Confined space cleaning in London
London’s buildings go down as well as up. Offices, hotels, shops and industrial units often have basements, plant rooms, service tunnels and tanks that rarely get cleaned, because few people can safely get into them.
HSE defines a confined space as somewhere enclosed or largely enclosed with a reasonably foreseeable risk of serious harm, such as fire, explosion, loss of consciousness, asphyxiation or drowning. So it’s the risk that matters, not just the size. A large tank can be a confined space, and a small room may not be.
| Space | Common risks | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Basements and plant rooms | Dust, fumes and poor ventilation | Survey the space, then clean to a safe working plan |
| Service tunnels and ducts | Limited access, dust and low oxygen | Plan the way in and out before anyone enters |
| Tanks, pits and pipes | Chemical residues and dangerous gases | Identify what’s been stored there, then plan the clean |
| Cavity wall spaces | Tight access and dust | Choose equipment that suits the space |
HSE says you should avoid carrying out tasks in confined spaces wherever possible, assess the risks and plan how to control them, and have emergency arrangements where necessary. Our process follows that order. We investigate the space, identify risks such as chemicals, dust, lack of oxygen or dangerous gases, and create a safe working plan before work begins. See confined space cleaning for more.
High level cleaning: before and after
High level cleaning in London
High areas are often the most neglected parts of a building, because they can’t be reached without access equipment. Our operatives are certified to work at height, and they’re trained to use cherry pickers and scissor lifts safely. We clean:
- Warehouses and depots, including roof steelwork, lighting, ducting and racking tops, on sites such as those in Park Royal, Barking and Brimsdown
- Offices, shops and hotels, including high ceilings, atriums and signs, usually outside opening hours
- Building exteriors, including windows, cladding, brickwork, masonry, gutters and fascias. See facade and building cleaning in London.
Read more about our high level cleaning service. We can also help with refurbishment or painting if the clean shows that more work is needed.
Planning the work around a London building
A busy building makes access harder. During the site survey, we check the route for our equipment, including door widths, lifts and floor loadings. We also talk to you about how the building is used, who needs to be kept clear of the work and what your permit to work system requires.
We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so we can work at night, at weekends or during a shutdown. Where work happens over an occupied area, we plan it so that nobody is underneath.
If the job involves the street outside, we can organise the licences for MEWPs on the pavement with your borough.
How a specialist access clean works
- Free site survey: we look at the space, the access and any hazards, and advise on the expected works and cost.
- Safe working plan: you get risk assessments and method statements for the job.
- Site rules: our crews complete your inductions and work under your permits to work.
- The clean: carried out by trained operatives at agreed times, with waste removed and recorded.
- Work report: we walk the site with you and issue a report on what’s been done.
Accredited, insured and documented
Locus is SafeContractor-accredited, Constructionline Silver and a BICSc corporate member, and our operatives hold IPAF and CSCS cards. We’re registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier (CBDU320327).