Powered janitorial equipment includes powered floor scrubbers, burnishers, carpet extractors, vacuum cleaners, power washers, and other powered cleaning equipment.
Building managers should select equipment that, at a minimum, meets the following specifications:
- Vacuum cleaners should meet, at a minimum, the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green
- Label or Seal of Approval (SOA) Program requirements and should operate at a sound level of less than 70 dBA.
- Carpet extraction equipment should meet at a minimum the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Bronze Seal of Approval.
- Powered floor maintenance equipment should be equipped with controls or other devices for capturing and collecting particulates and should operate at a sound level less than 70 dBA.
- Propane-powered floor equipment should have low-emission engines certified by the California Air Resources Board under the Small Off-Road Engines or Equipment (SORE) program, and should be equipped with catalytic and exhaust monitoring systems in addition to other requirements for floor equipment set out in the section.
- Current in-use propane-powered equipment should only be used when the building is unoccupied and under conditions allowing for as much air circulation and exchange as possible.
- Powered scrubbing machines should be equipped with a control method for variable rate dispensing to optimise the use of cleaning fluids.
Other considerations for equipment selection include the following:
- To accommodate people with sensitivities, consider vacuums with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration capable of trapping 99.97% of all airborne particles 0.3 microns and larger entering the vacuum. In some cases, it is preferable to use vacuums with a beater bar to increase the amount of soil removal on certain carpet types.
- Floor machines should have guards and filters.
In the selection of all equipment, it is preferable to select those that are durable, energy-efficient and quiet, as compared to less durable, less efficient, and noisier alternatives. Appendix C also discusses powered equipment.
Other Cleaning Categories and further reading
A variety of cleaners are available in the market depending on the skills and expertise required. Some of the common types are listed below.
Further information about Cleaning:
- What is Cleaning?
- Cleaning Procedure
- How to improve cleaning?
- How to train your cleaning employees?
- How to guide cleaning staff?
- How to keep and maintain communication with cleaners?
- About entryways and lobbies cleaning?
- How is dust cleaned?
- How to mop dust
- Floor care and maintenance
- How to maintain hard floor?
- Floor stripping and removal
- Buffing and burnishing techniques
- Carpet maintenance and care
- Carpet extraction and cleaning
- How to Cleaning Data Centre and Server Room?
- How to Clean Computer and Keyboard?
- How to clean your restroom
- What is disinfection?
- How to reduce solid waste?
- Pets cleaning management
- How indoor plans help in cleaning the environment?
- What are the special needs for cleaning?
- Information about cleaning products
- What are concentrated cleaning products?
- What do all-purpose cleaners mean?
- Facts about restroom cleaners
- How to disinfect your restroom?
- Facts about carpet cleaners
- What is chrome cleaner and polisher?
- What is dust treatment?
- Facts about floor finish
- Floor strippers meaning
- Information about Furniture polishes
- General degreasers
- Information on general degreasers
- General disinfectants and cleanings
- Glass cleaners
- Graffiti removers
- Gum removers
- Lime and scale removers
- What is a sanitiser?
- Solvent spot removers absorbents
- Urinal deodorisers
- Wood and stone floor coatings
- Disposable paper and plastic bags
- Selection and use of janitorial equipment
- How to clean a dry floor?