Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008 - (Page 20)

HigH-spEEd maCHinEs (continued from page 9) “Ground” Rules speed machine is not like a regular vacuum, it uses centrifugal force. The power is not like a motorized vacuum, though these attachments are a good addition to the high-speed machines. They really do keep the dust off the floor, thus omitting the chore of dust mopping after burnishing. The problem that will occur with the vacuum is the liquid will also accumulate there at the opening of the vacuum. That means not only will the liquid be splattering all over everything, it will also be accompanied by dust. These conclusions are not something I acquired out of a tech manual—this testing was something that cost me a little time and a bit of money. I now have the employees use the mop-on restorer products and the highspeed machines. We have learned from the mistakes made in the past and adopted new techniques for floor care. The only problem now is that I still find bottles of spray buff hidden in the janitor’s closets from time to time. I really hope this information is useful and that you can learn from my mistakes. After all, isn’t this why we are members of IEHA and read EHT—to assist each other? Stephen Miller, CEH, CHESP, is the Chief of Environmental Services at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Centerin Fort Meade, Maryland. He may be reached at (301) 677-8524. the dust control skirt, the liquid will eventually find its way to the motor, due to simple physics. If the bottom of the pad is pushing the liquid down and away, once the liquid gathers in the housing unit above the pad, the force is reversed. This means pulling the liquid to the center and pushing up—where the motor is encased. Now, the liquid will find an outlet because of the pressure being applied, and this will most likely be in the motor. Now, of course, this won’t happen overnight, but probably right after your warranty runs out. When using a mop-on restorer, the product is dry after being applied on the floor; therefore, no liquid is being pushed around. 2. The other main problem goes back to why we use the high-speed machine—to increase production and save money. By this time you’re building up spray buff around and most likely inside the motor, and spray buff is also accumulating on the dust skirt and in the vacuum system. As the dust skirt collects the liquid and goes from wet to dry a couple of times, the skirt will begin to take on a different shape, mainly from being wet and the air pressure making the skirt start to fold out. After use, the skirt will dry in that shape and the liquid will be released from the bottom of the machine at a high rate of speed. Remember, when we use spray buff with the side-by-side, the liquid will push out from under the machine a little. Now, that’s at 175 rpms—just imagine the splatter at 1500 to 3000 rpms! The baseboards will be a mess, as will the walls, kick plates, and anything else in the line of fire. This creates a lot of unnecessary work for the cleaning staff. We know how hard it is cleaning wax off of baseboards and kick plates. This is time-consuming and just plain hard work. 3. The vacuum on the high- By Lauren Riggs Floor care practices and products are a major component of indoor environmental quality. Machinery, chemical products, and standard practices can each hold their own in the offgassing arena. Consider replacing or phasing out materials and equipment where building management has control. If floor care is handled by a thirdparty, ask them to use sustainable best practices. Alternatives to disinfectants, finishers, sealants, and other floor care products should contain minimal or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), be durable, and adhere to other chemical restrictions. Gasoline-powered floor equipment, when appropriate, can be replaced with an electric or battery-operated equivalent to reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions inside the building. As in all maintenance situations, educate employees on which products and equipment to use, how much they should be using, and how often they should be using them. Maintaining good indoor environmental quality does not require an aesthetic sacrifice. Many Green-labeled products have a long life-cycle and a fresh scent or no smell. Research the criteria of different product certifications to be sure they are testing for qualities that matter most in floor care. In the end, a combination of best practices and Green products will improve the environmental quality inside the building. W Log on! www.ieha.org W Lauren Riggs is Coordinator for the LEED Market Department at the U.S. Green Building Council. She may be reached at lriggs@ usgbc.org. 20 Executive Housekeeping Today/October 2008 http://www.ieha.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008� Contents Executive Corner An Easier, Greener, and Healthier Approach to Floor Care Caring for Carpets in 24-Hour Facilities Frugal Housekeeper Case Study: University of Miami My Experiences with High-Speed Machines vs. Spray Buffers Vacuum Floor Care Q&A with Andre Motta Is a Spray-and-Vac System Really Better at Cleaning and Reducing the Risk of Disease? CEU Article The IEHA/CRI Partnership The Green Scene USGBC Green Tip What's in YOUR Janitor Closet? Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members REH/CEH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - October 2008

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