A compliant skylight cleaning robot in 2026 needs CE marking, an IP54 or higher rating for outdoor work, a fall arrest tether rated independently of the vacuum system, and documented wind limits. A datasheet without these four items is not a safety document.
Most buyers read the suction number and skip the rest. That is the wrong order. Suction decides whether the robot holds. Compliance decides whether your insurer pays out when it does not.
Which standards actually apply?
For machinery sold into the EU, CE marking under the Machinery Directive is the baseline, and robots fall within EN ISO 12100 for risk assessment and EN 60204-1 for electrical safety. Battery-powered outdoor machines should carry an IP rating: IP54 covers dust and splashing water, IP65 adds protection against jets, which matters if you clean with a pressure-fed brush.
For lithium packs, look for UN38.3 transport testing and IEC 62133 cell certification. Shipping a robot with an uncertified pack can stall at customs for weeks, which buyers discover only after the order is placed.
Is a tether really necessary?
Yes, on any pitched or vertical surface. A vacuum seal is a dynamic system: it depends on power, on the seal contacting the glass continuously, and on the seal itself not wearing. Three things can fail. A tether is independent of all three.
- Dual-point fall arrest with a rated anchor above the working surface.
- Tether capable of holding at least 4x the machine weight.
- Anchor point inspected before each shift, not once a season.
- A second operator on the ground with a stop control.
If a supplier says the vacuum is redundant so no tether is needed, that is a red flag. Ask for the written risk assessment instead.
What weather limits should you set?
| Condition | Typical safe limit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | Under 15 m/s | Gusts at height exceed ground readings |
| Rain | Light only | Heavy rain cuts seal friction |
| Temperature | 0 to 45 C | Lithium performance and seal elasticity |
| Ice or frost | Do not operate | No seal contact on frozen glass |
The 15 m/s figure is a common industry ceiling, not a universal law. Taller buildings and exposed coastal sites should be set lower, and your insurance wording overrides any generic figure.
What about operator training?
A robot does not remove the need for a trained person. Someone still decides whether the wind is too high, whether the launch point is safe, and whether the seal is worn. Budget half a day of training per operating team and re-train when you change surface type. A crew that only knows flat atrium work will mishandle a 25-degree roof.
Request the compliance pack before you order. The Lingdu Intelligence team will share CE and IP documentation with contact the Lingdu Intelligence team for review by your safety officer.
How should a robot be documented for insurance?
Insurers increasingly want three things: a risk assessment specific to the building, proof that operators are trained, and evidence the equipment carries the relevant certification. A generic CE certificate from a brochure is not enough if the assessor asks for the declaration of conformity and the technical file reference.
Keep a log of every operation with date, operator, surface and weather conditions. If there is ever an incident, that log is what shows the machine was used within its rated limits. It takes a minute per job and it protects the whole programme.
How do you write a risk assessment for a glass roof?
Start with the surface, not the machine. Record the pitch, the glass type, the framing, the fall distance, and every access route onto the roof. Then record what the robot will do, where it launches, how it is tethered, and who watches it. A useful assessment has a named person responsible for each of those, not a generic statement that procedures exist.
The most common gap is the launch point. Crews plan the cleaning route carefully and then improvise how the machine gets onto the glass, which is usually the riskiest moment of the whole job. Decide that in advance and write it down.
Frequently asked question: do robots need their own inspection records?
Yes. Treat the machine like any equipment used at height: pre-use checks, periodic inspection, and records of repairs and part replacements. A log showing a seal was replaced on schedule is exactly the evidence an insurer or a client auditor asks for after an incident.
Keep it simple. A single sheet per machine with date, operator signature, seal and tether condition, and any anomaly is enough. Complex systems get abandoned after two weeks, and an abandoned log is worse than none because it shows the process was not followed.
If you need the compliance documentation pack to hand to a safety officer, contact the Lingdu Intelligence team and request the CE and IP papers directly.
Finally, revisit the assessment whenever the building changes. A new rooftop unit, a replaced glass panel, a different cleaning interval or a new operator all invalidate parts of the original document. Set a review date each year and after any incident or near miss. Compliance is a living process, not a folder produced once for the first inspection.
Key Takeaways
- CE marking, IP54+ rating, certified tether and documented wind limits are the four non-negotiables.
- Lithium packs should carry UN38.3 and IEC 62133 certification for legal shipping.
- Treat 15 m/s as a working ceiling, and lower it for exposed or tall sites.
- Never operate on ice or frost: the seal cannot grip frozen glass.