Client: Ovens National School (Principal: Mr. Andy Concannon)
Location: Ovens, Co. Cork
Project Date: Easter School Holidays, 2026
Sector: Commercial & Educational Facilities Maintenance
Lead Specialist: Keith Sheehan (Architectural Technologist & Exterior Cleaning Specialist)
Services Provided: Softwash cleaning of prefabricated buildings, controlled courtyard powerwashing, high-reach gutter maintenance and minor repairs, pure-water window cleaning, and deep drainage hygiene disinfection.
Planning, Walkthrough & Health & Safety Protocols
Site Walkthrough & Scope Agreement: Formal campus walkthrough alongside Principal Andy Concannon to inspect elevations, define restricted access zones, and finalize an agreed schedule of works before deployment.
Site-Specific RAMS: Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Method Statement approved prior to setting up equipment.
Hose & Equipment Cordoning: Machinery sequestered and hoses managed to eliminate trip hazards across school walkways.
Access & Surface Safety: Strict ladder positioning protocols and active wet-surface monitoring to manage temporary slip risks on freshly cleaned footpaths.
Holiday Window Execution: Completed entirely within the Easter holiday non-occupancy window to ensure total separation between machinery operations and daily school life.
Leveraging Keith Sheehan’s 35+ years of architectural construction and building maintenance experience, Biosoft executed a multi-phase, surface-calibrated workflow:
Assess → Identify Surface → Evaluate Risks → Select Method → Control Work → Deliver Result
1. Softwashing Prefabricated Buildings Prefabricated modular classrooms feature delicate composite paneling and sealed joints easily compromised by high pressure. Biosoft applied low-pressure softwash treatments using DAFM-registered biocides to gently eliminate organic staining, moss, and atmospheric grime without forcing moisture into panel seams or window seals.
2. Controlled Courtyard & Hard-Surface Cleaning High-traffic concrete play areas, courtyard paving, and perimeter footpaths received calibrated mechanical cleaning. Water pressure and flow rates were adjusted specifically to remove embedded grime and slick algae while containing runoff and protecting adjacent building elevations.
3. Gutter Maintenance & Minor Repairs Using high-reach access systems, rooflines and rainwater goods were cleared of silt, leaves, and moss buildup. In addition to clearing blockages, minor maintenance checks and joint adjustments were completed to restore optimal rainwater flow.
4. Pure-Water Window Cleaning & Disinfected Drainage All exterior glazing, frames, and sills were cleaned using 100% de-ionised pure water reach-and-wash systems, drying completely spot-free. Ground-level drainage channels and gully grates received a deep flush followed by professional disinfectant treatments to ensure complete hygiene.
"Different surfaces and situations require different cleaning methods. The cleaning operation should be controlled before the cleaning itself begins."
The completed Easter maintenance programme delivered a pristine, hygienic, and fully restored campus for the staff and pupils of Ovens National School. By matching distinct cleaning methods to individual building materials—softwashing modular panels and calibrating pressure for courtyards—the entire site was restored with zero damage to the building fabric.
Beyond visual transformation, Principal Andy Concannon and the Board of Management were supplied with complete maintenance documentation and safety sign-offs, verifying that all drainage, guttering, and building envelope surfaces were fully inspected and cleared.
"Understand the building. Respect the environment. Control the work. Use the right method for the surface."
