ProTeam Vacuums

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.

Simsbury Public Schools Go Green, Save Green with ProTeam

In 2009, the Connecticut State Legislature passed a bill requiring school districts to implement green cleaning programs using environmentally-friendly products by July 1, 2011. Steven Twitchell, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds of Simsbury Public Schools in the state, responded by revamping his already forward-thinking green program, which includes ProTeam high-efficiency backpack vacuums for improved indoor air quality (IAQ).

ProTeam backpack vacuums, the Super CoachVac and Super QuarterVac, have given Twitchell’s team of 36 the mobility and flexibility they need to clean a mix of seven old, new and renovated school buildings in Simsbury, Conn.

The facilities, which make up a total of 632,866 square feet, take a beating in the harsh Connecticut winter.

“When we have terrible winters, we change the bags almost daily,” said Twitchell, largely referring to the dual-motor ProTeam upright vacuum, the ProForce 1500, that his team uses to remove sand tracked into the high-traffic lobby. “Before you know it, the filter bags fill up with sand.”

All three vacuums feature ProTeam’s Four Level Filtration that captures 99.9 percent of all indoor pollutants and irritants 1 micron or larger. The four filters sift particles down to the smallest dust mites or pollen, and prevent them from blowing back into the atmosphere. In a school environment, capturing and removing particulates is key to good IAQ, reducing risk to those with asthma or allergies.

“We are vacuuming with high-efficiency vacuum cleaners. The proof is looking at the exhaust and seeing what’s coming out. With the ProTeam vacuum there isn’t any dust or debris blowing back out,” said Twitchell.

Simsbury Public Schools used to budget 2,500 dollars per school for replacement vacuums. For seven schools they were spending 17,000 dollars per year to replace vacuums from two different high-end brands. After switching to ProTeam vacuums, the district’s annual replacement budget is down 14,000 dollars and annual repair costs are down 15,000 dollars.

Caltech Turns to ProTeam for Sustainability on Campus

Five years ago, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) decided to take on an extensive sustainability plan. Fully detailed on their website, the plan addresses everything from office supplies and campus food to the efficiency of the buildings themselves.

Caltech utilizes the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard for green building certification developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, which requires an assessment of custodial effectiveness, as well as the purchase of sustainable cleaning products and equipment.

In order to achieve higher indoor environmental quality, Caltech revolutionized the way it cleans its facilities, according to Delmy Emerson, Director of Buildings and Grounds.

Ironically, this push for sustainable cleaning solutions also came at a tough financial time. Emerson faced cleaning 80 buildings, 3.6 million square feet, with only 74 employees, and still needed to find money in the budget for new equipment, starting with new vacuums. “We had to look closely at a lot more work with less people.”

Prior to the new policy, Emerson’s employees were wrestling with two vacuums each, an upright for carpets and a canister for hard floors and blinds. “It was very cumbersome,” said Emerson. She needed to find an affordable vacuum that would raise indoor air quality but would also be less awkward for her staff.

After extensive research, Emerson tried the Super CoachVac HEPA.

“I really liked it,” Emerson said. “We talked to a lot of people who were using it, and they were satisfied.” Emerson decided to replace 20 percent of her vacuums with the ProTeam high-filtration backpacks every year.

“The backpacks are so flexible. They allow for high cleaning and low cleaning without having to change vacuums or go back later.” Since the vacuum switch, equipment maintenance and repair costs have been reduced, illness on campus has gone down, and vacuuming time has been cut in half.

Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PCHS) Makes ProTeam Backpack Vacuums a Preferred Product

Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PCHS), an innovative new cleaning method, has named ProTeam backpack vacuums preferred products, signifying that they meet the highest standards for cleaning in education facilities.

PCHS trains custodial workers with a standardized workflow and cleaning specialization based on a detailed plan for daily and deep cleaning. It was founded by Rex Morrison who, after working at Washoe County Public Schools in Reno, Nev., adapted the principles of Team Cleaning into a Team/Zone-cleaning process targeted at K-12 schools.

By implementing ergonomic tools, green cleaning agents, a streamlined workflow, and timing and logging tasks, Morrison was able to save the Washoe County Public School District thousands of dollars in the first year. Now many schools and even commercial cleaning operations have implemented PCHS’s remarkably effective method.

In order to achieve those huge savings, Morrison first realized that the general lack of measurable standards in the cleaning industry is unacceptable. If he couldn’t figure out exactly how his staff cleaned and how long each task took, then he couldn’t improve their methods and practices.

Industry standard tools like the upright vacuum make it more difficult for custodial workers to clean with consistent times and results. By replacing the worn-out industry standards with innovative, ergonomic alternatives such as ProTeam’s powerhouse backpack vacuum, the Super CoachVac, Morrison was able to shift the focus of his cleaning program from cleaning for appearance to Cleaning for Health.

“The impetus behind the expansion of Process Cleaning was our tools—ProTeam backpack vacuums, microfiber, and spray-and-vacuum machines,” says Morrison. “Take one away and we could not do what we do. Basically, there’s no way we could find any type of effective time management with an upright or dust mop. We needed a way to clean better and faster than we had in the previous mindset.”

After Morrison achieved success with PCHS, other backpack vacuum companies approached him, asking him to exclusively use their product for process cleaning. When he tested the other backpack vacuums, they didn’t live up to the hype.

“Every company had great claims, but either the CFM wasn’t high enough or the backpack would break down. If you want a vacuum you can kick, drop, work day in and day out and it keeps on running, there’s no other choice. I’m 100 percent for ProTeam. They’re the only way to go. Nothing out there can compete.”

Not only is the Super CoachVac faster to maneuver around classrooms crowded with desks and chairs, but its powerful suction captures 43 percent more dirt and dust than other vacuums. Four Level Filtration filters 99.9 percent of impurities down to 1 micron in size. (A micron is about 1/70 the width of a human hair.)

“The national average in K-12 cleaning is 21,000 square feet per person, but we were able to bring that up to 27,000 square feet,” says Morrison.

Cleaning for the health and safety of building occupants rather than just for appearance, Morrison’s cleaning program had some unintended, but beneficial, side effects. Average daily attendance went up by 6.5 percent. Many schools receive funding based on daily attendance and could greatly increase their resources by implementing a system like PCHS’s with ProTeam’s backpack vacuum.

“We don’t clean for appearance anymore, we clean for health. We can go to any school district and guarantee cleaner, more germ free student and staff spaces in less time.”

To learn how Process Cleaning can benefit your school, visit www.PC4HF.org or contact Rex Morrison at 775-530-8933 or rexpc4hf@att.net.

Lightweight Backpack Vacuum Improves Productivity, Saves Money for Colorado Church

In a congregational structure that balances multi-purpose facility needs ranging from childcare to food preparation, cleanliness is of the utmost importance. That’s the critical reason why Life Fellowship Church in Westminster, Colo. decided to replace their cheap upright vacuums with a high-performance backpack vacuum, the ProTeam Super QuarterVac.

Life Fellowship Church is a center of community. Sunday morning services are flooded with 1,000 people, plus services, classes, and additional programs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Fellowship Café is open on Sunday mornings. And the church’s on-site school buzzes Monday through Friday with 300 students and 30 teachers.

However, Brian Andrews faces more challenges in his job than just high traffic, multi-use areas. He also coordinates a cleaning staff of over 70 people, which includes the 30 teachers at the school and five cleaning teams of eight people, led by team leaders.

“We used to buy the cheapest disposable vacuums at Walmart for 70 dollars,” said Andrews, who was introduced to the Super QuarterVac by his chemical distributor. “Right away, I could see a huge difference in how much the ProTeam vacuum picked up.”

The vacuum has a powerful motor housed in a lightweight durable frame. Four Level Filtration captures and contains 99.9 percent of particles 1 micron or larger. This benefit to indoor air quality goes a long way in a facility with childcare, where preventing the spread of germs and disease can be difficult.

In spite of the tangible benefits that the new vacuum offered, some of Andrews’ staff was resistive to change. “Some of the staff were concerned about discomfort from wearing the backpack, but after they tried it there was no concern. The Super QuarterVac is so small and lightweight, everyone really loves it.”

The Super QuarterVac has a six-quart capacity, but weighs only 10 pounds. Rather than causing discomfort, the backpack vacuum is ergonomically designed to distribute weight evenly on the powerful hip and leg muscles, and prevent the stress to the arm and shoulder caused by pushing an upright vacuum.

“Once our cleaning staff learned how to use the vacuum with a sweeping motion, they cleaned a lot faster. It is easier to clean large areas,” Andrews noted. “We have saved money in time spent cleaning and in bag replacements in just the first few months of using a ProTeam vacuum.”

 

Backpack Vacuums Help Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Niagara Catholic Schools

The Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) in Ontario, Canada wanted an ergonomic study on the cleaning practices of their custodial staff and recommendations on how to curb on-the-job injuries and workers’ compensation claims. Many custodial workers had developed carpal tunnel syndrome in one or both wrists, and it was costing the NCDSB both through workers’ compensation claims and lost labor for employees who took time off or were placed on “limited duty” due to their injuries.

Chris Bourdages, Lead Ergonomist for Frontline Ergonomics, started the study by filming custodial staff on the job and analyzing work behavior for risk factors. Through those videos he found that the dry and wet mops the district’s custodial staff used exposed them to risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome on a daily basis.

The heavy and unwieldy mops forced employees to grip forcefully and flex both wrists for prolonged periods of time in order to clean thoroughly. It was this deviation of the wrists required for two separate floor cleaning tasks that was putting employees through unnecessary strain and increasing risk of injury. In order to prevent further injuries at Niagara Catholic Schools, one or more risk factors had to be eliminated.

Bourdages recommended that Niagara Catholic School’s custodial staff dispose of their dry mops and replace them with ProTeam backpack vacuums. Dry mopping puts extraneous stress on the upper body, specifically on the joints that absorb much of the strain associated with dragging a heavy mop across the floor. He wanted to give workers efficiency and mobility that was impossible with the dry mopping system they were using.

ProTeam is known for innovative vacuum technology that increases worker productivity and comfort. When a ProTeam backpack vacuum is properly adjusted, 90-percent of the weight of the vacuum rests on the hips and is evenly distributed between both legs. Most of ProTeam’s commercial-grade backpack vacuums weigh between nine and 10 pounds, with their largest and most powerful backpack vacuum weighing only 13 pounds.

“The most impressive part of the vacuum besides its power and functionality is the aluminum wand. The wand is very light, and it keeps the wrists mainly in a neutral posture,” said Bourdages. “The light weight of the wand means that minimal force is required when vacuuming the floors.”

It wasn’t enough for custodial staff to switch to backpack vacuums, they also had to learn proper vacuuming techniques for the best results with the least physical strain. ProTeam’s vacuum design lends to a low-impact side-to-side vacuuming motion that covers maximum square-footage in every swipe.

“The benefit of the backpack vacuum is that the mobility actually speeds up cleaning time,” said Bourdages. “Therefore custodians can clean faster by using the vacuum instead of the dry mop.”

NCDSB is still reviewing the results of the work trail to determine the exact savings from implementing ProTeam’s vacuums, but Bourdages is convinced that the ergonomic backpack vacuums will benefit their facilities.

“This is my first experience with ProTeam. They have a great product that improves the health of workers who work on physical jobs.”

ProTeam Offers Food Service Ready Vacuum Designs

Cleaning in the food service industry is not for the faint of suction. High soil levels, food oils and large debris will quickly clog or damage an entry-level vacuum. Most restaurants and cafeterias also have booths, tables and chairs that are difficult to maneuver with a typical upright. However, maintaining a pristine environment is essential to send a message of overall cleanliness and safe food preparation to customers.

ProTeam. the innovative and high-performance vacuum company, offers tools to fit the full spectrum of food service maintenance needs. From the powerful ProVac CN and ProVac BP—canister and backpack models available with restaurant attachment kits, to the recently-released ProForce 1500XP HEPA upright and ProGuard wet/dry line, ProTeam vacuums consistently achieve the highest standard of clean, no matter what the situation.

Coming out December 1, the ProForce 1500XP HEPA adds trusted HEPA filtration to its powerful dual-motor upright. With one power source dedicated to suction, and the other to the floating 15-inch powerhead, the ProForce’s superior pickup and reach will measure up to the many challenges of food service maintenance.

The ProGuard wet/dry vacuum series is also relatively new to ProTeam’s line-up. The lightest models, the three-gallon ProGuard LI 3 Cordless and the four-gallon ProGuard 4 Portable, are easy to use and store for quick spill cleanup and spot cleaning, preventing moisture damage, warping or discoloration. Especially in foodservice, where the chance of a spill is always imminent, a wet/dry can protect the value and appeal of a dining facility.

These new releases are helpful additions to ProTeam’s models designed for the food service industry, the ProVac BP and ProVac CN. With no belts, beater bars or brushes, these suction-only backpack and canister vacuums capture everything from food scraps to microscopic dust without clogging up or breaking down.

For a thorough, fast clean in the messy business of food service, these ProVac models continue to impress with their tough construction, efficient pick-up and superior filtration. In line with ProTeam’s commitment to improved indoor air quality, the ProVac BP and the ProVac CN are equipped with Four Level Filtration. The filters are easy to access, empty and change, and proper filter maintenance can extend the lifetime of a ProTeam vacuum indefinitely. Both vacuums come with an unbeatable five-year motor warranty when purchased with the restaurant kit.

With the introduction of a HEPA-filtered upright and portable wet/dry units, ProTeam offers a wide range of tools for any food service maintenance requirement. The legendary durability, power and filtration of ProTeam’s vacuums can help reduce cleaning time and retain dining customers.

ProTeam's NEW ProBlitz AirMover

ProTeam blows away the competition with a new high-performance, high-speed air mover to meet air circulation needs for carpet cleaning and restoration applications. The ProBlitz AirMover features a 0.4 HP motor with 2200 CFM to dry floors and subfloors quickly and efficiently, running on only 3 amps. 

ProTeam ProForce 1500XP HEPA Available Dec 2011

The new ProTeam ProForce 1500XP HEPA provides exceptional cleaning in a high-filtration upright. A high-performance dual motor system and 15-inch powerhead maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Improve indoor air quality with replaceable HEPA exhaust filter cartridges that achieve extraction levels of 99.97 percent down to 0.3 microns. 

ProTeam Triple Threat

For cleaning professionals looking for a transformative solution to the floorcare routine, ProTeam now offers the “triple threat,” a complete package that unites the forces of a Super CoachVac HEPA or Super QuarterVac HEPA with a telescoping wand and multi-purpose Xover Floor Tool. The superior combination allows for maximum dust capture and productivity across multiple floorcare situations.

With the “triple threat” solution, expect the atmosphere of your building to change. Building occupants with an eye for details will notice that dirt and dust don’t settle in the corners anymore. Occupants and staff with asthma or allergies will notice that they are feeling better. This three-fold cleaning revolution will prove that you don’t need a superpower to be the hero that saves building occupants from indoor pollutants and irritants.