In 2026 skylight cleaning robots sold into Europe need CE marking with a machinery declaration, and roof-grade units typically carry an IP54 or IP65 rating. IP tells you about dust and water, not about fall safety, so height-work rules still apply on top of the machine rating.
What does CE marking actually cover?
CE marking is not a quality badge. It is a declaration that the machine meets the applicable EU directives, for a cleaning robot usually the Machinery Directive plus electromagnetic compatibility. It means a technical file exists, risks were assessed, and a responsible person in the EU signed off. Ask for the declaration of conformity and the machine’s serial in the file. A sticker without paperwork is decoration.
For buyers outside the EU, the equivalent question is which standard the manufacturer tested against. A vendor who cannot name one is telling you something useful.
What does the IP rating really mean for a roof robot?
The IP code has two digits. The first is dust protection, the second is water. IP54 means limited dust ingress and protection from splashing water. IP65 means dust-tight and resistant to water jets. On a roof that sees rain and spray, IP54 is a floor, not a target. A machine with an IPX4 motor near a wet roof deck is a warranty claim waiting to happen.
Do not confuse this with suction performance in rain. A machine can be IP65-rated and still lose traction on a wet pane, because traction is about the cup seal on glass, not about the motor housing. Those are separate problems and vendors sometimes blur them.
What height-work rules still apply to a robot?
| Requirement | Applies to robots? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fall arrest for people | Yes for the operator who deploys it | Still climbs to set and retrieve |
| Roof-edge protection | Yes | Machine can travel off the glass |
| Tether / secondary retention | Strongly advised | Turns a drop into a controlled stop |
| Exclusion zone below | Yes | A dropped 28 kg unit injures people |
| Rescue plan | Depends | If anyone still works at height, keep one |
The pattern is simple. A robot reduces hours at height, so it reduces exposure. It does not erase the fact that someone climbs onto the roof to place it. Sites that drop their manual controls when they adopt a robot are the ones that end up with incidents.
How do you verify a supplier’s safety claims?
- Ask for the declaration of conformity and the test standard by name, not a brochure line.
- Check the IP rating on the motor and the control box separately, because they can differ.
- Request the dry and wet traction limits, in degrees, from a test report.
- Confirm the tether anchor point is load-rated, not a loop of webbing.
- Ask what happens on suction loss: does the machine stop, alarm, or keep driving?
A vendor who answers all five quickly is a vendor you can work with. One who deflects is telling you the documentation does not exist.
Who needs to worry most, and who can relax a little?
High-risk sites are tall, public-facing roofs where a dropped machine lands on people or property. Those need the full package: CE file, IP65, tethers, exclusion zones and a rescue plan. Low-rise internal mall ceilings with barriers below carry less consequence, though the paperwork still matters for insurance.
If you are unsure what your site needs, the insurance and risk note and the contact page are the right starting points.
What documents should arrive with the machine?
A complete delivery package contains the declaration of conformity, the technical file reference, the IP rating for each electrical enclosure, the tested traction limits in degrees on dry and wet glass, the load rating of any tether point, and a maintenance schedule with consumable part numbers. If any of those is missing, the machine is not ready for a regulated site. Ask before the invoice clears, because your bargaining power disappears after delivery.
Documentation is also what your insurer will ask for after an incident. A site with a clean file recovers faster than one reconstructing the paperwork under pressure. Treat the documents as part of the asset, not a formality that goes in a drawer.
Do standards differ by region?
They do. Europe leans on CE and the Machinery Directive. North America leans on OSHA-style workplace rules plus UL or equivalent electrical listings. The Middle East and Asia vary by country, often importing European or US certification as the gateway. The practical advice is the same everywhere: name the standard, keep the certificate, and make sure the electrical rating matches the local supply. A machine rated for one voltage and plugged into another is a fire risk, not a bargain.
Who is responsible when something goes wrong?
Responsibility splits cleanly in most contracts. The manufacturer owns the machine’s design, its CE file and its stated limits. The operator owns how it is used: whether the cups were checked, whether the tether was anchored, whether the wind limit was respected. When an incident happens, the paperwork decides which side of that line it falls on. Sites that keep deployment logs settle those questions in minutes rather than months.
That is why the boring administrative work matters. A signed pre-shift checklist is not bureaucracy for its own sake; it is the evidence that you operated within the machine’s rated envelope.
Key Takeaways
- CE marking means a technical file exists, so always request the declaration of conformity.
- IP54 is a minimum for a wet roof; IP65 is the realistic target.
- The IP rating says nothing about suction traction on wet glass.
- Robots reduce height hours but do not remove height work entirely.
- Tether the machine and keep an exclusion zone below it.