asked to bid cleaning the interior possibly exterior of this plant. The plant manager wants it done in two to three days at the most. What they want cleaned is the sugar dust that is sticking to the wall with mold. The cleaning area is roughly 45,000 sqft. I’ve attached some photos and want to see if this is even reasonable. I don’t have any employees, but work with other local pressure washers. I have a 8gpm washer a 12v system and a p40 gas system. They don’t want degreaser used only things like sh and they would want to see sds sheets on surfactant. Is this job possible without scrubbing? Is the time frame reasonable for two washing companies? They have lifts we can use as well. I’m debating on quoting this as I’ve never done a job like this. Any advice would be great
I’d start by doing a test spot in several different areas just to make sure that SH will indeed do the job.
Sugar dissolves best with hot water…at least in my kitchen.🤷🏼
I don’t think you can use SH in a place that dispenses ‘food’ without serious permitting and other factors.
I’ve never washed a sugar plant but I’ve washed hundreds and hundreds of oil and natural gas drilling rigs and they are laid out very similarly to what you’re looking at there.
Two days is probably unrealistic. Three days could definitely be doable but everyone running a man lift better be a better than average operator or else they will really slow things down.
Obviously, work in sections and start at the top. SH should definitely take care of the mold and mildew but you’ll probably want hot water to help rinse away all the stickiness from the sugar crystals. Having hot water could shave a lot of time off the job and may even clean some of the organics off without using chemicals depending on how bad the organics are in any given area.
You’ll need a floor squeegee for every hand on the job. When you get down to the main sub floor you’re going to need guys washing and other guys pushing water where it needs to go. Obviously, you need to determine where exactly you’re going to direct the runoff. I’m assuming this place is probably subject to EPA and FDA inspections and they won’t like moldy sugar water running into a local stream or whatever. Recovery would probably be best but if you can steer clear of that I definitely would.
I, personally, would want the area being washed to be closed to anyone not directly involved in the washing process or any necessary staff that has to be involved to LOTO or whatever the case may be. ABSOLUTELY follow along and verify that any equipment in the area is properly LOTO’d and that your guys are safe. No job is worth a life and mistakes happen. It’s best to personally follow the LOTO guy around and observe him so that you know unequivocally that it was done properly.
One thing I’ll say is that we often used turbo nozzles to clean metal structures and that industrial paint will often flake and chip when hit with any pressure. You may want to add a disclaimer in your quote about that possibility so that you’re not liable.
Make sure you have at least one extension wand per machine. There will be places that you can’t get the lift to and places your guys can’t reach. An extension or two will solve that.
Good luck!
Wow so much wrapped up in this response. Thank you for taking the time to respond with such detail. To answer everyone without more than one post I’ll put in one response. I did a test spot and the mold of course was cleaned. The sugar definitely needs the water and the warm water is a great idea. I have no idea how to work a lift so three days sounds like I can’t meet their timeframe. I believe they have drains and lead to holding ponds… I don’t have a recovery system only boons for the storm drains. The plant manager said 12.5 is what they use all the time and that would be acceptable. They said they run 24/7 and can shut down one side so being closed off completely won’t work for them. Thanks for mentioning LOTO I saw the machines and didn’t think of that. At this point I believe it’s out of my scope I need to talk to my other local washer, but I thought it would be some great information regardless.
That looks like a miserable job. What ever you bid, add at least 15-20% for stuff that comes up or just because if you’re like me, you’ll under bid it
Well hold on now! It looks like a lot but really when you piece meal it out it isn’t that bad. We’ve washed complete drilling rigs from crow’s nest to the red dirt and everything in between in 10 hours before with a crew of three guys and an operator running two hot water machines. It can definitely be done.
With that being said, if you don’t know how to run a man lift I am just assuming neither do your helpers. Also, there’s a difference in knowing how to run one and being certified to run one. Places like that probably want to see certificates but you’d be surprised. I wouldn’t personally turn anyone loose on a job like that with no training on how to operate a lift. Just way too dangerous. In the future, especially this off-season, you should go get certified. It’s not all that expensive and sometimes they have deals where if you sign up a few folks at a time you get a break on the price. It’s extremely helpful knowledge and skills to have.
If you go for it, keep us posted on how it goes!
Excess sugar dust can lead to a potential explosion. Check into the 2008 sugar plant explosion near Savannah, GA and be sure that you won’t be encountering or assisting in creating something similar.
Thank the guy for the opportunity, give him your card and tell him if he ever needs the exterior or the floors cleaned to give you a call. Just be honest with him and tell him you don’t have the necessary equipment and experience to feel comfortable doing. Ton of equipment, wiring, etc in there, plus operating with others in the building going to be a real PITA and 3 days is pushing it w/o an experienced crew.
Yes I agree with you. No one knows how to operate a lift. I would probably struggle the first day maybe more. I thought about giving him a bid that was a higher price, but I know it will be miserable. I appreciate all the help I’m going to let him know this afternoon.
I am not disagreeing with the thread derailer, but I have a slightly different take on lifts, and I don’t know anything about cleaning a sugar factory. Most lifts are pretty straightforward to operate. I would assume it would take you 10 minutes max to feel comfortable operating it, if someone gave you a brief rundown on how to operate it. If you haven’t done lift work, it will take a few wobbles or sways of the lift before you start to become accustom to it and more comfortable. Alternatively you could tell them your bid includes them providing lift operators for your gig, if they require certifications to run their lifts. Maybe work out having them give you and another 1-2 people on your crew a lift lesson the day before. The guys/gals at the factory know exactly which units operate “funny” or “tricky”, or have problems.
I wouldn’t want any lift on a job, where there is a time factor present, that you couldn’t move around the work area from the platform. The time spent going up and down, then moving, would be a killer. Just be careful with hoses when changing heights, so they don’t get pinched. Do something to take the weight off your arms with the hose (tie off on platform). 30-50’ of vertical hose with water in it gets heavy after a minute or two. You will fatigue quickly. have a hose handler while moving. I would also bring some old 10-12’ 2x4’s or 2x6’s to put on either side of your hoses, that way in an industrial setting the tires of vehicles aren’t going over your hoses. You will have to readjust them from time to time. Big trucks tend to kick them around. I’ve done it before and have been pleased when the big trucks ride over (peace of mind).
There are several people on here that have done many lift jobs that could give you pointers. There are also several threads on here about big jobs people have done. I would hit them up with some DM’s and maybe a phone call or two. So many members here are willing to go the extra mile, I have been helped out a lot.
I don’t get a lot of commercial gigs, but when I have the maintenance people have always been overly helpful. It breaks up their regular boring routines, and unless it causes them extra work that they have to do in addition to their daily assignments, they love to talk to someone new. There have been a few grumps, but mainly helpful people. Union gigs are a different animal altogether, and sometimes not worth the problems from my perspective.
I’m a part timer, it is winter here, I have a keyboard and plenty of time. sorry for the long reply.
If you get chummy with a sales guy from one of the rental companies local to you, they may train you and a couple of guys for little or no cost, for the promise of potential future rentals to you. They’ve done it for us in the past, and we rent one 2-3x a year, max.
That’s essentially what we did, too. But there was a Terex training facility in OKC so we got training straight from the “masters”. But yeah they gave us a great deal since we had like 30 people that needed it.
So I just got off the phone with the plant manager and respectfully declined. I told him with the time restraint I didn’t want to get in there and make promises I can’t keep. The plant Manager was super happy that I was honest with him. He also told me anytime they have exterior work he would call me. Thanks everyone for the help!
Interesting. What about the dust is flammable?
https://www.csb.gov/imperial-sugar-company-dust-explosion-and-fire/
14 deaths
I can’t wrap my head around it, but it’s a real thing
Good God. I don’t remember hearing about this but I was in like 10th grade in '08 so I had other priorities but jeebus. That’s crazy
i think just about anything that can burn, when put into a smaller particle it has the potential to ignite, same with grain silos.
and i may be mistaken, but static electricity is the ignition source.
ugh, way to ruin my day there… 
Lol anytime!
