Plant Services - April 2008 - (Page 60)

reliability Flooring oils, paints and even tire marks. By definition, enzymes are proteins, composed of hundreds of amino acids, which are produced by living organisms. They’re responsible for a number of reactions and biological activities in plants, animals, human beings and microorganisms. They’re found in the human digestive system to break down carbohydrates, fats or proteins. The smaller enzymes can be absorbed into the bloodstream. There are hundreds of thousands of enzymes, each having its own characteristics. For example, an enzyme that can catalyze the breakdown of protein won’t react with fats and oils. Therefore, to make an effective, high-performance enzyme cleaner, the formulation must contain a variety of enzymes. They outperform germicidal cleaners because they digest foreign material upon which bacteria feed. Because of this benefit, enzyme floor-cleaning products fit nicely into the “cleaning green” category and, as a result, are generally used to clean all types of floor-covering materials, including epoxy grout. Don’t practice alchemy Figure 2. Different flooring surfaces require different cleaners. Caution: Mixing certain cleaning agents can release chlorine gas. Cleaning green can be mean The science of enzyme cleaning is complex and too broad a subject matter to be covered here, but the bottom line is that one can’t say that every enzyme will harm epoxy grout. However, it’s safe to say that enzyme cleaners are designed to be used as routine cleaners, which means the surface will have multiple exposures to the cleaner. This raises questions about their suitability and compatibility with epoxy grout (Figure 3). Although exhaustive research hasn’t been done yet, findings reported thus far consistently indicate that repeated use of certain enzyme floor cleaners (in particular, non-rinse cleaners) can cause surface damage, deterioration and erosion of epoxy grout. As exciting as our technology advances have become, we mustn’t let our serious need to focus on our planet’s sustainability override our need for great product expectations to be matched by product performance. Now, more than ever, it’s time to stop accepting something at face value, without looking into potential shortcomings. The question of whether all enzyme cleaners are safe for epoxy grouts remains. There haven’t been enough studies to answer this question. Before considering or specify- Deep valleys Figure 3. It’s possible that multiple exposures to floor cleaning chemicals can eat away at the grout. More resources at www.PlantServices.com Urethane concretes – “The right flooring system means more uptime” Methacrylate coatings – “Building a lasting bond” Green flooring – “Step in the right direction” Flooring trends – “The fab floor” For more, search www.PlantServices.com using the keywords bacteria, cleaner and grout. ing their use, research the grout manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations and test the product to ensure that the particular enzyme cleaner doesn’t degrade the grout. Recently, I came across an advertisement for a green enzyme non-rinse floor cleaner that claimed the product lifts grease from grout lines. This left me wondering what else it’s lifting. On a brighter note, there are cleaning products for epoxy grout, but get cleaning and compatibility details from the manufacturer. In addition, with the advent of nanotechnology and advances in surface-tension management in cleaning, there are alternative cleaners that, by design, offer a safer cleaning and maintenance option. Claudia Lezell is president of the Floor Technology Institute and Inspections Too, Inc. in Friendswood, Texas. Contact her at claudia@ inspectionstoo.com and (281) 286-5197. 60 www.PLANTSERVICES.com April 2008 http://www.PlantServices.com http://www.PlantServices.com http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com

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Plant Services - April 2008 Contents From the Editor Letters The PS Files Up and Running Crisis Corner What Works Asset Manager Technology Toolbox Cover Story Compressors Motors Flooring Web Hunter In the Trenches Product Picks Classifieds Energy Expert

Plant Services - April 2008

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