Restoration Industry Association -- Educational Programs and Events

The Power of Association Redux

What is in a name? Quite a lot, actually. Mom always told us that we would be judged by the company that we keep. What Mom actually meant was that others would try to enhance their own reputations by being seen with us.

One of the expectations that members of organizations have is that people will judge them favorably for the fact that they belong to a reputable institution. This is true of any organization that you might join; whether it is a club, a charitable organization, or a trade association like RIA. As a member you expect that some advantage will accrue to your business reputation by the fact that your company has agreed to abide the standards of conduct implicit in being an RIA member. In fact, I have heard members say that when referring work in this industry that they do not feel the need to conduct background checks on RIA members because they tend to be reliably professional.

This reputation equation works both ways: RIA’s reputation will enhance its members only to the extent that the quality of our members’ reputations enhance RIA. In short, all of us will be judged by the company we are keeping.

There are some businesses in this industry who think it is okay to coattail on the investment and integrity of RIA members by representing themselves to the public as members of this association when they are not. Some are former members of RIA (formerly ASCR), others just assumed that they could take one or more of the association’s trademarks and put it in a brochure or Yellow Pages ad and no one would notice. Well, I ask that you take notice where we cannot.

A little over a year ago we were asked by the RIA (then-ASCR) board of directors to stop unauthorized companies from implying membership in the association or from using logos registered to ASCR such as the ASCR International logo, RIA, the ASCR Institutes (NIRC, CUCI, NIDR, WLI, MSHI) or any of RIA’s advanced certifications. In other words, do not let non-member companies compromise the reputations of our members.

This is a pretty big task, and we ask that you help. As practitioners I know that you keep tabs on your competition. Would you check your local Yellow Pages and see if any of your competitors, who are not RIA members, are using any of RIA's logos or in any way imply that the company belongs to the association? If you find one, just send me an email at info@restorationindustry.org with the words “TRADEMARK FIELD REPORT” in the subject line and describe what you found and how to contact you. You can also make a copy of the offending ad along with a copy of the cover/title page of the directory where you found it and fax (443-878-1010) or mail it to RIA, Attention: TRADEMARK FIELD REPORT, 9810 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046. We will investigate all reports and, if confirmed, RIA will initiate enforcement.

Thank you for helping preserve our reputations.

Don Manger
Executive Director
Restoration Industry Association

The Economy & Small Business

According to the Small Business Administration, overall economic growth slowed in the first quarter of 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006. Consumer and small business confidence remained at their 2006 average, which was less optimistic than in previous years. Fewer small business owners are planning to expand their businesses or hire new workers.

In contrast to that view, the unemployment rate in March 2007 was 4.4 percent, matching its most recent low of October 2006. There were 455,000 new jobs during the first quarter of 2007, with almost 2 million created since the first quarter of 2006. The majority of new jobs were found in trade, transportation and utilities, financial activities; professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality. Small businesses comprise at least 40 percent of these sectors.

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

CIRI Cleaning Symposium Looks at Standards

The Cleaning Industry Research Institute hosted its first Cleaning Science Symposium last month in Las Vegas, NV. The conference focused on the state of cleaning science and included the presentation of a number of papers.

While all current methods used to gauge the success or failure of cleaning are not based on scientific data, the attendees agreed that development of such standards should be a future focus.

CRI Seal of Approval Update

The Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval Program (SOA) has been expanded to include carpet manufacturers who have decided to link their residential warranties on their products to the use of SOA products. Among those linking their warranties to the program are:

Beaulieu: Affects carpets purchased after Jan. 1, 2007, and requires the use of carpet care products that have obtained the CRI SOA certification to maintain a carpet’s warranties.

Blue Ridge: Requires that only CRI SOA complying products be used to maintain its residential warranties. Customers must also be able to prove that their carpet was professionally cleaned at least once every two years by an IICRC-certified firm using CRI SOA certified hot water extraction for cleaning.

Mohawk: Requires one professional cleaning every 18 months using products and equipment that carry the CRI SOA.

Shaw: Warranties require the use of cleaning agents and equipment certified through the CRI SOA program.

More information on the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval program is available at www.carpet-rug.org or from the World Floor Covering Association at www.WFCA.org.

SBA Launches Free Online Course & Assessment

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently introduced an online training course for entrepreneurs who need help with the fundamentals of starting a small business.

The Small Business Primer is a self-paced assessment tool that focuses on three areas to help owners: business readiness, an overview of basic small business principles, and an introduction to key SBA resources for small business counseling and training.

Through the online training, owners are introduced to topics addressing: business planning, legal aspects, and financing and marketing. More than 40 targeted small business tools are available, as well as direct access to online counseling through a number of SBA partners.

For more information, visit www.sba.gov/training.

Kansas Tornado Damages Could Reach $25M

According to the Property Claim Services unit of the Insurance Services Office, damages from the tornado in Kansas earlier this month are expected to top $25 million or more. The tornado destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kan., located about 110 miles west of Wichita.

WLS Course Scheduled for St. Louis

After a two-year hiatus, RIA’s updated Water Loss Specialist (WLS) course will be offered in St. Louis, Mo., November 12-17. Course instructors include Pete Consigli, CR, WLS (course facilitator); Joe Lstiburek, Ph.D., P. Eng.; David Governo, Esq.; Craig Fillman; and Lew Harriman.

For prerequisites, more information or to register for the course, contact the course hotline at (800) 272-7012 or e-mail cmullaly@restorationindustry.org.

Update on Colorado Legislation

A new “consumer freedom of choice” bill was introduced in the Colorado Legislature during this legislative session. Following passage in both the House and Senate, HB07-1104 was sent to the governor’s desk for signature on May 14. The legislation could be a model for other bills across the country.

These activities also underscore the importance of RIA’s Industry Defense Fund (IDF). The IDF was created to support legislation, regulations or legal initiatives that can have a material impact on preserving the integrity of the cleaning, restoration, and remediation markets in the U.S. and abroad. The IDF is not a political action committee, so contributions will not be used to support candidates running for office. Anyone interested in making a contribution to the Industry Defense Fund should contact RIA’s Executive Director, Don Manger, at dmanger@restorationindustry.org.

Fall Conference Expanded

RIA’s fall conference has been expanded to incorporate all industry segments: disaster restoration, environmental remediation, as well as sessions specifically for the NIRC Division. Scheduled for October 23-27, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, Calif., the new format provides attendees with an in-depth education usually reserved for much smaller courses.

There will be two plant tours, sessions on the use of chemicals in restoration and hazards surrounding trauma scene clean up, plus the next round of the drying and pricing debates.

Those attending NIRC’s one-and-a-half day conference will walk away with a working knowledge of hard surface cleaning and the immediate ability to implement this add-on service while improving the company’s bottom-line profits. Topics include:

1. Identification of different flooring types

2. Trouble-shooting & identifying problems

3. Equipment needed to do the Job

4. Q&A from the pros on the good, the bad and the ugly of hard surface cleaning

5. Half-day, hands-on, hard surface training at an off-site facility

RIA Consumer Flyers

Give your customers valuable information on a variety of cleaning and restoration topics. Written by RIA’s technical advisors, each flyer identifies a specific problem, explains why it occurs and provides prevention tips.

Titles available (Please specify titles):

Abrash
Animal Stains
Backing Separation
Benzoyl Peroxide
Carpet Installation
Cellulosic Browning
Chewing Gum Removal
Code of Ethics
Color Changes
Corn Rowing
Custom Made Rugs
Drapery Damage
Dry Rot in Rugs and Furnishings
Dye Bleeding
Flatwoven Rugs
Forgotten Spills

Haitian Cotton
Latex Decay
Leather Upholstery
Mildew Myths About Oriental
Rug Cleaning
New Furnishings
Odors
Odors and Color Problems
in Area Rugs
Painted Rugs/Bleeding Rugs
Protein Fires

Pulled Wool is Bad Wool
Reappearing Stains
Ripples
Rug Fringes
Rug Shrinkage
Sewer Backups
Shading

Shedding & Pilling
Silk Textiles
Smoke Damage
Soil Filtration Lines
Soils
Spot Removal
Static
Stubborn Stains
Sunlight Damage
Textile Insects
Texture Change
Thank You*
Vacuuming
Water Stains
Yellowing

*Designed for distribution for residential and commercial customers, this flyer addresses health and safety issues related to carpet cleaning. Now available in Spanish.

Same Title

RIA Members: 100/$30

Non-Member: 100/$65

Thank You Flyers
RIA Members: 1000/$200

Non-Members: 1000/$400

Tips! On the Care and Maintenance of Your Carpet, Rugs, Drapery and Upholstery

Use RIA’s Tips! On the Care and Maintenance of Your Carpet, Rugs, Drapery and Upholstery as the perfect leave-behind for your clients. It explains fabric care, answers to frequently asked questions and has an index of common stains with step-by-step instructions for their removal.

RIA Members: 1,000/$225

Non-Members: 1,000/$450

RIA Members: 500/$150

Non-Members: 500/$300

Check out these and other products at http://www.restorationindustry.org/resourcelibrary/marmaterials.cfm.

Catching Fire: The West End Fire Company Project

Phoenix Award Winner for Excellence in Reconstruction

By Beth Rogers

A fire department is the last place one would expect would catch on fire, but that’s exactly what happened. This Phoenix Award winner for excellence in reconstruction portrays restoration contractors at their best.

Drying Out EPA’s Headquarters

Phoenix Award Winner for Excellence in Restoration

By Beth Rogers

When torrential rains hit the mid-Atlantic region last June, one of the casualties was the EPA headquarters building in Washington, D.C. Not just any client, this project gave the agency that creates environmental regulations an opportunity to see what restoration contractors really do.

CO2 Blasting: The Remediation Tool of the Future

By Neil McManus, CIH, ROH, CSP

Abrasive blasting using dry ice pellets provides a number of advantages in a variety of situations. What are the secrets to successfully using this type of technology?

60 Tips for Contagious Leadership

By Monica Wofford

Good leaders have an attitude that others want to catch. What they do says far more than what they actually say. Learn how to become a “contagious” leader.

Columns

Technical Topics

New Cleaning Industry Management Standard

Restoration Corner

Loaded Promises

Legal Briefs

Just in Case you Were Wondering…

Marketing Notes

How to Wow! Your Clients

Business Briefs

Why You Should Enter the Phoenix Awards Competition

Not a subscriber? Then visit http://www.restorationindustry.org/buyersguide/index.cfm.

According to A.M. Best Co., weather-related catastrophes in 2006 cost insurance companies over $8 billion in losses. Although hurricanes and earthquakes produce larger losses, tornadoes and inclement weather account for 56 percent of the nation's catastrophic losses. For 2007, there are already 334 instances of tornadoes. Although tornadoes could generate $10 billion in losses within a 100 year-period, damage does not impact insurers as intensely as other natural disasters. Of 51 insurance companies in A.M. Best's report, the only three attributing insolvency to tornadoes and inclement weather had a "heavy concentration of risk in a limited geographic region."
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In late April, indoor air quality tests were conducted at a Rite Aid pharmacy in Clayton, N.J., after workers said they felt ill. Consultants hired by the company tested the air inside the building and found three parts per billion of benzene and 14 parts per billion of chloroform--both exceeding normal levels of two parts per billion for either chemical. To obtain an ambient level and make comparisons, the Gloucester County Department of Health will test the quality of the outdoor air. In response to the recent tests, Rite Aid has filled in cracks in the floor, re-sealed the drive-thru window, and extended ventilation ducts to improve indoor air quality. The company has already shelled out $500,000 on a ventilation system, as the site's previous use as a gas station has long raised concerns about fumes.
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Hooked rugs with stenciled designs can be difficult or impossible to clean without risking major damage to the rug. Given that these stencils are often done in non-permanent ink on the rug's foundation, with the yarns hooked in afterward to create a design, prolonged exposure to water will result in the ink wicking outward and staining the face fibers. Professional carpet cleaners need to be aware of the risk before they agree to take on any job involving hooked rugs, ensuring that the client understands the consequences and will not hold them liable for any damage. Cleaners should first examine the back of the rug to check for signs of ink or other coloring. If the rug has a heavy backing, they should examine the front by separating the loops to see if there is any ink on the foundation mesh. If the customer decides to proceed, cleaners should employ a low-moisture cleaning method that involves little agitation. Quick drying is important to minimize damage; and if the rug is hung loop-side down, the ink will wick to the back.
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When disaster recovery specialists enter fire-ravaged commercial buildings, they typically test metal surfaces for chloride ions. High chloride levels indicate the presence of hydrochloric acid caused by the fire. The presence of hydrochloric acid does not mean metallic surfaces and equipment are too corroded to be saved. Disaster restoration specialists can save clients a substantial amount of money by understanding that superficial corrosion can be remedied. However, the likelihood that restoration experts will be successful declines within days after the fire. To avoid having to return to the scene to clean the same surfaces over and over again, restoration specialists should keep in mind that hydrogen chloride gas migrates through buildings on air currents.
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According to fire scientists, conditions are ripe for another active fire season in 2007, with higher than normal temperatures in Alaska and other western states. Droughts are also playing a role in the early outbreaks of fire in Georgia, and its neighboring states could face fire damage as well. In Colorado, fires could ignite as bark beetle infestations kill more trees, which make great fodder for blazes. Monsoon possibilities continue to threaten New Mexico and Arizona, but recent weather data has not pinpointed the likelihood of these storms. In Nevada, the landscape's dried out grass and brush, which accumulated during the wet winter of 2005 and dried out due to less moisture in the winter of 2006, could act as fuel for fires.
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Plantation Elementary School in Lafayette, La., reopened April 25, four days after closing its doors to allow contractors to clean the air conditioning and heating system due to mold. Earlier in the month, concerns about mold prompted a thorough cleaning of the band room and band storage room. Complaints from parents sparked the second and most recent cleaning. An indoor air quality test paid for by the school in late March uncovered toxic mold in the band room. The parents of one student filed a lawsuit to pay for their own air tests after their child tested positive for exposure to Stachybotrys toxins. The family's attorney says seven other students were tested, with similar results. The school was deemed safe for students and staff to return, and Principal Kay Marix says post-cleaning results will be released shortly.
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National Carpet Cleaners Association director Peter Collins says there are several challenges associated with cleaning tufted rugs, and he urges carpet cleaners to be upfront with customers about these challenges and have them sign a document stating that they have been disclosed. Problems occur when the rug manufacturer uses different colored dyes for the backing scrim and the face fibers, making it possible that the cleaning process will cause dye from the backing to bleed into the face fibers. Bleeding also occurs if dark dyes are set incorrectly. Collins recommends that carpet cleaners carefully part the face fibers to examine the backing for "rogue dye." Carpet cleaners should either utilize a dry compound cleaning product to perform a surface cleaning or use dye lock products to gently wet and rinse the surface.
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Many hospitals have developed best practices for the cleaning, sanitization, and disinfecting of infectious and critical care areas, but not general medical facility areas. To ensure that the cleaning of these spaces is effective, a team of facility managers, hospital staff, and cleaning professionals must assess the cleaning products and methods currently in use, as well as create cleaning benchmarks. It is especially important that the team categorize areas of the facility according to risk, with areas deemed "very high risk" including operating rooms, emergency rooms, intensive care, and patient bathrooms. "High risk" areas include public restrooms, elevator buttons, and staff areas, while "significant risk" areas include outpatient departments, waiting rooms, and general offices; record storage and supply areas are considered "low risk." Areas considered "very high risk," for instance, need to be cleaned multiple times each day, and the cleanliness of areas within each category should be audited on a weekly basis. These best practices should spell out the difference between cleaning--the removal of soils--and sanitization and disinfecting--the application of heat and/or chemicals to kill bacteria, fungi, and other contaminants. Finally, they also should detail the difference between sanitizers, which kill 99.999 percent of pathogens, and disinfectants, which have a kill rate of 99.99999 percent.
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The Mark Wentworth Home, an elder care facility in Portsmouth, N.H., has been closed until January 2008 due to mold uncovered during a renovation project. About 38 residents and 50 employees were relocated. The Scott Lawson Group Ltd., a Concord-based environmental testing firm, found the Stachybotrys fungus in an addition built in 1987. Toxins generated by this type of mold are believed to cause health problems in people with weak immune systems. "Even though the Lawson Group says no one is at risk today, they could be in the future, so we decided to shut the facility down," says Mark Wentworth Home Chairman William Henson.
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Paint samples taken from Chapman Middle School in Weymouth, Mass., show a level of asbestos that surpasses the state Department of Environmental Protection Agency's 1-percent threshold, mandating its removal. Daniel McCormack of the Weymouth Health Department notes that the paint contains "non-friablea" asbestos, which does not easily enter the air. To minimize exposure, the school has hired a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to vacuum paint chips from the ground, window sills, entrances, and overhangs. Other safeguards include applying a latex sealant to concrete asphalt surfaces and erecting temporary fencing to keep students and staff away from certain outdoor areas. Weymouth Public Schools maintenance director Tom Slattery says "a full scale removal" plan is presently in the works, and a private agency will be required to re-inspect the school in 2010. Much of the work is being performed at the end of the school day.
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Carpet cleaners and disaster restoration professionals might want to consider purchasing truckmounts to boost productivity. Truckmounts mix detergents, act as high pressure washers, and transport soils and cleaning solutions to a holding tank after use. Using kerosene, propane, or heat exchange technology, these machines hold a steady temperature of more than 200 degrees. They are operational hundreds of feet from the work site--requiring lengthy hoses--and can be used simultaneously by as many as three users. All truckmounts feature engines, positive displacement vacuum pumps, solution pumps, and heating systems; but their configuration, capacity, and performance can vary. When selecting a truckmount, companies should buy the best they can afford and take advantage of time-saving features.
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There are a growing number of cleaning companies expanding their efforts to include trauma scene cleanup--a task that is typically left to families after investigators leave. Police Lieutenant Russell Reynolds in Conroe, Texas, says, "(Cleaning companies) definitely serve a very good and worthwhile purpose out there. They can save the family a lot of problems and particularly at a time when the family is dealing with a crisis." Crime-scene cleaners add that they are best equipped to deal with bodily fluids, tissue, and other biohazards. Lax enforcement of biohazard disposal regulations allows families to clean up the mess themselves--a move crime-scene cleaners say is fraught with risk. Improper disposal can lead to the spread of such diseases as hepatitis and HIV, as well as foul odors. John DiGulio, CEO of the Houston-based cleanup firm USA Decon, says biohazard waste is sent to the incinerator in labeled boxes, whose journey is tracked via Global Positioning System technology.
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The Insurance Services Office recently reported that insured catastrophe loses for the United States reached $1.22 billion for the first quarter of 2007, which is a decline from the $1.48 billion recorded during the same period last year. Across 18 states, winter storms generated over 200,000 claims, but the most devastating damages occurred when tornadoes passed through Alabama and Georgia. The tornadoes caused $450 million in insured property claims. Much of the damage centered on Georgia, generating about $285 million in losses, with Alabama experiencing $175 million in losses.
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Sanitizers and disinfectants that kill bacteria and other microbes must be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and display a registration number for the product and another for the manufacturer. These products boast a microbial kill rate of 99.99 percent or more and are guaranteed to kill whatever microorganisms are listed on the label. Sanitizers and disinfectants that kill viruses must be registered separately with the EPA. Additionally, none of these products can carry the Green Seal label or any other environmental certification logo; but cleaners can consult the Green Seal Web site to determine whether a particular product has achieved certification. Users must keep in mind that sanitizers and disinfectants are only effective if surfaces are pre-cleaned to remove organic matter. Moreover, the sanitizer must be allowed to sit on the surface for anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes--based on the label's instructions--before being wiped away.
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There are several resources consumers can use to find a reputable carpet cleaner. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, a nonprofit based in Vancouver, Wash., lists certified floor covering and textile specialists on its Web site and assists consumers in need of a professional to restore water-damaged or mold-infested carpets. The site enables consumers to compare the services and costs of different firms, going beyond what is provided on company Web sites. Consumers searching for stain-removal information can turn to the Carpet & FabriCare Institute, which has expanded its focus to include hardwood floors and grout. According to Richard Daley, manager of the California-based trade group, "Home builders in the past five to 10 years have moved to using more stone on floors instead of carpet, so many carpet cleaners have made a point of multitasking out of necessity."
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York County, Maine, has endured severe floods twice during the past year. State and local officials say they are committed to spending $40 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on improvements to prevent future flood damage. A large portion of the funds will be put toward the expansion of culverts to prevent washed out roads. In Kennebunk, officials are considering a request for federal money to rebuild coastal homes on posts, minimizing flood damage by allowing the ocean to flow underneath.
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Rug cleaners are increasingly looking for ways to speed up drying time, lowering both energy consumption and costs. Centrifugal technology has long been used in Europe and the Middle East to quickly spin water out of rugs. Centrifuges are evolving to accommodate the larger rugs common in the United States and minimize the need for fringe detailing. U.S.-made centrifuges also offer cost savings by using less floor space, which is accomplished through a horizontal design.
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