New Slip Resistance Test Method

This article was originally published by CleanLink. 

Slip-and-fall injuries have long been a standing problem for manufacturers and consumers of ceramic tile. However, a new industry standard stands poised to change how tile is tested. The ANSI/NFSI B101.3-2012 wet Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) standard joins the 2009 release of the ANSI/NFSI B101.1 wet Static Coefficient of Friction standard and now provides manufacturers a comprehensive approach to quantifying the "Traction" levels of all types of ceramic, porcelain, and polished concrete materials.

In the past the slip resistance qualities of highly polished stone and porcelain materials could not be accurately measured. Russell Kendzior, Committee Secretary for the ANSI B101 standards committee states that: "wet SCOF testing simply wouldn't work on highly polished stone which the ANSI B101 committee had to go back to the drawing board to develop a better test method."

Read the full article at: http://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/New-Slip-Resistance-Test-Method-is-Published--14331

Interview With a Product: Clarke Focus II MicroRider Autoscrubber

Plant Services hosts a weekly column titled, "Interview With a Product", which is a Q&A on readers' favorite products uncensored and without their packaging.

Recently, their interviewee was the Clarke Focus II MicroRider Autoscrubber. Check out the interview below!

Clarke Focus II MicroRider Autoscrubber: Happy to be here.

Plant Services: What industry are you designed for?
N: I'm ideal for diverse applications, ranging from sizeable locations to areas that are inaccessible with larger riders. 

PS: So what exactly do you do?
N:  With my 26-inch disc scrub deck or 28-inch Boost scrub deck, I'm built to deliver flexible operation to meet diverse cleaning requirements.

PS: What sets you apart from the competition?
N: I feature a low-profile SafetyGlide deck, which is designed to automatically move in line with the path of my rear squeegee. My deck is engineered to ensure precise, straight edge cleaning without additional labor-intensive detail edge mopping.

PS: Interesting. What is your best feature?
N:  I feature an optional, onboard chemical mixing system that is made to automatically deliver the correct mixing solution to the scrub deck.

PS: Why should someone buy you?
N:  My compact size ensures easy maneuverability in areas with limited access or tight corners. My Safe-T-Steering and quiet performance also increase user safety and make daytime cleaning and cleaning of noise-sensitive areas viable.

PS: How would people at your company describe you?
N: Well, Jill Kohls says that I satisfy diverse cleaning challenges, while maximizing productivity. She is forever complementing me on my small, easily maneuverable design and wide cleaning path.

PS: Tell us more about Nilfisk-Advance.
N: Nilfisk-Advance is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of professional cleaning equipment. With global company headquarters in Denmark, the company has developed professional cleaning equipment for over 100 years. 

PS: And now it's time for a fun question. What irritates you?
N: Dirt.

Check out this interview, and others, at: www.plantservices.com

Battery Maintenance For Your Floor Machine

Battery maintenance is important for every floor machine, as batteries are crucial to the machine's performance. The Clarke® Battery Maintenance System (CBMS) is not a charger, but rather a performance device designed to help lead-acid batteries charge faster, provide maximum performance and power, and maintain runtime over a longer life.

The CBMS uses patented pulse technology to prevent the main cause of battery problems and failure–the build-up of lead-sulfate deposits on the battery plates. By removing these damaging deposits from the plates, your batteries can last up to three times longer than their usual lifespan.

The Clarke® Battery Maintenance System can be used on both Wet Lead Acid or AGM batteries.

Stay tuned for next week's post on different types of batteries and how they affect your floor machine!

Clarke Rider Autoscrubber® Features Superior Scrub System to Maximize Cleaning Performance

The Clarke Focus® II MicroRider™ is the newest compact rider addition to the company’s line of autoscrubbers®. Available with a 26 inch disc scrub deck or 28 inch BOOST® scrub deck, the Focus II MicroRider delivers flexible operation to meet diverse cleaning requirements.

The Focus II MicroRider models feature a low-profile SafetyGlide™ deck, which automatically moves in line with the path of the rear squeegee—resulting in 100 percent water pick-up and eliminating the need for side skirts. With a spring-loaded safety design, the deck ensures precise, straight edge cleaning without additional labor-intensive detail edge mopping. In addition to superior scrub capabilities, users can experience enhanced operation with the 28 inch BOOST model, which delivers simple floor finish removal capabilities without costly chemicals, slippery floors and undesirable odors. With BOOST technology, operators use up to 70 percent less solution, extend equipment pad life and increase battery runtime, all while reducing labor and cleaning costs.

Learn more at: http://www.clarkeus.com/products/autoscrubbers/focusiimicrorider.aspx

Advantages of a Chemical Mixing System

Last week's post discussed the Clarke chemical mixing system, which automatically mixes concentrated chemicals stored in an on-board container with clean water stored in the machines solution tank. The mixed solution is then delivered to the brush deck for scrubbing application. What are the advantages to this type of system?

• Eliminate concentrate usage from residual buildup in the solution tank due to unused solution at the end of the shift.
• No over usage from mistakes in computation or measuring. 
• Achieve the required consistent cleaning results without rework or penalty.
• Faster filling time over wall mount mixing units. 
• Minimize unnecessary trips back to the refilling area where the concentrate is located; just fill the solution tank where water is available. 

What is a Chemical Mixing System?

The Clarke chemical mixing system is available for use on all mid-size and large walkbehind autoscrubbers, and on the Focus Rider Scrubbers. The chemical mixing system is an automated system that automatically mixes concentrated chemicals stored in an on-board container with clean water stored in the machines solution tank, and delivers the mixed solution to the brush deck for scrubbing application.  How Does It Work?
Concentrated chemical is pumped from the Chemical container on command from the machines controller to a mixing point with clean water from the solution tank. A proportioning valve regulates the mixture by command from the controller.

What Does It Do?
Automatically mixes concentrated chemicals stored in an on-board container with clean water stored in the machines solution tank, and delivers the mixed solution to the brush deck for scrubbing application. Concentrate is mixed at an operator preset amount of zero to 3.5 ounces per gallon. The machine control maintains this proportion through the full range of the machines solution setting.

What Does the Operator Do?
The concentrate container holds enough chemical to last for several tanks of water. The operator should simply fill the concentrate tank with the appropriate chemical at the beginning of the shift, and check to see that the concentrate knob is set to the associated color setting for the required ounces per gallon proportioning. Then fill the solution tank with clean water. No measuring or math is required.

Stay tuned for next week's post on the advantages of the Chemical Mixing System!

BBB Recommends Tennant Discontinue Certain Claims for ec-H20

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) has recommended that Tennant Company, a manufacturer of commercial floor cleaning equipment, discontinue certain claims promoting the superior performance of the company’s “ec-H20” technology. Nilfisk-Advance, Inc. challenged the following claims at issue before NAD:

• ec-H20 “electrically converts water into a superior cleaning solution.”
• “Independent studies show that ec-H20 outperforms [many] conventional chemicals.”
• “ec-H20 technology makes water perform like a powerful detergent.”
• “Tennant ec-H20 is proven to reduce environmental impact by up to 98%”

The advertiser asserted that it had permanently discontinued some of the claims at issue, prior to the challenge, including “Tennant’s ec-H20 is proven to reduce environmental impact by up to 98%” and “ec-H20 technology makes water perform like a powerful detergent,” measures NAD deemed necessary and proper.

Following its review of the evidence in the record, NAD determined that the remaining advertiser’s claims, “ec-H20 electrically converts water into a superior cleaning solution” and “ec-H20 outperforms [many] conventional chemicals” were broad superiority claims of floor cleaning performance that were not adequately supported by the evidence of comparative testing in the record. NAD recommended that these claims be discontinued.

NAD determined that although the advertiser established that ec-H20 technology can help customers reduce costs of chemicals, a message the advertiser is free to communicate, the evidence in the record was insufficient to support the advertiser’s quantified save “up to 100%” claim. NAD recommended that the claim be discontinued.

Tennant, in its advertiser’s statement, said the company “stands behind the advertising claims it has made about ec-H20 technology and does not agree with all of NAD’s recommendations. However, since the advertising claims at issue in this challenge have run their planned course, Tennant Company will consider the NAD’s recommendations in future advertising.”

Read the full press release at nadreview.org or download at http://www.narcpartners.org/DocView.aspx?DocumentID=9024&DocType=1