Plain-language definitions for the terms that show up in scopes of work, quotes, and building envelope reports — with a note on why each one actually matters to you.
Annual General Meeting — the yearly strata corporation meeting where owners vote on budgets, including exterior maintenance line items.
Why it matters to you: Your maintenance budget and contract renewals are usually approved here, so timing your RFP ahead of the AGM matters.
The periodic re-inspection and, where required, load testing of a roof anchor or davit system by a qualified person.
Why it matters to you: An expired anchor certification can delay or block a scheduled window cleaning or rope access visit.
A chemical treatment used to kill and inhibit regrowth of algae, moss, and other biological growth on exterior surfaces.
Why it matters to you: Often paired with soft washing on masonry and cladding affected by biological staining.
A self-propelled mechanical lift with an articulating or telescopic arm used to reach elevated work from the ground.
Why it matters to you: Often the fastest, lowest-cost access method for podiums and low-rise buildings with clear ground access.
A simple suspended seat, rigged on rope, used by a technician for spot work or short-duration tasks rather than full-elevation descent.
Why it matters to you: Useful for quick repairs or inspections without setting up a full rope access or swing stage rig.
Operating costs, including exterior maintenance, recovered from tenants under a commercial lease.
Why it matters to you: Determines whether exterior maintenance cost is absorbed by the landlord or passed through to tenants.
A document issued by a contractor's insurer confirming active liability coverage and policy limits.
Why it matters to you: You should require a current COI before any contractor accesses your building or roof.
The exterior finish material applied over a building's structural frame, such as metal panel, masonry, or curtain wall glazing.
Why it matters to you: Cladding type is the single biggest factor in choosing a safe and effective cleaning method.
A row of windows set high in a wall, often above roof lines of adjoining sections, used to bring in daylight.
Why it matters to you: Common on industrial buildings and often requires a lift or rope access even on an otherwise low building.
A written record, often with photographs, documenting the state of a building's exterior at a point in time.
Why it matters to you: Establishes a baseline so pre-existing damage isn't later mistaken for something a contractor caused.
A non-structural, unitized exterior wall system of glass and aluminum framing hung off a building's slab edge.
Why it matters to you: The dominant construction type on Vancouver high-rises — understanding it explains most facade failure modes.
A pivoting arm mounted on a roof used to hoist and support a swing stage platform for suspended access.
Why it matters to you: Its inspection and load-test status determines whether swing stage access is available for your building.
A mandatory long-term financial planning document for BC stratas that forecasts repair and replacement costs for common property, including the building envelope.
Why it matters to you: Exterior maintenance frequency and budget should align with the depreciation report's envelope assumptions.
A water-fed pole technique where purified water flows continuously through the brush head while cleaning, rather than being applied and squeegeed separately.
Why it matters to you: Produces a spot-free finish without a technician needing to dry the glass by hand.
A white, powdery mineral deposit that forms on masonry surfaces as water carries dissolved salts to the surface and evaporates.
Why it matters to you: A visible sign of moisture movement through a wall assembly that's worth monitoring, not just cleaning away.
Exterior Insulation and Finish System — a lightweight synthetic stucco cladding system over rigid insulation.
Why it matters to you: Requires low-pressure soft washing; high-pressure cleaning can drive water behind the panel and cause hidden damage.
A municipal permit allowing temporary use of public sidewalk or roadway space for equipment such as a boom lift or scaffold.
Why it matters to you: Required whenever equipment or its swing radius extends past the property line into public space.
A fall-protection system designed to stop a fall that has already begun, using a shock-absorbing lanyard and full-body harness.
Why it matters to you: Required for rope access and swing stage work where a fall is physically possible during the task.
A fall-protection system designed to prevent a worker from reaching a fall hazard in the first place, typically a fixed-length lanyard.
Why it matters to you: Used on boom lifts, where the goal is to keep the operator inside the platform rather than arrest a fall from it.
The overall arrangement, proportion, and design of windows and other exterior openings on a building.
Why it matters to you: A useful term when discussing facade design intent with an architect or engineer alongside your maintenance plan.
A rubber or synthetic seal installed between glazing components to accommodate movement and block water and air infiltration.
Why it matters to you: Shrinking or displaced gaskets are an early, low-cost-to-fix warning sign of future water infiltration.
Technicians performing cleaning or maintenance work from the ground rather than an elevated platform or rope system.
Why it matters to you: Handles entrances, podium glass, and any elevation reachable without elevated access.
The condition benchmark a building's exterior must meet before being turned over from a developer to an owner or strata.
Why it matters to you: Sets the baseline expectation for a new building's first professional exterior clean.
Permanent damage to glass caused by repeated deposits of mineral-laden water that aren't fully rinsed before drying.
Why it matters to you: Once etching reaches Stage 3 or 4, only glass restoration or replacement — not cleaning — will fix it.
A sealed glass unit made of two or more panes with a gas-filled or vacuum space between them for thermal performance.
Why it matters to you: A fogged IGU means the seal has failed and the unit needs replacement, not additional cleaning.
Industrial Rope Access Trade Association — an international certification body for rope access technicians.
Why it matters to you: IRATA certification is a baseline credential to check for on any rope access crew working on your building.
A formal procurement document inviting qualified contractors to submit a priced bid against a defined scope of work.
Why it matters to you: More formal and binding than an RFP — typically used for larger, competitively scored contracts.
International Window Cleaning Association — an industry association providing training and safety standards for the window cleaning trade.
Why it matters to you: IWCA-aligned training is a useful reference point when evaluating a contractor's safety program.
A documented, site-specific review of hazards and controls completed before work begins.
Why it matters to you: A contractor without a JHA process for elevated or chemical work is a compliance gap worth flagging.
A microscopically thin metallic coating applied to glass to reduce heat transfer while allowing visible light through.
Why it matters to you: Requires non-abrasive cleaning methods — scraping or aggressive pads can damage the coating and void warranties.
A steeply sloped roof or facade section, often at the top of a building, that combines roof and wall geometry.
Why it matters to you: Frequently the most difficult section of a facade to access and is often priced separately in a scope of work.
A single-ply or built-up waterproofing layer applied to a low-slope roof to prevent water infiltration.
Why it matters to you: Blocked drains on a membrane roof are a leading cause of ponding and premature membrane failure.
See Hard Water Etching — permanent glass surface damage caused by unrinsed mineral deposits.
Why it matters to you: Prevention through regular cleaning is far cheaper than restoration or replacement after etching sets in.
The vertical or horizontal structural member that separates and joins adjacent panes of glass in a curtain wall system.
Why it matters to you: Mullion-to-glass sealant joints are one of the most common points of water infiltration on a curtain wall building.
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation issued by WorkSafeBC, setting binding workplace safety rules across BC.
Why it matters to you: Parts 13 and 34 specifically govern elevated work platforms and window cleaning — the rules your contractor must follow.
A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, terrace, or balcony.
Why it matters to you: Often the anchor location or tie-back point for rope access and swing stage rigging.
The low-rise base of a mixed-use building, typically housing retail or amenity space, on which a tower is set back and built above.
Why it matters to you: Podium and tower usually need separate cleaning frequencies and access plans on the same building.
Cleaning using high-pressure water, typically above 1,000 psi, suited to durable surfaces like concrete and hardscape.
Why it matters to you: The wrong choice for masonry, EIFS, or older cladding, where it can force moisture into the wall assembly.
An individual window opening set into a load-bearing wall, as opposed to a continuous curtain wall system.
Why it matters to you: Failures are more localized than curtain wall, since the surrounding wall sheds water independently of the window.
Water treated through resin deionization and/or reverse osmosis to remove dissolved minerals.
Why it matters to you: Enables spot-free drying without squeegeeing, which is what makes water-fed pole cleaning practical.
The controlled descent technique used by rope access technicians moving down a rope from an anchor point.
Why it matters to you: A basic term for understanding how rope access technicians move across a facade.
A system that captures and filters wastewater during pressure washing to prevent it from entering storm drains untreated.
Why it matters to you: Often required by municipal bylaw for pressure washing near storm connections.
A procurement document describing a scope of work and inviting contractors to propose an approach and price.
Why it matters to you: Less rigid than an ITT — allows contractors to propose their own methodology alongside price.
A procurement document requesting a straightforward price against a clearly defined, unchanging scope.
Why it matters to you: Best used when the scope is well understood and price is the primary differentiator between bidders.
An engineered anchor system, often combined with a rope or cable system, purpose-built for controlled descent from a roof.
Why it matters to you: A permanent RDS on your building can significantly reduce rigging time and cost for recurring cleaning visits.
A standardized document detailing the hazards, handling, and first-aid measures for a chemical product.
Why it matters to you: Your contractor should have an SDS on hand for every cleaning chemical used on your property.
A flexible, weatherproofing compound applied at joints between building materials to block water and air infiltration.
Why it matters to you: Cracked, chalky, or receding sealant found during a cleaning visit should be logged and reported, not ignored.
The horizontal bottom edge of a window or door opening.
Why it matters to you: A common collection point for debris and standing water that's often included as a separate line item in a cleaning scope.
A low-pressure cleaning method, often combined with a biocidal or detergent solution, suited to delicate substrates.
Why it matters to you: The correct method for EIFS, stucco, masonry, and painted concrete where high pressure would cause damage.
The cracking, flaking, or breaking away of a masonry or concrete surface, often caused by trapped moisture freezing and expanding.
Why it matters to you: A structural concern, not a cosmetic one — spalling found during cleaning should be reported to the building's engineer.
The opaque glass or panel section of a curtain wall that conceals the floor slab and structural elements between vision glass bands.
Why it matters to you: Spandrel panels can discolour differently than vision glass and are sometimes mistakenly cleaned with the wrong method.
Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians — a North American certification body for rope access technicians, parallel to IRATA.
Why it matters to you: A common alternative certification to check for on rope access crews working in North America.
A rubber-bladed hand tool used to remove water and cleaning solution from glass during traditional window cleaning.
Why it matters to you: Contrasted with purified-water methods, which dry spot-free without one.
The earliest stage of mineral deposit or etching on glass — light, surface-level buildup that's fully removable with standard cleaning.
Why it matters to you: Cleaning at this stage prevents progression to permanent etching later.
Moderate mineral buildup requiring a more aggressive but still non-abrasive cleaning treatment to fully remove.
Why it matters to you: Still reversible, but typically needs a specialized restoration pass rather than routine cleaning.
Mineral deposits that have begun to etch into the glass surface, leaving some permanent haze even after treatment.
Why it matters to you: Restoration can improve appearance but may not fully reverse the damage at this stage.
Severe, permanent etching or pitting of the glass surface that cleaning or restoration cannot correct.
Why it matters to you: At this stage, glass replacement is usually the only remaining option.
The elected group of owners responsible for governing a BC strata corporation's common property and finances between AGMs.
Why it matters to you: The strata council typically approves and manages the exterior maintenance contract on behalf of all owners.
A suspended work platform hoisted from a roof davit or track system for full-elevation access.
Why it matters to you: The fastest way to cover large, flat elevations once rigged, but requires a permanent, certified davit or track system.
A secondary anchor line securing a swing stage or rigging point independently of the primary hoist system.
Why it matters to you: A required redundancy — its absence or poor condition is a safety red flag on any suspended access job.
A telescoping pole system that delivers purified water through a brush head to clean glass from the ground.
Why it matters to you: The fastest, lowest-disruption method for glass within roughly four to six storeys of the ground.
A document from WorkSafeBC confirming a contractor's account is in good standing and premiums are paid.
Why it matters to you: Protects you from liability for a contractor's workplace injury claims — always confirm this is current.
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System — Canada's standardized system for classifying and communicating chemical hazards.
Why it matters to you: Your contractor's crew should be WHMIS trained for any chemicals used on your property.
A scheduled pause in elevated work when wind speed at height exceeds a contractor's safety threshold.
Why it matters to you: A normal part of scheduling suspended access work — build float into any hard deadline.
British Columbia's workplace health and safety regulator and workers' compensation insurer.
Why it matters to you: Sets the binding safety rules for every access method covered on this site and issues the clearance letters you should request.
Send us the term or the document it's from and we'll explain what it means for your building.