ProTeam Vacuums

ProTeam aims to switch Europe on to backpack cleaning

ProTeam is making only its second visit to ISSA/INTERCLEAN with its backpack vacuums.

The well-established US-based company aims to convert tub and upright vacuum users in Europe to using backpacks by promoting the productivity gains of the system.

"Backpack vacuums are traditionally a niche market for applications such as stairwell and cinemas," said international business development manager Mike Harrington. "But we are pioneering it as a mainstream cleaning system.

"When adopting a `scythe` motion an operator using the system can clean at a rate of around 95 sq m per hour, as opposed to 40 sq m per hour using an upright model. This makes our system much more productive."

He claims that ProTeam's upright vacuums also offer sustainability benefits. "They are good for the environment since they use four levels of filtration to remove particulates from the atmosphere," said Harrington. "They are also good for the operator since they are both comfortable and ergonomic."

ProTeam has been established in the US for 25 years and according to Harrington the company is the market leader with around 60 per cent of the market. The company is only now beginning to make inroads on the European market.

ProTeam machines can be used on wood, concrete, carpets and on high areas in environments such as schools and office buildings.

Wet/Dry World: Power and Function

Essentially, suction comes down to the power of the motor. Dry-only vacuums operate with thru-flow motors, but wet/dry vacuums, as well as extractors and scrubbers, require a bypass motor for wet recovery. A single-stage blower motor is typical for dry vacuums, but larger wet/drys should have a two-stage motor to increase lift and suction. Three-stage motors are common for scrubbers and extractors for maximum lift.

Wet/dry vacuums sold in retail often come with only a one-stage motor, so look for commercial wet/drys with more power, and a two-stage bypass motor. The motor is one of the most expensive components to replace, so also look for a long-term warranty and a top-notch brand track record.

For foamy wet/dry situations, a recent technology advancement saves both time and the hassles of constant foam and water dump-outs. Most wet/drys feature an automatic shut off function when water reaches a certain level that might damage the motor. Foam often triggers this shut off well before the actual water reaches a high level, which can cause constant interruptions. However, a recent innovation tackles the foam problem head-on. This new innovation looks like a metal mesh cage around the filtration system, and serves to break down foam while protecting the motor from damage.

For medium-sized tasks and spaces, a 10-gallon capacity is often ideal. A 10-gallon is versatile enough for big spills, yet compact for easy maneuvering. This size also works well for all the tasks a smaller wet/dry is capable of, plus jobsite cleanup, carpet vacuuming as a canister vacuum, and carpet care.

A 10-gallon vacuum with a convenient tank drain cap allows for fast liquid debris removal. HEPA filtration models are available in this size. This size and functionality works well as a go-to tool for a wide range of spaces and uses, including education, healthcare, hospitality, foodservice, retail, emergency/flood cleanup, hard floor refinishing, construction and lead paint repair and renovation. These vacuums often come with mid- to heavy-grade tools. 

Wet/Dry World: The Toughest Jobs

For large-sized spaces and situations, a powerful, functional and big-sized wet/dry is a must. A 15- or 20-gallon wet/dry is often ideal, allowing for advanced maneuverability and productivity. A bigger unit can sometimes hamper mobility, so look for a wet/dry with swivel caster wheels, a cart system, and variable wheel pattern options. This size is ideal for job-site cleanup, flooding, hard floor refinishing, carpet care and engineering services, as well as in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, hospitality, professional carpet cleaning and hard floor repair.

When considering a unit of this size, look for an optional front mount squeegee to increase productivity and aid in faster floor stripper recovery and flood restoration applications. This size often offers an ergonomic cart system that allows for ease of transportation and mobility. A convenient pour spout and rear tank drain also improve efficiency in liquid disposal. These vacuums often come with mid- to heavy-grade tools, carts with push handles, front-mount squeegee options, and upgraded filtration and noise reduction.

So think about the space you need to maintain, and make a list of the wet/dry size, features, functionality and innovations that would make your job easier. Don't settle for an unwieldy model, but look for vacuums that are thoughtfully designed with the user in mind. Wet/drys that are built to last will generally have multi-year warranties, fine dust filtration, and powerful two-stage motors.

ProTeam Scholar Search Contest

If you're a cleaning professional wanting to continue your education, or have a child headed to college or trade school, here's an assignment that could mean an extra $1000 towards tuition or books. Submit 300-500 words about "Why I Want to be the Recipient of a ProTeam Scholarship." ProTeam will award three students $1000 each.

Post your entry on the ProTeam Facebook page by June 30th for your chance to WIN!

Eligibility & Rules

All college or trade school bound students and current students pursuing higher education are eligible and welcome to apply May 1st - June 30th 2012. All applicants must be a cleaning professional or the child of one, and have a US postal zip code within the US fifty states.

View the Official Rules for more details.

Wet/Dry World: Portability

Wet/dry vacuums have a reputation for being unwieldy and hard to use. Fortunately, some brands have begun to rethink that design, and are making wet/drys that work well on the move, no matter what direction they need to go.

For small tasks or small spaces, a three or four gallon wet/dry vacuum makes a great emergency cleanup tool. Perfect for quick, intermittent use, these work well for snow and rain, small spills and flooding, elevators, walk-off mats, day porter use, spot cleaning and in workshops.

One battery-powered, cord-free, three-gallon option allows the user to carry the entire machine with one ergonomic handle, while cleaning with a locking stretch hose that extends to seven feet for extended reach in confined spaces. Another four-gallon model offers a blower port to reverse the airflow direction to clean hard to reach areas. This model can either be carried or used like a canister vacuum, with a 10-foot hose and several accessory tools. HEPA-filtered models are also available.

The wheels of larger models determine ease of movement. Soft-ride, swivel caster wheels make turns and traversing with a wet/dry much easier. There are 15- and 20-gallon wet/drys available with built-in variable swivel caster wheel patterns that allow for better maneuverability. One figuration allows for the swivel caster wheels to easily rotate the vacuum 360 degrees. The other figuration is more traditional, and allows for ease of transportation and mobility over stairs and curbs. A maintenance professional could switch out one variation for the other with just a few simple tools and a few minutes.

Battery-powered wet/drys are also appearing on the scene. Lithium Ion batteries power everything from laptops to cordless drills, and now the same lightweight, portable functionality has come to wet/drys. The Lithium Ion battery can handle hundreds of charge and discharge cycles. Lithium Ions batteries typically have a shelf life of two to three years, whether they’re used or not.

Wet/Dry World: Filtration for IAQ

When most people think of wet/dry vacuums, they consider water pickup, not dust capture. But filtration is advancing in the wet/dry world, as is the public's understanding of the importance of good indoor air quality. In the quest to maintain healthy environments, a wet/dry vacuum should have the latest in filtration technology.

A new three-layer fine dust cartridge filter not only provides excellent dry filtration, but is washable, reusable and clogs less than standard foam filters. Ease of cleaning and filter maintenance lowers the cost of ownership and allows for longer durability. Optional internal paper filters allow for easy disposal and added collection of dry debris.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration wet/dry models are now available as well, appropriate for lead paint renovations. HEPA wet/drys can tackle repair and renovation, construction, hard-floor refinishing and other heavy-duty tasks. A multi-stage, certified HEPA filtration system is 99.97 percent efficient at containing and filtering particulates as small as 0.3 microns in size.

Wet/Dry World: How to Spot and Select New Innovations in Wet/Dry Vacuums

Maintenance is not always a dry world. Natural and human disasters can cause flooding and spills.  Intensive carpet and hard floor cleanup or restoration projects often require water. Snow gets tracked much further into a building than rain or dirt and then it melts, seeping into the flooring. Whatever the source of the moisture, it causes damage and can hurt the value of the facility.

Particularly in regions of heavy snowfall, the need for a wet/dry vacuum inevitably arises, and when it does, having a high-performance machine on hand might mean the difference between disaster and recovery. New high-performance wet/dry vacuums are now available in Canada with innovative features to match any set of needs.

Q: How can a vacuum help improve indoor air quality (IAQ)?

A: It’s mostly in the filters.

There are many types of vacuum filters, and they address IAQ with varying degrees of effectiveness. In order to address airborne particles that threaten student and faculty health, a vacuum should have multi-stage filtration system that filters at least 99.9 percent of particles 1 micron or larger. This would capture and remove dust and pollen that can trigger asthma and allergies.

When measurements get as small as microns, it can be hard to make sense of them. A micron is 1/25,000th of an inch. A human hair is 70 microns in diameter. Mold can be as small as 1.2 microns. Yeast and bacteria particles get down to 0.4 microns, and would require a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)-filtered model to remove them. Viruses and tobacco smoke linger at 0.12 microns and under, and would require an Ultra-Low Penetration Air (ULPA) filter to extract some but not all particles.

At some point, a higher extraction rate becomes cost-prohibitive and highly impractical. ULPA-filtered vacuums are usually reserved for biomedical and clean-room applications. Colleges should look for vacuums with filters that are easy to empty and replace, then train the staff to know the importance of checking and emptying filters frequently to maintain powerful suction.

Many educational facilities choose HEPA for the higher extraction rate (99.97 percent of all particles 0.3 microns or larger) and recognizable name. However, HEPA filters are disposable and must be replaced regularly, at an added cost. Some commercial backpack vacuums have intercept micro filters that can be emptied until worn, as well as washable micro cloth filters, in addition to HEPA filtration.

Of course, a vacuum is one tool in a cleaning program that must attack unwanted matter on all sides. Methods of sanitation for high-touch points, restrooms, and food service areas are just as important to a healthy facility as a vacuum with multi-stage filtration.

Designed for a Microscopic Clean

In order to clean microscopic matter, cleaning tools must be specifically designed for filtering microscopic particles. A vacuum that doesn’t boast of its microscopic filtration, doesn’t have it. Without proper filtration, most of the smaller particles will be blown out the exhaust to settle back into the carpet. With a high-performance, suction-only ProTeam vacuum, dirt, skin cells, and impurities down to the smallest microbe get sucked into the vacuum with no need for a beater-bar to loosen the dirt.

All vacuums designed by ProTeam, the company that first introduced the lightweight backpack vacuum, use Four Level Filtration to extract 99.9 percent of all particulate matter 1 micron or larger. Each filter works in tandem, sifting out smaller and smaller impurities, and prevents them from blowing back out the exhaust, reducing the level of particulates and allergens that reenter the atmosphere.

ProTeam’s High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)-filtered models filter 99.97 percent of matter 0.3 microns or larger, and their Ultra Low Penetration Air (ULPA)-filtered model filters 99.999+ percent of all matter 0.12 microns or larger. ULPA filtered vacuums are usually reserved for clean-room and biomedical applications, but disposable HEPA filters can be integrated into the cleaning program of any facility to promote good IAQ.

Vacuums that brag about “HEPA-type”, “HEPA-like” or “99% HEPA” are cleverly hiding that they do not meet the Department of Energy’s HEPA-efficiency standard of capturing 99.97 percent of all matter 0.3 microns or larger.

Why is it important to filter out particles down to such a microscopic size? According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 25 percent of Americans suffer from allergies. Harvard researchers have observed that global warming is causing spring to arrive earlier each year, resulting in up to a 55 percent increase in the amounts of ragweed pollen in the air. What’s more, 20 million people suffer from asthma, including 9 million children, costing the U.S. $10 billion annually in direct health care costs and lost productivity.

ProTeam partners with the American Lung Association to educate the public on indoor air quality’s role in lung health.

To Understand Filtration, Flex Your Imagination

Dirt is dirt, no matter how small. It’s the task of the cleaning professional and his or her equipment to remove unwanted matter from an indoor environment and put it where it belongs, disposed in a vacuum filter bag. Fifty years ago, this process was much simpler than it is now. A worker would vacuum and, if the floor looked clean, go home.

‘If it looks clean’ simply isn’t good enough anymore. Buildings haven’t gotten dirtier in the last 50 years, but technological developments and scientific studies have made us aware of unwanted matter on smaller and smaller levels. It is now widely accepted that the most sinister microscopic particles (pollen, mold, chemicals, and bacteria) can add up to a huge impact on the health of a facility and its occupants.

ProTeam vacuums with Four Level Filtration and the option of HEPA are designed with powerful suction to capture and contain the smallest particles that threaten the health of a facility.

Unfortunately the smaller the particles, the more difficult it is to imagine the cleaning process that is necessary to remove them. What kind of cleaning tool cleans invisible contaminants? What does that even look like? In order to visualize this epic microscopic battle against germs, pollen, dander, and mold, we must use a measurement system as a point of reference.

In the cleaning industry, particulate matter is measured by microns. A micron is 1/25,000th of an inch, 1/1,000th of a millimeter. A human hair is about 70 microns in diameter. Particles less than 10 microns in size can be easily inhaled by a passerby and irritate the throat and lungs.

Dander, pollen, mold, and dust mite eggs can be as small as 1 micron in diameter. Yeast and bacteria particles get down to 0.4 microns. These particles that are invisible to the human eye can cause irritation to the lungs, eyes, and sinuses, putting those who suffer from asthma or allergies at greater risk.

The fight against microscopic pollutants is the fight against sick building syndrome and absenteeism. It is a quest to educate and engage building occupants about the reality of maintaining healthy indoor air. It is an investment in superior cleaning tools for the long-term return of a healthier, happier facility.