The pressure washing the the Veolia Water Technologies building presented a unique challenge. The Barringer Construction company requested the cleaning on the building where they were performing rehabilitation. The challenge was the backside of the building exists on a steep grade, with no roads and a tree line. Reaching the back of the building was unsafe for ladders or a rope descent system (RDS) and would have required an 80-foot boom lift, which would have added considerable expense to the project.

Instead, the Southern Outdoor team brought in a drone. This approach is fast and cost-efficient, but has a few unique requirements. Our team actually had to get FAA clearance before starting the job! The drone runs on six batteries and is tethered to a hose for water and chemical supply. The pre-cast building needed to be pressured washed with bleach, which the drone was able to accommodate.

This innovative technique has proven to be a success as a useful workaround for those hard-to-reach spots.