FCM 2021

SERVING THE FACILIT Y CLE ANING & MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY

FALL 2021

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF ISSA CANADA

� CLEANING: 18 MONTHS LATER � RAISING CLEANING STANDARDS IN REAL ESTATE � RECOGNIZING RESTORATION’S ROLE

DEDICATION TO CLEAN ServiceMaster Clean is focusing on education in pursuit of new standards of hygiene

PA R T O F T H E

PM#40063056

P A R T

O F

T H E

MRO SOLUTIONS THAT DELIVER HD Supply Canada is a leading supplier of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products.

We serve multifamily, hospitality, healthcare, and commercial properties. We are a customer-focused business delivering the highest quality products, support, services, and fulfillment in the industry.

We offer: • Access to 10,000+ products and continually adding new MRO products everyday!

• Nationwide Distribution

• Free, Next Day Delivery*

• Property Management, Renovation and Brand Conversion Services

• Fast, Easy Online Ordering

• Account Management

WE’RE ON IT

™

20

% OFF

Offer valid until December 31, 2021

* Most major cities across Canada receive free, next-day delivery on orders placed by 4:00 PM EST. Most other cities can expect delivery within two to three days.

YOUR FIRST ORDER**!

USE PROMO CODE FCM20.

To place an order, please call Customer Care at 1.800.782.0557 and mention promo code FCM20.

Applies to new customers only.

hdsupplysolutions.ca

1.800.782.0557

Get 20% off your first order with HD Supply Canada. In order to qualify, you must set up a customer account as a first-time customer. The 20% discount is only applicable to new customer accounts only. To become a customer, visit hdsupplysolutions.ca and follow the “Register to Order” link. Once you’ve been set up as a customer, call our Customer Care Team at 1.800.783.0557 and provide them with promotional code FCM20.

Terms and Conditions: Offer valid until December 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST. Contact Customer Care at 1.800.782.0557 and mention code “FCM20” to receive the 20% discount. Discount is calculated before tax, shipping and other fees. All charges for shipping, assembly, product handling, installation and tax are not included. Exclusions include Special Orders, Renovations Orders, Large Appliances (Refrigerators, Stove Tops, Microwaves, Air Conditioners, A/C Window Units), Textiles and Amenities that have any custom branding (Robes, Slippers, key cards, printed notepads). This offer is not valid on previous purchases or back orders and cannot be combined with other promotions or offers. Offer applies to only new customers on first order placed. © 2021 HDS IP Holding, LLC. All Rights Reserved. HD Supply Canada, Inc and HD Supply Canada, Inc logo are trademarks of HDS IP Holding, LLC.

CANADA 2022

2022 Theme:

RE-SET for the NEW

CLEAN

Be part of Canada’s leading conference designed for those who keep our facilities clean & healthy For exhibitor/sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mike Nosko, ISSA Canada Executive Director Email: mike@issa-canada.com Office: 905-665-8001 Toll Free: 866-684-8273

SAVE

THE

DATE

June 8 & 9, 2022

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Hall Toronto, Ontario, Canada www.ISSAShowCanada.com

Proudly owned and operated by:

CANADA 2022

THE 2022 ISSA SHOW CANADA EXHIBITOR & SPONSOR PROGRAM 1

Disaster restoration and cleaning professionals reach for Concrobium Professional Products; a line of safe and powerful antimicrobials, disinfectants and mold stain removers to get the job done right.

Save time and money on your next mold job with Concrobium Professional Products.

V ISIT CONC R OBIUM . CO M/PRO /EN -CA TO LEARN MO RE

� CONTENTS FALL 2021

INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL 18 18 Months Later

Key considerations for keeping commercial workspaces clean, healthy, and safe in a postCOVID-19 world

by David L. Smith

SPOTLIGHT 20 Taking Roof Care to New Heights

Assessing how best to proactively tackle the many hazards that a roof is exposed to

by Stephen Epp

FACILITIES

COVER STORY 14 Dedication to Clean

Coast-to-coast industry giant ServiceMaster Clean is focusing on education and communication in its pursuit of new standards of hygiene, explains its National Director Gavin Bajin

by Tom Nightingale

22 Raising Standards in Real Estate Enhancing cleaning, disinfection, and communication is critically important within real estate at a time when health and safety is top of mind

by Tom Nightingale

BEST PRACTICES 26 Flu Season May Be Forever Changed For the cleaning industry, the pandemic will likely change our yearly rhythm in the long term

by Afshin Cangarlu

IN EVERY ISSUE 6

Editor’s Letter Recognition and appreciation

5 ISSA News

ISSA Canada is preparing for some exciting initiatives to be unveiled over the next few months

By Tanja Nowotny 8

Expert Q&A Recognizing restoration’s role

by Tom Nightingale

28 Clean Matters

GBAC STAR Registered Technologies & Programs

The importance of the full range of facility maintenance services is better understood now than it was before the world entered into such a health crisis.

/ editor’s letter /

RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION

S

lowly but surely, society is healing. With vaccination rates high and infection rates generally remaining low, the lessons learned from the last 20 months of COVID-19 pandemic are being put into practice.

The increasing appreciation for the role that the cleaning and maintenance industry plays has been one of the biggest positives to take from such a difficult time. While the focus was understandably initially on cleaning and infection control and prevention, the importance of the full range of facility maintenance services is better understood than it was before the world entered into a health crisis that will have long-lasting, likely permanent, effects.

As always, within this issue, we try to provide expert insight for the industry. Focusing on our key themes of office and commercial facilities and restoration, we spoke to experts in their field about where cleaning and maintenance is at right now, in late 2021, and where things may go from here.

In our cover story we chat to Gavin Bajin, National Director in Canada of ServiceMaster Clean, about how the company has shifted its focus during the pandemic, the renewed challenges of facilitating a clean office environment, and the importance of communication, education, and innovation moving forward.

Yiannis Boutsalis of Impact Cleaning Services is our Expert Q&A for the issue, with whom we dive into discussion about why restoration services are arguably more important than they’ve ever been, and how their role may be better recognized as we head out the other side of the pandemic. In a world where communication and certification have become key assets, we look at how Manulife Investment Management is leading the way by accrediting its Montreal office buildings, and there are contributions from other industry experts on best practices and infection control.

As ever, we also catch up with ISSA Canada after a year that has included the excellent virtual 2021 ISSA Show Canada in June and the in-person ISSA Show North America in mid-November. We also hope everyone enjoyed the virtual REMI Show in June, and remind you that if you missed any of the excellent sessions on offer, you can still get caught up on the REMI Network website.

In a world that has become more aware and more diligent when it comes to cleaning and maintenance, we look forward to continuing to bring you insight, analysis, and updates from across Canada. The progress being made on all fronts signposts the way to a brighter future, and we thank frontline staff, facility managers, cleaning and maintenance leaders, and the entire industry for their stellar and brave work in the face of adversity.

Stay well.

Editor Tom Nightingale tomn@mediaedge.ca Publisher

Chuck Nervick chuckn@mediaedge.ca

Senior Designer

Graphic Designer

Production Manager

Annette Carlucci Thuy Huynh Rachel Selbie rachels@mediaedge.ca

Sales Chuck Nervick chuckn@mediaedge.ca

Contributing Writers

Afshin Cangarlu David L. Smith Stephen Epp Tanja Nowotny

circulation@mediaedge.ca

Circulation

Facility Cleaning & Maintenance is published four times a year by:

2001 Sheppard Ave E, Suite 500 North York, ON M2J 4Z8

President

Kevin Brown kevinb@mediaedge.ca

Senior Vice-President

Chuck Nervick

chuckn@mediaedge.ca

Director and Group Publisher

Sean Foley

seanf@mediaedge.ca Copyright 2021 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40063056 ISSN 1712-140X Circulation ext. 234 Subscription Rates: Canada: 1 year, $50*, 2 years, $80*, US $75 International $100, Single Copy Sales: Canada: $12* * Plus applicable taxes Requests for permission to reprint any portion of this magazine should be sent to the Editor, Tom Nightingale FORMERLY KNOWN AS

TOM NIGHTINGALE tomn@mediaedge.ca bit.ly/FCM-FB /CleaningMaint 6 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

bit.ly/FCM-LinkedIn

ISSA NEWS ISSA CANADA COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD VIEWS CLEANING

by Tanja Nowotny

As the first major, in-person event for ISSA comes to a close in Las Vegas, ISSA Canada is already looking ahead and preparing for some exciting initiatives to be unrolled over next few months.

If there’s anything we’ve learned over the course of this pandemic, it’s the emphasis that has been placed on the importance of proper cleaning and disinfection. As the world’s leading cleaning industry association, ISSA has been pivotal in “changing the way the world views cleaning.” And, although the needle has been moved forward, the momentum that has been generated over the past two years isn’t going to stop now.

Cleaning isn’t a dead-end job for the uneducated, but rather a career focussed on human health. This is witnessed daily in our hospitals, office buildings, retail outlets, schools, transportation hubs, and more, as we continue to battle against the unseen enemy that is COVID-19.

Unfortunately, with such a bright light being placed on the industry right now, there have been multiple companies coming out of the woodwork to benefit from the momentum the cleaning industry has generated. Therefore now, more than ever, it is crucial for the true professionals to set themselves apart and align with professional organizations such as ISSA Canada.

Being affiliated with an association such as ISSA Canada opens the door for companies to obtain industry leading and recognized certifications through programs such as the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS), participate in high-level training through the Cleaning Management Institute (CMI), and become wellversed in the battle against infectious diseases through accreditations offered by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), a Division of ISSA. But that’s not all.

Commencing early in 2022, ISSA is planning another major marketing initiative geared towards casting the cleaning industry (and the association’s valued members) even further into the limelight.

The goal of this campaign is to build awareness of cleaning and disinfection as a pivotal means of protecting public health and, in turn, drive demand for ISSA members’ products and services as being far superior to those being peddled by the many bad actors trying to benefit during these times. ISSA Canada is planning to champion this initiative across the country to ensure consumers are aware of who the real industry leaders are.

What better way to ensure consumers know who to buy their cleaning products and services from than a membership directory geared specifically towards the Canadian marketplace. ISSA Canada is excited to announce that it will release a new annual membership directory early in 2022. This online directory will not only list all of ISSA Canada’s members from coast-to-coast, but it will also be a major resource to encourage buyers of cleaning products and services to purchase from the true professionals – ISSA Canada members.

In addition to the directory, ISSA Canada is also excited to announce that it has once again partnered with the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) and MediaEdge Communications to host the in-person REMI Show, IFMA Global, and ISSA Show Canada all under one roof at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on June 8 and 9, 2022. With a theme of “Reset for the New Clean,” this leading industry event will also bring members to the forefront as their product innovations and professional services are celebrated on the trade show floor. ISSA Canada is currently vetting industry professionals across all sectors to ensure that a high-quality educational program will be delivered. More details on this event will be coming soon.

As 2021 draws to a close, let’s look to the new year and continue the momentum that has been generated when it comes to the cleaning industry. Let’s raise the bar even further, because together we can change the way the world views clean.

21_1735_Fac_Clean_n_Maint_SEP_CN Mod: July 28, 2021 2:33 PM Print: 08/19/21 4:09:18 PM page 1 v7

π SHIPPING SUPPLY SPECIALISTS

STOCKED IN ALL LOCATIONS VANCOUVER • EDMONTON • TORONTO

ORDER BY 6 PM FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING

COMPLETE CATALOG

1-800-295-5510

uline.ca www.REMInetwork.com / 7

SPONSORED CONTENT

Contact time—are you disinfecting properly?

What you need to know An important factor in an effective cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection protocol is the contact time for the products that you use. Contact time varies with different formulations. Do you know what contact time is, how long it is for your disinfectant and where to find this information?

What’s the difference between a cleaner, a sanitizer and a disinfectant?

It’s important to know the difference between these products because they accomplish different things. A cleaner physically removes soil, inorganic and organic material from a surface or object.1 A sanitizer reduces the bacterial population on a surface or object, but does not destroy all bacteria.1 A disinfectant is capable of killing or inactivating pathogens on surfaces and objects. Note that disinfectants may not be capable of killing bacterial spores (check the label!).1 Some products fit more than one of these criteria, and if they do, will be labelled Cleaner Disinfectant, Disinfectant Cleaner, Sanitizer-Disinfectant or Sanitizer and Disinfectant.

Your disinfectant can’t do its job without the right contact time.

What is contact time?

Simply put, contact time is the length of time a disinfectant must be in contact with a target surface or device to achieve the desired efficacy result.1 Any bacteria or virus efficacy claims (like “Kills virus X in 2 minutes”) are dependent on the contact time.

Contact time will be different for sanitizing a surface vs. disinfecting a surface. For example, a sanitizer and disinfectant product could be capable of sanitizing a surface in 1 minute, but would require 5-10 minutes to disinfect against bacteria and viruses.

How do you ensure that you’re meeting the right contact time?

The most common industry practice is to keep the surface you are disinfecting visibly wet for the full contact time as listed on the label, in order to ensure efficacy. 2 For this reason, you may also hear contact time referred to as “wet time”. 2 Disinfectants may also indicate this on their instructions for use, for example “Allow surface to remain wet for (X) minutes (or seconds)”.1,2 One important thing to note is that if a surface dries before the contact time is up, you will need to reapply the product and ensure the proper contact time is met for the disinfection to be effective. 2

How do contact times vary for different products?

to 4 or even as long as 10 minutes (the maximum time allowed for disinfectant efficacy). 2,3 It’s important that when cleaning and disinfecting that we don’t work too fast for the disinfectant to do its job.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends choosing products that clean (physically remove soil and organic material) and disinfect (kill germs) all at once.1,4,5 This includes premixed disinfectant cleaning solutions and/or wipes when available).4 Most disinfectant wipes also have the advantage of short contact times, often 30 seconds, and some as little as 15 seconds. When you are disinfecting high-traffic areas, a short contact time can also be an advantage. For example, with the conveyor belt in a grocery store, or the counter at a retail or hotel checkout, it is important that effective disinfection happens quickly.

Check the label on your disinfectant to find out the contact time

How do contact times vary for different pathogens?

If you check the efficacy data for a disinfectant, you will usually see that the contact time required to kill pathogens can vary. The contact time required to kill the bacteria or virus will depend on the type of pathogen. For example, for bacteria like E coli, contact time could be as short at 1 minute, while C. difficile spores require a contact time of 5 minutes.

CloroxPro® has you covered Whether you are disinfecting a grocery store, restaurant, kitchen, school, retail space or office, CloroxPro® has a range of products to meet your disinfection needs.

• Kill germs quickly on frequently touched hard, nonporous surfaces with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, which are Health Canada registered to kill most viruses in as little as 15 seconds 6 .

• Pair with the new Clorox® TurboPro™ handheld electrostatic sprayer, a great, inexpensive way to incorporate electrostatic technology into your cleaning protocols. It’s a convenient, cordless way to disinfect hard-to-reach spaces in your facility. Get your entire space Clorox® clean in minutes.

Check the label on your disinfectant and you will see that depending on the format of the disinfectant, the contact time can be 15-30 seconds (e.g. disinfectant wipes), 1 or 2 minutes,

Learn more about the contact times of the products in the CloroxPro® portfolio at CloroxPro.ca or by contacting CloroxProCanada@clorox.com.

References: 1. Health Canada. Guidance document: Disinfectant Drugs (2018). https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-submissions/guidancedocuments/disinfectants/disinfectant-drugs/disinfectant-drug-eng.pdf Accessed June 1, 2021. 2. Lowe R. Strazdas L, Quon J and Srikanth M. The importance of contact time and visible wetness to ensure effective disinfection. Becker’s Clinical Leadership & Infection Control Newsletter February 16, 2018. 3. Parker-Pope T. Have I been cleaning all wrong? https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/well/live/coronavirus-cleaning-cleaners-disinfectants-home.html.

Accessed June 1, 2021. 4. Government of Canada. Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/cleaning-disinfecting-public-spaces.html.

Accessed June 1, 2021. 5. Public Health Ontario COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) environmental services for healthcare settings. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/event-presentations/pho-webinar-infectionprevention-control-environmental-services.pdf?la=en. Accessed June 11, 2021. 6. Per Health Canada approval with the exception of Ebola virus (20 seconds) and Rotavirus (4 min).

© 2021 The Clorox Company

Your needs are evolving. So is Clorox.®

Watch the TurboProTM video

We have expanded our trusted family of products by adding the Clorox® TurboPro™ Handheld Electrostatic Sprayer – offering new, mobile ways to disinfect spaces of all kinds.

With a versatile family of electrostatic sprayers designed for use with Health-Canada registered Clorox® chemistries, evolution is in our nature.

Learn more at CloroxPro.ca

DIN 02460769 DIN 02495716 © 2021 The Clorox Company

/ expert Q+A /

RECOGNIZING RESTORATION’S ROLE Q+A: Impact Cleaning Services’ Yiannis Boutsalis explains how the bar has been raised during the pandemic era

by Tom Nightingale

IMPACT DIRECTOR YIANNIS BOUTSALIS

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has brought a renewed focus on, and appreciation of, the importance of proper cleaning and disinfection for both facility managers and operators. But we must not forget to show some love to restoration, too.

Whether it’s cleaning up after water damage, mould control and removal, or safeguarding the future of buildings, this field of work is an integral part of facility maintenance. It may not have hit the headlines in the way that infection control has, understandably, over the last 20 months or so, but all over Canada and beyond, restorative teams are hard at work preserving and improving facilities and properties.

Toronto-based Impact Cleaning Services operates across Ontario, from Ottawa to London, Sarnia, and Fort Erie, and stretching as far north as Barrie and nearby areas. Over its 65 years of history in the industry, the business has offered a mixture of varied cleaning and restoration services, offered in-house to all clients.

FC&M spoke to Impact director Yiannis Boutsalis about the firm’s work in restoration, why restoration work cannot be overlooked within the wider industry, and how COVID-19 has intensified the challenges of facility maintenance.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

www.REMInetwork.com / 11

/ expert Q+A /

“It’s easy not to appreciate the importance of restoration until you’re confronted with a crisis you’re unprepared for.”

TELL US HOW IMPACT OPERATES TODAY, AND HOW IT GOT TO THIS POINT. YIANNIS: We’ve been doing this for 65 years, my father

you’re operating in. Restoration services are vitally important to any building.

has been here for over 40 years. Wherever we do cleaning, we also offer restoration work to all our clients as an inhouse service because we have all the equipment and all the expertise to be able to take on that responsibility for our clients. Any time anyone has an emergency or even planned services, we can provide it, from mould mediation to water damage to the cleanup and some of the construction afterwards. Focusing on smaller-scale work rather than largescale restoration and construction projects allows us to stay nimble and a lot less overhead-heavy and operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.

COVID-19 HAS CHANGED SO MUCH ABOUT CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE. HOW HAS RESTORATION WORK BEEN AFFECTED? YIANNIS: A key factor is that there’s now always the added layer

WHY SHOULD RESTORATION SERVICES BE A CONSISTENT FOCUS FOR FACILITY MANAGERS? YIANNIS: With restoration services, it’s truly the case that

an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

Being prepared with your building for any situation that might happen is so vital. It’s easy not to appreciate the importance of it until you’re confronted with a crisis you’re unprepared for.

It’s often all about being able to react with the urgency and ability necessary to mobilize in that last minute, to get to the facility and mitigate any further damage or further issues.

I think restoration services are usually seen as vacuuming up water, cleaning up after damage, removing something that’s unhealthy for the environment and patching it up afterwards.

But just as important is the peace of mind for clients and tenants because it’s business interruption. It’s not just fixing the damage that occurred; you’re mitigating any future damage to the workplace. It can be very disruptive to anybody’s life to have to move out of their home or workspace for a week because sprinkler heads have broken or the stove caught on fire and damaged the unit. A lot is necessary in terms of the planning, even just who you bring on board to do that work, making sure they’re accredited through the proper channels, ensuring they actually have the ability and tools necessary. Much like in terms of COVID-19, if you don’t have those necessary tools, processes, and personnel, you’re not going to be able to give the confidence to people that they can return to their place of work or living with the understanding that they are now safe and secure. If you go with a half measure, you’re always going to get problems in the end and also lose a lot of trust in your tenants, your team, and just about everybody involved in the space 12 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

of PPE as the first step of everyone’s safety. You never know if you’re going to be confronted with a biohazard or a natural hazard, so you always had a level of PPE and safety in mind.

But with COVID-19 now a persistent factor, you’ll sometimes be in tight spaces with many people, and you have to protect yourselves as well as other people to make sure everyone around you is safe, particularly in high-traffic and essential facilities and spaces.

Just like with cleaning nowadays, with restoration you have to make sure everyone is geared up the right way to respond to any call, and that does involve adding a little bit more to the checklist. Ensuring you have all the tools you need – PPE, the proper equipment, the right chemicals – so you’re not only cleaning up after the job but also disinfecting the space so everyone will be safe. We’re much more frequently having to respond to situations like sanitization or disinfection for COVID-19 much like we would do under normal circumstances for restoration work if it were water damage or emergency cleanup for any reason.

HOW MUCH OF IMPACT’S WORK IS IN THE COMMERCIAL/ OFFICE SPACE, AND WHAT SPECIFIC CHALLENGES DO THOSE FACILITIES BRING? YIANNIS: Commercial and office facilities make up about 60

per cent of the work we do, while another 20 per cent would be in industrial and larger manufacturing facilities and things where the office is tied to the warehousing or the manufacturing plant.

A challenge felt particularly keenly with office facilities has been how empty they are, as that doesn’t necessarily give you a good sense of what spaces are being occupied, where things are occurring, if people are coming into work, and how the building tends to be set up and operating. In facilities like a warehouse or a manufacturing plant or a shipping and receiving space, everyone tends to be coming in and out of the same doors and is likely to be in the same spaces. Not only that, but your scope of work covers that entire building itself, oftentimes with only one tenant or company within it. In contrast, when

/ expert Q+A /

you enter an office building, it can be a collection of 100 tenants or just one tenant depending on how much space they occupy. Each client or tenant in that space then has their own different requirements and necessities, and much of the space may be empty. Not only do you have property management informing you, but you have a variety of different rules and procedures in place. So, you often end up in a much larger and more varied environment: behind each door is a different stakeholder dictating the safety of their employees. That then has knock-on effects in terms of our own employee safety and processes.

HAS THE PANDEMIC CHANGED ATTITUDES TOWARDS MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION WORK? WILL THOSE CHANGES LAST? YIANNIS: You do see more these days the appreciation of the

work being done, especially when it comes to places deemed essential. I think people understand more the extent of cleaning and maintenance, but they don’t necessarily appreciate the number of hours that go into every day to keep facilities clean and safe. But now, when something gets added on that is vitally important to keep the space safe during these times, it tends to get more noticed. That’s nice to see because the public didn’t used to be that quick to appreciate the frontline staff.

With restoration, I think the scope of what people are going to expect will change. They’ll know it’s not just those cleanups like water damage and mould remediation and certain special instances like lead in confined spaces. I think the understanding of and the focus on what skills are needed, the level of protection and professionalism necessary to complete that work and be guaranteed in its results, will continued to be heightened. Also, there’s been a huge boost in the education of the benefits of becoming certified in the trade of restoration services. There are a lot of steps behind the scenes that go into making sure this job is being applied in a very secure and well-planned and educated way. Certain things like GBAC’s accreditation, that training comes in with restoration before you are even able to step foot on a job and be certified to handle the work. A lot of that education crosses over. Accreditation is going to be particularly important.

At the beginning of pandemic, everyone was willing to find a way to provide the necessary chemicals and solutions to keep everyone safe. As time goes on and you certify those things, the bar is raised, and that can only be a good thing. /

complete. trusted. solutions.

You can play a pivotal role in helping keep your facilities safe by implementing a comprehensive facility cleaning program.

SC Johnson Professional has a range of products you can trust to help you clean and sanitize workspaces.

www.REMInetwork.com / 13

/ cover story /

DEDICATION

TO CLEAN ServiceMaster Clean is focusing on education in pursuit of new standards of hygiene

by Tom Nightingale

14 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

G

one are the days when cleaning was a task that faded into the background of the public’s perception.

Late in 2021, the cleaning and maintenance industry continues to be defined by the progress of and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cleaning providers and building service contractors are truly leading from the front across Canada, North America, and the world.

ServiceMaster Clean, as always, are helping to lead that charge in Canada.

The company has a long history in the commercial cleaning industry in Canada, dating back to the 1960s. These days, it services thousands of businesses worldwide, including a family of entrepreneurial business franchises stretching from coast to coast in Canada.

Its National Director in Canada, Gavin Bajin, notes that while the needs and processes involved in delivery its service have certainly changed in the decades since, its core mission hasn’t: putting the customer at the forefront of its delivery.

Bajin began his career with ServiceMaster a little over a decade ago. “In the last 10 years, my goodness, we’ve seen a lot of different changes and trends, whether it be the green movement or sustainability or the movement toward operational efficiencies,” he tells FC&M. FACILITATING A CLEANER OFFICE

In an industry with a pre-existing propensity for change, the last 20 months or so have nevertheless been something of a watershed time. ServiceMaster Clean works extensively in office facilities and Bajin acknowledges that the focus has shifted.

“We have long preached the message that clean offices equal healthier offices,” he explains. “Typically, we had concentrated this message during flu season, when commercial spaces are most impacted by people in the facility and germs. But maintaining a healthy work environment has been part of our modus operandi for many years inside the industry.”

Prior to COVID-19, cleaning in offices was all about maintaining a healthy

www.REMInetwork.com / 15

/ cover story / Office facilities bring unique challenges of their own, too, of course. A primary one, as rudimentary as it may sound, is simply getting to the surfaces to provide a sufficient level of clean. It’s vital to be certain that pathogens are removed from a space, but in a cluttered environment, this can create an awkward blurring of lines when it comes to the preference to not move personal property in an individual’s workspace. So how can cleaning service providers ensure that workspaces are adequately cleaned and disinfecting without crossing those boundaries?

COMMUNICATION ARE CRITICAL

“You have to be able to answer questions; educating the customer is critical.”

GAVIN BAJIN HAS BEEN WITH SERVICEMASTER FOR OVER A DECADE.

workspace. That is still the case, but the meaning of the phrase – and the target end goal – has morphed. “Now, obviously, we’re seeing changes around maintaining a healthy workplace as it relates to pathogen prevention and reducing COVID-19’s opportunity to spread.”

A particular example of how communication of the approach to commercial cleaning has changed is in the renewed 16 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

focus on carpets. Evidentiary assessment has shown that carpets can be a haven for pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2.

Bajin notes there can be a tendency to lean on infrequent cleaning of carpets in environments like office facilities, sometimes once a year or even less frequently.

“But maintaining a clean carpet is critical because it is essentially a giant filter of your space,” he emphasizes.

AND

EDUCATION

The answer, it seems, is in another facet of the job that has risen to the fore during the pandemic: communication of cleaning practices.

“Customers understanding that clean environments are healthier has certainly been a challenge,” Bajin admits. “Cleaning offices is not just about dusting and wiping away surface dirt; offices are full of germs that require disinfection. Prior to COVID-19, the communication of that was not necessarily misunderstood, but it was perhaps never taken with the level of concern that it needed to be.”

It’s fair to say that has changed drastically.

These days, in a time when anyone and everyone is taking a more direct interest in how and when areas are cleaned and disinfected, BSCs have had to rise to the challenge.

Bajin notes that while the general public have become somewhat more demanding of a certain level and visibility of clean, ServiceMaster Clean has seen an improved appreciation from customers for its methods and tools.

“The importance of having a clean workspace, the peace of mind that it delivers to an employee in that workspace, really comes at the hands of the commercial cleaning company and the industry,” Bajin acknowledges. “A big change in the industry has been not relegating disinfection to simply healthcare or foodservice, where you would expect the utmost level of germ prevention. People appreciate that it has a role in all workspaces.”

There has still been a certain degree of education required, though, particularly when it comes to what Bajin terms “the cross-section of science, cleaning processes,

/ cover story /

and budget.” Educating both customers and end users on the different ways and products through which to deliver the required level of clean has become essential to ServiceMaster Clean’s work. It’s no longer good enough to announce the delivering of clean.

Bajin notes people are now asking ServiceMaster Clean about disinfectants, whether they are approved on the Health Canada list, whether they have a particular dwell time, etc. “People have done considerably more research around our processes and you have to be able to answer those things, so educating the customer is critical.”

CONSTANT INNOVATION

To answer the COVID-19 challenge, ServiceMaster Clean introduced a new program called Protect3 Advance with the aim of educating on the science behind the company’s methods. The three-step program – clean, disinfect, and fortify for long-term protection – is intended to provide greater peace of mind for the customer as well as a better management of the budget.

Part of that is assessing innovative ways to use different products to allow the clean to last longer.

Bajin notes there have been continued innovations in the industry for efficiencies, both in products and equipment. For example, ServiceMaster Clean now utilizes longterm durable antimicrobials to help protect surfaces against different pathogens. A lot of product manufacturers are finding ways to produce disinfectants with lower dwell times, too. “If it kills pathogens in, say, a minute or three minutes as opposed to 10 minutes of dwell time, that’s obviously appealing,” adds Bajin. “It’s something we’re seeing a lot a year later.” Other trends have included the mass adoption of electrostatic equipment as a commonplace tool for efficient cleaning.

Delivery sufficient clean and peace of mind within often restrictive budgets has perpetually been part of the challenges faced by the industry, opines Bajin. But he suggests that while the overall operational budget of BSC customers is not necessarily likely to increase, he expects to see the trends in intensified cleaning and disinfection processes and needs reflected in some sort of bump in the budget allocated to those processes.

When it comes to commercial and office

facilities, Bajin assesses that one particular evolving challenge is the increasing proliferation of shared workspaces. That, of course, makes sufficient disinfection paramount and would drive a higher level of cleaning and disinfection.

Again, it ties in to increased customer and public awareness. “There is a higher level of understanding at the office worker level of protocols that they feel are important to make them feel comfortable in the workplace,” explains Bajin. “It’s almost becoming a groundswell of support. Delivering peace of mind at the worker level is certainly part of the facility managers’ and property managers’ set of considerations.

That can be as simple as individual and worker-controlled solutions such as wipes at desks or the ability to request a cleaning of a workstation on demand. All of those kinds of things I see being considerations in the workplace of the future.”

Indeed, the considerations moving forward will be numerous. Companies like ServiceMaster Clean are leading the way, though, as the cleaning and maintenance industry – and the world – continues to find its feet in the new normal. / www.REMInetwork.com / 17

18 MONTHS LATER: KEEPING FACILITIES CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SAFE Key considerations for cleaning commercial workspaces in a post-COVID-19 world

by David L. Smith

18 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

/ infection prevention & control /

S

ince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, facility managers have continued to play a crucial role in maintaining buildings to maximize cleanliness, health, and safety. Now, over 18 months later, reopening is the biggest question on everyone’s mind.

While it’s difficult to know exactly how many workers will ultimately return to office buildings and commercial facilities, there’s no question that this is the time to continue to plan ahead. Facility managers must ensure they are equipped for the enhanced cleaning maintenance requirements that will come with their facility’s continued reopening.

Here are four key considerations to help keep facilities clean, healthy, and safe:

1. BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL OPERATING EXPENSES.

It’s clear that facility maintenance has completely changed over the last 20 months or so and will continue to evolve as companies welcome workers back to the office.

Standards and expectations around building health and hygiene continue to rise, requiring higher operating expenses to meet them. Whether they’re currently operating at a limited capacity or their workforce is entirely remote, facility managers should budget for additional operating expenses to keep employees safe.

The largest expense to budget for is additional labour or janitorial costs for deep cleaning and disinfecting. Not only is it important to consider the additional cost of enhanced daily cleaning, but facility managers should also plan for the cost of disinfecting their entire facility if it’s exposed to a COVID-19 case.

Facility managers should also allocate funds to purchase supplies and equipment that help promote and maintain building health. This includes setting up additional hand hygiene stations, ensuring facilities are stocked with personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and visitors, and COVIDrelated costs like signage, posters, partitions, and barriers to help employees maintain physical distancing.

2. TAKE TIME TO SET UP A CLEANING PROGRAM THAT WORKS.

Before the pandemic, many cleaning and hygiene professionals primarily focused on

cleaning for appearance. While keeping surfaces and fixtures shining is still an important part of facility maintenance, today the need to clean for health is critical. This is the time to review facility cleaning programs, assess whether they’re meeting today’s requirements, and determine how to enhance them for the future.

An effective office cleaning program should include the following: • Processes to tackle high-touch surfaces.

Surfaces like door handles, meeting rooms, elevator buttons, coffee machines, and restroom fixtures should be disinfected at least twice a day. Keeping sanitizing wipes or a disinfectant spray and wiper combo near high-touch surfaces will encourage non-custodial workers to wipe surfaces before and after use.

• The right disinfecting products. Not all disinfectants are created equally.

Disinfectants have specific kill claims, which outline which bacteria they are effective against, as well as a dwell time, which indicates how long the disinfectant must stay wet on a surface to effectively kill those bacteria. Disinfectants approved by Health Canada have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) which indicates that the product has been thoroughly tested.

• Innovative tools for faster, more effective cleaning and disinfecting. Consider investing in innovative products and equipment that will make cleaning faster and more effective so that labour can be allocated to other tasks. Tools like electrostatic disinfecting systems cover significantly larger surface areas with disinfectants more effectively and in less time than traditional trigger sprayers.

• Updated training programs for cleaning teams. The right training will help keep teams safe when using cleaning tools and chemistries, improve cleaning quality, reduce turnover, and provide greater job satisfaction. Training courses

like the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) certifications are available online and teach cleaning professionals to prepare for, respond to, and recover from biohazards in the workplace.

3. PLAN AHEAD.

With many offices still working at a reduced worker volume, facility managers should be continually evaluating their existing cleaning programs. Along with developing an enhanced cleaning program and sourcing appropriate PPE, facility managers should also set up an outbreak prevention and management plan. Establishing a process for how to handle any potential COVID-19 cases will allow for quick action to prevent the spread of illness and help minimize business disruption.

4. MITIGATE RISK: VERIFY AND VALIDATE RESULTS.

Today, maintaining a clean, healthy facility is necessary to providing exceptional customer service and meeting employees’ expectations around health and safety. Facility managers are using digital cleaning program management software to log cleaning activities and optimize cleaning resources to verify and validate their results.

Digital cleaning program management systems help facility managers: • Verify that cleaning activities are completed as scheduled • Identify missed cleanings • Immediately uncover and manage training issues • Quickly and easily prepare detailed reporting without having to sift through paper cleaning logs • Validate adherence to cleaning protocols.

Systems like wandaNEXT™ by Visionstate IoT send cleaning teams alerts when additional cleaning is required and also include location-specific cleaning task lists, real-time compliance reporting, people traffic monitoring, and more. /

David L. Smith is the Cleaning Hygiene & Sanitation Director at Bunzl Canada, a national distributor of the cleaning and hygiene products and equipment, food and retail packaging, safety products and industrial supplies that keep over 45,000 Canadian businesses running optimally every day. Bunzl Canada Inc. is a division of Bunzl Distribution USA, LLC.

www.REMInetwork.com / 19

TAKING ROOF CARE TO NEW HEIGHTS A roof is exposed to many hazards and they cannot be ignored

by Stephen Epp

20 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

/ spotlight /

W

hen you think about maintenance of retail, commercial, and residential buildings, the last thing many people think of is their roof. While roofs are a major component of the building envelope, if they perform properly, we rarely think about them. However, problems can grow unchecked until it’s too late and you’re left catching water dripping from the ceiling. With roof materials and replacement costs rising, the importance of maintaining your roof to prolong its service life cannot be understated.

Roof systems are constantly exposed to many types of hazards. These range from unrelenting UV rays, extreme temperature fluctuations, snow and hailstorms, trees blowing over their leaves and twigs, or even a well-intentioned contractor engaged to install your new satellite system. These constant exposures may not amount to much this year or next, but when you consider roof systems are anticipated to last 25+ years, they can become a larger concern. Long-term, systemic exposure will wear your roofing materials down, resulting in isolated problems that can start small and inconspicuous. If regular maintenance is neglected, these small problems will escalate and be more expensive to address. A proper program begins at the onset of the roof’s commissioning and continues until replacement.

Regular maintenance and a review program will ensure your roof is performing as anticipated and reaches its anticipated service life. Addressing issues and detecting minor problems before damage becomes widespread is crucial to mitigating the risk of large unforeseen replacement costs. Consider that a contractor completing a full day of routine maintenance may be the same cost as replacing only one or two square metres of a new roof assembly.

Owners’ teams are responsible for maintaining the roof assembly. Maintenance can be performed by building operations staff or by engaging a roofing professional, depending on the task at hand. For example, tasks like conducting a general visual review or removing leaf debris from a clogged drain may be taken on by internal staff, while repairing punctured membrane or adding a rubber walkway in high-traffic areas may be best handled by a trained roofing professional. A maintenance program will always start with regular visual reviews that generate a list of deficiencies. These reviews should be con-

ducted at least twice a year, ideally in the fall and at the end of winter. Owners should also carry out an inspection after major weather events such as hail, heavy rains, and strong winds. As roof deficiencies are identified, they can be addressed through targeted maintenance. Routine maintenance may also be a requirement to maintain your system’s warranty.

A basic preventative maintenance program is the simplest method for prolonging the roof’s service life.

For regular maintenance reviews twice a year, building owners/operator should: • Clean debris from the roof surface and from drains. For example, if trees are overhanging or adjacent, leaves and needles are often a big problem. Keeping the roof surface and drains clear allows your drainage system to perform properly.

• Identify areas of ponding water or staining away from the roof drain.

• Look for any obvious punctures or holes in the roof system.

• Review main traffic routes to and around rooftop units. Consider providing a high-density rubber walkway in these areas as unprotected, hightraffic areas can accelerate membrane deterioration.

• Note any changes in the membrane condition between reviews including: • Membrane ridging • Blistering (air bubbles below the membrane) • Failures/buckling of seams • Decolourization, splitting, cracking etc.

• Identify any soft spots or irregularities underfoot as you walk the roof • Review sealants around mechanical unit and/or conduit penetrations for cracks or failures.

• Review f lashings on parapets or at penetrations if loose or missing entirely.

• Look for and remove moss, weeds, lichen, and excessive bird droppings.

In addition to regular reviews by maintenance staff, a building envelope professional can be engaged to review all the above along with additional value-added services: • Coordinate non-invasive scanning for moisture ingress in select types of roof assemblies.

• Complete thermographic scanning using infrared technology. Encapsulated water in the roof assembly will be colder/darker in a scan.

• Coordinate roofing contractors to complete exploratory openings and confirm as-constructed assembly.

• Water test to review drainage.

• Provide a detailed report of the roof’s current condition and recommendations for repairs, outline anticipated remaining service life, and provide a maintenance plan over the next five to 10 years.

Owners should keep a historical file of all roof documentation. This should include the as-constructed roof plan (all penetrations and equipment), construction specifications, as-constructed details (flashings, curbs etc.), inspection reports, roof bonds, warranties or guarantees, records of any changes made, and a record of maintenance inspections completed. Remember that while warranties provide some security, they do not mean your roof will be repaired or replaced if a failure occurs, especially if you don’t have a record of maintenance. All warranties are different, but most require proof that your roof has been properly reviewed and maintained as per manufacturer recommendations. Keeping records up to date will provide an owner and other professionals with a solid foundation for understanding and maintaining a roof.

The motto for roof maintenance is “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Investing in regular maintenance will go a long way toward preventing major repairs or unforeseen replacements. A sound maintenance plan should be in place from the time the roof is constructed until it is replaced.

Don’t wait until there is an issue: extend the service life of your roof and save money. /

Stephen Epp, BSc, P.Eng., RRO, ARCA Accepted Inspector is a Project Engineer with RJC Engineers. He specializes in roof assembly design, assessments, and construction review. He is a Registered Roof Observer (RRO) through the Roofing Consultants Institute (RCI). Contact Stephen at sepp@rjc.ca.

www.REMInetwork.com / 21

/ facilities /

RAISING CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS IN REAL ESTATE Enhancing cleaning, disinfection, and communication is critically important within real estate at a time when health and safety is top of mind

by Tom Nightingale

�

ONE OF MANULIFE’S GBAC STAR-ACCREDITED PROPERTIES IN MONTREAL: 420 NOTRE-DAME ST. W.

A

ttaining and maintaining higher standards of cleanliness and disinfection remains the priority for facility managers. So, too, does communicating those standards.

During these challenging times, residents, tenants, visitors, and the general public want visual and certifiable affirmation that landlords and facility operators are taking the required measures to safeguard the health of anyone entering or leaving a building. Prior to COVID-19, much of the cleaning and maintenance happened silent22 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

ly. Now, tenants, visitors, and employees increasingly want that work to be quantifiable and certifiable.

Facility operators are taking on this duty, and they’re being recognized for the intensification of their cleaning and maintenance through ISSA’s GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation, which has seen vast uptake across Canada and the globe since launching 18 months ago in spring 2020. Everything from commercial real estate to convention centres, theatres, stadia, and airports have pursued and achieved the accreditation.

In the real estate field in Canada, Manulife Investment Management (“Manulife”) has led the way.

In February 2021, Manulife became the first Canadian real estate landlord to achieve the accreditation by attaining the certification for seven of its Montreal properties. Its GBAC STAR accredited facilities include office and retail buildings at Centre Manuvie – 2000 Mansfield St., 1001 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, 2000 Peel St., 420 NotreDame St. West, 465 and 485 McGill St., and 715 Square Victoria St. To say Manulife has a significant presence across Canada would be an understatement: in addition to real estate, the company also has a diverse portfolio in the areas of private markets. Manulife’s real estate portfolio is certainly extensive – it develops and manages commercial real estate for thousands of customers around the globe and totals over 70 million square feet of office, industrial, and retail space and over 6,500 multifamily units across Canada, the U.S., and Asia.

Pursuing and achieving GBAC STAR accreditation was a logical step for Manulife.

The high standards of these buildings have already been recognized through other notable certifications. On the environmental side, all seven of its GBAC-accredited properties are also BOMA BEST certified, a national green building certification program from Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Canada, aimed at setting realistic standards for the energy and environmental performance of existing buildings.

The commitment to environmental sustainability in the group’s real estate prop-

/ facilities /

are committed to establishing and implementing comprehensive practices to ensure health and safety at its buildings.

There is also a great focus on what Manulife terms “preventive maintenance” of its buildings. Proactive measures have been key throughout the first 12 months of the pandemic and are sure to continue, to some extent, for the foreseeable future.

Stephen Nicoletti, Managing Director, Real Estate Asset Management, Eastern Canada at Manulife Investment Management, and his team stress that high tenant retention is a core part of Manulife Investment Management’s main goals. Tenants are surveyed every second year with the aim of assessing and improving customer service. One of the key ways of building customer relationships is ensuring fluid communication is maintained at all times. This is vital, particularly in response to the pandemic, with preventa-

� �

485 MCGILL ST. (BELOW)

465 MCGILL ST. (ABOVE)

erties was also recently recognized when Céline Laforce, property director for Manulife, was honoured with ISSA Canada’s Environmental Stewardship Award for 2020. In addition, the GBAC STAR-accredited building at 1001 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West was among 15 prize recipients in the energy performance improvement component of BOMA Quebec’s Défi Énergie en immobilier (DÉI), a four-year competition aimed at reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of commercial, institutional, and multi-residential buildings in Quebec.

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST

The desire to help set the pace when it comes to cleaning, maintenance, and infection control is indicative of Manulife’s standing and its aspirations in Canadian real estate. Focusing on people – tenants, residents, employees, or visitors – is nothing new for the company. The real estate group consistently emphasizes that its teams www.REMInetwork.com / 23

/ facilities /

maintenance and managed the application/ registration process for Manulife’s GBAC STAR accreditation for the seven facilities.

ValkarTech senior director, Derek Oliveira, notes his company strongly believes that the environment in which people operate directly affects their quality of life, health, and families. “This is what motivates us to transmit good work methods related to housekeeping operations at all levels,” Oliveira said. “Proof of this is the performance of Manulife’s buildings in Montreal.” He adds that by collaborating with ValkarTech on the management of housekeeping operations, “Manulife confirms that it places as much importance on the health of the building occupants as it does on its operating budget.”

� �

715 SQUARE VICTORIA ST. (ABOVE)

tive maintenance communications being a constant priority. The company also holds several programs and events for its tenants throughout the year, focusing on various topics and initiatives including health and wellness.

COMBATTING COVID-19 WITH VALKARTECH

Montreal-based firm ValkarTech supports Manulife in the operation of the seven GBAC STAR-accredited real estate properties. The consulting firm guides, supports, and advises on ways to optimize the operational performance of facilities in terms of building hygiene and sanitation.

Manulife became the firm’s first property partner in July 2019, eight months before the COVID-19 pandemic escalated to a Canadian emergency. While Manulife had cleaning protocols and processes in place already, ValkarTech assists with management of the janitorial work including cleaning and 24 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

1001 DE MAISONNEUVE BLVD. W. (BELOW)

/ facilities /

�

CENTRE MANUVIE - 200 MANSFIELD ST. (ABOVE LEFT) AND 2000 PEEL ST. (ABOVE RIGHT)

“COVID-19 has magnified the need for real estate operators to not only bolster their cleaning and health measures, but also to communicate those to tenants, visitors, and employees.”

Oliveira adds ValkarTech is “extremely grateful for the privilege” of working with Manulife to amplify the facilities’ cleaning and maintenance protocols and standards.

“In doing so,” he says, “Manulife actively participates in the evolution of the industry and sets an example of sound management.”

SETTING THE NEW STANDARD

That “sound management” is demonstrated by the fact Manulife has summarized recommended measures within six key categories, each of which are designed to ensure the safe and ongoing return of tenants, visitors, and contractors. Many of these recommendations follow the pattern of what has been seen across the industry in 2020 and 2021 – the use of PPE, social distancing, signage and communication, enhanced cleaning, and disinfecting.

Other, more specific measures have included revamping HVAC operations, including installation of air filtration units with double HEPA filters in elevators at three of the GBAC STAR-accredited facilities, the Manulife Centre at 2000 Mansfield St., 2000 Peel St. and 715 Square Victoria St. These high-performance filtration units, specifically designed for the shared-space considerations of elevators, have been proven to eliminate 99.9 per cent of airborne virus and bacterial particles.

COVID-19 has magnified the need for real estate operators like Manulife to not

only bolster their cleaning, maintenance, and health and safety measures, but also to communicate those measures to tenants, visitors, and employees. At a time when standards and expectations are being raised, companies like Manulife and ValkarTech are setting an example for real estate operators across Canada. Others can and should follow suit as the industry looks to safeguard against infectious disease.

A full overview of Manulife Investment Management’s recommendations can be found in the company’s return to office. /

More information on GBAC STAR accreditation can be found at https://www. mediaedge360.ca/gbac. For additional program details and information, please email chuckn@mediaedge.ca or contact him at (416) 803-4653.

www.REMInetwork.com / 25

/ best practices /

FLU SEASON MAY BE FOREVER CHANGED FOR THE CLEANING INDUSTRY The pandemic will likely change our yearly rhythm in the long term

by Afshin Cangarlu

A

nyone who is in the cleaning industry understands that flu season has always been considered the “busy” season. Much like accountants during the month of April, it’s the time when our services and expertise are called on the most often.

As professionals in this industry, we’ve spent the fall and winter months educating our clients and the public on ways to keep offices, restaurants, and retail spaces safe and how to reduce germs.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the way our society defines what “clean” means, and that will likely lead to a change in our yearly rhythm. It is quite possible that, moving forward, flu season may be just one of a handful of similarly busy times for the cleaning industry.

THE PUBLIC IS MORE EDUCATED ABOUT GERMS

This all starts with the public, who are now more educated about germs and cleaning than ever before. Since March of 2020, there have been tens of thousands of interviews with cleaning and health experts circulated by media outlets around the world.

These experts have explained, in detail, the importance of keeping surfaces clean.

People learned about “high-touch points” like computer keyboards, door handles, and light switches. They also learned the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. These lessons have been repeated over and over again for the past 20 months.

The proper ways to clean are now much more top of mind for the average person, who is likely to keep more stringent cleaning habits in a post-pandemic world as a result.

26 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

This general awareness will likely cause the demand for commercial cleaning to rise — outside of the traditional flu season.

FLU ISN’T THE ONLY THING TO WORRY ABOUT

Flu season has always been an important time for cleaning because the flu is one of the most well-known and deadly viruses.

While many people were already aware of the dangers of flu, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated just how many viruses can truly wreak havoc if they are allowed to spread.

Business owners are far more likely to take germs seriously moving forward. They will have employees and customers who are educated on the many risks associated with germs and will demand cleaner workspaces.

According to the CDC, this year’s flu season is expected to be particularly tough on citizens of North America. This is due, in part, to a reduced immunity to the flu within society. Social distancing and masking measures helped to all but wipe out the flu in 2020 but will also have contributed to this reduced immunity. Now, companies will be faced with the task of defending their spaces against both the coronavirus and the flu.

The variety of viruses and bacteria that could lead to illness will likely inspire business owners to pay more attention throughout the year, not just during flu season.

CLEANING IS NO LUXURY

Before the pandemic, cleaning companies

were seen largely as a luxury for most businesses. They were considered nice to have if you could fit that cost into the budget.

These days, the services provided by cleaning companies are recognized as absolutely essential.

As offices around the world try to lure people back into the workplace, they will have to provide a clean and safe environment. Customers are now likely to inquire about cleaning habits or look for posted signs around restaurants and in stores. This new standard will stretch far beyond flu season and is expected to be a norm for the foreseeable future. It will no longer be acceptable for a business to hire commercial cleaning companies simply on a seasonal basis. Business owners will likely start viewing cleaning companies as a yearly utility cost, much like electricity and the internet.

This new focus on cleanliness and sanitation is obviously good news for the cleaning industry from a financial standpoint, but we must work hard to meet the increased demand. It is extremely important that we train our teams to value consistency and continuously strive to keep high standards.

Commercial cleaning got a chance to play a major role during the pandemic, providing a service that has helped to keep people safe and healthy. Now, as we move forward and look ahead, our industry will likely be called on to continue this increased role every month of the year. /

Afshin Cangarlu is the CEO of green commercial cleaning franchise Stratus Building Solutions.

SPONSORED TNETNOC DCONTENT EROSNOPS

Contact ?ylrenew porp time—are gnitcef–nDisinfection iyou sid udisinfecting oy era— emprevention iproperly? t tcatnoC The normal for The global COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the importance of surface in the prevention of the spread What you disinfection need to know wonk ot deen uoy tahW 1 of illness-causing germs on hard, non-porous surfaces.

An important s t c u d or p e factor ht rofin em an it effective t catnoc ecleaning, ht si locotsanitizing orp noit ceand fnisdisinfection id dna gnizitprotocol inas , gninis aethe lc econtact vit cef fe time na nifor rotthe caf tproducts nat ropmi nA Cleaning almost that ruoyou y rouse. fand si tContact i disinfection gnol wotime h , si is varies emnow it t cwith atop tnodifferent coftamind hw wformulations. ofor nk u oy o D . s n Do oityou alumknow rof tnwhat eref ficontact d htiw setime irav is, emhow it t calong tnoCit.e issfor u uoyour y t a ht everyone andand research than 50 per cent of disinfectant whereshows to findthat thismore information? ?noitamrofni siht dni f ot erehw dna tnat cefnisid consumers think that increased cleaning and disinfecting in businesses and public spaces is here to stay.2 dewolla e mit difference mumixam eht(between setunim 01asacleaner, gnol sa neve ro 4 ot to 4 or even minutes maximum What’s the ,ras enlong aelcasa10 ne ewteb(the ecn ereffid time eht allowed s’ t a h W Recommendations ycaciffe tnatcefnisid rof for disinfectant efficacy). 2,3 gninaelc neand hw taahtfor tnacleaning tropmi s’ tand I 3,2 .)disinfecting a sanitizer disinfectant? ?tIt’s natimportant cefnisidthat a dwhen na recleaning zi t i n a s a tnatcethis fnisid eht focus rof tsaon f oocleaning t krow t’nand od ew taht gnitcefnhere isid dare na and disinfecting that we don’t work too fast for the disinfectant With new disinfecting, It’s important to know the difference between these tcuits dorjob. p eseht neewteb ecnereffid eht wonk ot tnatropmi s’ tI .bproducts oj sti od ot tosdo some important considerations: because they accomplish different things. A cleaner physically yllacisyhp renaelc A .sgniht tnereffid hsilpmocca yeht esuaceb high-traffi gn•isHigh-touch oohcsoil, sdninorganic emand moce rand adaorganic naC cfoareas ymaterial cnegare A hfrom tthe laeHmost ilbuPlikely e hT The removes acsurface ecPublic af rus aHealth morf laAgency iretam cof inaCanada gro dnarecommends cinagroni ,lioschoosing sevomer places to find germs.3,4 Make sure to focus on these products that clean (physically remove soil and organic c i n a g r o 1 d n a l i o s evo m er yl l a c i syh p ( n a e l c ta ht s t c u d or p 1 or object. A sanitizer reduces the bacterial population n o i t a l u p o p l a i r e t c a b e h t s e c u d e r r e z i t i n a s A . t c ejbo ro 5 , 4, 1cleaning and disinfecting.

1,4,5 sea dareas usurface lcni swhen ihTor .ecno tabut lla )does smregnot llikdestroy ( tcefnisid na )laireta1 m material) and 1 on object, alldbacteria. . a i r et c a b lldisinfect a yortsed(kill tongerms) seod tall ubat,tonce. cejbo roThis ecaincludes f rus a no •sCheck whether you are using a cleaner, disinfectant, or a epiw ro/dis nacapable snoitulof oskilling gninaor elcinactivating tnat cefnisipathogens d d exim erp premixed A disinfectant snegohtadisinfectant p gnit4avitcancleaning i ro gnilliksolutions fo elbapacand/or si tnatcwipes ef n i si d A 4 grease combination of both.7 Cleaners break down n eand hbe w when .)elbamay liavanot on surfaces and objects. Note that disinfectants eb tonavailable). yam stnatcefnisid taht etoN . stcejbo dna secaf rus no remove organic material from surfaces. Disinfectants 1 trohsoffokilling egatnbacterial avda eht spores evah os(check la sepiwthe tnalabel!). tcefnis1 id tsoM Most disinfectant capable .)!lebal ehwipes t kcehalso c( sehave rops the laireadvantage tcab gnillikoffoshort elb ap a c have chemicals that kill most germs.5 s a e l t t i l s a e m o s d n a , s d n o c e s 0 3 n e t f o , s e m i t t c a t n o c contact times, often 30 seconds, and some as little as Some products fit more than one of these criteria, and if they y e h t f i d n a , a i r e t i r c e s e h t f o e n o n a h t e r o m t i f s t c u d o r p e mo S Itraiscimportant to useefthe right product for theojob –a ,saebe if fart-hCleaner gih gnitcDisinfectant, nisid era uoDisinfectant y nehW .sdnCleaner, ces 51 ,15 seconds. high-traffic do,awill labelled renaelC tnatWhen cefnisiyou D ,tnare atcdisinfecting efnisiD renae lC dellebal areas, eb lliwa,od cleaner won’t do a disinfectant’s job (and vice versa). ,elpmaxe roF .egatnor avd a na eb o sl a n ac emit tcatnoc trohs short contact also Sanitizer-Disinfectant Sanitizer and Disinfectant. .tnattime cefnican siD d na rbe ezian tinaadvantage.

S ro tnatceFor fnisiexample, D-rezitinaS Health Canada reThe tnuoc ePublic ht ro ,ero ts yrecoAgency rg a ni tlebof roye vnoc eht now htiw with the conveyor belt in a grocery store, or the counter recommends using products that both clean and evitcef fe taht tnatropmi si ti ,tuokcehc leto3h ro liater a ta at a retail or hotel checkout, it is important that effective disinfect when cleaning public Your disinfectant can’t do its.y job without tuohtiquickly. w boj sti od t’nac tnatcefnisid ruoY l k ci u qspaces. sneppah noitcefnisid disinfection happens Ensure that you read and follow the instructions for use the•right contact time. .emit tcatnoc thgir eht on your cleaners and disinfectants: n at cethan fnisione d ruproduct, oy no leensure b al ehthat t kce hC are Check the label on your disinfectant If using tmore they em5it t catnoc eh t t uo dnif ot to find out the contact time What is contact time? ?emit tcatnoc si tahW safe to use together.

SimplyCheck put, contact time is the length of time a disinfectant t n a t c e f n i s i d a e m i t f o h t g n e l e h t si emit tcatnoc ,tup ylpmiS the label for the contact time for your must be in contact with a target surface or device to o t e c i v e d r o e c a f r u s t e g r a t a tiw t c a tn o c ni eb tsum disinfectant.

Don’t forget that the surface needs to ?snegohtap tnereffid rof yrav se1 mit t5,6 catnoc od woH How do contact times vary for h different pathogens? achievebe the desired result. time.

Any bacteria or ro air et cab ynA 1. tluser yca ci f fe d erised eht eveihca wet for theefficacy entire contact w uoy ,tnclaims atcefnis(like id a “Kills rof atavirus d ycaXciin f fe2eminutes”) ht kcehc uoy fI If you) ”check viruslliefficacy setunthe im 2efficacy ni X surdata iv sllifor K “ aekdisinfectant, il( smialc ycyou a ci f fwill e s u riv snedependent gohtap llik oon t dthe eriucontact qer emittime. t c a t n o c e ht t a ht e e s y l l a u s u usually see that the contact time required to kill pathogens are . e m i t t c a t n o c e h t n o t n e d n e p e d er a Health Canada-approved disinfectants help prevent the ro airetcab eht llik ot deriuqer emit tcatnoc ehT .yrav nac can vary. The contact time required to kill the bacteria or spread oftime germs be different for sanitizing a surface Contact cafdepend rus a gnon izithe tinatype s rofof tnpathogen. er ef fid eb For lliwexample, emit t catfor noC rof ,elpmaxewill roF .negohtap fo epyt eht no dneped lliw suriv virus e will Using the right disinfectants in example, the right way is an important vs. dna rlike ezitEincoli, as acontact , e l p m ax e rocould F . ecabe f ruas s ashort gnit cat ef1nminute, i s i d . sv ,etudisinfecting nim 1 ta trohsassurface. a eb dluoFor c em it tcatnoca,isanitizer loc E ekil aand iretcab bacteria time part of the “new normal”. Products that are approved for Choosing aitpartner inlbdisinfection disinfectant n iz inasspores fo e apac eb dluoc t ctime udorof p5 tnminutes. a t c efnisi d .setunim 5 fproduct o emit tccould atnoc be a ercapable iuqer serof opssanitizing eliciffid . Caelihw whileaC.gdifficile require a contact disinfecting hard surfaces in Canada haveminutes an eight-digit It’s important to0choose partner surface in 1 minute, but would require 5-10 to ot s e t u n i m 1- 5 eriuthe q er right d l u ow tub , etto unhelp im 1 meet ni ecayour f rus Drug Identifi cation Numberand (DIN) on their labels. Check for disinfection needs; one disinfect against bacteria viruses. . sesthat uriv can dnadevelop air et cabatpartnership sniaga t cefnthat isid derdisinfectant evoc uoy sa ®orPxoro lC can CloroxPro® has you covered the DIN to confirm that your ishapproved and go beyond providing products. Look for one who: 3 corg a gnit c efnisid er a u oy r e hte hW ,tnfor ado ruuse ayou tsein r ,Canada. e rots y re Whether you safe How ensure that you’re meeting the right th•gCan ir eprovide h t gare nitbest-in-class edisinfecting em er’uoyadisinfectants tgrocery aht erustore, sne urestaurant, oy od woH a sah ®orPxorolC ,ecif fo ro ecaps liater ,loohcs , nehctik kitchen, school, retail space or the office, CloroxPro®ofhas a • Is capable in assisting with development contact time? ?emit protocols t ca tnoc . sdean eneff noective itcefnisdisinfection id ruoy teemprotocol ot stcudis orpart p fo of egthe n ar range products Developing forofyour facilityto meet your disinfection needs.

The most common industry practice is to keep the surface ecaf rus eht peek ot si ecitcarp y rtsudni nommoc tsom ehT new • Isgerms a trusted brand disinfection among consumers suornormal opnon ,drah dehcuot yltneuqerf no ylkciuq smreg lliK • • Kill quickly on in frequently touched hard, nonporous you are disinfecting visibly wet for the full contact time e m i t t c a t n o c l l u f e h t r o f t e w y l b i s i v g n i t c e f n i s i d e r a u oy Ensuring aregfollowing an® xenhanced Developing a partnership with CloroxPro® meansare much er a hcthat ihw ,you sepiW nit cefnisiD or olC htiwdisinfection s e c a f r u s surfaces with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, which as listed on the label, in order to ensure efficacy. 2 For this siht roF 2 .ycacif fe erusne ot redro ni ,lebal eht no detsil sa protocol than just cleaning and disinfection is el t til s a nisi vital ses uas rivwe tsomove m llikinto ot dthe erenew tsigenormal. r a d a n aOne C h tway l ae Hto more Health Canada registered to kill mostproducts. viruses inClorox® as little reason, you may also hear contact time referred to as sa ot d err ef6er emit t catnoc raeh osla yam uoy , nosaer think about2 it is to apply the “healthcare clean” ranked as a top, trusted brand, and2 CloroxPro® ces 51 s ato consistently as 15 seconds . 6 s d n oconcept . “wet time”. Disinfectants7 may also indicate this on their rieht no siht etacidni osla yam stnatcefnisiD .”emit tew“ non-healthcare can provide education and assistance handheld in setting up cleaning The “healthcare clean” approach citatsortcele for dleuse, hsettings. dnafor h ™example orP o br u T“Allow ®xorolC we n ehto t hremain tiw riaP • • Pair with instructions surface nia m er othe t ecnew af ruClorox® s wollA“TurboPro™ elpmaxe rof ,esu rof electrostatic snoitcurtsni includes: and disinfection protocols, in addition to providing you 2 ,1 citatfor sort(X) celeminutes etaropro cniseconds)”. ot yaw evi1,2 snepxeni ,taerg a ,reyarps sprayer, a great, inexpensive wet (or .”)sway dnocto esincorporate ro( setunimelectrostatic )X( rof tew surfaces effectiveinto products and equipment help meet your ,tne•iCleaning nevnoc a and s’ tI . sdisinfecting locotorp gnhigh-touch inaelc ruoy o tni ygolo(using nhcet a with technology your cleaning protocols.toIt’s a convenient, One Health important thing to note is that if a surface dries before e r o f e b s e i r d e c a f r u s a f i t a h t s i e t o n o t g n i h t t n a t r o p mi e n O facility’s needs.

Canada-approved disinfectant) tcefnisid ot yaw sseldroc cordless way to disinfect the •contact time is up, you will need to reapply the product t c u d o r p e h t y l p p a e r o t d e e n l l i w u o y , p u s i e m i t t atnoc eht Cleaning and disinfecting non-critical Learn more about the trusted family of Clorox®cproducts, secaps equipment hcaer-ot-draand h hard-to-reach spaces and ensure thebetween proper contact time is met for the disinfection noitcefnisthe id ehClorox® t rof tem TurboPro™ si emit tcatnoHandheld c reporp ehElectrostatic t erusne dna including surfaces clients/patients/residents ruoy teG .ytilicaf ruoy ni in your facility. Get your to be effective. 2 and auditing cleaning practices and Sprayer and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes at2 .ecloroxpro.ca/ vitcef fe eb ot • Monitoring ® xorolC ecaps eritne entire space Clorox® 8 providing feedback and education where necessary. products/. . setunim ni naelc clean in minutes.

How do contact times vary for different products?

?stcudorp tnereffid rof yrav semit tcatnoc od woH

Check theM. label on your disinfectant and you will see thatforever. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/new-normal-this-is-how-covid-19taht ees lliw uoy dna tnatcefnisid ruoy no lebal eht kcehC 1. MacLeod, New normal: This is how COVID-19 could change cleaning could-change-cleaning-forever-1.4884040.

Accessed the May contact 31, 2021. time depending on the format of the disinfectant, emit tcatnoc eht ,tnatcefnisid eht fo tamrof eht no gnidneped 2.

Lieberman LR, Patnaik M,(e.g.

Bardidisinfectant G, et al. Futurewipes), of cleaning: is believing. Barclays Research.

Dec can be 15-30 seconds 1 orSeeing 2 minutes, ,setuniEquity m 2 ro 1 ,)sepiw tn8,at2020. cefnisid .g.e( sdnoces 03-51 eb nac

3. Government of Canada. Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseasesconditions/cleaning-disinfecting-public-spaces.html. Accessed April 14, 2021.

4. Public Health Ontario. Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19Learn more about the contact ®or11,P2021. xof orthe olC products eh t ni st cu indthe orp CloroxPro® eht fo semit tcatnoc eht tuoba erom nraeL environmental-cleaning.pdf?la=en.

Accessed times June 5.

Public Health Ontario COVID-19 Infection Prevention (IPAC) portfolio at CloroxPro.ca or by . mo contacting c.xoand roControl lc@aCloroxProCanada@clorox.com. d anaenvironmental CorPxoroservices lC gnifor tchealthcare atnoc ysettings. b ro ahttps://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/ c.orPxorolC ta oiloftrop media/event-presentations/pho-webinar-infection-prevention-control-environmental-services.pdf?la=en. Accessed June 11, 2021.

6. Health document: Disinfectant References: 1. HealthCanada.

Canada. GuidanceGuidance document: Disinfectant Drugs (2018). https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-submissions/guidance-ecnadiug/snoDrugs issimbus-snoit(2018). acilppa/stcudorhttps://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/drugs-health-products/ p-gurd/stcudorp-htlaeh-sgurd/secivres/stnemucod/cs-ch/mad/tnetnoc/ac.adanac.www//:sptth .)8102( sgurD tnatcefnisiD :tnemucod ecnadiuG .adanaC htlaeH .1 :secnerefeR documents/disinfectants/disinfectant-drugs/disinfectant-drug-eng.pdf Accessed June s’re1,k2021. ceB .n2.oiLowe tcefniR.sidStrazdas evitceffeL,eQuon rusneJoand t sseSrikanth ntew elbM.isiThe v dnimportance a emit tcatnofoccontact fo ecnattime ropmand i ehvisible T .M htnwetness akirS dntoa Jensure nouQ ,Leffective sadzartSdisinfection. .R ewoL .2 .1Becker’s 202 ,1 enuJ desseccA fdp.gnAccessed e-gurd-tnatcefnisidJune /sgurd-tn1, atce2021. fnisid/stnatcefnisid/stnemucod drug-products/applications-submissions/guidance-documents/disinfectants/disinfectant-drugs/disinfectant-drug-eng.pdf Clinical Leadership & Infection Control Newsletterclean” February 16,versus 2018. 3. Parker-Pope T. Have I .been lmth.cleaning emohclean” -stnallatwrong? cefnisid–https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/well/live/coronavirus-cleaning-cleaners-disinfectants-home.html.

-sris enaethere lc-gninaelca-sudifference? rivanoroc/evil/llew/60/Can 50/0202J /moInfect c.semityn.wControl ww//:sptth ?gn2004;19(3)150-2. orw lla gninaelc neeb I evaH .T epoP-rekraP .3 .8102 ,61 yraurbeF rettelsweN lortnoC noitcefnI & pihsredaeL lacinilC 7. Gauthier J. “Hospital “construction Accessed June 1, 2021. 4. Government of Canada. Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces.lmduring th.secaCOVID-19. ps-cilbup-https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/cleaning-disinfecting-public-spaces.html. gnitcefnisid-gninaelc/snoitidnoc-sesaesid/snoitacilbup/secivres/htlaeh-cilbup/ne/ac.adanac.www//:sptth .91-DIVOC gnirud secaps cilbup gnitcefnisid dna gninaelC .adanaC fo tnemnrevoG .4 .1202 ,1 enuJ desseccA 8. Public Ontario.

Best for(IPAC) environmental Accessed June 1, 2021.Health 5. Public Health Ontario COVID-19 Infectionpractices Prevention and Control -noenvironmental itcefni-ranibewservices -ohp/snfor oicleaning thealthcare atneserp-tsettings. neve/afor idhttps://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/event-presentations/pho-webinar-infectionem/prevention -/ac.oiratnohtlaehcilbuand p.www//control :sptth .sgnittes eof rachtinfections laeh rof secivres latnein mnoall rivnehealth )CAPI( lortnoCcare dna noitnsettings. everP noitcefnI 91-D3rd IVOC oirEdition. atnO htlaeH cilbuhttps://www.

P .5 .1202 ,1 enuJ desseccA ynappublichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/b/2018/bp-environmental-cleaning.pdf. m o C xo r o l C e h T 1 2 0 2 © prevention-control-environmental-services.pdf?la=en.

Accessed June 11, 2021. 6. Per Health Canada approval with the exception of Ebola virus .)nim(20 4( sseconds) urivatoRand dnaRotavirus )sdnoces 0(42min).

(Accessed suriv alobE fo noitpJuly ecxe eht h23, tiw lav2021. orppa adanaC htlaeH reP .6 .1202 ,11 enuJ desseccA .ne=al?fdp.secivres-latne©m2021 norivThe ne-loClorox rtnoc-nCompany oitneverp © 2021 The Clorox Company

/ clean matters /

GBAC STAR REGISTERED The Global Biorisk Advisory Council™, a Division of ISSA, has announced the first organizations to have achieved the GBAC STAR™ Registered Technology & Registered Programs designation.

The GBAC STAR Registered Technology & Registered Programs Seal promotes resilience and provides added assurance for facility managers and service provides who are dedicated to cleaning for health. The Seal confirms that equipment, products, or programs meet safety and health guidelines.

Organizations that wish to receive the designation must provide a list of claims and a problem statement the offering is addressing, evidence that the offering contributes to preventing the spread of COVID-19 or any other diseases, and demonstrate an advantage in efficacy, cost, health, and safety over existing products and services.

The technologies and programs that have achieved GBAC STAR Registered Technologies & Registered Programs designated and are therefore recognized as meeting a high standard of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention include:

1 AirV2™ Clean Air Dispersion System from Germfree: an air filtration system designed to provide clean air in large indoor spaces.

2 eWAVE® Intelligent Fiber (i-fiber) from Creative Products International: a

revolutionary intelligent fiber proven to remove 99.9% bacteria while 4D Cleaning™ hard surfaces.

3 Gene Count Q16/SARS-CoV-2 Direct Surface Kit from LuminUltra: a kit that uses

qPCR technology to test up to 16 samples for target microorganisms and identify total count.

4 KOLO™ Smart Monitoring System from GP PRO: a system that monitors whether chemical dispensers are stocked and fixtures are functional.

5 Onvation Smart Restroom System from Kimberly-Clark Professional: a software solution that monitors and analyzes restroom conditions, enabling facility staff to proactively control and optimize restroom servicing.

AllClir Sensors from AllClir: disinfection testing devices that help cleaning professionals confirm whether a chemistry application has reached the recommended wetness levels, ensuring that disinfectants are applied correctly “The GBAC STAR Registered Technology & Registered Programs designation helps facility managers and building service contractors identify vetted technology and services to keep facilities safe and their visitors healthy,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger.

“These newly registered offerings represent the best in cleaning and disinfection products and programs to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.”

28 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / FALL 2021

SHOW

www.remishow.com

SAVE THE DATE

June 8-9, 2022 Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Hall, Toronto Ontario, Canada

Proudly Owned and Operated by:

For additional information on exhibitor/sponsorship opportunities, please contact Chuck Nervick, Senior Vice President at chuckn@mediaedge.ca | 416-803-4653 Official 2022 REMI Show Media Products