Crime Scene Cleaning

Crime Scene Cleaning.

TV series like Silent Witness and the multitude of American 'cop shows' graphically bring crime scenes into your living room. But when the white suited detectives, pathologist, SOCO and photographers leave, that's it. It's all make believe so the studio staff and cleaners simply dismantle the set, tidy up and move on.

In real life, things are obviously very different, it is up to the family, business or local authority to clean up the mess. Imagine how that feels. But from the 1990s, help was at

hand, the first crime scene cleaning specialists began to appear.

It's not just crime scenes that require cleaning, trauma scenes are often messy too. Left uncleaned, it isn't very pleasant for passers-by after a serious road accident. Nor is it pleasant for factory workers to pass a nasty stain where one of their colleagues was killed or badly injured. Crime scene cleaners handle a wide variety of other messy situations including violent deaths, animal-fighting sites, drug manufacturing labs, scenes where a body has badly decomposed and so on, each of which carries its own particular dangers and unpleasantries.

How does crime and trauma scene cleaning work?

Companies such as ourselves who offer this specialist service have a team of highly trained experts on hand. They are able to swing into action at very short notice in order to clean and sanitise any crime scene or trauma scene, however bad.

Many pathogens and diseases can be transmitted via bodily fluids which can make cleaning a crime or trauma scene potentially dangerous. During a crime or trauma, blood and other bodily fluids are split and splashed around. These soak into soft surfaces and can creep into cracks in walls and floors. Our professionally trained crime scene cleaners make sure that cleaning and decontamination is carried out safely and thoroughly using our own specially formulated cleaning and sanitising products. All work is carried out sensitively and with an awareness that just cleaning a carpet or chair is not sufficient. If there's a thumbnail-size bloodstain on the carpet, there's a good chance that there's a much larger bloodstain on the floor underneath it that needs to be dealt with.

The very act of cleaning can spread potential biohazards so the first step is to seal off the area to prevent accidental contamination of other areas. Once cleaning and sanitising is completed, the waste material needs to be safely transported for appropriate disposal.

The team carry with them a wide variety of tools, cleaning chemicals and equipment as well as heavy duty personal protective gear and containers in which to store and transport the biohazardous materials and any body parts that may have been left behind. When they arrive, they assess the nature of the clean up required and select the appropriate equipment but we will spare you the details here.

Experience counts.

The APT crime scene cleaning team have cleaned crime scenes & trauma scenes for domestic and commercial clients. We have experience in dealing with (but not limited to):

·         suicides / attempted suicides

·         homicides

·         decomposing bodies

·         property clean ups following squats, vandalism and burglary

·         road traffic accidents

·         industrial accidents

We can also remove the traces of a forensic investigation and always leave the scene hygienically clean - minimising any further risk or disruption to your home or business.

So if you are in need of an expert team to clean a crime or trauma scene, talk to us on  01495 308 048 for a confidential and sympathetic service. 

Dilapidation for Companies - Landlord

Dilapidation for Companies   - Landlord 

Have you just been handed notice by your long-term tenant? or worst still your tenant has been in arrears for several months and has moved out overnight

You are concerned how to manage the situation? several thoughts come to mind

how long will it take to find a new tenant?

what are the void costs associated with the empty property, rates, contractual utilities, maintenance cost and ongoing security?

the legal costs of chasing the absconding tenant

the cost of the buildings integrity keeping and maintaining the property at its best for potential tenants

security against theft of vandalism

best case scenario your long-term tenant has given good notice period and has been a good tenant who has maintained the property and even made good some authorised improvements to your commercial property 

How can we help you?

we can support both you and the tenant to assess the terms of the lease and make any arrangements to carry out works under the lease agreement the that the tenant maybe required to do along with any additional improvements you feel maybe necessary to enhance and improve the property and ensure its ready for re marketing. this is always advantageous position for you as your outgoing tenant  

may wish to engage us directly and we can arrange to schedule to carry out any works during the notice period we can also arrange to carry out your requests works ensuring early advertising and completion at the time of handover

the typical works might include: remarking car park and road pathway repairs, facade and high-level cleaning, exterior decoration, new lighting, signage and fencing. these are always good as potential clients can see the commercial property is well kept or that you are a serious landlord

this is ideal best case you can be confidant all the works are carried out as per the dilapidation schedule and are completed on time so you can just focus on the re marketing

The absconding tenant

you need to quickly access the damage situation to limit cost exposure. this needs to be done quickly and in detail in order to quickly bring the case for the delapidations claim for your legal team to process

this includes full assessment of the lease agreement and detailed property survey to check and record in detail all items and costs to put the property back to the original state together with a time managed programme to allow the commercials property agents to re advertise and market your asset as quickly as possible limiting ongoing void periods

we can help by carry out the full survey and list all items required under the lease to pass over to your legal advisors to ensure the claim is clear and easy to process

we will also advise and a separate detailed list of any suggested works for your consideration that could improve the property to ensure an easy re let. we do this by being at the pinnacle of our game we are often able to provide costs effective repair rather than renew suggestions to lift the aesthetical outlook of any commercial property. we do this by combining our abilities and experience to pull together all the necessary works and deliver a detailed cost effective package for our clients working as part of your team.

we can assist you when dealing with your legal team to secure any losses, we work with your insurers and other authorities to manage your claim

we cover a board range of commercial property repair services in all industrial commercial property and retail sectors

we have our own dedicated team of specialist and labour force to manage and deliver your project including a commercial and retail managing agent, commercial properties surveyor specialising in dilapidation, specialist’s insurance adviser and fire officer (in case of fire risk regulations or suspected foul play) all available when required to advise and assist you in processing your claim

why do we care so much?

we own commercial and residential portfolio and know only too well the time and interference to the business when involved in managing these situations and it is our goal as your third party to limit your exposure to further and often un quantified costs of managing these matters

Should you wish we can also simply just liaise with your own team of officers, dilapidation surveyors to ensure every aspect of the dilapidation is reported and addressed and carried out to the exact specification or offer some cost-effective solutions to many tasks with the goal of saving you thousands of pounds

As a word of warning don’t leave the dilapidation work in the hands of generic renovation companies. By using specialist dilapidation contractors, you can ensure the work will be done first time, to the agreed specification only, keeping detailed records of your dilapidation works and costs to a minimum to consolidate any claim or negotiation  

Tight deadlines.

Getting the property back to a state of good repair or pre-leased condition can seem like a daunting task and not to mention it is time-consuming .this can be costly if not approached right! and can cause delays in processing the claim and in finding the right team to manage the project through to re marketing the property .missing key points or not carrying out the dilapidation clear up quickly can add extra costs for the overruns and further loss of income which you may be unable add into any claim . Let our expert dilapidation contractors do the challenging work and worry for you.

We will work with you carry out a free site survey of your premises, discuss your schedule and any concerns you may have. We will guide you toward the most cost effective solution to satisfy all parties. We can either carry out a full managed project or just partial selected works programme to ensure the best cost effective outcome. Through our experience, we will often be able to negotiate to carry out satisfactory repairs instead of replacement.

Optional services: -

Deep Cleans - We can carry out a full deep clean of the premises leaving it in pristine condition. Our team of high level cleaners will clean both the exterior and interior of the premises as well as roof and façade cleaning and repairs if necessary.

Painting - If re-painting of exterior or internal walls is required to return the building to pre-leased condition our team of time served painters will carry out the work to meet your exact requirements. We can colour match finish where necessary.

Building Maintenance and Repairs - Our team of dilapidation contractors can even make repairs to fixtures and fittings that have been damaged through general wear and tear. Where required for commercial retail units we can arrange for full white box handover.

Removals and Waste Disposal- As part of our dilapidation cleaning service we will also remove and dispose of any unwanted furniture and equipment, check light fittings and fixtures and make necessary repairs including remedying any damaged masonry.

Apt are registered waste carriers and can ensure the Security, fencing and road repairs

Keywords-   Dilapidation schedule

Schedule of dilapidation       20

Dilapidation                          3600

Dilapidation surveyors          10

Dilapidations report               20

Renovation companies         10

Dilapidation costs                  30

Dilapidation for Companies - tenant

Dilapidation for Companies  - tenant

Have you just been handed a dilapidation schedule by your landlord? Are you concerned about the costs that could mount up? Don’t panic, we can take away the stress caused by cleaning up after moving out of a rented commercial property.

The end of a lease on a commercial property often means a lengthy schedule of dilapidation from your landlord to work through within a tight deadline. Getting the property back to a state of good repair or pre-leased condition can seem like a daunting task and not to mention it is time-consuming and can be costly if not approached right! Avoid the legal repercussions of not carrying out the dilapidation clear up properly, or worse you have not completed the works by the agreed exit time and have extra added costs for the overrun and additional excess rental amounts, let our expert dilapidation contractors do the challenging work and worry for you.

We will work with you carry out a free site survey of your premises, discuss your schedule and any concerns you may have. We will guide you toward the most cost effective solution to satisfy all parties. We can either carry out a full managed project or just partial selected works programme to ensure best cost effective outcome. “we will through our experience often be able to negotiate to carry out satisfactory repairs instead of replacement which can result in huge costs savings”

some of the keys areas to look for where we can optimise your savings

Deep Cleans - We can carry out a full deep clean of the premises leaving it in pristine condition. Our team of elevated level cleaners will clean both the exterior and interior of the premises as well as roof and the facade cleaning if necessary.

Painting - If re-painting of exterior or internal walls is required to return the building to pre-leased condition our team of painters will carry out the work to meet your exact requirements. We can colour match if necessary.

General maintenance - Our team of dilapidation contractors can even make repairs to the external and internal structure and surfaces including sheet cladding, security fencing, road repairs or the fixtures and fittings that have been damaged through general wear and tear. Where required for commercial retail units we can arrange for full white box handover.

Removals - As part of our dilapidation cleaning service we will also remove and dispose of any unwanted furniture, plant and equipment, check light fittings and fixtures and make necessary repairs and also remedy any damaged masonry.

Should you wish we will liaise directly with your landlord and your dilapidation surveyors in order to ensure every aspect of the dilapidation report is addressed and to the exact specification which is then detailed in a final report for your records

we have as part of our commercial team a

commercial property manager

commercial property surveyor

commercial insurance specialist

As a word of warning don’t leave the dilapidation work in the hands of generic renovation companies; by using specialist dilapidation contractors you can ensure the work will be done first time, to the agreed specification only therefore, keeping your dilapidation costs to a minimum.

Keywords

Dilapidation schedule

Schedule of dilapidation        20

Dilapidation                            3600

Dilapidation surveyors          10

Dilapidation report                20

Renovation companies           10

Dilapidation costs                   30

Why is Soda Blasting the preferred choice for Architects?

Why is Soda Blasting becoming the preferred choice of Architects for Cleaning Buildings? 

Because the APT Eco Precision Blast System is revolutionary; - It is an environmentally friendly, non-destructive, non-abrasive blasting process using specially formulated granules of natural bicarbonate of soda and controlled amounts of compressed air. No harmful conventional chemical cleaning products are used.

Soda blasting is by far the quickest, safest and most cost effective method to clean and remove decades of pollution, residues, micro-organisms and coatings from virtually any surface without damaging the substrate.

Blasting soda is an extremely friable and soft material that undergoes micro fragmentation on impact, taking away surface materials without damaging the fabric of your building or surface.  Soda particles fracture on impact thus providing the energy for a thorough cleaning action while softening the impact on the substrate. 

For a deeper understanding of soda blasting go to www.aptsodablasting.co.uk

Commercial Cleaning Companies

Commercial Cleaning Companies

Small business are unable to employ full time cleaning staff with increasing costs of wages and the need to ensure that all staff can add value to the company, fewer businesses can now afford to do this. Add into the mix the need for buying and maintaining stocks of cleaning chemicals and ever more complex cleaning equipment that is only ever used occasionally, things are even tighter. This is where specialist Commercial cleaning companies come into their own

Since their role is cleaning, the equipment in the possession of a cleaning company is used frequently and is therefore a viable proposition. They are able to buy materials in bulk or even, like ourselves at APT, develop and stock their own range of specialist cleaning chemicals - we sell our top quality products to many other trade companies in the commercial cleaning industry throughout the uk .

Choosing a industrial or commercial cleaning company

You have probably found this blog post because you are searching for a specialist cleaning company to give you sound advice on any deep cleaning project and put your business back to the required standard .we are your partner for your business cleaning needs. Here is our insider's guide to how you can choose the right one for your project.

1. Budget

Cutting corners with your cleaning budget is always a false economy. Cheap cleaning companies will buy in cheap products and cheap cleaning chemicals seldom work well and can have a long term effect on your surfaces such as industrial flooring .Floors will dry with unsightly streaky marks, toilets will remain smelly, kitchen areas will not be properly sanitized and so on. The equipment bought by companies offering rock-bottom cleaning prices are often no better than those bought for domestic use so cleaning will be less effective than companies who have invested in professional machines. Each area of your business needs a different treatment, the range of equipment and chemicals available to a budget cleaning company is more limited therefore less specialist cleaning will be available.

2. Planning

A good cleaning company such as ourselves will visit your premises before the first clean and take a close look at exactly what is needed. We are then be able to decide what equipment and the type of chemicals that are needed for surfaces and areas to ensure that you receive effective results and value for money. We will also discuss with you the best way to minimise disruption to your daily routines or production schedules . Look for a company who is willing to be flexible about cleaning hours - APT staff are accustomed to cleaning out of business hours in order to ensure the smooth running of your business is not compromised by cleaning operations.
all services of industrial and commercial deep cleaning ,high level cleaning ,kitchen and duct cleaning. 

3. Reputation

This is possibly the most difficult to find out. Once you have shortlisted a few potential companies, you should then research their reputation. If possible, research their reputation locally. Check with the chamber of commerce, Small Business Federation, chat with friends who work for other companies and so on. Verify any professional body membership claims - reputable companies will have taken the time and effort to satisfy strict criteria. Most cleaning companies, ourselves included, post jobs that they have carried out. This can also act as a useful guide to experience and reputation.

4. Health and Safety

During the cleaning process, there is the possibility that your staff, visitors and in some cases, passers by, will be open to harm from machinery and chemicals. A reputable cleaning company like ourselves will always offer the assurance that the necessary steps will be taken to ensure the work is carried out within the remit of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To benefit from our experience and expertise as a cleaning company call 01495 308048 for a free, no-obligation chat with our friendly and knowledgeable team.

Stone Masonry Cleaning Restoration

Stone & Masonry Cleaning & Restoration

Our years of experience in the property restoration, cleaning and historic building conservation industries has built us a reputation for excellence and APT are relied on across the UK by architects, historic environment services, conservationist and building restoration companies. We have worked on some of the most prestigious buildings in the UK and are approved by CADW, the Welsh Heritage Trust. 

Natural Stone Cleaning

Our Eco Soda Blast system can transform your building, restoring it to its former glory – all without causing any damage to the brick or stone work. It can even remove several layers of paint that have accumulated over the years, revealing the original brick or stone underneath.

We understand that preserving your original brick or stone work is paramount. Our trained professionals adjust the Eco Soda Blast equipment to suit the exact needs of your building so that even ornate stone work can be cleaned effectively without causing any damage to the surface.

Soda blasting doesn’t work by abrading the surface, as sand blasting or bead blasting would, making it an excellent stone and brick cleaning method.

During soda blasting, crystals of bicarbonate of soda (blasting soda) are fired at the stone or masonry to be cleaned. The crystals shatter and the energy released is transferred to the coating, which then breaks off. The process works from the outside in whereas conventional blasting removes the soiling in one fell swoop and can damage the stone or brick below.

Blasting soda is a soft material (the same hardness as talcum powder) so once the coating has been removed, it will not abrade the potentially delicate surface of your historic stone work or bricks.

Soda Blasting can be applied wet or dry and at variable pressures from 25psi to 160psi, allowing cleaning to be tailor made for each contract, thus producing the optimum finished results. Controlled surface preparation achieves SA1, 2, 2.5 & 3 cleaning to provide maximum re-coating performance.

Building cleaning

The uses of soda blasting in refurbishment projects are many and varied and can be applied to commercial and industrial buildings, as well as individual listed and historic properties. The sensitive nature of soda blasting makes it an ideal cleaning method for heritage sites and historical buildings where preservation is essential. We only use high grade soda that is suitable for use on listed buildings.

However, its applications are not limited to exterior masonry. The Eco Soda Blast System can uncover the charm of old interior walls, enhancing the aesthetic appearance of any room or as a method of preparing walls that are to be re-plastered.

We also specialise in cleaning surfaces that have been damaged by fire. Soda blasting will remove the black residue caused by fire leaving the substrate intact as well as effectively neutralising odours.

Masonry Restoration

Masonry can become tarnished and unsightly because of pollution and general degradation over time, the versatile nature of our Eco Soda Blasting system means that it can be used for a large variety of applications.

Soda blasting is now recognised as the only safe method to effectively clean and remove…

ü  Carbon Residues

ü  Lime & Cement Based Paints

ü  Paint Residues

ü  Some Oil Based Paints

ü  Bitumen

ü  Lime Scale

Full TORC system details »

ü  Effervescence

ü   

ü  Paint Coatings

ü  Certain Types of Graffiti

ü  Bird or Vermin Fouling

ü  Algae, Moss, Fungi

ü  Other Biological Matter

ü  Wax Coatings

Full DOFF System details »

ü  Carbon Pollution

ü  Smoke Residues

Full Clean-Film details »

ü  Grime & Dirt

Full Nebspray details »

ü  Copper Staining

ü  Bronze Staining

Full Cuprid details »

ü  Oil Stains

Full Oilrid details »

ü  Iron Stains

Full Ferrid details »

ü  Soot

ü  Metal Oxides

ü  Calcium Deposits

ü  Oxide Residues

Full Calcimex details »

ü  Mould

ü  Grease and Oil

APT are the leading soda blasting company in the UK so call us now for help and advice with your stone cleaning or masonry renovation needs.

Why Now is a Good Time to set up a Kitchen Duct Cleaning Programme

Why Now is a Good Time to set up a Kitchen Duct Cleaning Programme

After a serious fire, how long does it take for a commercial kitchen to recover? 1 month? 6 months? No-one can really tell, but what is certain, is that it will have an impact on business long after it is dealt with - higher insurance payments, cost of refurbishment and loss of customer confidence.

In cases where cooking is the core activity of a business, such as in a restaurant, a kitchen fire will have an immediate and severe impact. In businesses such as pubs or clubs, where cooking is an integral, but not central, part of the business, a kitchen fire can easily spread, impacting on the more important areas.

Grease deposits are a Fire Hazard

During many cooking operations, hot oils evaporate. The grease fumes condense on plenums, kitchen extractor fans and inside extractor system ducts. Not only do these pose a health hazard by harbouring bacteria and attracting insects and other pests, they are a fire hazard unless they are cleaned thoroughly.

Cooking oils are designed for use at about 200^oC. When thermostat failure or human error occurs, oils can be inadvertently heated above their flashpoint and are easily ignited, creating a kitchen fire. Old and frequently used oils ignite at lower temperatures so kitchen operators trying to save money by using cooking oils for as long as possible are exposing their staff and business to an increased risk.

According to Richard Norman of the Building Engineering Services Association (Ref: Modern Building Services Magazine July 2014 issue), grease build up in extractor systems is a major hazard in commercial kitchens. He says that in ninety percent of instances of a kitchen fire, a subsequent grease fire in ducting has spread the fire more widely through the building. It is therefore imperative to carry out regular kitchen duct cleaning and kitchen extractor fan cleaning. This reduces the fire risk and increases kitchen hygiene too.

Changes to Best Practice

Many insurers demand that duct cleaning is carried out in accordance with the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) recommendations. A few insurers require a greater than recommended frequency of cleaning to keep the fire policy valid so make sure that you have read your policy very carefully. Heavy use kitchens should have specialist duct cleaning at least once every quarter or even once a month whilst light use kitchen ducts and extraction systems should be cleaned at least once per year.

The BESA recommendations are set out in publication TR/19. This is entitled 'Guide to Good Practice - Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems'. The second (and most recent) edition of TR/19 includes reference to the British and European Standard BS EN 15780 concerning the cleanliness of ventilation systems. This does not include kitchen extractor systems, nevertheless, BESA made changes to highlight the current best practice to minimise the risk of a grease fire in a kitchen duct.

It is section 7 that concerns commercial kitchens or food processing plants where cooking is required as part of the process. The last round of changes to section 7 concern the frequency of cleaning. A new table has been drawn up showing how often kitchen duct cleaning should take place. Each kitchen has a unique set of circumstances. The new table approaches that issue by publishing figures based on cooking type and hours of cooking.

Certification

When hiring a commercial kitchen cleaning firm, always check beforehand that they will issue a valid certificate the designated hygiene manager also has the responsibility to check and verify the contractors policy stipulates duct cleaning cover otherwise in the event of a claim the client may not be covered under the policy always ensure documentation is verified of duct cleaning as this is also a requirement of many insurance policies.

Responsibility

Commercial kitchen cleaning is a highly-specialised area requiring both expertise and an in-depth knowledge of both hygiene and fire regulations. Employing a non-specialist contractor could lead to a heavy fine for the owner or manager of the kitchen.

How come?

The Fire Safety Order of 2005 stipulates that the 'responsible person' must ensure that both the facilities and equipment are subjected to a suitable system of maintenance. All must be in good working order and repair. If it is shown that the fire was started or caused by negligence such as poor cleaning of a kitchen duct, then there will be at least a heavy fine. If anyone is killed in such a situation, they face prison.

Choosing your Kitchen Cleaning Contractor

must key word : check suggested

commercial deep cleaning ,industrial cleaning , commercial kitchen cleaning ,kitchen canopy cleaning

,commercial pressure washing ,duct cleaning, cooker hood cleaning  

products  ,heavy duty  oven cleaner , gel oven cleaner ,commercial over cleaner

Heading : commercial kitchen cleaning

Client :     Swansea colleges -commercial kitchens Carillion

PROJECT:  to carry out commercial deep cleaning of kitchen and food preparation outlets 

Client Problem 

APT were called at short notice with only a two week period .this was normally a planned cleaning programme of three weeks full closed out . some of the Main kitchens were under partial refurbishment and the commercial hotel outlet were still in operation

the client required annual deep cleaning of all food processing and all food preparation outlets within the colleges .there were several main kitchens requiring full professional deep cleaning and sanitising and five small food serving areas .most of the large commercial kitchens required full deep cleaning including large cooker hood cleaning and duct cleaning with all the internal and external ductwork cleaning tasks these  included the of cleaning aluminium filters and copper pans with Metasoak safe aluminium cleaner 

Method

apt specialist hygiene division and commercial cleaning team took up the task to carry out the kitchen deep cleaning and the high level duct work cleaning team carried out the difficult ventilation and cooker hood tasks using apt Metasoak safe aluminium cleaner to safely clean aluminium cooker filters

the hygiene team use apt specialist cleaner and sanitizer Magnaclean to clean stainless steel hard surfaces . commercial oven cleaners and fat trap grease remover for the unblocking drains and grease traps .

 metal soak was used to clean copper pots , pans and remove baked on carbon and grease to clean deep fat fryers

the Kitchen Deep Clean several student kitchen outlets - Deep clean all areas in the kitchen, including walls, floors, ovens, ducting, filters, cupboards, utensils, copper pans, all crockery was de stained to  remove tannin

Result

the job was completed on time ands with great customer feedback received from the client college services manager mark duthy

the annual hygiene inspection was passed with flying colours . Robert the catering manager said the pans were as good as new .the hotel outlet use only Magnaclean to clean kitchens  replacing several other products 

please click here to see more project photos /videos -link

Client testimonial

“Having used several companies in the past without success, APT were recommended and delivered outstanding results for our clients. They were professional and managed the works with no disruption which was a bonus, I will continue to use APT for the foreseeable future.”

Matthew Emmanuel Carillon

Beware of commercial cleaning companies and individuals who undercut specialist businesses ... they are cheap for a reason! Make sure that you hire the best - call APT today on 0800 0723 773 for a free quote or advice without obligation. We have been at the forefront of the industry, offering one-off deep cleans and regular maintenance cleaning contracts for over 25 years. Our technicians are fully trained and qualified to carry out duct, plenum and extractor fan cleaning.  

why not call us now free on 0800 0723 773 and let one of our experts discuss your new project  or go to www.apt-icc.co.uk