, and not just from the one that is described in all guidebooks. I will not show you Times Square, Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty, but I will show you a lot of other interesting things. I have my own unique routes that are not in any guidebook. I show the city that is off the tourist trails and the way New Yorkers see it themselves. You will learn how New York works, how it lives and breathes. I will tell about its history, show the present and tell about its future. I promise that after the tour with me you will know more about New York than many of its inhabitants. For those who are traveling to New York for the first time and want to see the sights from the guidebook, I will recommend a good guide who will tell you about this wonderful city in a way that will remain in your heart forever. For all questions write to [email protected]

The profession of "window cleaner" does not seem very attractive: dirty, hard, probably low-paid and not at all promising work. But a skyscraper window cleaner is a different matter. It is also a dirty and even harder job, but with a high salary - after all, professionals in this business have to literally risk their lives every time, washing windows at a great height. This profession has been included in the list of the most dangerous in the world, the death rate among skyscraper window cleaners is the same as among firefighters, miners and police officers. And although the methods and technologies of insurance are constantly improving, accidents still occur regularly. Therefore, specialists receive a lot of money, but still, not everyone will agree to such work - not everyone has the composure to thoroughly wash the window, hanging at a dizzying height above the whole city. Of course, window cleaners in high-rise buildings undergo special training and acquire climbing skills. They must be dexterous, strong and fearless, otherwise effective work will not work. And also thin, as extra pounds create unnecessary risks during work.

The most surprising thing about this profession is that there are no differences in the height of the work carried out. Everything above one and a half meters is called high-altitude work: the risks at a height of five meters and one hundred meters are the same. Therefore, no matter which floor the windows need to be cleaned on, the cleaners are provided with double safety ropes, helmets and equipment. But window cleaners at heights prefer not to talk about risks and accidents. Work is carried out only in ideal weather: washing windows in strong winds, thunderstorms, rain, snow is prohibited. Safety precautions among professionals are very strict, and everyone follows it impeccably.

Window cleaners wear special moisture-repellent suits that are light in weight, safety belts with various clips for tools, rubber-coated gloves and light, comfortable and soft shoes. At the top of the building, safety ropes are installed, along which the washers go down and begin to work. As a rule, they work at a height of no more than two hundred meters - after all, there are not so many skyscrapers-record holders. But sometimes you have to wash windows even at a height of three hundred and even five hundred meters, but it is even more difficult to imagine how window cleaners have to do in Dubai, where skyscrapers reach a height of eight hundred meters. Beginners at such heights simply fall into a stupor and cannot work - even those who assured that they were not afraid of heights. There are times when only trained and inexperienced window cleaners just hang at a height in shock, and colleagues have to shoot them.

It is possible that in the future the need for such a dangerous profession will disappear - technologies are already being developed with the help of which windows will self-clean. American researchers are working on the problem of creating special glasses that themselves are washed with the help of rain and sun - for this they cover the glasses with titanium oxide, which absorbs ultraviolet rays. As soon as water gets on such windows, it will smear itself on the glass and wash it.

But for now, skyscraper window cleaners are a sought-after and highly paid profession. It is perfect for extreme people who do not have enough thrills in life, who do not like routine and calm work. You just need to accept the risk of death or not think about it, although this is difficult - after all, accidents happen everywhere. Typically, most skyscraper window cleaners are men, but there are also a small percentage of intrepid girls who, as their male counterparts admit, clean windows more thoroughly.

But there are many interesting and funny cases connected with this work. Sometimes window cleaners are hired for completely different purposes - for example, to give a girl flowers through a window located on the one hundred and twentieth floor. And in Shanghai, all the window cleaners recently donned Spider-Man costumes to work in a hotel to surprise and cheer the guests.

Without proper timely care, the appearance of any, even the brightest building, loses its luster over time. Nature takes its toll - the appearance of the structure is affected by the influence of weather conditions and external factors. But, as the well-known Russian proverb says, they are greeted precisely “by clothes”, that is, the first impression of a likely future partner among visitors is formed even on the threshold of the office, and here the external appearance of the facade of the building, its design and interior play a significant role.

One of the conditions for maintaining a favorable appearance of the building is regular window cleaning. The number of new office premises in St. Petersburg is growing every year, so this service remains relevant and in demand to this day. There are many reasons for refusing to perform this procedure on your own: a fairly large area of ​​​​glazed surface, regular maintenance of which requires a certain amount of staff time, washing windows in St. Petersburg sometimes has to be done at a considerable height and in hard-to-reach places, washing windows from the outside of the building is associated with certain difficulties ( it is necessary to have special lifting and other devices, etc.), adverse weather conditions also create considerable obstacles to the successful solution of this issue.
High-quality window cleaning is not as easy as it seems at first glance. After all, you need not only to remove stains and dirty spots from the glass, but also thoroughly wash the window frame, service the window sill, and then wipe them dry with a soft cloth. In addition, a good effect from such window cleaning operations can only be achieved using modern special detergents and specialized tools.

As a rule, a specialized service in Moscow implies:
- thorough cleaning of frames and window sills object using a vacuum cleaner, their subsequent wiping with a damp cloth;
- glass cleaning with scrapers- removal of traces of paints and varnishes, cement, adhesives, etc.;
- rinsing glass surfaces and its subsequent wiping by using a hard sponge or a special washing coat;
- application of the detergent composition on the glass with a spray (sponge) and subsequent thorough cleaning of the window;
- drying the glazed surface of the window (for this, a rubber screed is used);
- final wiping of window sills, frames and slopes.

As practice shows, the services of specialized facade cleaning companies in St. Petersburg today are no less in demand than “window cleaning”. Long gone are the days when high-rise building windows in St. Petersburg were washed by office cleaners, this practice of window washing has shown to be ineffective for a number of reasons.

What is the inappropriateness of such an approach?

1. The services of professional organizations specializing in window cleaning in St. Petersburg and shop window maintenance cannot even be compared with the work of the most conscientious office cleaner in terms of the quality of performance.
2. Cleaning the windows of high-rise buildings is a certain risk. Such procedures should be carried out only by well-trained, experienced craftsmen who are able to effectively use modern special equipment and tools in their work. Today, the services of such professionals often become necessary not only when washing windows in St. Petersburg, but also in situations related to the installation of air conditioners on the top floors of multi-storey buildings, when performing other operations involving work at height. In this regard, a whole field of activity appeared, which received the name.

The customer who has used the professional services of such facade care specialists always wins. Since the performance of window washing operations is associated with the need to use specialized equipment and tools, the services of industrial climbers help to save a lot - there is no need for additional costs for the purchase of the necessary window cleaning tools. In addition, unlike conventional indoor cleaning activities, washing windows of high-rise knowledge from the outside requires the performer to have special climbing equipment, and here any risk and trouble associated with adverse consequences are completely excluded - after all, cleaning windows in SPb only experienced specialists are allowed, whose high professionalism is confirmed by the available permits and permits.

A cleaning company is a modern specialized organization whose professionals use only proven and reliable modern equipment, tools and tools in their work. We guarantee each customer the high quality of window cleaning in St. Petersburg - after all, our arsenal includes not only reliable car lifts, but also a whole team of experienced industrial climbers who have repeatedly successfully completed tasks of varying complexity at high-rise objects.
In order for the facade of the building to always look neat, it must be washed at least once a year. The technologies used by our craftsmen for cleaning windows in St. Petersburg depend on a number of specific factors: the intensity of pollution, the materials of the surface being serviced, etc. will be used in the future.

Prices for the provision of window cleaning services in Moscow and St. Petersburg are determined in each case on an individual basis, taking into account the complexity of the order and its volume.
In addition to the above activities, for washing windows in St. Petersburg and facades of buildings, our employees often have to fulfill orders for window service - this service is also quite in demand in St. Petersburg today. Despite the fact that, as a rule, showcases provide for placement on the ground floors of buildings, their cleanliness and tidiness should be given increased attention. The surface of the structures is subject to frequent pollution - soot from passing cars nearby, working plants and factories settles on the glass, dust raised by the wind from the sidewalk settles.
Owners should remember that the showcase is designed to perform an advertising function and the level of income of the seller is directly dependent on how it will be able to attract the attention of the buyer.

Along with the appearance of the tallest buildings in the world in New York, the question arose of washing their windows. After all, it is one thing to wash the windows in your apartment, and quite another in a 50 or even 100-story building in which there are thousands of them. And they need to be washed much more often than we are used to doing at home.

A window cleaner at the Empire State Building, 1936.

In the world-famous New York skyscraper, the Empire State Building, there was a special division in which eight people worked on a permanent basis. All of them were responsible for the cleanliness of 6514 windows of the tallest building in the world at that time. According to the standard adopted by the management company, each window had to be washed inside and out at least once every two weeks. Some windows during this time became more dirty than others, some less, but it was necessary to wash everything without exception. In addition, a grandiose office building, the view from the windows of which was one of the main competitive advantages, could not afford to let dirty stains and smudges interfere with this beautiful view.

Washers were divided into twos, each of which was responsible for 25 floors. The two that completed their front of work first received the right to wash the uppermost floors and some free time on the observation deck of the skyscraper. Pairs were needed so that the workers looked after each other and could come to the aid of a comrade in case of emergency. Due to the increased danger, it was forbidden to work during very strong winds, in rain or snow, although the workers themselves considered rain to be the most successful time for washing, since everything was easier to wipe off and it was not necessary to carry a lot of water with them. In anticipation of good weather, the workers entertained themselves with card games in the locker room.

Illustration from Modern Mechanix, September 1934.

The window, regardless of the floor, was washed as follows. First inside. And here everything is simple, since everyone, it seems to me, has done this at least once in their life. Difficulties began further. The washerman opened the lower sash, climbed out (on the 80th floor, for example), hooked a thick leather strap to a special hook on the outside of the frame, closed the window, hooked the second strap to the second hook, and stood up with his feet resting on the window sill, the width of which was only 4 cm. After that, he began washing the outer surface. Despite the primitiveness, the design was quite reliable and kept a person even if one of the belts broke.

The most dangerous thing was in winter, when outside the window there were sub-zero temperatures and a piercing icy wind blew. The frames were often wedged, and the window sills and windows were covered with a layer of ice and snow on the outside. In the event that a worker for some reason could not open the window while outside, his friend from the deuce or one of the office workers who were inside the building came to his aid. If suddenly there was no one to help the poor fellow stuck at a height, then the only way out was to break the glass with his foot.

A rag in his pocket, chamois for wiping on a strap around his neck, a washcloth in a bucket, and a brass scraper with an elastic band fastened to his belt with a chain. The bucket was left inside so that, God forbid, it would not fall on someone's head. For the same reason, it was impossible to use brushes. Only soapy water was used for washing. No ammonia or miracle cleansers that are so popular today. It took four minutes to clean one window. Three, if you're in a hurry. Then back to the room and repeat everything again. And so from morning to evening every day with breaks for bad weather. Each worker had to clean 75 windows a day. One of the disadvantages of this technology was that the washer with his work and his presence paralyzed the work of the office for some time. Someone was simply distracted by an outsider, someone was curious to look at a peasant hanging outside the window, and someone had to free up their place at the window so that the washer could get out.

In 1934, in an interview with the American magazine Modern Mechanix, the head of the Empire State Building cleaning team, Richard Hart, spoke about his 65-year-old employee, who spent his whole life only working on windows and finally decided to retire. A day later, he asked to come back, saying that he really lacked the dizzying heights and breathtaking views that he was used to. As the years go by, height soaks into your blood, Hart said, and you'll never be able to work on the ground again. The work of washers was considered quite prestigious and well paid. According to Hart, the average washer income was $30 a week, or $1,560 a year. This was more than what a factory worker ($430 a year) or an ordinary builder ($907 a year) earned, and was roughly equal to the income of a skilled electrician ($1,559 a year). But here it was not necessary to have an education, and work, unlike a plant or factory, was much easier, took place in the fresh air and with good views. Of the minuses was the risk of falling down, as well as difficulties with insurance. Most insurance companies rated their work as incredibly risky and refused to sell the policy. In those years, about 3,000 window cleaners worked in New York, and despite the fact that about 10 people died annually, there was no shortage of people who wanted to learn a new profession.

In the 50s of the last century, with the advent of fully glazed facades, the washing technology changed and the leather belt with hooks was replaced by hanging cradles and mechanical scaffolding. Today, hooks on frames can only be found in some pre-war houses, where they have been preserved and are sometimes still used today.
During the reconstruction of the Empire State Building, all windows were replaced with so-called swing-ins. And this is a pretty convenient design, if we talk about washing. These windows fold inward so you don't have to climb out and risk your life to clean them. The only, but significant disadvantage in all this is time. Dealing with them in four minutes will not work for sure.