A New Twist To A Dangerous Line Of Work

Philip Walter (left) extricates Mark May in a basic straight-line rescue at the Pacific Ropes Contracting training centre.

A new twist to a dangerous line of work: New regulations governing work in high places raises questions about safety of traditional procedures used in B.C. It’s a line of business not for the faint of heart: painters, window washers and maintenance workers who do their jobs suspended hundreds of feet in the air, dangling off bridges or highrise buildings.

Now some Vancouver companies are heralding new regulations being introduced by WorkSafeBC in February, which they say will improve worker safety. But they’re also calling for more action on a method of suspension – bosun’s chair, often used by window washers – they say is archaic and unsafe.

“Window cleaning sort of has a history of being a cowboy occupation,” said Vadim Pokotilo, owner of Pacific Sky Services, who recalled nearly falling out of his bosun’s chair as a newbie window washer. Like several other Lower Mainland window washing companies, Pokotilo has moved to a system called rope access. Already common in Europe and the United Kingdom, rope access is growing in popularity in North America, say its adherents.

The method, which incorporates a two-line system, a harness and special training, can be used not just for highrise maintenance but also for engineering, inspection and maintenance work on bridges, hydro dams and oil and gas facilities. Companies that use it say it’s safer  because training is standardized and rescue methods and planning are emphasized. “It’s a lot faster, it’s more efficient and there’s the safety aspect,” said Tim Zagiel, general manager of Pacific Ropes Contracting in Richmond. “We’ve seen big growth over the past eight years we’ve been in business.”

He added that rope access companies based in the United Kingdom or the United States are now looking at Western Canada as a growth opportunity. The system is safer than using scaffolding, a crane with a basket or other methods for working in high places, Zagiel said.

The new WorkSafeBC regulations require rope access workers to be certified in one of two internationally recognized certification standards. It’s a good first step, said Greg Korpela, general manager for Canadian Rope Access Specialists, but his company is actively lobbying WorkSafeBC to take a hard look at bosun’s chair.

“Anybody that is using a traditional classic bosun’s chair system, they can continue to do what they’re doing,” Korpela said, adding that current regulations do not specify whether a specific standard of training is required before workers can use a bosun’s chair.

“The bosun’s chair system is entirely unsafe and, in our opinion, unjustifiably so, and should not be allowed.”

Pacific Ropes and Canadian Rope Access Specialists consulted with WorkSafeBC before the new regulations were drafted. Both companies also offer rope access training. Andre Genesse, owner of Skywalker High-Rise Services, said several of his workers have been trained on rope access. But he plans to continue to use the bosun’s chair because rope access is very expensive for window washing.

While a bosun’s chair platform costs about $125, a rope access harness costs around $1,600 and the per-person training is around $2,000.

“In 12 years that I’ve used it I’ve never had one [accident], not even a close call,” Genesse said. “There’s nothing unsafe about the bosun’s chair.”

In an email, WorkSafeBC said the bosun’s chair method is legal and that workers must wear a “personal fall protection system.” Regulations also require new workers to be trained and for extra training to be provided if workers request it.

Pokotilo said for his company, rope access has been worth it. “If everyone started demanding rope access, it would mean that [anyone] working on ropes in any capacity would have to have that certification, which to me makes sense.”

 

Rope Access Window Cleaning News

Understanding the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 With its 351 pages of legal jargon, it is not difficult to see why many people are still in the dark when it comes to understanding the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 and their duties and obligations.

Safety Officers Crack Down on Height Safety Systems (Australia) - Following a number of ‘near miss accidents’ in recent years, Workplace Health and Safety Officers from the Gold Coast region have spearheaded the creation of the Height Safety industry Working Group. The group, which convened for the first time in March, includes stakeholders from industry sectors including rope access, high rise window cleaning, height safety system installation and height safety equipment manufacturing. The officers identified window cleaning companies being at the greatest risk. 

These companies abseil down the building while attached to anchor point systems on the roof. In its meeting, the group identified the need to raise awareness of best practice principles in three main areas: Correct design, installation and certification of height safety systems; Raising the standard of safety of rope access companies; and Understanding of the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 by Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs). Design, Installation and Certification No amount of training or safe procedures can save a worker from a poorly designed and installed system.

An adequate design will address four separate points: Building layout: What sections of the building will need to be accessed? Building Structure: Is the building structure capable of sustaining the potential force of a fall? Anchor Design: The position, type and number of anchors that will be required? Rescue: In the event of an incident, does the design allow for a safe rescue? Installation is equally important. In order to protect yourself as a PCBU, it is important to ensure the installation company holds a QBCC license to install height safety systems, is an authorised installer for the manufacturer of the system in question, has adequate levels of experience in installing height safety systems and holds the required insurance. 

It is also important to clarify what certification and documents you will receive once the system is installed. Raising Standards Another goal of the working group is to raise the level of professionalism and safety within the rope access industry. Through better general education and awareness, they expect consumers will demand a higher standard of safety from rope access companies, and that rather simply awarding work according to the lowest quote, PCBUs will increasingly question areas such as qualifications, competency and experience. The follow on effect will be a more professional and safety conscious industry. 

Understanding the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 With its 351 pages of legal jargon, it is not difficult to see why many people are still in the dark when it comes to understanding the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 and their duties and obligations. It is a legal requirement that a PCBU has a duty to ‘eliminate risks to health and safety’ and ‘if it is not practicable to eliminate risks…to minimise those risks.’ Yet many building owners, corporate bodies and building managers do not fully understand this non-transferable obligation. Heavy penalties apply for failing to comply with the legislation, including large fines and potential jail sentences. 

The Act goes further to state that this duty cannot be transferred to another person and that more than one person can hold the same duty at the same time (part 2, division 1, subdivision 1, section 14 & 16.) How do you ensure compliance? So as a PCBU, how do you ensure you are getting the right advice and complying with your duty? You could read all 351 pages of the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 as well as the 735 pages of the Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011. Not to mention the Standards AS1891.4 and AS4488, or you could just follow these three simple rules: Properly research which companies you will choose to obtain a quote from. Ask the experience and compliance questions at the start of this article. Choose a company which is experienced, compliant, licenced and authorised, and is also willing to help educate you about your duties and obligations. 

Hopefully, the new working group will help drive industry change and raise standards. If it helps to prompt PCBUs to ask not only if they are complying with their obligations under the Act but also whether or not they have done everything possible to help keep people safe, it will succeed in this goal.

Stefan Bright - Acceptance of Triangle Award Speech: If you do not know anything about the professional window cleaning industry, here are a few tips to get you started; Number one,we prefer the term professional window cleaner over window washer. Homeowners are window washers, professional window cleaners require up to 6 months to become skilled enough to be able to perfectly clean over a hundred windows a day. Furthermore, it takes nearly a year to become equally proficient in the safe and correct use of the equipment needed to reach the windows.

Number two, we are not daredevils, cowboys nor are we crazy because we like working at heights. We are highly skilled tradespeople who enjoy the serenity of working above the general population using our artistic abilities to create a clear view of the world for those of you who get to look at it through our canvas.

Number three, we do have standards, guidelines, regulations and training programs to follow which help to ensure our health and safety as well as the safety of the general public as they walk by and look up at us plying our trade. The reason I am standing before you today is because it was not always this way. When I started cleaning windows myself in the late 1970’ s, there were no regulations, standards, guidelines or trade associations. I was only able to learn the trade from somebody who learned it from somebody else and realizing that a lot of it was based on trial and error.

Ten years later, I traveled from central Pennsylvania to the remote western town of Lubbock, Texas where the first ever gathering of professional window cleaners from across North America took place. At this event, over 60 window cleaners simultaneously discovered that we weren’t all alone in this occupation and that sharing our trials and errors would only help us all learn more about our occupation and safety. The International Window Cleaning Association, better known as the IWCA was born and the year was 1989.

The following year, Federal OSHA held a public hearing to begin the renovation of the General Industry Walking and Working Surface regulations which includes equipment and techniques used regularly by professional window cleaners. I testified at that hearing and a few months later, the President of the IWCA asked me to join the board of directors and head up the Safety and Training Standards Committee. That committee consisted of about a dozen professional window cleaners from across the country and together we agreed that our occupation needed a consistent set of safety guidelines. I had done some research and found that on average about 7 - 9 fatalities occurred each year in the window cleaning industry.

It took over a year for us to put together and publish the Safety Guidelines for Window Cleaning. Because nothing like this had ever existed before, several thousand copies were sold. This became the catalyst for many good things to come. Shortly afterwards , I spent over a year researching two decades worth of window cleaning accident case studies in order to pinpoint causes, hazards and methods of abatement. As a result, I was able to assemble a window cleaner safety training program to educate workers with identifying the hazards of our occupation and how to avoid them. That program was first delivered in 1993 and has been given several times a year ever since. In fact, I just came home this past Sunday (5/3/2014) from delivering it in Los Angeles, California.

The IWCA has estimated that over 6,500 professional window cleaners have attended and taken part in this training. I know that these professionals have taught others in the trade so the real outreach has been significantly greater. All this knowledge, experience and education helped with the development of an American National Standard for Window Cleaning Safety in 2001 which has helped OSHA, architects, engineers, designers and builders better understand the requirements for safe building maintenance. It was our way of introducing prevention through design to the window cleaning industry.

The safety training program and industry safety standard were the core documents which contributed to the creation of the Window Cleaner Safety Certification program. This is an IWCA program that is a study course which requires taking three online tests and a proctored final exam. All these accomplishments have made a difference. Professional window cleaning is the number one trade that takes place on commercial and residential mid to high rise buildings more than any other. There are upwards of twenty thousand workers exposed to serious fall hazards every day in North America and  no longer do professional window cleaners have to guess, or practice their trade by trial and error which can have fatal consequences.

Today, there are readily available sources of knowledge, experience and safety training. The Alliance between OSHA and the IWCA has helped to expand the educational outreach. This past February, the IWCA celebrated its 25th anniversary. I was asked to compile and deliver the list of safety related milestones the organization had achieved in that time. The most significant achievement was the statistic showing a 30 percent reduction in the number of fatalities in the window cleaning industry over the last 10 year. After reading these milestones to the audience , I think several people in attendance there may have thought to nominate me for this award. I thank them for that.

The greatest reward for doing what I do is when a window cleaner shakes my hand and thanks me for helping them to learn how to think more safely about their occupation which in turn, helps them to work safer. Over the years many have even told me I’ve saved their lives or that of a co-worker. Receiving this award from the American Society of Safety Engineers is extremely gratifying. I have benefited by being a member of the ASSE since 1997 and having such an esteemed organization that is outside of the window cleaning industry recognize and distinguish my efforts is most honorable and greatly appreciated. And in saving the best for last, I could not have done any of what I have without the extreme sacrifice and support of my best friend , who happens to be my wife of over 30 years, Michele. Thank you for your patience, tolerance and acceptance of what I do, which helped me make a difference. Thankyou.

The caped crusader window washers were back on the job for a second year at an Oregon children's hospital - not fighting crime, but fighting grime. Super heroes descend the nine stories of Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel for the second year.

Superheroes lift kids' spirits at Portland hospital: Superheroes took to the skies at Randall Children’s Hospital Monday fighting not crime but grime. “Holy squeegy Batman – it’s time to get to work,” shouted a window washer decked out as the Boy Wonder. A half dozen members of the regular window washing crew donned tights and capes to delight young patients. “This is the second year for this and I’m looking forward to all the smiles and high fives,” said Batman as he was suiting up.

This year’s event included a super twist for the kids. “We’re here with free costumes for all the patients,” said Alison Hicks who runs Chelsea’s Closet in memory of her daughter. “Dress-up was her favorite thing when she was in the hospital, it gave her a reason to get up in the morning,” Hicks said, of her daughter.

Before the superheroes arrived, costumes were delivered to rooms and out-patients selected outfits from a hallway rack. “It’s so nice to have him come here for something other than chemotherapy,” said the mother of a three-year-old patient. For the dangling half dozen doing the dirty work, there was a big pay off. “It so nice to come and brighten the day of these kids who are going through tough times, and they end up brightening our day as well,” concluded Spiderman. 

Union Files Complaint In Death Of Window-Washing Custodian At UC Berkeley - A union representing service workers at the University of California, Berkeley has filed a complaint with state authorities over the death of a custodian. Forty-five-year-old Damon Frick died after falling from a lift on April 7 while washing window sills at a campus auditorium 20 feet above the ground. The complaint against the university says Frick never received proper safety training, and his supervisor assigned him the job even though those duties weren’t part of his typical work. It was filed Wednesday with the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Frick’s family separately is pursuing a wrongful death claim against UC Berkeley. A call to the university on Friday was not immediately returned.

Window Cleaning The World’s Tallest Building

Daring window washers clean world's tallest building.

Window-cleaning the world’s tallest building: Dubai, United Arab Emirates — It’s hard work cleaning the windows of the world’s tallest building, but somebody has to do it. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is covered in 24,000 panes of glass. The workers who clean them start at the 160th floor and work their way down. That’s more than 2,700 feet. Before they start their work, they check and double-check their harnesses and ropes. They also measure wind speed because a gust of wind could be dangerous. It takes three months to clean every window, and then crews start all over again.

Meanwhile in China..

Climbing duo Vadim Makhorov and Vitaliy Raskalov scaled the 632 metre building without any ropes.

Shanghai Tower skywalkers climb second tallest building in world without safety equipment: Two Russian climbers filmed themselves defying gravity (and death) by climbing the world’s second tallest building without any ropes or climbing gear. Vadim Makhorov and Vitaliy Raskalov used head cameras to film themselves breaking into and climbing the still unfinished Shanghai Tower in China, as they scaled the 632m structure without any safety gear.

Their cameras show vertigo-inducing panoramas of Shanghai hundreds of metres below throughout their ascent. The pair even passed clouds on their journey to the top. The Tower will be one of the tallest buildings in the world upon its completion, second only to the 830 metre Burj Khalifa in the UAE, the tallest man-made structure in the world. When both climbers reach the top, their head-cams show them peering down into the abyss below. Makhorov told Yahoo! News: "We had to wait for hours for the clouds to part but it was well worth the wait, the view was like something from an aircraft window. "As soon as we saw a gap in the clouds were climbed right to the top of the crane and were able to get some great shots of the city below."

Don't look down! Vadim Makhorov sits in a cage above the Shanghai Tower, with the city sprawled more than 2,000 feet beneath him.

Vadim Makhorov and Vitaly Raskalov captured these shots from a height that would make most people sick.

Thunder, Lightning & Earthquakes In Dubai For Window Cleaners

If the rain begins to fall in the middle of a job, the cleaners sometimes have to start all over again.

Weather that leaves UAE men swinging in the rain: Window cleaners who hang from ropes outside skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are constantly watching for change in the weather. "The last time we saw rain like this was a few years ago. In 2012 it only rained once. It's not the hard rain that cleans things, it's a muddy rain and things get even worse," said Alain El Tawil, the managing director at Gecko.

If the rain begins to fall in the middle of a job, the cleaners sometimes have to start all over again. Gecko cleaners were halfway through cleaning a building in Abu Dhabi when it started to rain. The job that should have taken 20 days will now probably take 30. "We have to do it again," Mr El Tawil shrugged.

Rain is not their only problem. Amel Vriesmann, head of the rope access division at Megarme, said: "We need to stay within the parameters of the winds. The limit is 20-25 knots depending on the scope of work you do. When the rain becomes severe, we pull out. But a few drops don't stop us."

Last week's thunder and lightning had cleaners abseiling down to safety. "Once we saw lightning, we were off the building. We have a daily weather forecast email among all the management. Rain is OK but thunder and lightning is a no-go," he said.

World's Highest Window Cleaners - It Took Us Three Months To Clean Burj Khalifa (Nick Vassilev) -  It took an Australian window cleaning company 3 months to clean the windows of the tallest building in the world - Burj Khalifa. Ever wondered about how they keep the windows of these skyscrapers clean? The usual options available to window cleaners such as ladders and high-level Reach and Wash cleaning systems aren’t an option there.

London, UK -- Travel and tourism websites, programmes and brochures continually bring us pictures of tall skyscrapers in some far-off land, man-made mountains of glittering glass and steel. But pause to think about what has to go on to keep the windows of these skyscrapers, such as the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sparkling and clean.

Usually, window cleaners working with exterior windows above the ground have several options. “We encourage our window cleaners to use high-reach window washers that can be operated from the ground for health and safety reasons,” said a spokesperson from the London-based cleaning company Anyclean, which offers window cleaning alongside a range of other cleaning services. “Ladders are OK if used correctly for two-storey houses and skylights on bungalows.  The Reach & Wash machines can reach up 75 feet, which takes care of most domestic and office window cleaning situations, but for anything higher than this, you need cradles, harnesses and cherry pickers.”

So what did the company responsible for keeping the windows of the Burj Khalifa clean do? The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building at 2717 feet tall with a total of 24,830 windows, which make up 1,292,500 square feet of glass to clean.  The Australian company CoxGomyl, which is responsible for getting the windows clean for the opening ceremony (held back in 2010), took three months to complete the process of cleaning the windows.

This window cleaning team specialises in making equipment known as Building Maintenance Units (BMUs) as well as other high-rise high-tech window cleaning equipment. A number of these BMUs are permanently in place on the Burj Khalifa and the machines use a system of tracks and cradles to reach every single window. The tracks are built into the exterior façade of the building, and window cleaners are carried in these cradles (which are housed in special cavities inside the building when not in use) to where they can work at washing the windows. To clean the windows, they use ordinary soap and water. “You can imagine how expensive it would be if they used chemical window cleaning products,” said the representative from Anyclean. “But water does work well at cleaning just about everything.”

The window cleaners who operate in the highest BMU on the Burj Khalifa hold the current record for world’s highest window cleaners.  “Good for them,” said the Anyclean representative. “But I think I like keeping my feet on the ground!”

909 high-rises, 448 skyscrapers in Dubai... But do you know how to survive an earthquake? Tall order: Dubai has 909 completed high-rises, including world’s tallest tower, tallest hotel and tallest residential buildings (By Vicky Kapur) -  Two major earthquakes have rocked the Arab world and the UAE in the month of April: the first one on April 9, and the second one on April 16. Both the earthquakes were follwed by minor aftershocks. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Iran and the rest of the Arab world at around 4pm UAE time on April 9, 2013, followed by smaller aftershocks. The death toll from the quake was last reported at 37, with hundreds others injured, mostly in Iran.
 

The epicenter of the April 16 quake, of 7.8 magnitude, was also in Iran, near the border with Pakistan, and it rocked the region at 2.44pm UAE time (10.44am GMT). The UAE's official seismology authority, National Centre of Metrology and Seismology, confirmed to  Emirates 24|7 that the epicentre of the most recent quake was 650km off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah in UAE. However, the tremors from the quake could be felt in locations as far and wide as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Manama, parts of Saudi Arabia as well as in Oman, with minor swaying of high-rises reported in these locations.

Earthquakes are not common in Dubai and the rest of the UAE, but nature has its way of showing who’s the boss every once in a while. Perhaps because we are not used to experiencing frequent tremors, residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, especially those living and working in high-rises, may not necessarily be adept at knowing what to do when tremors strike. It is no secret that Dubai is home to the tallest residential skyscraper cluster in the world. Not only does Dubai boast of the tallest building in the world, the imposing Burj Khalifa, but also the tallest residential tower (Princess Tower), the tallest hotel in the world (JW Marriott Marquis Dubai), among many more.

According to Emporis, a global provider of building information, Dubai has 909 high-rise buildings , including 448 skyscrapers (comprising 40 floors or more). According to SkyscraperPage.com, Dubai has 387 towers that are more than 99 metres in height, of which 84 are more than 202 metres tall and 26 are 301 metres or more in height. Indeed, there are three towers in Dubai that are at least half a kilometre (500 metres) in height. That’s a tall order, indeed, if there was one.

While we’ve all come to live and love our high-rises in Dubai, we can’t all claim to know about what do in case an earthquake strikes. Proof of this was the recent Iran quake, tremors of which were felt by us here in Dubai. There was confusion all along, with a number of office and residential buildings evacuated on the one hand, and with others going along with their daily chores as if nothing had happened. But if you need to be prepared the next time tremors strike, wherever in the world you are, you’ll do well to understand the following pointers (SOURCES: Earthquake Country and Go Los Angeles.

INDOORS: DROP, COVER, HOLD ON…

• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Check out this PDF .

• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

• Quickly move to a safe location in the room such as under a strong desk, a strong table, or along an interior wall. The goal is to protect yourself from falling objects and be located near the structural strong points of the room. Avoid taking cover near windows, large mirrors, hanging objects, heavy furniture, heavy appliances or fireplaces.

• If you are cooking, turn off the stove and take cover.

• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture, window or anything else that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place (i.e. under a desk or in an inside corner).

• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway. Brace yourself on the side with the hinges to avoid the door swinging at you.

• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

• DO NOT use the elevators, even if they are working. There may be aftershocks.

• If you’re in your hotel room, stay there. There are usually aftershocks, and sometimes they may be worse than the original earthquake. Under a sturdy desk or in an inside corner of your room is the safest place to be, even if you’re on the 40th floor. If there’s a heavy bookcase next to a match-stick desk, don’t get under the desk.

• If you are in a restaurant, get under the table.

OUTDOORS: Stay Put

• Move to an open area where falling objects are unlikely to strike you.

• Move away from buildings, powerlines, streetlights, utility wires and trees.

• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

TRAPPED UNDER DEBRIS

• Do not light a match.

• Do not move about or kick up dust.

• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

• Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

AFTER THE QUAKE

• Check for injuries, attend to injuries if needed, help ensure the safety of people around you.

• Check for damage. If your building is badly damaged you should leave it until it has been inspected by a safety professional.

• If you smell or hear a gas leak, get everyone outside and open windows and doors. If you can do it safely, turn off the gas at the meter. Report the leak to the gas company and fire department. Do not use any electrical appliances because a tiny spark could ignite the gas.

• If the power is out, unplug major appliances to prevent possible damage when the power is turned back on. If you see sparks, frayed wires, or smell hot insulation turn off electricity at the main fuse box or breaker. If you will have to step in water to turn off the electricity you should call a professional to turn it off for you.

I Was A Highrise Window Cleaner In Chicago

I was a Highrise window cleaner in Chicago (by "Up_High"): Questions asked by the general public to a high rise window cleaner in Chicago. Grammatically modified & sorted for easier reading.

What is the craziest stuff you have seen going on in offices?

I've seen a man receiving oral pleasures from a female co-worker. I've seen a man jerking off in a vacant suite, nightmares for a week. And for some reason on this one building they decided to not black out the bathroom windows, so I've seen some screwed up shit there as well, lol.

Nightmares for a week? You must not be from the internet!

Well, seeing a guy jerk of online is different. in a sense You are prepared to see him fappin' away, but in real life outside of reddit, its unexpected and forced upon you, lol.

Awesome! What about your coworkers? Did they have any good stories?

So many... lol. When my boss was in his 20's about 30 years ago, he worked for a highrise company too. His boss would constantly follow them and spy to make sure they were working. So him and his co-workers came up with the idea to steal a manikin and clothe it then hang it off the buildings. According to his story, this worked for months, lol.

Oh, I traveled to Indiana for some work for a week. The first day on the very first drop I climb over and I hit in my head very hard. I figured a piece of concrete fell of the building due to it being an old building. When I looked up everything looked very normal, so I was just really confused. About 10 seconds later a falcon comes flying at me, claws first. I don't think I have ever been so terrified in my life. This falcon was about the size of a full grown water melon and was pissed. He kept flying inches from me for at least 5 minutes and the whole time I am screaming bloody murder. The guy at the hot-dog stand is staring at me like I'm retarded. Eventually the people inside opened the window and I had to crawl inside, lol. That week trip ended very abruptly & I went home, lol.

I've always wondered, how do you tell the difference between a falcon and a hawk?

Falcons are endangered and this building actually made a wooden home for it, but a couple years prior to this a different window cleaner was attacked and actually was cut and had about 20 stitches. So with what ever logic they decided to move the home across the street to a different building rooftop. However they forgot falcons can fly.

Any other "holy shit" moments while on the job?

Sure :) Some buildings are very hard to set up straight rope drops. So you have to improvise and create different sling lines and things to straighten your ropes out. I made a mistake one day and didn't pull out the slack out of my line. So when I went to climb over, I had about an extra 10 feet of slack left. That slack rope fell across my middle finger on top of the parapet wall. All of my weight was on the rope, pulling down on my finger. This building had no ledges or any thing to place my feet on to lift my weight up, so I was stuck there for about 5 minutes helplessly while my finger lost all blood flow. Finally, my co-worker came and helped pull me back up the wall onto the roof. My finger was flat as paper. I for sure thought I was going to lose it. But it regained blood flow and was fine after a few hours. I wished I took a picture of it.

Did anyone in the buildings ever jump out from behind a curtain and scare you?

Ehh, maybe once or twice, but usually it was the opposite. I have literally scared people so bad that they have fallen out of their chairs.

Have you dropped anything? Is it possible to get fired for sweating (or vomiting) so badly that you are literally raining onto people on the ground below you? If so, there is really no point in my applying for a job like this.

I have dropped 2 things in my 5 years of doing this. The first day I dropped my squeegee, thankfully I was on a small building facing an alley, so no harm done. The second thing I dropped was my cylinder. I was preparing to climb over and I accidentally kicked it off the roof about 15 stories down and it came within 2 feet of hitting my co-worker. Most highrise workers use what we call "idiot strings", that are just bungee cords that we attach to all of our tools so in case we do drop them they wont fall and hurt anyone. I can't say that I have ever seen anyone vomit or sweat so badly that it rains onto people. Most people who do this have very strong stomachs.

How many buildings does a single window cleaning team service? Are there buildings that are so big that they are constantly being cleaned?

Nice question, It all depends on size and the number of the crew/company. My crew consist of 4 people. We could knock out almost any building within 1-3 days. So we probably service between 50-80 buildings a year. However a lot of these are repeated twice or even 3 times a year. Yes, many buildings are so large that they are constantly being cleaned. a good example of this is the Trump Tower in Chicago. They almost have a crew their every other week.

I heard that the Golden Gate bridge is painted year round because it takes so long. Would you ever take on that job, I bet being over the ocean would be nuts!

I would, it's a easy and fun job. Last summer me and one other had to pressure wash a 15 story bank top to bottom, every inch. It took us about 1 month, and then we had to seal the building and wash the windows, lol. I personally don't mind long term job sites but they do become boring quickly.

What made you want to work the job? You must have some serious cojones.

Well, I was fresh out of high school and I had to get a job. I was good friends with the owners son, so I figured I would give it a shot. After about 3 months of working low rise (stores and houses) I was moved up to highrise and after another month or so I was promoted to supervisor. And yes my balls are quite large. ;)

Have you ever been flashed?

Yep! best day of work ever, haha.

Can I get some pro tips on cleaning glass. I work for a glazing contractor and we stick to industrial glass cleaner and paper towels. Razor blades and occasionally denatured alcohol. I have a squeegee and fluff bar, but want some tips for using them without making a mess.

Sure, Believe it or not, Dawn dish soap is the best for cleaning glass. This applies for residential, Industrial and store fronts. Fill a 5 gallon bucket about 3/4ths and then squirt a fairly small amount of dawn or whatever dish soap you prefer. Stir it up with your mop (fluffbar). Wet both sides of your mop then proceed to wet and scrub the window. Depending on the glass, scrape it with your razors and apply any necessary acids. Then squeegee it off. Obviously it's kind of hard to explain how to squeegee, but the main goal is to put your squeegee on the glass once, On once and off once, and take the least amount of swipes as possible. I'm right handed and I start around the far left mid of the window and go up to the top left corner to the top right corner, down to the bottom right corner back up and left-right my way down 'til I'm finish. You will probably have better luck 'youtubing' a tutorial. But realistically, You have a mop soaked with water, your bound to spill water. Just bring towels/rags with you and try your best to be neat. I hope I answered your questions :)

Was there anyone on your crew with a fear of heights?

Good question. Quite a few people who had no experience would apply for the job thinking that it was easy or didn't take any balls. So we would give them the benefit of the doubt and give them a shot. We would set their gear up and have them ready to jump over the building. Many of these people would just walk away... and we would never hear from them again. Some would break down in tears, and even one guy pissed him self.

Just how dangerous is this job? I don't recall ever hearing about a window cleaning accident. And if it is dangerous, I am guessing you're getting payed well. How much do you make... let say... per month?

If you know what your doing, it's a pretty safe job. However the simplest mistake will really hurt you. If you 'youtube' window washers or something a lot of accidents will probably show up. On the contrary, pay is rather low for the risk. In a month before taxes and insurance I would make roughly $2500 - $3000.

Ever do anything exciting on the lift-thingy?

I did most of my work off of a bosom chair. Basically, I hang from 2 ropes and sit on a chair the size of my ass. I have done some crazy stuff on that though, lol. Some Tony Hawk 900's and crazy swat jumps, so much fun.

I was thinking more inappropriate stuff but that was an interesting response. I think I would shit myself if I was sitting in a chair with two ropes hanging off it cleaning a window on huge skyscrapers.

Well, as much as I would love to fool around with a girl on a skyscraper, I don't think too many girls would be down for that, lol. 99% of buildings we service are office buildings, so I think they might be angry, haha!

Ever see any good parties? Any banter?

Ive seen a boat party, they came back later at night when it was dark and the boat was packed. This was in Wisconsin.

Whats the hardest stuff to get off windows?

Probably oxidation. The acid we use burns thru skin and is the worst! I accidentally spilled some on my hand once, my skin is still scarred.

Ever wash the windows for the Willis Tower (all though you probably still call it the Sears Tower)? Any pics of that? The Skydeck is too damn expensive.

The will tower has automated window washing... if your lucky or patient you will see a rather large black box going up and down the building. I think renaming it was stupid and pointless. Most people still call it the sears tower and will probably always call it that. The SEARS tower has automatic window cleaning machines that scale the buildings.

I work on 209 W Jackson (Jackson and Wells). Done anything around there?

55E. Jackson, I do the Chicago theater across from Fox News. I actually might do 209, Is that a Marc reality building? If so I probably do it. I have quite a lot of Marc Reality's.

I'd love to come up with you once, just to see what it feels like.

I no longer do highrise or live in chicago ;( I moved to New Hampshire.

Which building(s) gave you your favorite view?

There's a 20 story building in Itasca that sits over a lake and you can see the Chicago skyline in the distance. I'll post pics when I get home. Here's an album of some of my favorite pictures.

How do you handle extreme weather (like strong winds, show storm, etc.)

Wind is a hell. Anything over 15 (wind speed) is NOPE. We will work in light rain as long as it doesn't effect our work. Once heavy rains come our gear becomes soaked and potentially ruined. Snow doesn't really effect us, although cold does. Once it becomes freezing temps. we have to use chemicals to prevent the water from freezing. Extreme heat also hurts us, Imagine turning your stove to high and dropping some water on it, it dissipates instantly. This is what happens when we apply water to windows in the summer sun ;( even if its not that hot out.

About 6 years ago, my crew was in Lafayette, IN, working on a 20+ story building. The weather was rather nice out, but a storm came in very fast while they were near the top of the building. By the time they got half way down it was pouring rain and the winds were 20mph+. Their ropes became tangled and they were stuck. The wind was so strong that it was pushing them around the corners of the building. Long story short the local fire department came along with ambulance and had to rescue them. They were to high for the ladders to reach them so they instead broke the windows out and pulled them inside. Pretty scary stuff.

First I must say you are so handsome... Do you always see some awful things in office?

Thanks, lol... I don't see too many awful things. We service mostly office buildings, so mostly just chubby guys typing away.

Wow, what are you doing at the moment?

I moved to New Hampshire last fall and I am studying to be an architect.

Why would you ever quit that job!?!?

Because its a dead end job.

How long does it take to clean an entire building's windows? (If you're comfortable answering this) how much did you get paid?

Each building is different in size, glass counts, shape, etc. There are so many different variables to account for, but with a crew of 4 experienced guys I can finish most average buildings within 2 days. I worked for a non union company and was making 15/hour.

Have you ever caught anyone naked or in the act of doing something illegal?

I caught a guy jerking off in a vacant suite once... that was pretty disturbing.

I work retail and have really bad dreams about work. Unable to close a sale, unhappy customers yelling at me for something I don't know even though I did... you know, weird dream shit. Do you have dreams about falling? Every time I think about heights, my asshole clinches up. Just a fun fact.

I never had full dreams about that kind of stuff. However I did day-dream and imagine shit quite a bit. But mostly right before the first time I ever climbed over. After that I became rather cocky while I was hanging. I did a lot of things that would have OSHA up my ass if they knew.

How do I get a job doing this? I can't seem to find a way to get into this industry?

Almost none will hire you for highrise if you have no experience. I suggest finding a company and start on low rise. Do that for about a year or until you have become very good and fast at washing windows. From there you should request to be put on highrise, if you're good enough I'm sure they will be more than happy to train you. But yeah, it's not something you can just do, there's a few prerequisites.

How's the pay? Seems like a pretty chill job if you can handle it, dangling from ropes while you listen to tunes. Ever thought you were going to fall? Ever heard of anyone falling?

I was paid $15/hour out of a non union company. Union makes $17+ starting. So I was being shorted quite a bit for my experience. Yeah, there's been a few times where I almost pissed my self. I would climb over the ledge and I would keep falling for 3-10 feet. Sometimes, if you do pull out enough slack you just sink, and its a really weird feeling, lol. There's nothing you can do but look down and pick a spot to land, lol...

My friend also worked as a high rise window cleaner. Back in the 80's. I asked him what was his biggest memory. He told me that while he was cleaning the window of a large high rise apartment building and through the window he could hear the phone ringing (before cell phones)....he saw this woman running out of the bathroom with her pants down to her ankles just to answer the phone....he saw this and she saw him where she jumped down b/w the bed and managed to pull her pants up. Needless to say he felt embarrassed for her but thought it was a funny sight.

Ya, I haven't seen to much of this type of stuff because we do 99% of office buildings, but every so often you will catch someone in the act doing something they shouldn't be.

RopeTec Window Cleaners Excel In Ghana, A Stuntman In Dubai

Like ‘spider men’ embarking on a rescue mission, Ropetec operators were observed hanging and washing the windows of the ‘Opeibea House’ suspended only by ropes.

"Labourers On Rope" Hit Town: High-rise buildings in Ghana can now be serviced without the hassle of a scaffold, following the entry of Ropetec Ghana Limited, a registered rope access company, into the Ghanaian market. This resulted from the recognized need for specialised inspection and maintenance services in elevated, almost inaccessible locations. According to Bobby Dicks, Country Manager of Ropetec, the company specializes in Rope Access and Accessibility, offering inspection, maintenance, industrial and civil solutions. Speaking to The Business Analyst after a demonstration of its operations in Accra last Saturday, he said the company offered a wide range of specialized services to both the marine and industrial sectors.

Like ‘spider men’ embarking on a rescue mission, Ropetec operators were observed hanging and washing the windows of the ‘Opeibea House’ suspended only by ropes. The job, which would have taken weeks if scaffolds had to be used, took a few hours to complete in a clear demonstration of the ‘high-tech’ involved. Bobby Dicks said Ropetec Ghana had completed various projects in the past few months, all located on offshore installations, involving non-destructive testing (NDT), blasting, painting and general maintenance. He indicated that the company, which was established in September 2010, became operational in September 2011, after successfully completing all registration legalities and requirements. The Country Manager told the paper that Ropetec Ghana currently employs five (5) rope access technicians all of whom have the internationally accredited and required IRATA (International Rope Access Trade Association) Level 1 certification.

In addition, he stated that two of the technicians are certified Level 2 UTM Inspectors (ultrasonic thickness measuring) which is used in NDT. Trained in South Africa and based in Accra and Takoradi, the five technicians now form part of Ropetec Ghana’s operations, which has identified skills development of the local labour force as a key component to sustainable and equitable growth in Ghana. Ropetec Ghana is a division of Ropetec International (RI) which has its Head Office in Dubai and Operations Office in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to Ghana, S. Africa and Dubai, RI also has registered offices in Brazil, Namibia, Congo, Nigeria, Abu Dhabi and Angola, which is its largest operational base. Over 400 skilled contractors work for RI across the globe, which began trading in 2000 in a response to the need for the quick mobilization of specialized Inspection and Maintenance Services in elevated and inaccessible locations such as offshore installations.

In keeping with the international standards of RI by providing skilled staff to clients with minimal delay, Ropetec Ghana offers Inspection and Maintenance services to the Offshore and Industrial sectors. However, Ropetec Ghana has taken the lead in RI by training and employing local Ghanaians prior to commencing operations. Traditionally, Ropetec International ensures projects are procured prior to employing full time staff. IRATA rope access system is a safe method of working at height, where ropes and associated equipment are used to gain access to and egress from the work place and to be supported by it. The advantage of using rope access methods mainly lies in the safety and speed with which workers can get to and from difficult locations and then carry out the work, with minimal impact on other operations. There are three Levels of rope access technicians: L1, L2 and L3 with the third level being the highest.

All work sites must have at least one L3 rope access safety supervisor on site as the designated person responsible for the safety of the rope access systems plus the L1 and L2 rope access technicians who work under his supervision. The different levels are as follows: At L1 – the technician is able to perform a specified range of rope access tasks under the supervision of a L3; At L2 – the technician is experienced with L1 skills plus more complex rigging, rescue and rope access skills under the supervision of a L3 and; At L3 – the technician is capable of taking complete responsibility for rope access safety on all work sites and has the extensive knowledge of advanced rigging and rescue techniques, plus holding an appropriate and current first aid certificate and can become a site supervisor.

In order to progress to the next Level the L1 technician must have logged at least 1,000 working hours using rope access techniques and have worked for a minimum of at least one year; the L2 technician must have logged a combined total of 2,000 working hours and a minimum of two years’ experience, a minimum of four days further training followed by stringent assessment conducted by an independent international IRATA assessor. Before any work scopes are undertaken whether onshore or offshore, strict safety precautions are taken in the form of Client liaison , Job Safe Analysis , Risk Analysis , Work Method Statements , Rescue plan , Medevac procedure and daily toolbox talks before any work commences.

The rope access technician is able to add additional skills to his rope access certification in fields such as Welding and gas cutting – aerole rigging, NDT (Non Destructive Testing), blasting and painting, NACE painting inspector, mechanical and electrical, roller painting and window washing. The rope access technician together with his other certifications will be able to work on almost any work site and provide a quick, safe and productive solution to the Industrial and Oil and Gas sector. Ghana currently contributes to the oil production on the African continent, which boasts the highest worldwide growth of oil and gas production. Between 1999 and 2008 Africa’s oil production growth grew at a rate of 3.4% p.a. compared to the Middle East, which only averaged 1.8% and placed it higher than any other region in the world. Looking at the future growth in Ghana, Ropetec Ghana has analyzed the local labour force and realised the critical need for investment into it if both international companies and local Ghanaians are going to be able to dually benefit from the oil boom in Ghana that is currently on the horizon.

Ropetec Ghana firmly believes that for local Ghanaians to equally benefit from oil exploration and extraction in their country, there needs to be a substantial investment by both the private sector and government into skills transfer and development of the local labour force, specifically in the artisan sector which is where rope access technicians are positioned. Not only will local artisans become employable in a specialized niche market but it will make foreign investment into Ghana far more attractive as the local labour market will be able to service the requirements of the oil and gas industry.

Continuing on their strong belief in education as a key component of upliftment, Ropetec Ghana has entered into an exciting partnership with the Computer Centre Project, located in Beyin in the Jomoro District in the Western Region. As part of their CSI (corporate social investment) policy, Ropetec Ghana has identified the Computer Centre Project as a vital project to equip learners with essential computer skills when entering the job market. Ropetec Ghana is therefore committed to both the on-going development of local skilled labour and looks forward to long term and sustainable investment into Ghana.

If allowed, Eskil Ronningsbakken would become the second daredevil to carry out a life-threatening stunt on Burj Khalifa. Above, he does a balancing act on the Great Wall of China.

Stuntman aims to balance on Burj Khalifa, Dubai: In the 23 months since it opened, the world's tallest building has been a magnet for base jumpers and free climbers. Now, an extreme balancing artist wants to perform a death-defying handstand on its summit. Eskil Ronningsbakken, a former circus performer from Norway, has asked the owners of the Burj Khalifa for permission to perform the stunt, which he hopes to be "contrary to all physical laws". He would set up a ladder, secured with rigging, at the spire of the Burj Khalifa, then balance on one hand at the top of it, his body pointing out at an angle away from the building. "Why would I not want to do it?" he said. "This is how I live. This kind of performance is as natural to me as meeting in court is for a lawyer." If he gets the go-ahead, he would become the second daredevil to carry out a life-threatening stunt on the building.

Earlier this year, France's self-proclaimed "Spiderman", Alain Robert, climbed the height of the tower. He was granted permission on condition - grudgingly accepted - that he used safety harnesses. Ronningsbakken is no more willing, but said he too would use a harness if he had to. "If use of safety is the only way to get the necessary permissions, then I will be open to discuss it," he said. "But I don't like the thought of it. "People around the world commit mistakes and end up in accidents every day, even they have a safety system, a harness or a life vest. That's mainly because they rely too much on external equipment, instead of using the natural tools they were born with."

Robert himself slipped and fell briefly on his way up the 828metre building, a fact he later attributed to the psychological difference between climbing with a harness rather than without. Traks, a company that trains the abseiling window cleaners on the Burj Khalifa, helped set up the rigging for Robert's ascent. The company founder, James Falchetto, said the stunt was possible, in theory. "It's pretty windy up there, though," he said. Ronningsbakken is unconcerned about the wind, though, having spent part of his career learning to adjust to wind pressure. "I always have to work with the wind, and never try to force it to be the way I want it," he said. "I also learned how to read the intervals of different winds, the directions and strength without using modern instruments."

A spokesman for Emaar was unavailable for comment. However, Ronningsbakken said he had previously applied for permission, soon after the launch, and been rejected. He hopes Robert's climb had opened the company to other artists. "I just hope they will loosen the bag and shake out some positive energy my way," he said. Ronningsbakken was inspired at the age of five by the visit of an Indian yogi to his village in the rural wilds of Norway. As soon as he was old enough, he joined the circus and later became a more serious balancing artist. Although he comes close to death on a daily basis through his art, he rejects any suggestion that he has a death wish. "No one who wants to commit suicide behaves like us," he said. "I would rather like to describe my art as living 100 per cent in the moment."

How To Rescue A Window Washer

Firefighters Conduct Window Washer Rescue Training at Portland Providence: This week, Portland Fire & Rescue firefighters from Station 1 participated in a rescue drill at Portland Providence Medical Center in NE Portland. Pictured above, rescuer en route to victim; time is of the essence in these types of rescues.

Rescuer contacts the victim. The drill included a simulated rescue of a window washer whose equipment malfunctioned.  The window washer began by rappelling about one story down the side of the six-story building and then tied off, playing the part of a victim awaiting rescue. Portland firefighters took turns being lowered to the window washer, securing to the victim’s harness, removing the washer off his rope system, and lowering him safely to the ground.

The edge person oversees the rescue and is in charge of overall safety and communication with the rescuer. During the drill, firefighters utilized “two points of contact” in their system. This means that the rescuer and patient are always attached to the system by two ropes, a mainline and a safety line, that are part of a system. The mainline is the working rope that is used to do all the work. The belay (safety) line is attached to a separate anchor and a different point on the rescuer and patient on their harness. In the event of a failure of the mainline, the belay (safety) line is always there to catch the load. This type of redundant system is essential in maintaining a sufficient safety factor for not only the firefighters but also those being rescued.

The rescuer performs an assessment of the victim upon initial contact. Firefighters used specialized equipment including helmets, gloves, harnesses, static rescue and safety ropes, pulleys, and other hardware.

The rescuer attaches rescue equipment to victim and lowers the victim to safety. The simulated rescue went smoothly.  The close to 40 firefighters involved in the rescue drill are members of Portland Fire & Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team. These members are trained in high angle rope rescue and are skilled in the use of ropes and other rigging gear to use in high angle rescue scenarios. 

According to Station 1 Lieutenant Jamie Ziegler, “Our firefighters frequently practice rope rescue skills and this drill was a great way to prepare for a complicated rescue.” Photos by Dick Harris, Portland Fire & Rescue.

Skyscraper News

Mixing business with pleasure - David Graham starts his descent from the top of Customs House.

Broom with a view - rock climbers love their cleaning jobs: Most people dream of working their way to the top. But it’s the exact opposite for a group of Canberra window cleaners. The 14 employees of Touchdown Building Service spend their workdays cleaning the exterior of Canberra’s largest buildings – and the job isn’t done until they hit terra firma. The army of thrill-seekers conducts all manner of highwire activities, from cleaning windows to installing birddeterrent spikes. The type of job isn’t important, as long as it involves dangling precariously several metres above the ground.

And the views are to die for. Surprisingly, Touchdown Building Services spokesman David Graham described the job as a ‘‘stress free’’ way to make a living. Mr Graham said the majority of the industrial window cleaners are rock climbers seeking to mix business with pleasure. ‘‘The scare factor is what people think when they see us working, but it doesn’t worry us,’’ Mr Graham said. ‘‘[We] see people through the glass at their desks and we’re glad we’re on the outside of the building. It seems to give [the office workers] a bit of a thrill, it must take them out of their mundane work routine.’’

Mr Graham said Canberra had a number of large buildings that require cleaning about twice a year, meaning there is always plenty of work for the adrenaline junkies. He said the design of modern buildings meant they required cleaning by abseilers. ‘‘The architects who design these large buildings don’t stop to think about how to clean it, birds nesting, and stuff like that.’’ But the job isn’t as easy as just hanging from a rope. Each industrial window cleaner must complete a week long Australian Rope Access Association course before they are hired.

One World Trade Center at Ground Zero rises up into the air March 9, 2011 in New York City. Construction continues at the Ground Zero site on the signature skyscraper, with workers up to nearly sixty floors of the building's planned 104-story height.

A view of the West Side Highway is seen from near the current top of One World Trade Center at Ground Zero March 9, 2011 in New York City. Construction continues at the Ground Zero site on the signature skyscraper, with workers up to nearly sixty floors of the building's planned 104-story height.

A general view of the Shard building on January 13, 2011 in London, England. The Shard will be the tallest skyscraper in the European Union on its completion scheduled for 2012, standing at 1,016 feet.

The moon rises behind the Burj Dubai, the world's tallest skyscraper. The Burj Dubai skyscraper stands over 800 meters (approximately 890 yards) and is currently the tallest structure built by men.

New highrise office buildings and hotels, many of them still under construction, stand illuminated in the new City Center and West Bay district at sundown on October 24, 2010 in Doha, Qatar.

Chicago-based firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture recently announced that it has won an international competition to design the Wuhan Greenland Center，which will likely be China’s third-tallest building，and the fourth tallest in the world，when completed in about five years at 606 meters (1，988 feet) high. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer in Wuhan near the meeting of the Yangtze and Han rivers. A project of the Shanghai-based Greenland Group，the 119-level Wuhan Greenland Center will be comprised of about 300,000 square meters of floor area, including about 200,000sm of offices，50,000sm of luxury apartments and condominiums，a 45,000sm five-star hotel, and a 5,000sm，27-meter-tall private club with spectacular views at the tower’s penthouse level.

Still under design， Wuhan Greenland Center features a uniquely streamlined form that combines three key shaping concepts—a tapered body， softly rounded corners and a domed top—to reduce wind resistance and vortex action that builds up around super tall towers. The building’s extremely efficient aerodynamic performance will allow it to minimize the amount of structural material (and its associated embodied carbon) needed for construction. The tower’s three corners rise from its tripod-shaped base and taper upward, culminating in an arched tip above the dome at the top. The corners will be of smooth curved glass，contrasting markedly with the more textured curtain wall cladding the body of the tower. The curtain wall will enclose a composite concrete core with steel framing. Apertures in the curtain wall at regular intervals will assist in venting wind pressure against the tower; the apertures will also house window-washing systems and air intake and exhaust systems on mechanical floors.