African Cleaning Review JanFeb 2017 issue

Buyer’s Guide 2017 Edition PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL HYGIENE AND CLEANING

January/February 2017

Selecting a new facility services provider?

The scourge of bed bugs Hand washing techniques Entrance matting and maintenance

Webse Websearch

Africa’s hygiene, cleaning, maintenance, pest control, laundry and facility maintenance services publication is distributed to: end users, building service contractors, multi-service providers and key institutional sectors including government, healthcare, education, retail centres, hospitality, food processing and general manufacturing industries.

Bidvest Prestige Cleaning is a professional and skilled workforce of 48 000 and over 100 years of combined experience. We specialise in contract cleaning, specialised cleaning, landscaping, training, events staffing, healthcare careworkers and mobile toilet hire. Our business philosophy is centred on first class service delivery and ethics.

www.africancleaningreview.co.za

www.bidvestprestige.co.za

CleantexPulire is Africa’s highly specialised international trade exhibition focusing on the latest in cleaning technology, industrial cleaning, hygiene and laundry solutions, sanitation and professional cleaning, pest-, waste-, environmental- and washroom hygiene management.

Direct Cleaning Solutions has been supplying and servicing the cleaning industry for the past 25 years.

We are major distributors of brands of industrial cleaning equipment which include Kärcher, Numatic, Mopping Equipment and Sebo.

www.cleantex.co.za

www.directcleaningsolutions.co.za

Matco is now part of the globally successful COBA International group, headquartered in the United Kingdom with over 30 years’ experience in the matting manufacturing industry. The last two years has seen exciting developments within COBA’s matting business in South Africa. Matco is not just about flooring and matting. We also supply a range of safety knives in our Moving Edge collection.

Neledzi Cleaning Services strives for the utmost quality and value-added services and related products.

Our clients are able to focus on their core business practices while we oversee their cleaning service needs.

www.matco.co.za

www.neledzicleaning.co.za

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Looking for an alternative way to create awareness for your website and simultaneously direct additional traffic to the site? Now you can showcase a picture of your homepage including a brief overview of the company in the Websearch section of African Cleaning Review. For more information or a quotation email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za

Prime Cleaning Suppliers provides locally produced products and services. We adhere strictly to the applicable standards set out by various industry bodies and government organisations.

Rubbermaid Commercial Products is a manufacturer of innovative, solution-based products for commercial and institutional markets worldwide. Since 1968, RCP has pioneered technologies and system solutions in the categories of food services, sanitary maintenance, waste handling, material transport, away-from-home washroom, and safety products. RCP, an ISO 9001:2000 manufacturer, is part of Newell Brands’s global portfolio of brands and continues to develop innovative products.

www.primecs.co.za

www.rubbermaidcommercial.co.za

WORLDWIDE INDUSTRY EVENTS CALENDAR

2017

DATES

EVENT

CITY

COUNTRY

14 -16 March

The Cleaning Show

London

UK

Paris

France

Milan

Italy

Verona

Italy

Las Vegas

USA

Johannesburg

South Africa

www.cleaningshow.co.uk 28-30 March

Europropre www.europropre.com

10-12 April

Tissue World www.tissueworld.com

23-25 May

Pulire www.pulire-it.com

5-8 June

The Clean Show (Laundry) www.cleanshow.com

12-14 June

CleantexPulire

www.cleantex.co.za 11-14 September

ISSA/Interclean

18-20 September

WFBSC 2017

Las Vegas

USA

Berlin

Germany

Berlin

Germany

Shanghai

China

Istanbul

Turkey

Houston

USA

www.issa.com www.wfbsc2017.berlin.com 19-22 September

CMS www.cms-berlin.com

27-29 September

Texcare Asia www.texcare-asia.com

18-20 October

ISSA/Interclean www.issainterclean.com

18-20 October

IFMA Workplace

www.worldworkplaceifma.org

contents JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Vol 18 No. 1

Partners in cleaning Read more about the Nilfisk/Coba/ Matco partnership which provides a one-stop entrance matting fitting and maintenance solution.

Refer to page 28.

African Cleaning Review is aimed at end users, contractors and suppliers of products and services to Africa’s Cleaning, Hygiene, Maintenance, Pest Control and Facility Management Services industries. It is published every other month by: e-squared publications.

Tel: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Fax: +27 (0) 86 672 4794 PO Box 1976, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Website: www.africancleaningreview.co.za @AfricanCleanRev Publishing Editor: Johann van Vuuren +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Advertising: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Administration and Accounts: Nandé Jacobs Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za All editorial contributions can be sent to the editor who reserves the right to publish editorial based on the strength of its content. No articles or photographs may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publishers.

Opinion

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What to consider when selecting a new facility service provider

Industry News

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Green alternative to plastic bags Henry the smiling vac: still smiling after all these years Innovation Award for high-pressure cleaner trigger gun Kimberly-Clark renews commitment to help solve global sanitation crisis Supplier clinches third consecutive Top Service Provider Award Green World Environment Award for Vectair Systems

Pest Control Review

March/April issue: • Washroom cleaning and hygiene • Food processing hygiene

Hand hygiene – adopting a proper hand washing technique The role of entrance matting in keeping facilities clean and safe

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May/June issue: • CleantexPulire 2017 exhibition preview and catalogue • Retail facility maintenance

Educational

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Features

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Advances in digital technology are unlocking water’s circular potential Why cleaning professionals need to familiarise themselves with the ‘two-step’ Aeroplane cleaning 101

Laundry Review

26

20

Training guidelines, proper techniques important for hospitality laundry staff

FM Review Innovative green features at new Serra premises The value that a Quantity Surveyor brings to a ‘green building’ project

Advertorial

30

Planned features for 2017

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Hygiene concern: the scourge of bed bugs

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Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in African Cleaning Review, e-squared publications and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright of all material published in African Cleaning Review remains with e-squared publications and its agents.

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Scrubber innovations for high degree of cleanliness – Hako New innovative high-performance battery sweeper-scrubber – GCE

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Editorial

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Sept/Oct issue: • Healthcare hygiene • High pressure cleaning equipment Nov/Dec issue: • Hospitality housekeeping • Paper products

Announcement

CleantexPulire 2017 dates: 12-14 June 2017 Contact info@cleantex.co.za to book your stand now!

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Goscor Cleaning Equipment unveils a new legend at Zwartkop Raceway

People and Events

Jul/Aug issue: • CleantexPulire 2017 exhibition review • Hard flooring maintenance

Official Publication

Media Partner

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Cleaning the Telkom 94.7 cycle challenge route

African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

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from the editor

opinion

What to consider when selecting a new facility services provider To many, a new year represents new strategies, goals and new facility services partnerships. But what factors are important when selecting a

New year, new game plan There’s something so satisfying about viewing the fresh new month of January in your calendar; the advent of new beginnings following a relaxing holiday period. It is the start of a crisp new year with an invigorated mind and big goals just waiting for us to get stuck in.

Let us forget about the challenges and missed opportunities that 2016 brought and rather approach this new year with a new game plan. It is the year when the industry gathers to showcase its relevance, potential and latest technology. CleantexPulire 2017 will be the platform where local and international visitors will gauge Africa’s prowess in the professional cleaning sector. Also following a previously challenging year, cleaning contractors will seek innovative cleaning technologies to streamline their operations and help reduce costs.

This, the first 2017 issue of African Cleaning Review combined with the annual Buyer’s Guide, offers a comprehensive overview of the industry at large, new listed companies, news, worldwide events, attractive websites, new logos and advertisements offer an attractive and colourful impression of this essential industry. This combined issue of African Cleaning Review has proved over the past 18 years to be an essential reference guide to the industry and endusers alike and we trust the 2017 edition will be no different.

Enjoy the journey with us, 2017 here we go, let’s grow this industry!

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new facility services provider? In this article ISS, a leading global provider of facility services offers the 5 key aspects you need to look out for.

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he selection of a new facility service provider is a huge decision for an organisation and its importance cannot be overstated.

After all, a facility services provider can influence the overall workplace performance, business efficiency, employee wellbeing, productivity and not least talent attraction and retention.

So how can you make sure that you select the right facility services provider for your business? Throughout ISS’s more than 100 years of operation within the industry, working with a diverse selection of businesses in a variety of industries, the organisation realised that there are 5 aspects that you should always consider during the decision-making process.

1. The facility services provider has a strong transition process in place Changing service providers, or even outsourcing services for the first time, can be an overwhelming process that entails a certain level of risk. Not only are you giving up control of your business unit to another company, but you are also assuming a potential financial risk. And despite the obviousness of these risks, many transitions fail.

In order to ensure that the business relationship starts off on the right foot, the facility services provider needs to be able to showcase a proven-track record of employing facility management contract transition management (CTM). Successful transitions take time – although the length of time can vary according to the complexity of the contract, a well-planned transition process typically occurs over a four- to five-month period.

A facility services provider should be able to manage transition expectations

and develop a clear risk management plan in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders within your organisation.

This type of open dialogue around the potential issues as well as unexpected events is key to ensuring a smooth transition.

2. The facility services provider is dedicated to employee training and development Over time, these employees will become integrated into your organisation and play an integral role in your daily operations. After all, these service employees are responsible for making sure that the company’s visitors, partners and customers get the best service experience when visiting your facilities.

In order for these service employees to carry out their tasks successfully, they must have a clear understanding of your business and be trained to act and interact in compliance with what defines your business. For this reason, the training and development of service employees has always been a top priority for the facility management customers surveyed by ISS over the years.

When selecting a new facility services provider, make sure to discuss the employee training process and ask for their expertise within the field.

3. The facility services provider acts on the importance of diversity According to several studies, workforce diversity plays a central role in an organisation’s success. But what does diversity have to do with the selection of a new facility services provider? Well, our studies show that people are more likely to share values and culture and to fit with the other organisation if they match each

opinion other, on dimensions such as colour, handicap and race. Therefore, a facility services provider that values diversity is more likely to match the culture of your organisation than a non-diverse organisation.

Selecting a services provider with a diverse workforce also minimises the overall contract risk. The reason for this is that a diverse workforce generally has lower employee turnover and lower absenteeism, which in turn leads to fewer disruptions in day-to-day service and less risk of failure.

4. The facility services provider offers scalability Given the rapid shifts that occur in today’s global marketplace, it is essential to have a facility services provider that can scale at an agile pace and efficiently respond to new market changes’ demands.

If your business is expanding into new markets, or has already established a global presence, entering into a partnership with a facility services provider that can scale globally with

you is imperative. This helps to create more efficient workflows, drive global cost reductions and provide consistency in service delivery across markets and cultures.

5. The facility services provider serves your purpose All businesses are different, and what may have worked on a previous contract does not necessarily work for your business. Therefore it is important that you find a facility services provider that invests time in understanding the purpose of your business, your work processes, the way you manage employees and handle business relationships and, not least, where you are now and what your vision is for the future.

The facility services provider also needs to be flexible enough to continuously adapt service deliveries to the needs of your business and react quickly when changes occur in the marketplace. To quickly respond to changes, the service employees must be

trusted and empowered by the employer to take decisions, change processes and innovate whenever a change is needed.

Starting up a new facility services contract can be a complicated affair.

However, if you manage to find a partner, ensure they dedicate time to understanding your reality, business, goals, visions and your ways of working as well as being keen to act on the purpose of your business.

ISS is a leading global provider of facility services offering services on an international scale with leveraged knowledge and experience.

African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

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industry news Green alternative to plastic bags

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n entrepreneur has developed a biodegradable alternative to plastic bags, which is affordable, eco-friendly and is said to cause no harm even when digested by mistake, according to Time News Network.

Ashwath Hedge’s bag creation is manufactured from natural products including tapioca starch granules.

Ashwath, who has been at the forefront of campaigns against plastic usage in Qatar, has boiled the bags, burnt them and even consumed them to prove his point.

According to members of Ashwath’s team, the organic bags will cost less than cloth bags and a little more than plastic bags. They also confirmed that several tests were conducted by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Central Institute of Plastic Engineering, TÜV-SÜD South Asia and the Sriram Institute for Industrial Research. The bags were boiled, burnt and tested for strength and all organisations reportedly gave them the green light.

“India generates more than 5,6 billion tons of toxic plastic waste annually.

Bags from our company, Envi-Green, are made of natural starch and vegetable oil derivatives that makes it organic and edible. Unlike plastic products that can cause harm to the environment for a number of years, the Envi-Green bag softens in water and dissolves in hot water within a day. As it contains no conventional plastic, it is non-toxic to the environment, animals and plants,” Ashwath said.

Henry the smiling vac: still smiling after all these years

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he company that developed the original, smiling, red vacuum cleaner called Henry is still growing thanks to a focus on quality products and constant innovation, according a recent article in the UK’s The Telegraph. Henry the Hoover, with his cheeky smile, is now 36 years old.

Developed in 1970 by Chris Duncan – the same man who heads the company today – this iconic vacuum cleaner has long been one of the most popular brands for commercial use, and is now also found in homes across the world.

Chris Duncan’s company, Numatic International, originally started manufacturing commercial vacuums used for cleaning boilers. However, this tough specialised gadget had slowly evolved into the smiling, red machine commonly known today.

It is estimated that 20 000 Henrys are sold each week, and that 10 million have been manufactured since it was launched, according to the article.

Cosmetically, Henry has changed very little over the years – although there are still a few beige versions from the eighties in use today – but their insides have had a major overhaul.

“You have to keep innovating, and Henry has kept up with the key players in the market,” says Numatic’s head of media, Andrew Ernill.

But Numatic doesn’t just manufacture vacuum cleaners; it also

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African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

develops the ride-on scrubbers found at airports and janitorial trolleys, among other commercial cleaning equipment.

The company exports 46 percent of its products, and has overseas subsidiaries in six countries. By having a diversified product range, Numatic has grown turnover year-on-year.

The company is working on the next generation of vacuum cleaners: a cordless Henry. “There are lots of small cordless vacuums out there but

to be passed down through the generations,” says Ernill.

Numatic is committed to manufacturing in the UK and recently completed a major factory expansion – part of an ongoing inward investment plan. Managing Director Chris Duncan says: “The formula to continued growth has always been the same, we innovate, produce quality products that offer value and do the job, it really is that simple”.

we think this is the only big canister vacuum in Europe to go cordless,” says Ernill. New products, alongside overseas expansion, will assure future growth.

Numatic manufactures all its vacuum cleaners at its Somerset factory in the UK, resisting the temptation to outsource production to inexpensive territories. This helps the company maintain the quality of its products. “There is a lot of affection for Henry, and that affection seems

One of the major challenges that Numatic faces is also its greatest strength: Henrys rarely break. “People know it will last a long time,” Ernill adds.

“A client recently returned a Henry that was 30 years old – it was still working, but is now taking a rest in our museum.”

Numatic can retrofit vacuum motors way back to the first Henry ever made.

Source: The Telegraph

African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

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industry news Innovation Award for high-pressure cleaner trigger gun

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he new EASY!Force trigger gun for Kärcher professional highpressure cleaners has received a Silver Innovation Award from the EuroTier agricultural trade fair. On the new trigger gun, the trigger mechanism for the high-pressure jet has been moved to the back of the handle. The trigger is pushed into the handle using the ball of the hand, which means you hardly need to move your hand once the trigger is operated as the recoil from the water stream automatically presses the trigger into the hand. This supports the operator significantly, especially when working with the highpressure cleaner for longer periods of time. Constantly straining the hand and

finger muscles is no longer necessary, preventing muscle cramps.

“Why did nobody think of this before?” asks Markus Asch, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at Kärcher, quoting the most common question regarding this new development. “The simplicity of this question confirms the obvious ease of use for the new trigger gun.

We are very pleased that the innovation committee of the German Agriculture Society (DLG) were just as impressed, and we are proud of this extraordinary award.”

The EASY!Force trigger gun, which features quadruple trapezoidal thread to quickly connect the hose and lance,

Kärcher’s new EASY!Force trigger gun.

can be used with previous highpressure cleaner models by means of a comprehensive adapter set. However, from January 2017, all new professional Kärcher high-pressure cleaners (up to 300 bar) will be equipped with the new trigger gun.

Kimberly-Clark renews commitment to help solve global sanitation crisis

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n World Toilet Day KimberlyClark renewed its commitment to the Toilets Change Lives programme, a multinational commercial programme that leverages the power of its well-known brands to educate consumers and help solve the global sanitation crisis.

The United Nations General Assembly officially designated World Toilet Day in 2013 to raise awareness and inspire efforts to tackle the global sanitation crisis. A lack of basic sanitation affects more than 2.4 billion people around the world, making ‘access to water and sanitation for all’ an important platform for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The reality of what this means for so many people is profound. Countless children miss school because of the spread of life-threatening diseases and infection from a lack of basic sanitation.

“Access to safe, clean, sanitation facilities should be a basic, human right,”

said Mauricio Troncoso, vice president and managing director for Western Europe for Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

“The nature of our business gives us a unique understanding of sanitation and toilets, and the opportunity to improve and change lives for the better.”

One of the keys to solving the crisis is the Toilet Board Coalition – a business-led public-private partnership co-founded by Kimberly-Clark. Now in its fourth year, its members are multinational corporations, development experts, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organisations and social investors who share a joint vision and mission to support and accelerate commercially sustainable business models dedicated to building smart, sustainable sanitation systems for the future while delivering sanitation to all.

In addition, Kimberly-Clark is rallying employees, customers and consumers behind a large-scale multinational programme titled Toilets Change Lives.

It brings the global sanitation crisis to the forefront through its well-known global brands to help fund potentially life-saving programmes. Through its Sustainability 2022 efforts, the company aims to increase access to clean, safe, sustainable sanitation to 10 million people by 2022.

Since its inception in 2014, the Toilets Change Lives programme has helped improve access to sanitation for approximately 300 000 people in need.

Several Kimberly-Clark brands, including Andrex, Scott and Neve, have partnered with key retailers in 10 countries to sell special promotional packs that help support potentially life-saving programmes through donations to NGOs such as UNICEF, Water for People and WaterAid. For more information about Kimberly-Clark’s commitment to sanitation or to access the work of its brands related to the issue, search “Toilets Change Lives” on Facebook.

Promote your company in The Source of Workplace Hygiene Solutions!

Reach your target market cost-effectively by advertising in African Cleaning Review. The direct link to end-users, building service contractors, FM service providers and key institutional sectors.

Contact us for more information regarding cost-effective advertising options: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za | www.africancleaningreview.co.za

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African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

industry news Supplier clinches third consecutive Top Service Provider award

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eading supplier of industrial cleaning and hygiene equipment solutions, Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE), ended 2016 on a high note by clinching a third consecutive Top Service Provider Award from the Oryx Group of Companies.

The Top Service Provider Awards stem from the Oryx Group’s passion for providing world-class services to its customers and the company believes in rewarding service providers that share this passion for service excellence.

“Our objective is simple – identify the service provider that consistently goes the extra mile to serve our needs,” explains Oryx Group National Operations Manager, Johan Visser.

“We have been using Goscor Cleaning Equipment’s machines, which include auto scrubbers for Virgin Active Gym sites as well as the Ghibli Winner 38, since 2012,” says Visser, who attributes GCE’s success in taking the honours for the third year in a row to the company’s turnaround times. “In the event of a breakdown at a customer’s premises, extended downtime is simply not an option.

Pictured from left: Gregg Boyce (Service Manager, GCE), Johan Visser (National Operations Manager, Oryx Group) and Crystal Mostert (Head of Standards, Oryx Group).

Of all our machine suppliers, Goscor Cleaning Equipment has delivered the most impressive turnaround time for repairing equipment, irrespective of site location − whether in Gauteng or as far afield as Potchefstroom or Polokwane. The company has proven consistently that it is unbeatable when it comes to repairing machines onsite. Technicians are well trained and well equipped. If the GCE technician

shows up, we consider it done. I am guaranteed of having either a repaired machine or a loan unit,” affirms Visser.

Alongside excellent service, Visser also identifies GCE’s ability to readily make available loan units as key to further contributing to eliminating extended downtime at a customer’s site. “If they are unable to repair a machine, a loan unit will be supplied on the same day.”

Green World Environment Award for Vectair Systems

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K-based hygiene systems manufacturer, Vectair Systems, won a Green World Environment Award in the international campaign to find the greenest countries, companies and communities.

This follows the company’s success in 2015 when it was recognised as an International Green World Ambassador. Vectair was up against more than 500 other nominations in the Green World Awards for Environmental Best Practice, and was presented with a trophy and

certificate at a ceremony in Bucheon, South Korea. The company won the Bronze Award in the Engineering and Manufacturing category for its environmentally friendly V-Air SOLID multiphasing air freshener with submicron technology.

The judges commented: “Air fresheners in public facilities are products that are more likely noticed when they are not installed, but when used they can have VOC, recycling and waste implications. Vectair are major global suppliers and wanted to improve the sustainability of these products, so they invented a recyclable and biodegradable passively dispersed system that uses no propellants or electricity –

yet performs as well as any other system.”

Vectair managing director and president, Paul Wonnacott, commented: “We are thrilled that we have been recognised not only on a national level, but on a global level. We pride ourselves on being innovators in hygiene and the environment is something that our customers are increasingly becoming aware of.”

The awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an international, independent, non-political, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.

African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

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pest control review

Hygiene concern: the scourge of bed bugs As the owner of a B&B, guest house, hotel or even a private home that you list on Airbnb, little more can damage your establishment’s reputation than an accusation on TripAdvisor of a bed bug infestation.

Tiny though they are, these blood-sucking insects have the ability to put off prospective guests for life.

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hile bed bugs will just as happily stay at a clean hotel as a dirty one, there’s something about these little horrors that screams ‘unhygienic’ to guests. Establishments can also face significant damages from guests demanding reimbursement for the infested luggage and clothing they’ve had to dispose of, or for pest control measures they’ve had to take to deal with the bed bugs brought home as a souvenir of their stay.

Here’s what you need to know about bed bugs to ensure that if they ever check into your B&B, guest house or hotel, you can rapidly send them packing.

Know thy enemy Bed bugs are small, flat, reddishbrown insects that grow to about 5mm in length. Found everywhere from shops and offices to schools and even hospitals, bed bugs spread by stowing away in clothing, baggage and other belongings thereby making every new guest a potential plague carrier.

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African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

Once through the door, bed bugs rapidly set up home in cracks and crevices. The seams of mattresses, bed bases, and behind headboards are favourite hiding places, allowing them close proximity to their human food.

If left to their own devices, bed bugs will put their hitch-hiking skills to good use to expand their territory, travelling from room to room with the housekeeping team.

From all these hiding places, they then head out on nocturnal raids with one target in mind: your guests.

These little blood suckers feed exclusively on human blood, and they do it on the sly, at night when people are asleep and truly at their mercy.

After feasting for several minutes, they crawl back to their hiding places, engorged and undetected.

Signs of invasion The first sign to indicate that you are dealing with a bed bug infestation is usually when unhappy guests arrive at reception to complain about the itchy red welts on their exposed skin.

Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects that grow to about 5mm in length... bed bugs spread by stowing away in clothing, baggage and other belongings...

However, since bed bugs are not the only insects responsible for bites, don’t raise the alarm until you’ve carried out a thorough inspection for more evidence.

Take a close look at the nooks and crannies around beds. Telltale signs of bed bugs, other than seeing the actual bugs themselves, are: • blood spots on sheets and pillows; • dark brown or black smears of bug excrement; • little piles of droppings on hard surfaces; • egg shells and shed skins; and • a musty, unpleasant smell.

pest control review

Declaring war A verdict of bed bugs does not mean you need to drag out all the beds and set fire to them. Here are 10 steps to take when declaring war on bed bugs.

1. Clean the bed bugs’ hiding places. Wash bedding, curtains and clothing on the hottest wash possible, and dry them on high in the tumble dryer for at least 30 minutes.

2. Dry-scrub affected mattresses with a hard brush, working into the seams to remove the bugs and their eggs.

3. Vacuum both the mattress and the carpet thoroughly. Discard

the vacuum cleaner contents in a sealed bag in the rubbish bin.

4. Use steam cleaners, the type used to remove wrinkles from curtains, to kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact.

5. Check the base sets, lifting up the fabric cover to check that bugs are not living within the wooden frame.

6. Inspect the rest of the affected room thoroughly. Bed bugs have been known to set up home in and under bedside tables, in bedside lamps, under rugs, and in plug outlets. They may also have spread into the cupboards.

7. Encase mattresses in a bed bug cover, such as the Buglock Plus from Protect-a-Bed, to kill any bugs within the mattress and prevent future infestations. The Buglock Plus cover uses a patented three-sided zipper system to completely encase the mattress in an impenetrable barrier that ensures current bugs cannot leave

the mattress to feed, and new bed bugs cannot enter the mattress to breed. A mattress encasement cover should be left on for at least a year after an infestation to ensure any lingering insects are dead, since bed bugs can survive for several months without feeding.

8. Repair any cracks in the walls, fill gaps around skirting boards, and glue down any tears in wallpaper to minimise the places where bed bugs can hide.

9. Total eradication of bed bugs usually requires treatment with an insecticide. If going the DIY route, be sure to only use products, which are made specifically for the extermination of bed bugs, or for use on bedding and mattresses.

Always follow the safety instructions carefully.

10. If DIY measures don’t do the trick, contact a pest control company to rid your establishment of the scourge.

For more information on the Protect-A-Bed range visit www.protectabed.co.za or call 0800 775 775.

African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

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feature hand hygiene

Did you wash your hands enough today?

Regular hand washing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. It is quick and simple; hand washing is a win for everybody. It has been reported that hands transmit 80 percent of viruses, making hand hygiene critical in reducing the spread of disease.

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e use our hands to greet people, to type, to write, to eat, to open doors, to work and to drive. Imagine how many germs you have passed on in just one hour. It is therefore important to adopt a holistic approach to hand hygiene, covering the whole cycle, from formulation, dispensing and compliance.

which hand washing method is the most effective.

A recent study by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America found that the World Health

Organization’s (WHO) 6-step hand washing technique was more effective at removing bacteria than the simple CDC wash your hands for 20 seconds method.

Clean hands – stay healthy You’ve been told to wash your hands your whole life, from childhood to adulthood, but lately it seems like hand hygiene is spreading as fast as the infections it’s trying to prevent – hand washing has become a new catchphrase.

Importance of hand washing According to Deb, a world leader in occupational skin care and hand hygiene, hands are responsible for the spread of 80 percent of common infectious diseases and hand washing remains one of the easiest and cheapest ways to prevent the spread of bacteria. However, 1 in 5 people don’t wash their hands and of those that do only 30 percent use soap. So, if keeping our hands clean is key in preventing illness, why don’t more people do it, and do it right? The answer may be as simple as the fact that most people don’t know how to keep their hands clean.

Hand washing technique Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle, 20 seconds, 15 seconds... with the many different recommended hand washing techniques and guidelines that are out there, it’s difficult to know exactly

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African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 15-20 seconds of hand washing, using the following steps: 1. Wet hands with water 2. Apply single shot of soap 3. Rub hands palm to palm 4. Rub back of each hand with the palm of the other hand with fingers interlaced 5. Rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced 6. Rub with backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked

7. Rub each thumb clasped in opposite hand using rotational movement 8. Rub tips of fingers in opposite palm in circular motion 9. Rub each wrist with opposite hand 10. Rinse hands with water 11. Use elbow or paper towel to turn off tap 12. Dry thoroughly 13. Hand washing should take 40-60 seconds

feature hand hygiene

be used, as the use of ‘communal’ towels can lead to contamination.

Proper hand washing may look intimidating, but once you learn it hand washing is simple and essential.

When to wash your hands

Developing a good hand washing technique is imperative to ensure hands are thoroughly clean. Particular attention should be paid to the backs of the hands and fingertips as these are frequently missed.

The image above shows the most frequently missed parts of the hands when the correct hand washing is not adopted.

When water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser to kill common bacteria.

The skin should always be properly dried to avoid risk of chapping particularly during cold weather. Clean towels should be available at all times – dirty towels mean exposing the skin to more dirt and the risk of infection.

Ideally, disposable paper towels should

Knowing how to wash your hands properly is an important step in preventing the spread of infections in the workplace, home or schools.

Also important to know is when to wash your hands. Here are the key times when hand washing should be conducted: • At the end of each work/school period • Before each break • Before eating or preparing food • After going to the washroom • Whenever hands are dirty or contaminated Healthcare workers must follow a stricter hand washing process, using the ‘The 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene’ as recommended by the WHO: • Before touching a patient; • Before clean/aseptic procedures; • After body fluid exposure/risk; • After touching a patient; and • After touching patient surroundings.

Educating staff and using posters or other visuals is a useful reminder for employees, students or healthcare workers when trying to implement an effective hand hygiene programme.

Anti-bacterial liquid and foam soaps Hygiene Systems, manufacturers and suppliers of anti-bacterial liquid and foam soaps, offer another angle on the clean hands for health debate.

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feature hand hygiene

Practising hand hygiene should be included in our daily routines. Wash and sanitise your hands before and after preparing food, eating, touching surfaces, eyes, nose, mouth and the most important, after using the washroom.

Hand washing is your basic and most effective way to clean your hands and remove all visible dirt and harmful bacteria. Hygiene Systems manufactures and supplies anti-bacterial liquid and foam soaps, which are SANS compliant in combination with HXII soap dispensers available as sensor driven or manual models.

These anti-bacterial hand soaps may also remove short-lived microorganisms or other contaminants from the skin to ease their subsequent removal by water. Always wash your hands with clean running warm water and soap. Lather soap on hands and rub your hands together, make sure you get soap on all your fingers, back of hand,

between your fingers and underneath your nails. Make sure you scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds before rinsing them off. Dry your hands with paper towels if available and close the tap with your towel if possible. Upon leaving the washroom use one towel to open the door handle to prevent re-contamination of your clean hands and discard the paper towel. Once you have left the washroom, use a pocketsized hand sanitiser to complete the hand hygiene process.

Betasan anti-bacterial hand gel kills harmful bacteria and protects your hands for up to 4 hours longer than normal hand washing. Another Hygiene Systems product is a multi-surface anti-bacterial hand spray that disinfects and protects not only your hands, but also other surfaces as well including your keyboard, screen, telephones and cell phone.

Hand sanitisers with ethyl alcohol is a remarkable germ killer. But for it to be

successful in its job, it needs to contain at least 60 percent alcohol, which is claimed to kill most of the germs on your hands and other surfaces.

According to Hygiene Systems a recent hand sanitiser study revealed that a product with less than 40 percent alcohol leaves more than 50 percent of germs on your hands which is not effective enough to disinfect your hands from harmful bacteria. When using the correct hand sanitiser, your entire hand needs to be covered with the sanitiser.

Rub the product on your palms, back of your hands, between fingers and underneath fingernails. Remove jewellery when applying any sanitiser to prevent the alcohol damaging the jewellery. Rings provide an ideal place for bacteria to hide away, make sure you clean and disinfect the area where your ring is fitted on your finger, and also clean your rings with the correct product to prevent damage.

Floor care advisory: Preparation guidelines for stripping and sealing PVC, linoleum, epoxy, vinyl, slightly porous and artificial stone floors Stripping surfaces using Columbus Radical • All surfaces must be dust free and clean – swept with a broom or vacuumed.

• Dilute Columbus Radical as per label guidelines. Apply and allow for the stripper’s natural chemical reaction to activate for ± 5 minutes.

• Using a Columbus-stocked black e-Line or americo© pad attached to an R46 or R44 standard-speed Rotary machine, proceed to scrub the wet area.

• Following scrubbing, rinse the surface with clean water and dry with a Cyclone 20 or 50 wet and dry vacuum. This process can be repeated a second time. It is critical that no stripper residue be left behind on the floor surface.

• Ensure the floor is clean and dry before taking the next step.

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Sealing surfaces – Columbus Vision© • Using a lambswool applicator apply an even and thinly spread coat of Vision© to the floor, allow to dry for 20–30 minutes.

• The floor surface must be dry before applying a thin second coat of Vision© in the opposite direction. For optimum results a minimum of 3 to 4 coats is recommended.

• Buff the floor using an R46 or R44 Rotary standard, high or ultra-speed machine with a white e-Line or americo© floor pad.

• One litre of Vision© covers approximately 40–80m² depending on the floor’s porosity.

Columbus, established over 70 years ago, has been a trusted supplier of chemicals to the cleaning industry for over 24 years.

Our Vision range is Africa’s preferred choice of polymer floor dressings. For more information contact: info@columbussa.com.

feature hand hygiene Touch-free soap and paper towel dispensers restrict germ transmission by eliminating a common touch point in the washroom. These dispensers are normally fitted in high traffic washrooms, such as shopping malls, casinos, hospitals, airports, universities, schools and office facilities.

Touch-free soap and paper towel dispensers restrict germ transmission by eliminating a common touch point in the washroom. These dispensers are normally fitted in high traffic washrooms, such as shopping malls, casinos, hospitals, airports, universities, schools and office facilities.

Paper/hot air The issue of using paper towels or hot air hand dryers to dry hands effectively is an ongoing debate. Hygiene Systems weighs in on the issue: the difference between paper towel dispensers and

hot air dryers is that paper towels remove residual water in just 10 seconds of drying with a single serve towel. The residual water on the hands is reduced to just 4 percent and drops to just 1 percent with 15 seconds of drying.

Hot air dryers are a bit slower in drying hands, which require 45 seconds to reduce the residual water to 3 percent.

Paper towels can generally achieve 90 percent or more dryness with normal use compared to hot air hand dryers.

Bacteria removal is most effective and traces of bacteria are significantly reduced with the use of paper towels,

whereas hot air hand dryers have proven to be the least effective method of removing bacteria from washed hands.

It should also be considered that the air in a public washroom is contaminated with microorganisms, fecal matter and bacteria spread into the air every time a toilet is flushed with the toilet cover open. Hot air hand dryers tend to circulate the air in washrooms whereas paper towels are a lot less likely to get contaminated as they are tightly concealed in a dispenser that automatically dispenses paper without having to touch the dispenser.

At the end of the day, and considering the different views, it is important to say that it remains imperative to ensure that we clean our hands regularly in order to stay healthy. Help reduce the spread of germs by washing your hands regularly or sanitising if water isn’t available.

Remember, hand washing is vital to our health and that of those around us, if we can all make proper hand washing a habit, we will all be far better off.

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educational

Advances in digital technology are unlocking water’s circular potential Water, at its essence, is powerful and ever moving. It is essential to the production and delivery of virtually all goods and services. It is the lifeblood of communities and economies. From agriculture to manufacturing, transportation to power generation, water enables progress and propels us forward.

Y

et despite its innately cyclical nature, water is not infinite.

Our most important shared resource is actually incredibly finite.

And the way we use (and abuse) water today is depleting available supplies of freshwater at an unprecedented rate. By 2030, the world will need 40 percent more water, but that is a global average. In many of the fastestdeveloping regions, where an estimated three billion people will join the global consumer class over the next two decades, the gap will be larger and is being felt right now.

We need to change our relationship with water to ensure that communities and businesses can thrive today and tomorrow, and the circular economy must be part of the solution. Water can no longer be considered an inexpensive, ‘use and dispose’ commodity but should be valued as a reusable asset and growth enabler.

Yet today, less than three percent of wastewater is recycled. In the United States, industry reuses far less than ten percent of the fresh water used for industrial processes. The identification of waste in terms of resources, capacity, lifecycle and embedded value that is the building block of the circular economy, must also be fully applied to water cycles.

It is quite possible there is no resource with more circular potential than water. When we maximise the potential of water by recycling, re-using and repurposing it, the possibilities for its use are endless.

The concept and practice of re-using and repurposing water is not new.

Broad adoption and activation of circular

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water management, however, is new.

To bring these principles to scale, we need to not only retrofit circularity into existing processes, but begin to design ‘circularity’ into solutions and processes right from the start.

The good news is solutions do exist to enable more circular use of water. Advances in technology and digital capabilities have enabled more effective management of systems and more detailed monitoring of water cycles that result in more efficient processes. From solutions that allow grey water in a hotel to be re-used for cooling, to systems that enable treated wastewater from one plant to be used as process water in an adjacent facility, to precise monitoring capabilities that ensure efficient treatment to make water reusable, there are more and more options to adopt and apply circular principles to water use.

Every year, Ecolab helps its customers manage more than 3,8 trillion litres of water with solutions across industries that minimise, maximise and optimise water use throughout operations. In 2015 alone, Ecolab solutions helped conserve more than 537 billion litres of water.

A core technology is 3D TRASAR™, which combines chemistry, remote services and sophisticated monitoring and control and helps customers reduce, re-use and recycle water throughout entire operations. For example, the Tang Plaza and Marriott Hotel in Singapore reduced its water use by 38 percent in one year by implementing 3D TRASAR™ Technology for Solid Cooling Water System.

Water can no longer be considered an inexpensive, ‘use and dispose’ commodity but should be valued as a reusable asset and growth enabler.

Other Ecolab technologies also reduce water use in water-intensive industries.

Carustar, a California paperboard manufacturer, replaced its reclaimed water source with process water using Nalco Water PARETO® Mixing Technology, saving more than 310 million litres of water since 2012.

Greater adoption of connected technology and the ability to collect and analyse data about water use more broadly will accelerate companies’ ability to advance circular water practices. Using data captured by sensor technology, Ecolab can help optimise individual systems within customer facilities. Today, the company is aggregating the data it is collecting using Microsoft cloud technology to enable more comprehensive monitoring of multiple systems across multiple facilities. In the near future, Ecolab will be able to more efficiently aggregate and analyse data from across many systems to better anticipate disruptions, model scenarios and manage water use (and, in turn, energy use) across an enterprise. It is this type of insightdriven process improvements that will help accelerate the circularity of water by industry.

educational Saving water through conservation and re-use does not always necessarily equate to significant cost savings, given how underpriced water is in many locations, even where it is very scarce. Calculating and internalising a water price that more appropriately reflects supply and demand dynamics and operational impact can help make the business case to change the way water is managed. Publicly available tools like the Water Risk Monetizer (www.waterriskmonetizer.com), which provides a risk-adjusted water price, can help with this type of assessment.

By adopting circular economy principles, we have the opportunity to shift the unsustainable linear traffic of water to a system that is an endless, profitable and sustainable loop. This transformation will be enabled, in part, by the proliferation of increasingly digital and connected technologies. Companies that harness data-driven, actionable and predictive insights to engage in the circular economy will ensure their success in an increasingly waterscarce world.

As part of its commitment to the circular economy, Ecolab is a main sponsor of The Circulars, the world’s premier circular economy award programme run in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Forum of Young Global Leaders. The awards took place in January 2017, during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.

About Ecolab A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2015 sales of $13.5 billion and 47 000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.

Why cleaning professionals need to familiarise themselves with the ‘two-step’ Does a surface need to be cleaned before being disinfected?

Many cleaning professionals have heard that a surface must be cleaned before applying a disinfectant. However, they might not know exactly why. Now, before explaining the reasons, it will help to identify the differences between cleaning and disinfecting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines these terms as follows: • Cleaning – the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects.

• Disinfecting – effectively kills germs on surfaces or objects.

But these definitions do not tell us why cleaning must be done before a surface can be disinfected, often referred to as the ‘two-step’ process. The following explanations from leading health and safety sources can help explain why the two-step process is necessary.

According to the CDC: [Cleaning] does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing germs, it lowers their number and the risk of spreading infection.

[Disinfecting] does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

A publication on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website states: Clean first before you disinfect. Germs can hide underneath dirt and other material on surfaces where it is not affected by the disinfectant. Dirt and organic material can also reduce the germ-killing ability of some disinfectants.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA), serving England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, claims: Chemical disinfectants only work if surfaces have been thoroughly cleaned first to remove grease and other dirt.

A Practical Guide to Decontamination in Healthcare: To ensure efficacy, cleaning is a necessary first step followed by disinfection. Among the steps cleaning professionals can take to ensure efficacy are the following: • Use only microfibre cleaning cloths for cleaning, and change these frequently.

• For larger areas, select an aqueous ozone cleaning system, which will give both faster and more effective results.

• While some pathogens can be removed using a one-step cleanerdisinfectant, use the two-step process to be sure.

Sources: “How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu,” http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/cleaning.htm http://www.food.gov.uk http://www.foodstandards.gov.scot UCSF Institute for Health & Aging, UC Berkeley Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health, Informed Green Solutions, and California Department of Pesticide Regulation, “Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education,” University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing: San Francisco, California, 2013. Gerald McDonnell and Denise Sheard, published by Wiley-Blackwell, July 2012.

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educational

101

Aeroplane cleaning

When travelling, have you ever pondered about when and how aeroplanes

are cleaned, especially considering their hectic flight schedules? In this article, UK-based DCS Multiserve takes a closer look at one of the rather extraordinary cleaning tasks, detailed aeroplane cleaning and the importance thereof.

Importance of aeroplane cleaning When a plane flies from destination to destination, bacteria is picked up from both the inside and outside of the plane. Unfortunately, the bacteria on the inside is due to people using the aircraft every day; MRSA, E. coli and other bacteria and germs can last for days.

That’s why cleaning the interior of the plane is so important.

The outside needs a thorough clean too, but for different reasons. The conditions the planes fly in must be considered – with rain, bird excrement and debris from bugs, as well as oil from the hydraulics systems and other residue caused by the engines in flight all likely to be encountered during a flight. Debris build-up can cause a drag, which has an impact on fuel economy and can have both financial and safety implications.

How do you clean an aeroplane?

Planning is essential; airlines want the turnaround of customers to be as swift as possible to meet tight flight times, so planning and priorities are key. Some airline companies use real-time data to determine when aeroplanes are arriving – and at what time – so they can be ready to jump into action. The performance of the cleaning team can also be tracked in real-time to make sure every minute counts.

The process of cleaning a plane varies depending on the type of aircraft, as well as whether the flight is/has been long- or short-haul, when the plane last had a thorough clean and several other factors.

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In the cabin: Turn clean: A ‘turn clean’ is reserved for times when it’s not possible to give the plane a thorough clean – if there is a swift turnaround between flights, for example.

Certain areas are targeted as priority, in particular Business and First Class, rather than Economy, alongside the galleys and toilets. The rest of the plane gets a vacuum and litter-pick.

Remain Overnight (RON) clean: A more thorough clean that can take place when the plane is parked overnight at an airport.

Deep clean: A deep clean is a full and complete clean of the cabin, the procedures of which vary from airline to airline. Even on deep cleans, cleaning crews work to a tight schedule for every flight.

The toilets are a priority focus area after every flight whatever the type of clean, ensuring when possible that they are cleaned and emptied. The inside of the toilet requires special products and takes less than 10 minutes per toilet – the exterior takes another 10-15 minutes.

The waste is emptied by a toilet truck, which also refills it with clean fluid.

How often is the plane’s exterior washed?

Travel Skills asked a number of airlines, with varying responses. United Airlines wash every 50 days, but for British Airways it depends on the type of aircraft, but usually every six to eight

weeks, with short-haul flights getting more cleans due to them having more take-offs and landings. Singapore Airlines wash monthly, with additional washes for dirty spots.

Many companies use pressure washers of varying strengths and scales, with tow-behind pressure washers being used to wash larger aircraft – although this should be confirmed before proceeding.

The tail of the aircraft needs the most attention, as it gets the dirtiest during a flight. Cleaning a plane begins with the tail, and it is worked on in a top-tobottom direction. From the tail, work across the plane and to the nose. Clean small areas at a time while standing on a working platform, as the pressure of some washers can knock you offbalance.

The use of detergent is essential, especially around the engine, where there will be a lot of black residue caused by the exhaust. With hard-to-remove spots, rotating brushes are also used.

The wheels are washed with a lot of detergent, a brush and pressure washer too. Windows can be done, sometimes by hand, and some pilots even like to do the cockpit windows themselves.

The whole plane is rinsed in clean, cold water.

For more information about DCS Multiserve visit: www.dcsmultiserve.co.za Sources: www.bbc.com www.ultimatewasher.com travelskills.com/2014/10/31/often-planes-get-baths/?

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laundry review Training guidelines, proper techniques important for hospitality laundry staff

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rrespective of industry, in order for employees to perform at their best, they need to be given the proper tools and training to do so. In the service and hospitality industry, where success depends on guest satisfaction, employee performance is critical. Whether it’s an employee, such as a bellman or the concierge, who comes into contact with guests each day, or one who works behind the scenes in facility operations or the laundry room, every employee plays an important role in achieving and maintaining guest satisfaction.

Therefore, it is important for a hotel to have procedures and policies in place to train laundry room staff to ensure that all linens – whether found in the guest rooms, spa, training facility or restaurant – are held to the highest standards before they reach hotel guests.

Not only does training laundry room staff help to improve guest satisfaction, but having set policies and procedures in place also helps improve laundry room efficiency, ultimately boosting the bottom line.

Training policies and procedures Labour is the greatest expense in a laundry operation, representing an estimated 45-50 percent of a total laundry room budget. It is critical that labour is being used as efficiently as possible in order to maximise throughput and reduce operating costs. In order to do this, staff must be trained on how to properly use the equipment, as well as the overall laundry process.

Regardless of the size of the hotel, it’s important that everyone undergoes the same training so that the full staff complement understands the daily goals and benchmarks, and knows what is expected of them to meet hotel guest needs. Having training guidelines and checklists accessible to employees after their initial training is an important resource for employees to refer back to if needed.

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Randy Dawes has worked for Hyatt for nearly 30 years and knows first-hand the importance of training laundry room staff.

As the corporate director of engineering for the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels, his role is to monitor and assist with the replacement of equipment and review new hotel laundry construction, as well as to review wash times and the chemical usage.

“Our training guidelines are available in both a video and downloadable file format and accessible through our company intranet,” says Dawes. “The training guides review the proper loading techniques for washers and dryers, and the training is consistent across all hotels.”

Additionally, according to a recent Bureau of Labour Statistics report, the turnover rate for the hospitality industry was 72.1 percent in 2015, up from 66.7 percent in 2014. With this high turnover rate, having formal training procedures and documents will help to on-board new employees as quickly as possible.

TMI Hospitality operates more than 180 hotels across the United States under brands such as Marriott, Hilton Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group. To help manage the laundry operation and training across all properties, each hotel receives operational standards and checklists developed by TMI’s director of operational performance standards.

When the time comes to train new staff, all TMI property management teams take a hands-on approach, says Andrew Wallin, TMI’s director of purchasing.

“A property’s general manager or executive housekeeper will train new laundry staff on the standards our team has developed to ensure consistent operation across our properties,” he says.

However, even with the most innovative equipment on the market, employees still need to be properly trained on how to use the equipment so that the hotel does not waste time and money.

New equipment control systems provide many benefits to both the laundry room manager and the staff processing laundry day to day. With advanced controls and wireless networking, laundry room managers can gather machine performance and maintenance data remotely and in real time. This innovation helps managers stay constantly connected to their laundry operation to monitor equipment usage, labour, utilities and efficiency. With this visibility, managers can make immediate adjustments to help minimise costs at every stage.

If staff are using manual controls, they need to pay close attention when selecting settings and cycles to ensure the best wash-and-dry quality. Laundering different types of linens throughout the day is inevitable in the hospitality industry.

Manual controls require staff to switch the settings for each load, creating a greater chance of the wrong cycle being selected, which will affect throughput and linen life.

“Our newer equipment assists with monitoring the wash cycles and confirming the proper washing temperatures and formulas, which is very important,” says Dawes. Advanced control systems have user-friendly graphic displays, one-touch operation and multiple languages for multilingual operation, all helping to simplify training and use. Additionally, having the same controls for both washer-extractors and tumble dryers helps streamline training and use of the equipment.

Use of equipment

Processing techniques

Today’s equipment for on-premises laundry (OPL) facilities has undergone major advancements to improve efficiencies and reduce operational costs.

Once employees are fully trained on how to use the equipment, they also need to have a strong understanding of laundry processing.

laundry review “While our training is consistent across properties, processing will differ based on the number of rooms at a hotel,” says Dawes. “The average room count at our properties is 130 rooms, but the total number of rooms at the hotel will affect the size of our washers and dryers, and therefore affect processing.”

As the types of fabric for hotel linens vary, it is important for staff to sort like items before starting a load. Since linens such as towels and bed sheets have differing compositions and weight, they will need different dry times.

For example, the time required to dry terry towels will cause over-drying of the bed sheets. Over-drying the sheets will not only reduce linen life, it will also affect the quality of the linen; uncomfortable bed sheets will have a negative impact on guest satisfaction.

It is also important to weigh linens before adding them to the washerextractor. While a load may look full, adding a few more linens to reach the machine’s maximum capacity will have an impact on daily productivity.

Service, maintenance and repairs In order to help extend the life of equipment and ensure it is running at peak efficiency, staff will need to be trained on regular preventativemaintenance needs. If a property does not have set maintenance processes in place, a distributor can be a good resource to help develop formal procedures. They can also help with conducting training, especially when it comes to equipment use and maintenance needs. “Our local distributor performs the maintenance training, and it is handled by the hotel engineer or a local laundry contractor,” says Dawes.

Many equipment manufacturers will provide checklists that outline maintenance needs that should be performed on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis. In addition to using these materials for training, they are a helpful resource for ongoing maintenance needs.

“With proper cleaning of the machines and the light maintenance performed, we are often able to tell pretty quickly if there is an issue with a machine,” Dawes says. “When we see there is a leak or abnormal sound, we know it’s time to call our distributor for service and support.”

Additionally, with an advanced control system, a laundry room manager will receive an alert if there is a problem such as a leak or slow drainage as soon as it arises. Quite often a manager will receive the alert before the staff can visibly detect the issue, which will not only help prevent a large water or sewage bill but also help reduce equipment downtime, as the problem can be addressed immediately.

When a machine is experiencing an issue or isn’t functioning correctly, the flow of the laundry room will be impacted immediately; this technology helps laundry room managers and staff to work together to address any repair needs as quickly as possible.

It’s also important for staff to be trained on when equipment maintenance goes beyond their daily responsibilities and a certified service technician should be called. Staff should not tend to repairs and maintenance that goes beyond their training or comfort level, as more harm can be done to the machine. Staff should also be aware of potential problems such as electrical issues, uncommon noises or error codes that require a factory-trained and -certified service technician.

Distributors have the expertise, resources and knowledge to solve any issues that may arise with a property’s equipment. When the repair is out of the scope of a property’s engineer or maintenance staff, calling a service technician will ensure that the equipment needs are tended to promptly and correctly. “If our regional maintenance team cannot repair an issue for a property, we will help them identify the right resource,” Wallin says. “We know we can trust our distributors to get the equipment back up and running quickly, no matter where the property is located.”

Monitoring operations To run an efficient OPL operation, it’s important that training does not stop after an employee is first on-boarded.

Staff should undergo regular reviews to ensure that they are continuously following all proper processes and procedures. “Each of our hotels undergoes a regular review process, and part of that review includes an analysis of the laundry room to ensure the staff is properly executing their tasks,” says Dawes.

He also says that there are visible signs to look for to ensure the laundry operation is running at peak efficiency.

“The telltale sign that a laundry is running efficiently is the lack of linen backed up in the chute or on the floor,” Dawes says.

With the ability to monitor all aspects of an operation with real-time reports, laundry room operators have increased visibility that helps them make informed decisions on how to best manage labour resources based on the expected volume of laundry during a specific time period.

The machine usage reports will also provide managers with a strong understanding of how and when their equipment is running during a specific shift or day, and can help identify bottlenecks in the laundry process. If linens are sitting for an extended period of time between a wash and dry, a laundry room manager can determine the best way to fine-tune labour resources to eliminate this problem.

Additionally, if an operation does not meet its daily goal, it can pinpoint the exact shift in order to identify the cause of the inefficiency and make modifications. If it was a result of the labour, they can use this as an opportunity to retrain employees and improve staff performance.

“Constantly reviewing a hotel’s laundry operation is very important, as this can make or break a hotel – from both a guest satisfaction and profitability perspective,” says Dawes. “If a hotel laundry operation is not running seamlessly, it will become a major trouble spot for the hotel. While guests do not visit the laundry room, it is just as important to keep the laundry room as neat, clean and organised as the hotel restaurants and lobby.”

Incorporating in-depth employee training processes that provide education on equipment use, processing, preventative maintenance needs and when distributor support is needed will help a property maximise throughput, reduce operating costs and ensure that it is achieving the appropriate guest satisfaction with properly laundered linens.

Abridged version of an article by Bill Brooks, national sales manager for UniMac, a provider of on-premises laundry equipment.

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facilities management review

Innovative green features at new Serra premises

Serra’s Paul (left) and Albert Thomaz.

Growthpoint Properties recently announced that it has signed a new seven-year lease agreement with leading washroom and hygiene product specialists Serra Services, for its new industrial development, Meadowbrook Estate.

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trategically located in Ekurhuleni, Meadowbrook Estate 2 is directly adjacent to Growthpoint’s awardwinning and Green Star SA certified Grundfos development. It comprises nearly 1 000 square metres of office space and 6 500 square metres of warehouse space, sectioned to support Serra’s business needs.

Facing onto the N12 highway, Serra enjoys unparalleled visibility at a major highway intersection close to OR Tambo International Airport, served by easy access to the R24, N12, R21 and N3 highways.

Growthpoint Properties Industrial Division Head, Engelbert Binedell, explains that Serra had investigated various properties prior to selecting Meadowbrook Estate 2. “It offers Serra an ideal location, but also provided a blank canvas that has been modified to their exact manufacturing needs,” says Binedell.

Well established as a leading industrial property investor, Growthpoint applied its growing reputation as a leading industrial property developer and has gone the extra mile to ensure Serra receives maximum benefits from their new property.

In order to create space to match Serra’s business model, its new warehouse was divided into four distinct operation areas: a 340 square metre laundry area, a 1 400 square metre manufacturing space, a 200 square metre

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polishing room and a 4 560 square metre area for storage and distribution.

Jason Reeves of Growthpoint’s Industrial Property team reports that the development has created a business space that uses water wisely. A water attenuation pond located on the property provides Serra with a water storage facility for their laundry facility and gardens. This green feature incorporates an underground reinforced concrete tank for the collection of storm water. The tank has the capacity to store 250 cubic metres of rainwater, which can then be used for other purposes. “Sustainability was a major focus for this development, for both Growthpoint and Serra,” says Reeves.

The building’s reinforced concrete used a mix containing between 30 and 35 percent fly ash extender, resulting in a reduction of the Portland cement content of the concrete. In addition, reinforcing steel for the concrete structure was manufactured from recycled steel. The main window façade of the building faces southwards, offering an abundance of natural light, and the main entrance from the west is shaded from direct sunlight with a concrete façade wall.

The glazing in the office also enhances energy conservation and the airconditioning system for the office has been designed to minimise the energy used in its operation. Serra’s new home also features energy-efficient lighting and occupancy sensors in the office area.

In the warehouse, the lighting system has been designed with a dual circuit, allowing for 50 percent of the lighting to be switched off when lower levels of lighting are required. In addition to these environmentally innovative features incorporated in Growthpoint’s development, Serra installed further greening elements to the building, which Growthpoint was happy to co-fund.

This includes a 37.8 kWp Solar PV system on the roof of the property, a water filtration plant to recycle all the water used in its laundry process, and heat pumps to ensure that the water is heated up in the most energy-efficient manner possible. In addition it has a building management system that monitors and controls building equipment more efficiently, reducing its operating costs while lowering its energy use and carbon footprint.

“This deal extends the ongoing good relationship between Serra and Growthpoint. Serra provides its hygiene services to Growthpoint and this transaction further cements our business relationship, providing both parties with the potential to do more business together in the future,” says Binedell.

“Meadowbrook Estate 2 is a great fit for Serra and we have pulled out all the stops to ensure the property meets its business requirements and supports its strategic business goals. We are thrilled to welcome Serra into the Growthpoint industrial portfolio,” Binedell concludes.

advertorial Hako

Scrubber innovations for high degree of cleanliness Hako-AntiBac® machines combined with Silent Kit features are ideal to optimise thorough cleaning in hygiene-sensitive areas Flexible and thorough in use The Scrubmaster B70 CL and B90 CL are perfect for use in all areas where special attention is placed on absolute hygiene conditions or cleaning in accordance with the HACCP concept. In addition to hospitals, this also applies to frail care facilities and canteens.

Silent Kit, quiet as a whisper Scrubmaster machines are constructed in such a way that they offer active sound insulation for deployment in sound-sensitive areas. The silent button can be activated to reduce the already low 63 dBA sound emissions even further.

Hako-AntiBac® offers a clear advantage An additional feature offered by the B70 CL and B90 CL range is the AntiBac® solution/recovery water tank. It reduces bacteria and fungus development in the tanks by up to 99.9 percent (tested in accordance with JIS Z 2801 / ISO 22196).

Additional features No pre-sweeping: The integrated dirt collection system gathers dirt in an easy-to-empty drawer.

Practical accessories: The Scrubmaster machines can be fitted with an optional mop holder and handy tool net.

Silent Kit: The Silent Kit reduces the engine speed as necessary, and renders the already low-noise machines even quieter at the push of a button.

Single-button operation: The green Scrubmaster button can be used to start all the working procedures.

Optimal ergonomics: Provides a height-adjustable speed control, full view of the front and foam-padded handlebar.

Hako-DaytimeCleaning Hako-DaytimeCleaning shortens charging cycles and increases machine operating times. As a result, the Scrubmaster B70 CL DTC, with its new quickcharge technology, provides considerably longer periods of operation.

Innovations ensure high levels of cleanliness

Hako-AquaForce® Hako-AquaForce® is a space-saving, stationary system for cleaning without chemicals. It removes all minerals from tap water. The demineralised water loosens dirt better and reduces the risks of resoiling – for lower operating costs and less environmental pollution.

Hako-AntiBac® The antibacterial tank coating, Hako-AntiBac®, ensures considerably better hygienic conditions in the tank and reduces the development of smells as well as the consumption and costs of disinfectants to clean the tanks. Installed as a standard measure for the Scrubmaster B70 CL and B90 CL.

Hako-Chemical on Demand By applying the Hako-Chemical on Demand feature, cleaning agents are only implemented when actually needed. In the case of low-level soiling, cleaning can be completed economically and ecologically without any need for cleaning agents.

CONTACT US: HAKO: Wouter Niemann 060 972 1429, 011 571 0200 PLATCHEM: Mike Lodder 082 600 5789, Craig van der Merwe 082 872 5211, 011 452 4910

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facilities management review

The value that a Quantity Surveyor brings to a ‘green’ building project Larry Feinberg, Executive Director, Association of South African Quantity Surveyors.

Climate change is no longer a speculation but a reality in our lives. “The construction and operation of modern buildings, those in which we will live and work, are responsible for the consumption of many of our natural resources, and the generation of carbon and other gases that cause global warming,” says Larry Feinberg, Executive Director at the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS).

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n the US, to which South Africa’s major cities can draw a parallel, buildings account for 39 percent of total energy use, 68 percent of total electricity consumption, 30 percent of landfill waste, 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 12 percent of total water consumption.

As populations grow bigger and urbanisation grows cities at an unprecedented rate, with local authorities building upwards and not outwards, this concentration of people and the conveniences of life impact our natural environment – aggravating climate change even further.

Economic benefits

Environmental benefits

Social benefits

Going ‘green’ has a number of environmental benefits. But what does going green mean? “In a nutshell, it means that we, as humanity, pursue the knowledge and practices that will lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which will help protect the environment and sustain our natural resources for current and future generations,” Feinberg explains.

“Among the benefits are enhancing and protecting biodiversity and ecosystems; improving air and water quality; reducing waste streams; conserving and restoring natural resources.”

And, it doesn’t stop there. The social benefits of going green include the improvement of domestic, occupational and leisure health and comfort through greatly improved indoor and outdoor air quality, lighting and temperature control, improved landscape aesthetics in minimising local utility infrastructure and a general improvement in our overall quality of life – because our natural environment will be less impacted.

African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

But, it’s not just environmental benefits that are created by going green. There are a number of economic benefits to add to the equation. With a little savvy, one can achieve a reduction in building operating costs, e.g. wastewater reuse in air conditioning systems and solar power, or energy from waste, an improvement in occupational productivity, the enhancement of asset values, and in profits due to lower operating costs, and the optimisation of economic life-cycle performance.

How Quantity Surveyors can assist the green revolution “By using a professionally qualified and experienced QS a building owner

will be given an accurate projection of the costs involved in a green building construction project, or the conversion of a traditional building to a green building,” Feinberg says. “You will also have a highly effective cost strategist in the team to help lower costs through ideas, substitutions and experienced advice.”

This will certainly lead to increased certainty that the building phase will be finished on time and within budget; ensuring that value for money is attained by the client and a value added to the project through a unique blend of construction knowledge, advice on strategic and cost planning and the procurement of construction products and services.

We know that green buildings, or what we alternatively refer to as sustainable design, is a best practice in increasing the efficiency of a building and its use of energy, water and materials, as well as to reduce building impact on human health and the environment over the entire life cycle of the building. This is known as ‘value engineering’. “Quantity surveyors are the people to help in making this become a reality – saving you time and money in the process,” Feinberg concludes.

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editorial GCE

A new legend unveiled In November 2016, Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE) unveiled a new legend in their cleaning equipment range – the Tennant M17 ride-on sweeper-scrubber. The event took place at the Goscor Penthouse, Zwartkop Raceway in Pretoria and, since it took place that close to year-end, it also provided GCE with an opportunity to thank their clients for their support throughout the year. GCE staff and clients mingled in a festive atmosphere to the tunes of a saxophone playing in the background whilst enjoying craft beers and canapés. Celebrity MC and renowned Ignition television presenter, Marius Roberts, was on hand to interview key GCE management.

GCE’s Natania Botha (left) and Debby Marx.

GCE’s Peter Esterhuizen talking to Marius Roberts.

In response to questions posed by MC Marius Roberts, Goscor Cleaning Equipment GM Greg Venter commented; “Following huge successes in other parts of the world, we are excited to bring the new Tennant M17 to South Africa, which combines advanced technologies and user considerations to deliver exceptional sweeping and scrubbing performance, enhanced operator ease of use and comfort, while providing environmental, health and safety benefits. Our customers are always looking for revolutionary ways to enhance the cleaning experience and also support their business requirements. We are therefore confident that the M17 sweeper-scrubber can assist a business in this regard by reducing cleaning costs, maintaining health and safety standards, enhancing facility image and cutting down the cost of ownership”.

MC Marius Roberts (left) and Goscor Cleaning Equipment GM Greg Venter.

Promote your company in The Source of Workplace Hygiene Solutions!

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Contact us for more information regarding cost-effective advertising options: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za | www.africancleaningreview.co.za

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African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

advertorial GCE New innovative high-performance battery sweeper-scrubber

Towards the end of 2016 Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE), part of the Goscor Group of Companies, unveiled its new Tennant M17 highperformance battery sweeper-scrubber. The M17 combines several key features, which make it ideal for cleaning many environments in industries ranging from logistics, warehousing and FMCG to retail, facilities management and manufacturing.

The powerful dual sweeping and scrubbing design of the M17 allows operators to sweep debris and scrub in one pass. Operator visibility is enhanced with the cab-forward design, steering-wheel-mounted controls and engineered sightlines that enable the operator to clean large areas while providing an excellent view of what’s behind the machine after cleaning.

Equally important is the two-stage dust control system that maintains indoor air quality with battery operation. The cleaning time of the machine is maximised as it features the largest available battery capacity in its class.

Greg Venter

According to GCE General Manager, Greg Venter, the new M17 includes innovative technologies which are set to redefine the user’s experience.

“These include the Pro-Panel, which integrates multiple controls into an intuitive, high-visibility touch screen interface, aimed at ensuring ease of use and reducing the need for extensive operator training. This integrated panel also includes an operator login that automatically activates the specific operator’s personalised cleaning settings and downloadable preoperation checklists.”

The panel also contains programmable zone settings, which increases cleaning efficiency by allowing the operator to establish preferred cleaning settings by area. The panel also provides operators with a view of the cleaning path (using PerformanceView) without having to take their eyes off the direction of travel.

The M17 cleans up to three times longer with a single tank of water using Tennant’s innovated ec-H20™ technology that uses up to 70 percent less water. “The ec-H2O technology electrically converts water into an innovative cleaning solution that cleans effectively, saves money and reduces environmental impact compared to daily floor cleaning chemicals,” adds Venter. “Another exclusive technology in this range is the ES Extended Scrubbing productivity enhancement system that recycles cleaning chemicals to increase uptime and improve productivity by scrubbing floors using 66 percent less chemicals than traditional cleaning methods.”

“We are excited to bring the new Tennant M17 to South Africa, as it combines advanced technologies and user considerations to deliver exceptional sweeping and scrubbing performance, enhanced operator ease of use and comfort, while providing environmental, health and safety benefits,” concludes Venter.

For more information on the M17 call: 086 123 CLEAN African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

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feature matting systems

The role of entrance matting in keeping facilities clean and safe and simultaneously optimising the facility maintenance budget With a recent report indicating that the entrance matting market is showing healthy growth (it is set to be worth $6 722.3 billion by 2020, increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.8 percent between 2015 and 2020), more companies are clearly recognising the benefits of installing this ‘first line of defence’ against dirt and water ingress.

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n commercial and public buildings, property owners and facility managers face the daily challenge of trying to keep their facilities clean and safe, as well as optimising their maintenance budget.

It is well-known that a building’s users track between 70 and 90 percent of dirt into a building, and premises that do not have entrance matting installed will be at the mercy of tracked in rainwater, dirt and dust particles that will cause damage to the floor and carpets.

The report acknowledges that entrance matting is becoming popular in the hospitality industry and at workplaces due to advantages such as the growing concern for safety and stringent regulations, saying: “The market for entrance matting is influenced by the increasing importance of safety at workplaces and the growing flooring and hospitality industry”.

In South Africa, millions of Rands are spent each year on the development of commercial buildings. A significant portion of this can be attributed to the procurement and installation of flooring.

Retail environments in particular are subject to heavy foot traffic, and flooring should be selected based on properties that will provide optimal wear and longevity.

Selection of the correct flooring is, however, only the first step in this process. A good floor maintenance strategy is critical in ensuring that the inherent and aesthetic properties of the surface are preserved, thereby enhancing its performance and lifespan.

The cornerstone of any good floor maintenance regime is an effective entrance matting system. The primary

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African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

purpose of this is to trap and hold dirt that would otherwise have been tracked into the building. Not only does this improve the level of cleanliness of the environment, it also reduces the need for deep cleaning, an exercise that will typically result in additional costs.

A good entrance matting system should be tailored according to the required application. “Selecting the right matting is imperative to ensuring that the benefits and durability of the product are realised. This should involve a detailed evaluation of the type and volume of foot traffic anticipated”, says Morné van der Westhuizen, National Sales and Marketing Manager for Matco. Entrance matting should ideally be a part of a two-phase system, with one component designed to trap larger particles, and the other designed to trap finer dirt and moisture. The area covered by the entrance matting should be as large as possible, as one metre of matting will remove approximately 10 percent of the dirt. Matco has an extensive range of products, and in partnership with Nilfisk, can assist with providing the optimal solution for the specified application.

The benefits of good entrance matting can, however, only be realised if the product itself is well maintained. High quality matting such as Pro Track or Trio Scraper has the ability to hold vast quantities of dirt, and should therefore be emptied or vacuumed on a daily basis to ensure that overloading does not occur.

Matco and Nilfisk recommend an upright vacuum cleaner with brush action such as the VU500 or HOST Liberator for this purpose. These machines have a pile lifting effect that penetrates deep into the fibres,

ensuring that all dirt is removed and that the appearance of the mat is refreshed.

Spots and spills are inevitable and typically the root of complaints regarding cleanliness. “It is therefore imperative to check for these on a daily basis so that these can be dealt with as soon as possible,” says Pieter De Beer, Coastal Sales Manager for Nilfisk. Spots can generally be treated using a good spot remover and sponges, such as HOST. These types of products will assist with loosening and absorbing any hardened spills. Chewing gum also poses a significant challenge in maintaining the cleanliness of entrance matting. Nilfisk Pro Frost chemicals can be used to freeze chewing gum stuck to the fibres, allowing for ease of removal.

Periodic deep cleaning may also be required, particularly in environments with more stringent hygiene requirements such as hospitals, schools, hotels and restaurants. The HOST dry carpet cleaning system provides the perfect solution for environments where turnaround time is limited. The nature of the system means that there is limited down time in critical areas. Alternatively, the wet extraction method can be used with the appropriate carpet cleaning machine and chemicals.

Nilfisk’s range of carpet cleaning equipment and chemicals have been carefully matched according to Matco’s cleaning and maintenance specifications, providing for a one-stop solution that ensures that the value and performance of building assets are preserved.

Achieving the optimal level of cleanliness in any facility assists with enhancing the customer experience and therefore

feature matting systems

plays a role in driving repeat business. A well-planned floor maintenance strategy that incorporates high quality entrance matting is a key component of this. By ensuring that an effective maintenance regime is in place, the lifespan of both the flooring and the entrance matting is enhanced, thereby ensuring optimal return on investment.

Role of chemical resistance in matting selection When selecting floor matting, it is important to be aware of what mats are resistant to which chemicals and which are not. As matting systems grow in importance in keeping facilities clean, healthy, and safe, one thing building service providers and facility managers should know is that not all mats are resistant to all chemicals. Chemical concerns are most prevalent in industrial settings, where many different types of chemicals may end up on floors or worker’s shoes, according to Adam Strizzi, marketing manager at Crown Matting Technologies. This can be

applicable to many settings depending on various conditions, even climate.

“The problem is that someone can walk onto a mat with a chemical substance on their shoes that may damage some mats,” says Strizzi. “This could happen in the winter months, if for instance someone walks ice melt onto a mat or in warmer weather if chemicals used for outdoor cleaning or landscaping are walked onto the mat.”

Matting systems are used for trapping moisture and soils, cushioning, impact protection, decorative purposes, and other applications, all of which can be negatively impacted if the mat is not chemical resistant. Among the problems that can occur: • The life expectancy of a mat may be reduced considerably • The effectiveness of the mat – whether for capturing moisture and soil or reducing worker fatigue – may be compromised • It may become more difficult to clean the mat • Safety issues may develop including the possibility of a slip-and-fall accident.

Aware of these issues, some matting companies such as Crown now make chemical resistant charts available for cleaning service providers and facility managers. “By using these charts, it is easy to determine if, for instance, acetone exposure is possible [in a facility] and which mats are and are not resistant to acetone solutions,” according to Strizzi.

However, Strizzi adds that the chemical resistance charts are typically based on ‘intermittent’ or occasional exposure.

If there is ‘constant’ exposure to some chemicals, facility managers may need to test mats before making a final selection.

Prevent slip-and-fall accidents The use of floor mats is one of the most effective ways to prevent slip-andfall accidents. However, if improperly selected or installed, the floor mat may actually contribute to a slip-and-fall accident. Crown Matting Technologies suggests the following ways to prevent this from happening: Placement: Entry mats should be placed directly in front of building entrances. If two or more mats are installed together, it is best that they touch each other; there should be no gaps, which could cause a trip or fall.

Smooth transitions: Be sure the mat makes a smooth transition to the floor.

To do this, select mats that are tapered.

Rental mats: Very often rental mats are very thin mats. Thin mats typically are also very light, which means they may move around with foot traffic. Select a more stable, heavier mat. Typically, these mats are purchased.

Carpet length: The Carpet and Rug Institute suggests that mats be at least 1,8 to 4,5 metres in length, mostly 4,5 metres is recommended according to Crown Matting Technologies. This allows for five to six steps on the mat, which can remove as much as 80 percent of the soil and moisture on shoe bottoms.

Pro Track – Milton Keynes Theatre.

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feature matting systems Cleaning: Mats must be kept clean in order to perform effectively. At busy entrances, they should be vacuumed throughout the day. Heavier, purchased mats will also need to be cleaned; the best way to do this is with a carpet extractor.

Storage: When storing mats, always place them flat on the ground.

This protects the backing but more importantly, it helps ensure the mat will lie flat on the ground when installed. A mat that curls in any way could cause a slip or fall.

Mats are often designed to work as a system. There are three different types of mats: wipers, wiper/scrapers, and scrapers. Working together, they are the most effective way to remove soil and moisture from shoe bottoms and to promote safety.

can benefit from a three-part entryway system. Depending on the size of the area, this system ensures that there is at least 4,5 metres of walk-off matting, which results in most dirt and moisture being prevented from entering the building.

Zone optimisation to keep out the dirt

Zone 1 – Outdoors: The area just before the building access requires a product with scraping action to remove grit and heavy dirt particles, including mud or sand.

Zone 2 – Indoors: The primary area just inside the building where a product with dual action – scraping and moisture retention – should be installed to protect against dirt and moisture ingress. This area often features a recessed mat well.

Zone 3 – Indoors: The secondary area inside the building following Zone 2. A textile product is the preferred solution to target any remaining soil and moisture.

Milliken’s OBEX® product range offers highly effective and comprehensive entrance flooring solutions. They have been designed as three-zone barrier systems to prevent dirt and moisture from entering a building. Available in coordinated colours and patterns, OBEX® entrance products are engineered to increase the functionality of a building’s entrance without compromising on design or aesthetic. Simple and easy to work with, OBEX® offers entrance systems which can be recessed or surfacemounted, including exterior and interior applications.

According to Milliken the best protection against the outdoor elements, public spaces and commercial buildings

OBEX® modular entrance flooring solutions.

Milliken’s OBEX® modular entrance flooring collection offers a complete 3 zone solution Zones 1 & 2: Prior, Tergo and Forma Prior, Tergo and Forma make up Milliken’s modular tile range, and can be used alone or combined for a complete solution.

• Prior is a flexible multipurpose modular flooring product with a structure that incorporates resilient scrapers to remove particulate dirt • Tergo modular tiles are manufactured with heavy-duty textile inserts made of 100 percent polyamide monofilaments for a superior brushing action • Forma combines the patented Milliken duo scraper textile with the OBEX modular tile carrier to produce a revolutionary matting system

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African Cleaning Review January/February 2017

All three products can be combined and work as an initial Zone 1 and Zone 2 barrier system offering great protection to flooring, which can be further improved with a textile entrance-matting product such as Quadrus or Foris in zone 2 or 3.

Zones 2 & 3: Quadrus and Foris Quadrus is a modular entrance tile system that creates an ambience in a space that must also deal with an active world and create a barrier against the elements. Designed to provide a superior combination of performance and aesthetics, the ECONYL® dualfibre polyamide yarn and open textile construction will stop dirt and moisture at the door, while allowing easy removal during maintenance.

Easily coordinated with Quadrus, Foris is a textile product made from the same resilient yarn and available in the same patterns and colours.

The Milliken’s OBEX® product range distributed in South Africa by Serra also offers a further cost advantage as it stands up to heavy wear and tear and can perform for many years if maintained as per manufacturer’s recommendations, in fact all products in the range are covered by a five-year wear guarantee.

The modular tile design means that it is simple to install and replace if damage should occur, and small areas can be replaced easily and cost-effectively with minimum disruption.

Requirements for entrance matting are continuously changing, making it essential for manufacturers to invest continually in R&D and come up with innovative solutions in order to meet the growing demand to increase workplace safety and to optimise the maintenance budget.

people and events Cleaning the Telkom 94.7 cycle challenge route The Telkom 94.7 cycle challenge took place in November 2016 and during the event major roads in Johannesburg were shut down and over 30 000 cyclists from all walks of life took to the safe and clean route along Johannesburg’s iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge, Zoo Lake, picturesque Steyn City Estate and other memorable sites.

Goscor Cleaning Equipment’s (GCE) Tennant Sentinel high-performance outdoor rider sweeper was tasked to clean the route two days prior to the race to ensure that no debris, such as glass, wood, stones and other hazardous objects were present along the cycle route.

“Amongst other factors, the safety of all cyclists and the condition of their wheels depended on the quality of the route surface, which we cleaned as thoroughly as possible. This reduced the possibility of cyclists pulling out of

Goscor’s Tennant Sentinel high performance outdoor rider sweeper cleaning the Telkom 94.7 cycle challenge route.

the race due to a puncture or accidents caused by debris or objects,” says Peter Esterhuizen, National Sales Manager at Goscor Cleaning Equipment.

According to Esterhuizen, the Tennant Sentinel outdoor rider sweeper was selected to clean the cycle route, as it delivers excellent sweeping performance in harsh and congested environments, achieving consistent cleaning results from its all-weather sweeping capability. “Most importantly, the well-equipped and large cabin provides total comfort and safety for the

operator, allowing 360° visibility around the machine for safe manoeuvring and a full view of the route,” he adds.

Following the completion of the race, GCE provided the high-performance Macro M60 street sweeper to again clean up the route without raising dust during the process.

“This is the second year the organisers of the 94.7 cycle challenge utilised our road cleaning equipment and we are proud to be part of Johannesburg’s largest cycle event,” concludes Esterhuizen.

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Tour to Italy and one of Europe’s largest professional cleaning events This tour package will allow travellers the opportunity to make the most of their visit to two historical Italian cities as well as the country’s largest professional cleaning exhibition, thereby offering an abundant mix of business and leisure options.

Pulire 2017

Pulire is the largest professional cleaning industry exhibition in Italy and plays host to a complete range of machinery, chemical products, equipment and components for professional cleaning and hygiene. Boasting thirty years of history, Pulire is a leading event in Europe, favourably ranked for importance and size, and rated as one of the most influential globally. Pulire attracts 300 exhibitors and more than 10 000 visitors to its more than 17 000m2 of display space. It hosts the largest international groups, industry-leading companies, and innovative solutions for the express purpose of assisting cleaning industry professionals.

Tour departs: Saturday 20 May 2017 6 Night tour package includes: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Return airfares – ex Johannesburg 3 x night accommodation in Venice 3 x night accommodation in Verona Transfers from and to airport Verona return train tickets Welcome dinner – Venice Farewell dinner – Verona Entrance to Pulire exhibition Entrance to a cleaning industry suppliers workshop Day trip city of Venice Day trip city of Verona Visit to the Ferrari and Lamborghini plants

Tour rate:

• Single package: ZAR 28 750* • Sharing per person: ZAR 22 500* • Land only arrangements available on request * Tour package rates are subject to exchange rate fluctuations

Verona

Celebrated by Shakespeare, who made it famous as the romantic setting for the moving tale of Romeo and Juliet, Verona is a splendid, ancient corner of the Veneto region in Italy.

Another feature of the city is the Arena of Verona built by the Romans in the 1st century AD to host gladiator fights.

Venice

Few cities can claim such a priceless art and history heritage as Venice. This unique city built entirely on water with its magical, spectacular scenery is not just beautiful; it is a real miracle of creative genius. No trip to Venice would be complete without a punt down one of the city’s picturesque waterways in an iconic gondola.

For more information or to book, contact Steve Braham at: 083 265 1268 or email: steve@sbpr.co.za