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How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

  • Posted: Jun 09, 2020
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How Does ZUUL Systems Facilitate No-Contact Entry to a Gated Community?

As your fellow neighbor, we understand recent shifts in society have greatly impacted communities all over the world. We’ve laughed together. We’ve overcome challenges together. Most importantly, we’ve learned individuals can adapt when hard times call for innovation. You’ve been through a lot, and ZUUL Systems recognizes the changes you’ve made to safely navigate daily life.

You, yes you, have made great strides to help our community stay healthy and flourish. You, along with other compassionate individuals, have adopted preventative tactics, like social distancing and contact-free communication, to maintain a safe quality of life until society finds its way back to a stable form of normalcy. Although the future is unknown, we can continue on this path of prevention to ensure our neighborhood’s well-being is preserved.

Our team at ZUUL Systems is taking note of seamless, no-contact living and its important contribution to society. Officials have encouraged individuals to avoid contact with frequently touched surfaces while performing necessary tasks outside of a home, as the virus affecting our community can survive stably on a hard surface or object for up to 72 hours. Now, there is a way to carry out day-to-day tasks and even commute while reducing the risk of virus transmission through touching surfaces or objects.

More specifically, ZUUL Systems facilitates no-contact entry to a gated community through its safe neighborhood access system. This completely digital platform allows users entry and exit into a gated community without the need for physical contact with strange gate guards, unfamiliar security personnel, and frequently touched objects. How exactly does ZUUL Systems pull this off? It’s simple.

Approved guests and community residents will use this no-touch system to filter in and out of the community, avoiding the need to touch a potentially contaminated call box, keypad, or identification card. All users need to complete a safe, streamlined entry would be a personal mobile device. For guests to enter, residents of a gated community will send a private QR code to an approved visitor via the ZUUL Systems app. This QR code will allow the visitor to easily enter and pass the security perimeter. The code can be issued as a single, one-time pass or a recurring pass. As the guest approaches the neighborhood entry gate, they will extend their mobile device to a ZUUL Systems scanner, and voilà. The approved guest is in.

This type of zero-touch entry system is particularly helpful for essential workers, like home improvement service providers and delivery people. They are the individuals navigating neighborhoods to complete essential services that propel our society.Can you imagine all the frequently touched surfaces and objects they encounter each day? By keeping essential workers and community guests at a safe distance, we can sustain a healthier lifestyle for all.

Alas, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel; or rather, at the end of the guard gate. With ZUUL Systems, you are in control of the distance you keep at all times, ultimately leading our society to a safer tomorrow. Learn more about the benefits of this contact-free access system by visiting ZUUL Systems.

 

 

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Most people do not give much thought to their pipes – until they stop working by Ronnie Giles of PRS

Most people do not give much thought to their pipes – until they stop working by Ronnie Giles of PRS

  • Posted: Jun 04, 2020
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Ronnie Giles 561-602-8660

Sr. Account Manager Florida East Coast

CAI Business Partner Certified

#CGC 1517755 / #CFC 1429221

PRS_FinalFiles

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Gyms in your Building:  Will owners use it?

Gyms in your Building: Will owners use it?

Gyms in your Building: Clean the Equipment in your Fitness Centers!
Will owners use it? Funding it with condo funds? What you will need with Development? Expert advice? upkeep and questions?

 

We spoke with Commercial Fitness Products, and its

Owner Richard Wasserlauf
5034 Hiatus Road
Sunrise, Florida 33351

 

I can think of a building we worked on a short time ago bringing a new designed fitness facility in their condo.

The committee figured they’d be able to pay that money back to the reserve in five years, assuming 25 percent of the building’s residents would join. (“It was guesswork,” says Richard.) They charged a one-time sign-up fee of $300 and $250 per year for the first person in a unit and $150 for each additional unit resident.

“They paid it back in less than two years,” says Richard. Sixty-five of the building’s 100 units belong to the gym—84 residents altogether. The early success enabled the committee to cut the yearly fee in half, to $125. “They still covered operating costs,” says Richard, “and allocate about $3,000 a year for equipment replacement—which hasn’t been necessary yet—and continue to contribute $2,000 to $3,000 a year to the reserve fund.”

The Building, a 27-story, 156-unit cooperative in Manhattan is a success story. working with developers and board members, helped get the gym project done, converting a 500-square-foot room in the basement into a gym with a budget of a mere $30,000 taken from the reserve fund. Residents pay $225 per year for membership.

“The gym has about 100 members today,” says Richard. “We’re well ahead of the game. The membership dues more than replenishes the reserve that we took out for it, and pays for the upkeep.” he adds that, “The building has a healthy turnover of apartments and 90 percent of new buyers join the gym.”

 

Building the Gym

Buying workout equipment is the easiest part of the build-out. “A lot of people think they are going to take the bike room, put equipment in it, paint the walls, and call it a day,” observes Richard Wasserlauf, Owner of Commercial Fitness Products, a leading gym equipment retailer. “In Sunrise Florida, that is not going to cut it.”

The first thing you need to need to consider, advises Richard, “is what construction and code obstacles you might need to overcome to pull the project off.” Potential problems include open asbestos, lead paint on the walls, mold or fungus problems, and particularly in basement spaces, pipes that sweat in the summer. Basement spaces also have the issue of exposed pipes, conduits and drain lines. As older buildings replace systems, they often leave old piping, electrical conduits and phone lines in place. Each should be tested and removed if inactive.

HVAC is perhaps the most important system in the facility. To meet city code, the gym space must have 15 percent fresh air flowing into the space. If the proposed space for the gym is not already equipped with central air conditioning, ducting will need to be installed if the room does not have a window. If there is a window, you need to install a unit with adequate power.

“You’re looking to maintain 68° year round—that often means running a cooling system practically year round,” says Richard, both for safety and comfort—to keep members coming back to the club. If there is any sort of landing or ledge outside the window on which to set a compressor, Heidings recommends a split system, available for around $2,000.

Another important code issue with which the gym room must conform is egress—providing a clear and unencumbered path out of the room if there is an emergency such as a fire or loss of power.

 

 

Bring in a Pro

To get a clear and objective evaluation of the condition of the room, and to get an idea of the construction costs entailed, it’s best to consult an architect right up front, says Richard. “If you find that your construction costs are very high, you may just say this is just something we cannot afford right now—or ever,” unless or until there is a more suitable space available in the building.

Some of the major design challenges is inclusion of light. Most often spaces designed for this purpose are in basements or underutilized rooms, and may not have natural light to make the space breathable. Lighting design, therefore, becomes very important. Many gyms find that fluorescent in fixtures aimed upward to soften the light are an effective and inexpensive alternative to high-end lighting.

You should also note if the floor has adequate space and structural capacity for both the equipment and the occupants, he says.

Another element to consider, say the designers, is noise—both kinds: vibration caused by things like treadmills, which primarily travels vertically downward; and audible, like the clanging and dropping of weights or the thumping of runners. A thick rubber floor like the ones commonly used in commercial gyms addresses both. Rubber flooring for a 600-square-foot gym costs around $5,000, say the pros.

A particularly pernicious vibration problem can be solved by laying a floating floor on top of the existing and then putting rubber over that, plus sealing and caulking every edge of the space as well as every pipe intrusion and structural column. A dropped ceiling filled with insulation will keep noise from traveling upward. In luxury condominiums, “Rubber flooring comes at different price points. some have the capability to deliver custom colors and complement the upholstery on the equipment.

The gym must have mirrors on approximately half the wall space in the gym, corresponding to the placement of the stretching/ab area and the apparatus. The price range for mirror panelling is typically from $3,000 to $5,000. Lastly, a computerized electronic lock on the door not only keeps the room secure, but keeps track of who is in the room and when, in case anything is damaged or stolen. Plastic keycards, which can easily be passed around to non-member residents, have been replaced by palm or fingerprint scanners, available for under $1,000.

 

Layout and Design

A well thought-out private gym provides a full-body workout, which includes warm-up, stretch, cardio, strength training and cool-down. According to Commercial Fitness Products, cardio equipment will generally be the most used. A 500-600-square-foot gym will typically have two treadmills (approximately $2,000 each), two elliptical machines ($1,500 each), a recumbent bike ($2,000), an upright bike (under $2,000), a multi-station weight apparatus (around $5,000) and at least two racks of free weights and two benches (under $1,000). A popular, fabulously versatile new apparatus is the functional trainer (around $3,500), which uses two adjustable-height and width pulleys attached to individual weight stacks and offers a wide range of exercises.

The gym above, containing all commercial grade brand-name equipment, including delivery and installation, should come to about $30,000 plus tax. .

It’s important, says Richard, to decide what’s necessary and what’s not. For example, consider whether adding a shower/locker room is essential. Perhaps residents would prefer using their own apartments for that function rather than the in-house gym, where maintenance could prove expensive or difficult. Other concerns are consulting with an attorney and insurer on liability issues, and making sure the facility is secure using safety-conscious materials and products.

Building insurance almost always covers injury and mishaps in the gym (just as it does in the laundry room), as long as no one under 16 is allowed admission. No additional policy is usually required—though of course it’s wise to double-check with your building’s insurance carrier to make absolutely sure.

The life span of equipment in a gym varies from piece to piece in a co-op or condo gym, conservatively, treadmills can be counted on to last about five years, elliptical machines about seven and bikes about 10. Weight machines last indefinitely, requiring only occasional reupholstering and replacement of pulleys and cams. Regular professional maintenance will help extend the life of all the equipment. Contracts, usually costing around $1,200 a year, include inspection, adjustment and lubrication of all moving and mechanical parts.

In addition to quarterly maintenance visits, the room has to be cleaned every day. This is typically done by existing building staff, the chore includes wiping down all the equipment with disinfectant, vacuuming the floor, emptying the garbage and cleaning the bathroom if there is one.

Adding TV screens to each of the six cardio pieces above would add at least $6,000 to the cost of the package. Richard says about half the gyms he equips go without any TVs at all to save on cable bills, figuring people bring their iPods for entertainment. Some have just two BestBuy or Costco-bought flat screens on the wall, using their speakers to produce the sound. Other more extravagant buildings spend tens of thousands on individual touchscreens with wireless internet as well as cable TV.

 

 

You’ve Built It: Now Make Sure They Come

In order to let residents know that their new gym is open and fully operational, “Do as many kickoff events as you can,” Richard advises. “You’ve got to get a lot of energy down there.” As soon as the gym is finished, do a wine and cheese ribbon-cutting ceremony. Later on, bring in a trainer to lead several training sessions for four or five shareholders at a time.

“The building can offer regularly scheduled yoga, stretch and pilates mat classes, because while yoga studios that offer classes without membership abound in Florida, “there are very few places people can go to take pilates classes without joining an expensive gym.

Yoga and pilates classes can generate a modest extra income for the building—and at the same time help keep shareholders and tenants healthy. we’ve just begun a Fitness After Fifty program that seems to be going well.” geared to the older owners.

The bottom line is that not only can a well-designed, well-maintained gym facility add value to your building, it can help boost community spirit as residents bond over the iron, and it helps keep your owners and shareholders healthy. And that’s a winning equation.

 

amen_Fitness_Room-CardioCall for all of your Fitness needs, Throughout South Florida.
Find out more about:
Commercial Fitness Products
Richard Wasserlauf
Address: 5034 Hiatus Road
Sunrise, Florida 33351
Phone: 954-747-5128
Fax: 239-938-1462
E-Mail: SALES@COMMFITNESSPRODUCTS.COM
Web: http://www.commfitnessproducts.com

And Find us on the

Find-A-Service Directory on SFPMA.COM

https://sfpma.com/listing/commercial-fitness-products/

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Have your services been affected by coronavirus?

Have your services been affected by coronavirus?

  • Posted: May 14, 2020
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Have your services been affected by coronavirus?

We know businesses like yours may be struggling to keep customers informed right now.

To help we’ve released help for Members We want members businesses to communicate changes and promote their available services.

(For example) a members business could write an article tell us what you offer or that they’re temporarily closed or Let us know that you are OPEN and ready to help Condo’s and HOA’s. We will repost these members articles and send these out to our Industry.

Once normal service resumes, or you reopen you can easily send another article for the service update, SFPMA will help by sending these to our Industry.

We have a large reach for our Blog. We send Hundreds of Thousands of Emails to industry professionals and more if you also add every member company and subscriber.

 

 

 

Need more resources? Think about taking out Advertising on our website or in the Florida Rising Magazine.

At SFPMA, we’re committed to providing members businesses with as much support as possible during this challenging time. 

Send us an Email: Membership@sfpma.com

Frank J Mari / Executive Director

 

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Is YOUR Pond A Breeding Ground For Pesky Midge Flies?

Is YOUR Pond A Breeding Ground For Pesky Midge Flies?

  • Posted: May 14, 2020
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Midge Fly Control
An Integrated Management Approach

 

Lakes, ponds and wetlands are valuable resources for boating and recreation, fishing, drinking water, stormwater collection, aesthetic beauty and wildlife habitat. But they also serve as common breeding grounds for pesky insects like aquatic midge flies, often referred to as “midge bugs” or “blind mosquitoes.” Midge flies belong to a very large and diverse family of aquatic insects. While often thought of as the “cousin” of mosquitoes, midges don’t bite, sting, suck blood or transmit disease. They can, however, become a terrible nuisance and trigger allergies or respiratory issues.

 

What is a midge? Where are they found?

Midges thrive near aquatic resources because their egg, larvae and pupae stages must occur in water. They have evolved to populate and prosper under difficult environmental conditions commonly occurring in many of our community lakes and ponds that have excessive nutrient loading, murky water, organic muck accumulation and low dissolved oxygen levels. These same water quality problems that favor midges also prevent midge predators such as fish and other aquatic insects from preying on them. This allows midges to form monocultures across a lake’s bottom and reproduce in extremely large numbers often exceeding 40,000 larvae per square meter. 1,000 larvae per square meter is considered the threshold for nuisance levels. Out-of-control midge larvae populations can become a terrible annoyance, inconvenience and even a health hazard to waterside residents when they metamorphose into adult flies.

 

 

Negative impact of midges:

  • Their swarms are attracted to lights around businesses, residential areas, and stormwater systems, which can detract from the enjoyment of outdoor activities.
  • Large populations of midges are known to blanket cars, building exteriors and other surfaces, which can stain or damage them over time.
  • Many communities experience a rapid increase in local spider populations reacting to the midge flies as a food source.
  • Residents find their eaves, porches and windows covered in spider webs full of decaying midges and smelling like dead fish.
  • Typically, midges are the biggest nuisance in the spring and fall when adults emerge from the water surface. However, in many states, particularly across the south and Florida, midge fly season is year-round.

 

An Integrated Midge Management Approach

 

Managing midge fly populations below nuisance levels requires an integrated approach to achieve successful long-term control—starting with bathymetric mapping of the habitat and a professional larvae assessment. Midge larvae surveys are crucial tools to determine which midge species are present and how to effectively manage them.

Blood midge larvae, for example, thrive in bottom sediments and must be targeted with an ingestible larvicide. On the other hand, phantom or ‘ghost’ midge larvae flow freely throughout the water column and are targeted with a growth-regulating hormone that prevents them from becoming healthy adults.

Once larvae surveys are completed, an integrated approach may continue with strategic larvicide treatments to disrupt midge lifecycles, as well as the following management approaches:
  • Balance water quality conditions to prevent algae growth
  • Enhance biological control via predatory fish stocking 
  • Increase circulation and dissolved oxygen levels through aeration 
  • Develop a healthy and diverse shoreline littoral habitat

 

Balance water quality:

  • Ensure stormwater management facilities are within compliance in order to properly divert watershed runoff containing phosphorus, nitrogen and other pollutants.
  • Use nutrient remediation products like Phoslock, Alum or Biochar to help create balanced water quality conditions that are less hospitable to the algae blooms on which midge larvae feed.
  • To eradicate stubborn algae blooms, work with your lake and pond management professional to arrange the application of EPA-registered algaecides.

 

Introduce aeration: 

  • Traditional aeration solutions and new technologies like nanobubbles can be used to naturally increase dissolved oxygen levels, thus accelerating the oxidation of undesirable nutrients – the primary food source that filter feeding midge larvae rely on.
  • Raising oxygen levels throughout the water column will allow predatory fish to attack the larvae population hiding in deeper bottom waters and sediments.
  • Increased oxygen levels can help reduce phosphorus, nitrogen and algae growth, improving the lake or pond’s overall water quality, clarity and beauty.

 

Manage fish populations:

  • Arrange a professional electrofishing assessment to survey your fish population and ensure the proper predatory fish species like Bream and Gambusia are present to feed on midge larvae.
  • Stock the correct quantity of fish for your lake’s or pond’s midge species and density, and restock yearly to maintain abundant fish populations.
  • Consider supporting fish populations with the introduction of automatic fish feeders and habitat structures.

 

Cultivate a healthy shoreline:

  • Introduce a variety of native flowering species to help limit the negative impacts of nutrient loading. Beneficial plants include arrowhead, pickerelweed, canna lily and blue flag iris.
  • Native vegetative plantings also provide cover and shelter for midge predators including gambusia, bream, amphibians and dragonfly nymphs and adults.
  • Is your shoreline too eroded to plant? Install a biodegradable shoreline erosion control system like coconut coir logs or ShoreSOX to restore banks and hillsides for more than 10 years.

 

 

Find Your Solution

With SOLitude Lake Management

Looking for sustainable long-term control of your algae or aquatic weed problems? Considering  fisheries management assistance? Need help with water quality testing? Trying to find the perfect pond aeration system for your aquatic ecosystem?

Whatever your lake and pond management needs may be, SOLitude Lake Management has the answer. Simply fill out the form ( Click Find Your Solution ) and let us know how we can help. We look forward to helping you find your lake or pond management solution.

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Reshaping Large Construction Projects Webinar this Thursday, May 7th at 2pm! by The Falcon Group

Reshaping Large Construction Projects Webinar this Thursday, May 7th at 2pm! by The Falcon Group

  • Posted: May 06, 2020
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Don’t forget to sign up for the:

Reshaping Large Construction Projects Webinar this Thursday, May 7th at 2pm!

Be Proactive, Educated and Engaged
#thefalcongroup

Sign Up Info:
Email: PFoltanski@falconengineering.com
Subject: Large Construction Projects
Body: Please provide your Full Name, Company, Address, Phone Number and if you are a CMCA

“The STRENGTH of the TEAM is each individual MEMBER. The STRENGTH of each MEMBER is the TEAM.”

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UNIVERSAL RESTORATION IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR ALL YOUR RESTORATION NEEDS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

UNIVERSAL RESTORATION IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR ALL YOUR RESTORATION NEEDS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

  • Posted: May 05, 2020
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UNIVERSAL RESTORATION IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR ALL YOUR RESTORATION NEEDS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Universal Restoration is a locally owned and operated certified restoration company serving the Northeast Florida area. We have a combined experience of 20+ years in the remediation and rebuild industry and we are ready to help you with any emergency you may experience 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. We specialize in both commercial and residential properties.
“We have offices conveniently located throughout northeast Florida to meet your needs.”
Given our high standards of workmanship, dedication, strong work ethic and commitment to each project along with affordable prices, we have established ourselves as an industry leader for Property Damage Restoration and Cleanup. We value the safety of your property and maintain a consistently high level of professional care and responsibility in each project. We guarantee all of our work to be of the highest quality, as we know our clients would expect nothing less.
Universal Restoration is a fully insured, bonded, and certified restoration company with over 20 years of experience in the industry. We specialize in both commercial and residential properties. Our company will provide you with a reliable, accurate estimate for Mold Testing and Damage Recovery Services.

 

CALL TODAY for a Free Estimate –– www.universalrestoration.net/services

💪 20+ Years Restoration Experience
☣️ COVID-19 Decontamination Experts
📍 Serving ALL North Florida Homes & Businesses

If you are a business planning to re-open, MAKE SURE you have a cleaning plan in place  Don’t wait, we are helping MORE businesses be SAFER and CLEANER for their staff and customers 

 

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COVID-19 SURFACE TESTING – NEXT DAY RESULTS AVAILABLE!

COVID-19 SURFACE TESTING – NEXT DAY RESULTS AVAILABLE!

  • Posted: May 01, 2020
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COVID-19 SURFACE TESTING

NEXT DAY RESULTS AVAILABLE!

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person-to-person. The main infection route is between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

It also may be possible that a person can contract COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. Currently, transmission from surfaces is not thought to be the main way the virus spread, however the CDC’s April 13th update remarked: “COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes.”

 

As mentioned on our homepage, recent studies suggest that the CVOID-19 virus may remain viable and infective on surfaces for hours to days, depending on the surface material type (fabric, tile, steel, etc.).

Thorough cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces are recommended by the CDC and believed to be essential in preventing the spread of infection.

The presence or absence of the viral genetic material on environmental surfaces can now be directly tested with EMSL’s new CVOID-19 molecular-based test and used to demonstrate effectiveness of cleaning protocols.

 

Air Quality Assessors of Florida only performs the physical sampling of surfaces recommended to test by request of our client and in no way can guarantee the entire site is clear from COVID 19. AQA sends all samples to an accredited laboratory for analysis.

Call us or visit our website to schedule your assessment or request more information. We will get back to you with 24 hours.

844-CALL-AQA

 

 

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Concierge Plus: technology for modern property management

Concierge Plus: technology for modern property management

  • Posted: Apr 28, 2020
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Concierge Plus: technology for modern property management

by Chris Cooney
Senior Sales Executive — Concierge Plus
T: 305-850-7676 x128 — M: 786-667-0056

 

Our property management platform makes life easier for property managers and security companies by increasing efficiencies, improving resident service, and automating administrative processes so your condo or HOA runs more efficiently.

 

In less than a week, you’ll be handling maintenance requests, amenity bookings, visitor parking, package tracking, resident announcements, and resident information on a secure website, accessible to you at anytime from anywhere. Take your condo online today! Our dedicated Customer Success Specialist team will train your building staff, including on-site training at your location.

 

Improved Workflow

Improved Workflow

We make it a snap to handle service requests, amenity bookings, package deliveries, tracking visitors, and visitor parking.

Convenient Online Access

Convenient Online Access

Say goodbye to paper and binders by digitizing administrative tasks, while giving residents easy online access to many services.

Feature-Rich, All-in Pricing

Feature-Rich, All-in Pricing

Embrace a platform offering control and total flexibility, as well as competitive pricing, product updates and great customer service.

 

Discover the most cost-effective solution on the market

Competitive pricing is just the beginning. Concierge Plus is designed to save you time, money, and effort. Say goodbye to inefficient administrative tasks, mountains of paperwork, and time-consuming processes.

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A Healthy Workplace Starts In the Janitor’s Closet by ACE Cleaning Systems

A Healthy Workplace Starts In the Janitor’s Closet by ACE Cleaning Systems

  • Posted: Apr 22, 2020
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A Healthy Workplace Starts In the Janitor’s Closet

by ACE Cleaning Systems

Is Your Workplace Healthy?

We all want to live and work in a safe and sanitary environment.  In light of the recent covid-19 outbreak, we have become more aware of the importance of cleaning (and disinfecting) the surfaces we touch in our workplaces.  While no facility can be made “germ free”, janitorial companies can utilize modern cleaning and disinfection practices to create a safe and healthy work environment for your business.

Much of the equipment and cleaning practices in current use have become outdated because they are less effective at removing germs.   This is because science has uncovered three disturbing facts:

1. Surfaces that look clean are not always free of germs.

2. Cleaning incorrectly can actually cause germs to spread from one area to another.

3. Certain types of cleaning equipment and supplies actually encourage the spread of germs.

The important takeaways are this:  surfaces that look clean can still contain enough germs to cause an illness to spread.  And, even though it may look like someone is cleaning and disinfecting your facility, they may unknowingly be spreading germs around because they aren’t using the right cleaning methods and or equipment.

So, how can you know if your cleaning company is removing sufficient amounts of germs from the surfaces they clean?  First, inspect the janitor’s closet for outdated commercial cleaning equipment and supplies.

 

 

What’s in your janitor’s closet?

A janitorial closet that is well organized and kept clean provides a clue that your janitorial company is doing its job properly.  But, the type of equipment and supplies you find inside your closet can uncover the real reason you’re not reducing employee absenteeism.

Is your janitor closet unorganized?  Are bottles not labeled? Are rags thrown all over the place?  Do you see dirty string mops and contaminated buckets?  Is there a “dirty” laundry bag to keep new and used towels separated?  Does you company have disposable microfiber towels in the event your workplace has reported sick employees?

 

Look in your janitor’s closet for three signs of inadequate disinfection and or cross contamination(i.e. the spread of germs):

1. String mops and buckets – There are very few uses for string mops in outpatient healthcare facilities.  String mops can spread massive amounts of germs around (see study below) when used for routine floor cleaning.   String mops can be replaced with inexpensive, EPA recommended, bucket-less flat mops that virtually eliminate cross contamination (see the UC Davis study on flat mops vs. string mops here).

2. Soiled rags, wet string mops, buckets with standing water should not be found lying around or hanging in your janitor’s closet (they are breeding grounds for germs). Soiled cleaning cloths and mop heads should be stored in closed containers and laundered properly after each use. Cleaning cloths and mop heads should not be hand washed on-site and re-used.

3. Find out the name of the disinfectant your cleaning company is using (please look in your janitor’s closet). Every chemical in the closet should be labeled (OSHA regulations) and should have a corresponding safety data sheet (SDS). The cleaning company should be using a disinfectant that has been approved by the EPA for use against the coronavirus. The list can be found here:

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

 

Cleaning Best Practices:

Best practices are defined as commercial procedures that are accepted as being correct or most effective.  Best cleaning practices have been developed in the janitorial industry through research by leading authorities in the field.  These practices include the use of certain types of equipment, supplies and cleaning methods and when followed, produce high quality results.

Cleaning Standards:

So, how can you know if your janitorial company’s equipment can reduce employee absenteeism and protect the health of your staff?  It’s really not hard to find out.  Just follow the checklist we’ve created for you below.  This list is not arbitrary.  Its based on accepted cleaning standards that have been developed after years of research by highly respected organizations such as:

the EPACDC, and USGBC (United States Green Building Council).

The cleaning standards developed by these organizations are widely accepted as janitorial cleaning best practices.  But, unfortunately, they aren’t always practiced.  Commercial cleaning companies often use outdated, ineffective equipment that just can’t get the job done properly.

 

Janitorial Closet Checklist:

The equipment checklist below is your best defense against hiring the wrong cleaning company and keeping your workplace safe and healthy.  Ask these questions before you sign your next janitorial cleaning contract:

1) Do you use string mops?

If they answer yes, this is a big red flag.  Many companies still use outdated string mops that spread dirt and germs around.  Microfiber flat mops are a better choice and an accepted standard.

Read more about the best mops to use in healthcare and most commercial facilities:

https://www.acecleaningsystems.com/single-post/The-Best-And-Worst-Mops-For-Commercial-Cleaning

 

2) Do you dilute chemicals by hand?

Many companies still dilute cleaning solutions by hand.  Manual methods of dilution are unreliable and can be dangerous.  Automated dilution systems are the cleaning standard today.

 

3) Are all bottles labeled according to OSHA standards?

OSHA requires labeling on all cleaning products to prevent improper use.  This is for the safety of your building’s occupants.  Is the company OSHA compliant?

 

4) Do you use green clean certified products?

Green cleaning products are safe and non-toxic.  They are not required, but are becoming an accepted standard in many facilities.

 

5) Do you use microfiber towels?

Microfiber towels are the accepted standard for surface cleaning and disinfection.  Paper towels and cotton rags cannot remove dirt or soil as effectively and are out of favor.  Many companies use paper towels to avoid using microfiber towels that require ongoing laundering services.  To minimize the spread of infections janitorial companies should  endorse disposable microfiber towels.

 

6) Do you use a color-coded system for towels?

Color-coded towel systems prevent the spread of germs from one area of your facility to another. You don’t want a janitorial worker using the same towel to clean your bathroom and desk.  Color-coding prevents this from happening.

 

7) Do you use HEPA certified vacuums?

HEPA certified vacuums capture very fine dust particles. They improve indoor air quality and remove more soil than other vacuums. This is an accepted cleaning standard, especially in hospitals, medical offices, schools and child care centers.  Many cleaning companies use in-expensive, less effective vacuums.   Poor air quality has been associated with headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritation of the lungs and other health issues, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Read more about how to increase the indoor air quality in your workplace:

https://www.cleanlink.com/cp/article/High-Vacuuming-Improves-Indoor-Air-Quality–23910

 

8) Will you be using EPA registered, hospital grade disinfectants?

There are many disinfectants available for purchase over the counter.  However, the accepted standard and more effective practice is to use commercially available, EPA registered disinfectants.

9) Do you use a laundry system to clean and disinfect towels and rags?

If a janitorial company doesn’t have a separate laundry bag for used towels, it’s another red flag.  Accepted standards include frequent changing of microfiber towels to prevent the spread of dirt and germs, aka cross contamination.  After towels have become soiled, they should be stored in a “dirty” bag until laundered.  This sounds like a simple process, but you’d be surprised how many cleaning companies don’t have a laundering system in place.

 

10) Do you have a disinfection plan if there is an outbreak in your workplace?

Electrostatic spray disinfection is a highly effective method of applying an EPA-registered disinfectant to surfaces and objects.  The disinfectant is sprayed on electrostatically, causing it to cling and wrap around the surface or object, providing a more thorough and effective disinfection. Read more: https://www.acecleaningsystems.com/single-post/How-To-Reduce-the-Spread-of-Germs-at-Work

 

Commercial Janitorial Cleaning Services

Ace provides high quality commercial cleaning services to businesses in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and nearby cities.  Over the last 12 years our company has developed cost effective janitorial cleaning programs for a wide range of businesses in Broward and Palm Beach County.  We are an independent, locally owned company with a hands on management team that is responsive to our customer’s needs. 

Members of SFPMA – View our Membership page

Zach Shor
954-756-2588
President, Ace Cleaning Systems, Inc.

 

 

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Professional Home & Office Decontamination for Coronavirus by Flash BioClean

Professional Home & Office Decontamination for Coronavirus by Flash BioClean

  • Posted: Apr 20, 2020
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Professional Home & Office Decontamination for Coronavirus by Flash BioClean

 

Indoor Environmental Mitigation and Remediation

Flash Restore specializes in Emergency, and non Emergency, Indoor Environmental Mitigation, Remediation and Decontamination of building materials and their systems, contaminated by Fire, Water, Mold, Hazardous Materials, Pests, and Biological Hazards.

Flash BioClean, which is a dba of Flash Restore, is providing services to treat coronavirus in Homes, Offices, Condos, Assisted Living, Rentals, and all kinds of indoor environments. I have attached a really great brochure that explains it all. Flash BioClean is not your ordinary cleaning company as we are trained, certified, licensed, and insured to work with biohazards and have been for years.

 

FLASH BIOCLEAN COVID-19 BROCHURE

 

Donald Brodsky
C: 561-722-7572
Donald@FlashRestore.com

Flash Restore
6000 Park of Commerce Blvd
Suite C
Boca Raton, FL, 33487
O: 844.FLASH24
O: 844.352.7424
O: 561-475-3000
www.FlashRestore.com

 

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