The Window Cleaning industry is littered with abbreviations and initialisms that can cause confusion even for the most experienced of us. Here's a quick guide so you can cut through the Jargon!
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PPM - Parts Per Million - A measured quantity of a waters purify in Total Dissolved Solids. Pure water reads 0ppm, anything but 0ppm is not pure water.
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TDS - Total Dissolved Solids - a measurement of water purity and usually linked with a TDS meter, which is how you measure your water quality in PPM (see above).
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DI - Deionisation - A chemical process that uses DI resin to filter dissolved minerals and impurities. Usually through a DI Vessel.
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RO - Reverse Osmosis - A technology using semipermeable membranes to purify water, often as part of a purification system used alongside Deionising resin.
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Payload - The total weight that a vehicle can safely transport. Important to know before installing Window Cleaning equipment.
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WFP - Water Fed Pole - A lightweight telescopic pole used to clean windows safely from the ground. Pure water is fed through a hose to the top where a brush is connected and used to scrub.
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Pole Pipe - A flexible, small bore water hose threaded through a Water Fed Pole. Usually 5mm or 6mm in diameter.
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HiMod - High Modulus Carbon Fibre - A strong but light material used in the construction of high quality Water Fed Poles.
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GAC - Granular Activated Carbon. A type of Carbon Pre-Filter used reverse osmosis (RO) water purification systems. An alternative to Carbon Block Filters
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Carbon Filters - Generally a term used to refer to Carbon Block Filters. A type of carbon pre-filter used in reverse osmosis (RO) water purification systems
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Micron - A term used to describe the average size of the openings between pieces of the filter media. Commonly found in reference to sediment & carbon pre-filters
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Softwashing - a cleaning method that uses low pressure water combined with various chemicals to remove mould, mildew, algae and other staining from building surfaces. Unlike high pressure cleaning (or powerwashing), softwashing relies on the effective use of chemicals to do the work.
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PSE - Professional Safety Equipment - a catch all term abbreviation for safety equipment used professionally
- PPE - Personal Protective Equipment - This refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other any other equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection.
Institutions
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IOSH - The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health - The only chartered body for Health and Safety practitioners - Plain English means they know what they are talking about when it comes to Health and safety!
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NEBOSH - National Exam Board in Occupational Safety & Health - Again they know the in's and out's on Health and Safety.
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HSE - Health and Safety Executive - The knowledge on Health and Safety at work.
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CRB - Criminal Record Bureau (now called DBS, see below)
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DBS - Disclosure and Barring Service - A check on a person's criminal background and history to see if they are barred from working in specific areas.
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CHAS - The Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme - A scheme to prove you meet the required standards of health & safety of specific public and private sector businesses.
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CSCS - Construction Skills Certification Scheme - A certification to prove you have the required training to work on a construction site.
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FWC - Federation of Window Cleaners.
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FSB - Federation of Small Businesses.
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IRATA - Industrial Rope Access Trade Association - Global Association for working at height . Provides working guidelines and training for rope access work.
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IPAF - International Powered Access Federation - Promotes the safe and effective use of powered access equipment.
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PAL - Powered Access Licence - If you complete an IPAF course you are awarded a PAL Card.
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SAM - Safety Accredited Member - Safety accreditation for window cleaning
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MEWP - Mobile Elevated Working Platform - Otherwise known as cherry pickers, access platforms or Scissor lifts.
- PASMA - Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association - Trade association for mobile access tower industry.
Other Abbreviations
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WCW - Window Cleaning Warehouse Ltd The UK's Largest Supplier of Window Cleaning Equipment.
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WC - Window Cleaning, plain and simple.
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Shiner - Common term for a Window Cleaner.
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Windie - Alternative name for a Window Cleaner.
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Trad - Abbreviation for the term Traditional Window Cleaning. A type of Window Cleaning that focuses on the traditional mop & squeegee rather than cleaning with a water fed pole & pure water.
- T-Bar - Traditional Handle used to apply soap to a window. Combined with an absorbent sleeve. Also referred to as an Applicator.
