CMM – Archives • September 2013 • 13

a button is pressed and 15 seconds later a numerical value is shown that indicates the presence of ATP on the swabbed surface. There is not a standard frequency of use for ATP meters in the industry, but some managers or BSCs may set up a timed regi-men of testing, whether it is weekly, monthly or quarterly. Also, Morrison says some BSCs will use ATP meters more frequently as they are training individuals, as they are taking on a new building and as a proof of service for specific customers. As different standards for cleaning results are created and introduced in various in-dustry sectors — like the upcoming Clean-ing Standard in the education market — the regular use of ATP meters will become more important as cleaners need to provide proof of results, Morrison states. Finally, the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) is a strong proponent of ATP meters, and their continued research in many facets of the cleaning market supports the use of this technology. Air Quality Turning back to OSHA, the agency states that indoor air quality (IAQ) for schools, of-fices and other workplaces is important for both worker comfort and overall health. Poor IAQ has been linked to physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating and irritation of eyes, nose, throat and lungs, according to OSHA. The agency’s list of IAQ factors includes a few subjects directly attributable to the cleaning and maintenance industry. The most applicable sources for indoor air concern are cleaning supplies, dust and other debris, mold, pesticides and re-modeling. For testing IAQ, there are a number of portable, all-in-one meters that indicate the presence of different contaminants. These meters test for a number of possible IAQ culprits, including: ■ CO ■ VOC ■ CO2 ■ NO2 ■ % RH ■ Ozone. ■ Temperature Advancing technology means these IAQ meters are now lightweight and easy to transport, and they frequently offer users real-time results. Also, the meters include compatible soft-ware for computers, and they can be con-nected easily to allow for graphing, data re-view and IAQ reports. Using electronic meters and measurement devices to prove cleanliness and safety is al-ready ingrained in many phases of the clean-ing and maintenance industries, and the use of measurement technology promises to trend upward in the future. Instead of feeling technology trepidation, facility managers and BSCs should look for-ward to providing their customers as much information as possible. Today, the best cleaning operations utilize effective hiring practices, provide the proper training and follow up-to-date processes to generate outstanding results. Now, using measurement devices, these operations can finally provide the test results to prove it. CM In the meantime, we’ve engineered an entire family of superior next-generation models. Now there’s a Clarke scrubber with our exclusive BOOST ® technology that’s the right ﬁ t for your ﬂ oors. All with the original random orbital scrubbing technology that offers chemical-free ﬁ nish removal in a single pass. Save up to 70% in water and chemical usage, with 40% longer pad life and far greater productivity*. *Compared to traditional disc models Trusted. Reliable. Efﬁcient. A Nilﬁsk-Advance Brand ©2013 Nilﬁsk-Advance www.clarkeus.com FREE INFO: Reader Service 202 or CMMOnline.com/freeinfo www.cmmonline.com 13