U.S. General Services Administration
Technical Procedures Disclaimer
Prior to inclusion in GSA’s library of procedures, documents are reviewed by one or more qualified preservation specialists for general consistency with the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitating historic buildings as understood at the time the procedure is added to the library. All specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.
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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.
PART 1–GENERAL
1.01 SUMMARY
A. This procedure includes guidance on the preventative maintenance and cleaning of aluminum window frames.
B. Aluminum is often thought of as maintenance free . The accumulation of dirt and organic components on aluminum is a slow process. However, corrosive contaminants, such as chlorides and sulfates, can eventually build up on the surface and attack the surface coatings or even the substrate. Therefore, regular maintenance is very important in preventing the potential for deterioration.
C. See 01100-07-S for general project guidelines to be reviewed along with this procedure. These guidelines cover the following sections:
- Safety Precautions
- Historic Structures Precautions
- Submittals
- Quality Assurance
- Delivery, Storage and Handling
- Project/Site Conditions
- Sequencing and Scheduling
- General Protection (Surface and Surrounding)
These guidelines should be reviewed prior to performing this procedure and should be followed, when applicable, along with recommendations from the Regional Historic Preservation Officer (RHPO).
PART 2–PRODUCTS
2.01 MANUFACTURERS
A. The Procter & Gamble Co.
P.O. Box 599
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513/983-1100
B. BASF-Wyandotte Corporation
Chemical Specialties Division
1609 Biddle Wyandotte, MI 48192
313/246-6100
C. ARCAL Chemicals Inc.
223 Westhampton Ave.
Seat Pleasant, MD 20027
D. Penetone Corporation
74 Hudson Ave.
Tenafly, NJ 07670
2.02 MATERIALS
A. A neutral pH cleaning solution specially formulated for use on aluminum. Procter & Gamble, BASF, ARCAL, and Penetone all manufacturer mild cleaners suitable for use on aluminum. Approved others, may also be used.
- Cleaner should be low foam forming, easy to wipe off and free from staining chloride salts.
- Cleaner should act almost like a glass cleaner, so cleaning both the glass and the frame is easily achieved without damaging or staining either material.
B. Clean, potable water
C. Shammy or clean, soft cotton cloths
2.03 EQUIPMENT
A. Sponges
B. Bucket
C. Soft, nylon toothbrush
PART 3–EXECUTION
3.01 ERECTION, INSTALLATION, APPLICATION
A. Prepare cleaning solution following manufacturer’s instructions.
B. Apply solution to sponge and wipe over window frames. For difficult parts to reach, use a soft nylon toothbrush. NOTE: Some solutions may also be applied to clean the glazing.
C. Rinse with clean, clear water and dry with a shammy or clean soft cotton cloths.