Facilities management
Planning canopy cleaning: what belongs in the work order?
· Shades Systems
When dust builds up over an entrance or parking area, cleaning the canopy fabric and its frame may look like one line item. Define the fabric and metal finish separately and identify the applicable care document for each before approving a contractor’s proposal. This checklist helps specify the work; it does not prescribe a cleaning method.
Identify the asset and its surfaces.
Record its location and asset ID, and take condition photos from a safe position. Obtain the installed membrane code and metal finish from the handover file or supplier. Colour and photographs cannot establish the material grade. If either surface is unidentified, record that gap rather than assuming the same process suits both.
Get a written method for each surface.
Ask the contractor to reference the installed product’s care document and revision, explain how proposed materials and tools will be checked for compatibility, and name the decision maker for cases the instructions do not cover. Treat cleaning, retensioning, connection repairs and refinishing as separate scopes.
Plan around an occupied site.
Identify affected walkways, parking bays and visitor entrances. Have the contractor document access arrangements, separation from users and wash-water handling before scheduling work. A membrane or frame is not an access route simply because it can be reached. Refer tears, deformation or damaged connections to a qualified specialist before proceeding in that area.
Define acceptance before work starts.
Agree the area covered and the before-and-after condition records. Note any inaccessible area or damage found during the work. Stain removal alone is an insufficient acceptance test: the records should also show unresolved damage and avoid implying that extra work was approved.
| Item | Record |
|---|---|
| Membrane | Product code and care instructions |
| Finish | Coating reference and supplier instructions |
Record the applicable document for each surface
Record the membrane code, coating reference and document revisions. The SOLTIS instructions illustrate a care document for a defined family. Interpon distinguishes coating categories and region-specific warranty terms. Base the work method on the documents for the installed products.
Handle discrepancies before work begins
If the contractor’s proposal lists a different product or method from the care record, record the discrepancy in the work order and have the designated approver resolve it before scheduling the affected area. Keep the approved revision with the asset record.
Close out the asset record
Attach the completed scope, condition photographs and any issues referred for separate review. Record the membrane and finish references alongside the approved method so the next contractor can trace the decision.
Frequently asked questions
What belongs with the work order?
The asset list, condition photos, care references and operating constraints.