THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF CLEANING NEW WINDOW GLASS IS BY USING SCRAPERS
Cleaning new
windows has become more challenging for window cleaners in the past few years. Traditionally window cleaners have used scrapers to
remove debris such as paint, adhesives, or stickers from uncoated glass. This not only applies to the initial cleaning but
to subsequent cleaning throughout the life of the window. They
dont scratch uncoated glass when properly used. Scraping is
still the most practical method for removing certain types of construction debris and sometimes scraping is the only method to get the desired result. When used on the problem tempered
glass scrapers may produce fine scratches. Scratched tempered glass
has become a major issue in recent years.
FABRICATING DEBRIS: A NEW PROBLEM IN THE GLASS INDUSTRY
Fabricating debris is a quality issue, not a technological one. When glass is produced in a factory properly
there is no problem.
Fabricating debris consists mostly
of tiny microscopic glass chips and glass dust that get baked onto the surface of some tempered glass. These surface defects,
also known as glass fines, may create scratches when they are dislodged and trapped by a scraper during window cleaning.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN TESTING FOR THE PROBLEM
Tempered glass scratches
caused by fabricating debris have distinct characteristics, not to be confused with other types of scratches. Fabricating
debris scratches are typically finer and more numerous than other common scratches. Fabricating debris is not a theory - it's a fact.
POSITION OF THE GLASS INDUSTRY
The glass industry has
taken a new position in recent years, since 2004, that scrapers should no longer be used to clean glass. They admit there
is a problem with the product.
POSITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WINODW CLEANING ASSOCIATION
The IWCA advises window cleaners not to accept responsibility for finding fabricating debris on tempered glass.