Rank: New forum user 
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I am looking for advice on what kind of equipment or gadget would be best to use to clean the underside of a very large sheet of glass. This is part of a unique piece of equipment. It is approx 3m square and can be raised to approx 1m high. The problem is that it is horizontal and very heavy. We do not want anyone to go under the sheet of glass because of the remote possibility of it falling and because they would have to adopt an uncomfortable position to clean the glass.
Unfortunately the company that manufactured it it no longer in existance, so we cannot turn to them for safe working instructions.
We have thought of the magnetic cleaning systems but the glass is too thick for this.
Only alternative we can think of is the type of cleaning pole window cleaners now use, which may be rather difficult to wield horizontally.
Does anyone have an alternative please
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Can it not be turned the other way up to be cleaned?
John
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Rank: New forum user
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have you tried a hot water power wash.
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Rank: New forum user
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Unfortunately the only way the glass moves is up and down. We cannot turn it.
It is housed in a large room with a lot of electrical equipment and so can cannot use any form of power wash
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Rank: Super forum user
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Can the arrangement that makes it go up and down be changed for one that flips it up instead or as well?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I presume the glass sheet is flat and the surface beneath it is too? If so, would it not be possible to use some kind of trolley to push underneath with a cloth attached and raise it so it is is in contact with the glass? Probably not ideal but might do the job?
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Rank: Super forum user
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If the glass is ALWAYS flat I would hope that it is toughend and laminated. The end result would be for toughend only would be thousands of little squares of glass not bigger than 4mm. If toughed/ lam/toughend apart from the center of impact on the under side falling out the rest will (should) stay put.
Ingnoring fears, what is the glass covering? Is there a solid surface to stand / kneel on underneath? Is the window double glazed? If the building is comparatively recent have you access to the safety file?
Badger
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Rank: New forum user
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We had a similar problem with the large beds on silk screen printing machines which raised horizontally in the same manner as your situation and far less than a metre to work in.
These had to be cleaned very frequently and the safe system that we adpoted was simply to use suitable drop blocks to prevent the screen dropping more than a few inches, should the hydraulic lifting system fail.
The operative could then go beneath on his back to clean the screen.
We carried the work out under a permit to work system, with the necessary PPE to protect the operatives face.
This proved a perfectly safe and satisfactory operation and there were never any incidents.
In addition we had to COSHH assess the solvents used for cleaning the ink residue - presumably you are only using water.
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Rank: Forum user
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I think the best solution is the simple one you already had in mind. With the use of an extension pole, applicators and squeegees. some times the most simple ways of doing it are the safest ways too. have you got any water sensitive components in the area beneath the sheet of glass?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Anglin30064 wrote:We had a similar problem with the large beds on silk screen printing machines which raised horizontally in the same manner as your situation and far less than a metre to work in.
These had to be cleaned very frequently and the safe system that we adpoted was simply to use suitable drop blocks to prevent the screen dropping more than a few inches, should the hydraulic lifting system fail.
The operative could then go beneath on his back to clean the screen.
We carried the work out under a permit to work system, with the necessary PPE to protect the operatives face.
This proved a perfectly safe and satisfactory operation and there were never any incidents.
In addition we had to COSHH assess the solvents used for cleaning the ink residue - presumably you are only using water.
Sounds like a good answer to me.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Various postings have talked of "drop blocks" and this is exactly the approach that was used in heavy engineering when employees had to go under/inside large metal stamping presses. I believe they called them "scotches".
As has been said the chance of the glass shattering seems remote and if toughened then failure (a low risk) would give rise to small pieces not dangerous shards.
If space is small i.e. headroom is low give employee one of those wheeled trolleys used by vehicle mechanics
Phil
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