• Hyperlinks to websites that put the products at their fingertips.
• The ability to track who has received your email.
• Getting your message out to potential customers and not waiting for visitors to find your website.

• Some email servers may classify your email as “junk” and therefore place it in the junk folder or delete it.
• Email inboxes do have capacity limits and recipients may not receive your message or attachments.

Casey M. Geisler is the RIA communications specialist.

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"RIA, IESO Collaborate on Fire Damage Restoration Standard"
Cleanfax (06/08)

A new collaboration agreement between the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) and the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO) will result in the creation of a fire damage restoration standard, said RIA Executive Director Don Manger at the 11th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Indoor Air Quality Association in Tampa. According to Manger, "The transition into an American national standard marks another milestone in the maturation of the damage repair industry. The broad-based consensus supporting the fire damage standard will benefit the damage repair and insurance industries, as well as property owners, by providing clarity regarding repair options and a basis for cost control, while helping to expedite project completions and payments." IESO Secretariat Kristy Lee says RIA members, representatives of the IESO Standards Development Committee, and other industry players will meet this summer to work on the standard.
(Web Link)
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"NOAA Study Forecasts Greater Extremes in Weather"
Boston Globe (06/20/08) Eilperin, Juliet

The U.S. Climate Change Science Program, lead by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued a 162-page study regarding the impact of global warming on the climate of the United States and Canada over the last five decades. Greenhouse gas emission hikes likely will cause more droughts and excessive heat in North America, according to the study, and some regions will experience greater rainfall and more hurricanes. The Southwest region is expected to see greater droughts, while other regions will see increases in rainfall as more water vapor hangs in the air. NOAA's National Climate Data Center Director Thomas Karl says, the report "concludes that we are now witnessing and will increasingly experience more extreme weather and climate events." Examining data as far back as 1895, researchers indicate that fewer cold periods were reported in the last 10 years than in any other decade. Extremely hot days, which occurred one time every couple of decades, now occur every three years.
(Web Link)
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"Clearing the Air"
Cleanfax (07/08) Vol. 23, No. 7, Sanchez, Richard

Disaster restoration firms should employ air scrubbers containing HEPA filters to remove upwards of 99.97 percent of airborne particulates 0.3 microns or bigger when cleaning up after a fire. Research shows that particulates under one micron can stay in the air for days or months; and if they are inhaled, they can cause cancer or other respiratory problems. Air scrubbers use negative air movement to trap soot, mold, dust, and other particles, as well as odors. These machines should operate at various speeds and allow for the use of pleated and carbon filters so that they can be used for different cleaning jobs. An indicator light alerting cleaning technicians to problems with the filtration system also is useful, as is the ability to use the machines either vertically or horizontally.
(Web Link)
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"Carpets And Allergies: Unraveling the Myths"
North American Precis Syndicate (06/30/08)

Despite the fact that three-quarters of the homeowners surveyed recently by the Institution of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) think carpets exacerbate allergies, IICRC technical advisor Jeff Bishop points out that scientific research underscores the benefits of carpets in alleviating allergies. He says the Environmental Protection Agency and other experts have conducted studies that reveal airborne allergens are trapped in carpets and can be removed by frequent vacuuming and deep cleaning by professional certified cleaners.
(Web Link)
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"Despite the Smell, Post-Flood Air Quality Not So Bad"
Cedar Rapids Gazette (Iowa) (06/24/08) Hadish, Cindy

Though the air in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and other flood-ravaged areas may smell bad, Linn County Public Health air quality division supervisor Jim Hodina says air quality has not been affected. He reports low levels of particulate matter, ozone, and other outdoor pollutants, mainly because utilities and industrial plants have been closed due to the floods. However, concerns about mold in flooded buildings and asbestos in structures being razed necessitate the use of N-95 or higher respirators by restoration workers. Additionally, University Hygienic Laboratory industrial hygiene program manager Pam Kostle encourages building owners to focus on drying water-damaged structures, rather than spending money on mold tests.
(Web Link)
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"OSHA Unveils New Flood and Tornado Cleanup"
Indianapolis Star (06/23/08) Worthy, Sharon

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration unveiled a new Web site that offers targeted information for workers involved in the cleanup and recovery of the Midwest floods and tornadoes. The site, which can be accessed from the U.S. Department of Labor's main page, houses 40 fact sheets in English and Spanish that provide workers with information about such hazards as electrical wires, chain saws, decontamination, and heat and sun. It also contains public service announcements about cleanup and recovery, as well as activity sheets to help employers identify hazards and reduce employee exposure during specific cleanup and recovery tasks, such as floodwater removal and utility restoration. "We encourage employers and employees to access this vital information targeted to the conditions in which they will be working," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
(Web Link)
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"Midwest's Postflood Risk: Toxic Basements"
Christian Science Monitor (06/30/08) Spotts, Peter N.

Indoor toxins are one of the main challenges facing home and business owners in the Midwest now that floodwaters have abated. Fertilizer, gasoline, oil, chemicals, and toxic metals swept up by the floodwaters are lurking in basements across the Midwest, which is why researchers have taken the knowledge garnered after Hurricane Katrina and applied it to the current flooding. Many emergency crews provide homeowners with the go-ahead to re-enter their homes after testing for toxins outside of structures; but in many cases, toxins can be higher inside. Researchers, like Louisiana State University's Nicholas Ashley, note that heavy metals seep into homes through cracks and chinks when floodwaters are on the move; and as water recedes, silt settles inside basements and lower levels of homes. Waterborne organic chemicals, on the other hand, often seep inside mold, which then emits them when spores are released. Ashley and Dr. Louis Thibodeaux are working on a model to help homeowners determine toxin levels inside their homes, particularly after flooding. The researchers note that the longer a home remains airtight and closed for restoration or demolition can impact the level of toxins inside. Thibodeaux and Ashley hope to develop a simple water and sediment sampling kit for rescuers and emergency workers to test homes damaged by flooding, which will provide property owners with viable information for cleanup and restoration.
(Web Link)
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"Why Choose Encapsulation?"
Cleanfax (07/08) Vol. 23, No. 7, Schreiber, Herb; Darrah, Andrew

Many carpet cleaning professionals continue to employ the hot water extraction method of cleaning, which gets rid of most soils and detergents. However, the surfactants in the carpet cleaning chemicals often stick to carpet fibers and result in resoiling. More carpet cleaning specialists are adopting low-moisture encapsulation, which involves cleaning products containing polymers that dry into a hard crystalline powder that vacuuming eliminates without hassle. Additionally, experts note that encapsulation uses less water so that carpets take about an hour to dry. Efficiency is noted as another benefit, with up to 3,000 square feet of carpet cleaned in one hour. Finally, encapsulation uses less chemicals, with up to 500 square feet of carpet cleaned with one gallon of properly diluted encapsulation products.
(Web Link)
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"Tips for Contractors Dealing with Disaster Work"
Associated Construction Publications (06/23/08)

Members of the Restoration Industry Association have several tips for disaster restoration firms traveling to the Midwest to clean up after recent flooding. Before traveling to the disaster zone, these experts underscore the importance of ensuring that licenses and insurance coverage are adequate, that crew leaders and project managers have received the appropriate training, and that respirators and other personal protective equipment are on hand. Additionally, they stress the importance of up-to-date immunization against tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and other diseases. They also should make sure they have enough money because insurance payments might not come in for a year or more; and they need to have satellite phones, GPS systems, housing, tools, and equipment in place before making the trip. Finally, they should ensure a trip to a disaster zone will not negatively affect business back home, and they should know how much they are willing to spend and how much they will be paid before beginning a job.
(Web Link)
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"Reinsurers Could Absorb Another Katrina--Amlin"
Reuters (06/24/08) Challis, Simon; Holmes, David

According to Amlin Finance Director Richard Hextall, a catastrophe larger than Hurricane Katrina, which cost insurers more than $41 billion, would be necessary to unseat the reinsurance market. Reinsurers drastically reduced their exposure to large catastrophes after the 2001 terrorist attacks and the 2005 hurricane season, and they also increased capital reserves and tightened their underwriting to charge higher prices for catastrophe risks. Hextall indicates that only reinsurers failing to ensure they retain adequate liquidity will be injured by another major catastrophe. He says the reinsurance market would remain challenging for up to four more years as competition increases, and pricing pressures come to bear on the market.
(Web Link)
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"Run From Rayon Rugs"
Cleanfax (07/08) Vol. 23, No. 7, Wagner, Lisa

Lisa Wagner, RIA/NIRC Certified Rug Specialist, of San Diego Rug Cleaning Company says rayon rugs are not very durable and pose numerous problems for carpet cleaning professionals. While breaking a wool fiber takes over 10,000 "bends," she notes that rayon fibers break with just 70 bends. Given that these rugs tend to bleed, fade, and absorb soil, Wagner underscores the importance of carpet cleaning specialists closely examining the underside of the rug to determine how much dye has transferred to the back or has been lost due to prior cleanings or sun fade. She recommends that cleaners obtain a total release of liability before proceeding, especially if the rug is undergoing its first clean and likely will lose a substantial amount of dye. Rayon rugs also are prone to yellowing due to moisture and age, and all yellow areas should be documented prior to cleaning. Cleaning specialists should employ an acidic rinse to reduce yellowing, but the acid should be used quickly to avoid bleeding. Rayon is vulnerable to shedding as well, necessitating the use of soft brushes and wringers, centrifuges, or wand covers to prevent agitation when water is extracted; any pulls in the fiber should be noted beforehand. Finally, rayon fibers often stiffen after cleaning, making it important for cleaning professionals to use fabric softener and groom by hand with hand-held soft brushes, carding brushes, or broom brushes. In all the aforementioned cases, Wagner recommends drying the rugs flat and face down.
(Web Link)
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"Cleaning The Systems"
Today's Facility Manager (06/08) Haugen, Pete

Cleaning a building's HVAC system reduces energy consumption and bolsters indoor air quality. The Department of Energy has found that the amount of energy consumed by HVAC systems jumps 30 percent when the coils are dirty, but experts underscore the importance of cleaning the entire system to ensure energy efficiency and reduce microbial contamination. HVAC systems encompass return air grilles, return air ductwork, air handling units, supply ductwork, turning vanes, reheat coils, VAV boxes, supply registers, and exhaust systems--basically all parts necessary to heat, cool, filter, humidify, dehumidify, and distribute air. The National Air Duct Cleaning Association suggests an annual inspection of air handling units and a biennial inspection of the supply and return ductwork; yearly inspections are recommended for healthcare and industrial facilities. These inspections will determine if enough dirt and debris have accumulated within the system to necessitate a thorough cleaning. The association's "Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC Systems" document can serve as a cleaning specification or as a guide for building owners working with environmental consultants or cleaning contractors to create a building-specific cleaning specification.
(Web Link)
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"Critical Care"
Health Facilities Management (06/08) Vol. 21, No. 6, P. 57; Dugal, Bertrand

Hospital environmental services (ES) departments no longer focus on cleaning alone, as they recognize the importance of clean operating rooms (ORs) in the healing and recovery process and their ethical obligation to offer a safe environment for patients. It is crucial that ES directors collaborate with perioperative nurses and infection control professionals, review terminal cleaning procedures, and survey the OR at each step of the terminal cleaning process. ES technicians need a good grasp of aseptic principles to understand that contaminants left behind could cause surgical-site infections, meaning that ES departments need to provide the necessary training to these technicians and orchestrate a cultural shift from "how" ORs are cleaned to "why" appropriate cleaning and disinfecting is necessary. ES departments should focus on the ES storage closet, ensuring that walls, floors, and fixtures are cleaned and disinfected at the start and end of each shift because contamination in the storage closet could spread to the OR. Additionally, equipment should be cleaned after each OR use to further reduce cross-contamination; and regardless of whether a procedure has been undertaken in the OR, terminal cleaning should occur every 24 hours. Experts recommend the use of microfiber cleaning products to effectively remove dust particles which settle on surfaces after they have been sterilized, as well as the use of hospital-grade germicides registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that have the ability to kill numerous pathogens.
(Web Link)
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