Air Date: 2-7-2014 | Episode: 314
This week we welcome Mili Washington who has been The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Standards Director since June 2011…
Full Description:
This week we welcome Mili Washington who has been The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Standards Director since June 2011. Mile stepped into a tough job and has worked hard to streamline the standards development process and strategy at the IICRC, work toward American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval for new and revised ANSI/IICRC standards, and use more digital tools to make virtual collaboration really come to life. Prior to joining IICRC Mili was manager of standards and guidelines for the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).
Bill Doan is the ANSI/IICRC S800 Consensus Body chair, he retired in 2007 after a 43-year career in textile fibers (Dupont) and carpet care (Steamway, Shaw). He served as Dupont’s point man in its outreach efforts to the carpet care industry during the time of the launch of Stainmaster® carpet in the mid 1980s, and was recognized as the first Cleanfax magazine “Person of the Year” in 1989.
Lewis G. “Lew” Migliore, ANSI/IICRC S800 Consensus Body vice-chair, is president of LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services in Dalton, GA. He has been associated with the floor covering industry for more than 43 years. Lew is the author and columnist of “Flooring Forensics” for Floor Focus Magazine a regular on Floor Radio as “The Industry Troubleshooter” and is the publisher of The Commercial Flooring Report distributed to over 100,000 readers worldwide.
Z-Man’s Blog:
Hopeless Optimists
On today’s episode of IAQradio, Mili Washington, experienced standards professional and Standards Director for the IICRC, used the term “hopeless optimists” to refer to the people who volunteer to serve on industry standards writing committees. Writing an industry standard, especially one which is approved by a standards body such as ANSI requires thousands of hours of voluntary time. Good standard writing is an open and unbiased process. While you personally may not have the available time and expertise to serve on a standards writing committee, you do have the opportunity to comment and voice your opinions and concerns about the documents.
Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere. Theodore Roosevelt
Joining Mili Washington on the show were Bill Doan, Consensus Body Chair and Lew Migliore, Consensus Body Vice Chair for the newly released ANSI/IICRC S800 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Inspection. FYI, carpet inspectors are trained, knowledgeable and impartial 3rd party experts who investigate claims for a commissioning party.
Nuggets mined from today’s episode:
- The new ANSI/IICRC S800 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Inspection, is almost 250 in length and features color photographs depicting learning points. The document is available in both paper and electronic formats.
- 100s of trained carpet inspectors work in North America. Commissioners for inspection services include: carpet manufacturers, carpet distributors, carpet retailers, carpet installers, carpet cleaners and consumers.
- Carpet inspections are complaint driven. Common carpet complaints include: crushing/matting, blemishes and other manufacturing defects, color differences, dissatisfaction with performance and curling of carpet tiles.
- According to Lew Migliore common problems include product being oversold and the “wrong product in the wrong place”. This may occur when retailers fail to properly qualify a floor covering customer. Lew suggests that consumers be asked: what carpet do you have now, how is it performing for you, what would you like to be different, what do you wish to change? Light color carpet in high traffic areas is more prone to visible soiling.
- Moisture issues with concrete may be complex. Prior to the direct installation of broadloom carpet over concrete, the concrete should be tested for moisture vapor emission. Concrete may need to be re-profiled with bead blasting or sealed. Alkalinity in concrete breaks down the tackiness of carpet adhesive.
- New carpet styles put “more carpet in the same place” with finer, softer denier. Some new carpets are so plush that some vacuum cleaners have difficulty vacuuming them. “Not our parent’s polyester”, new polyester carpet is better constructed and performs well. Cross fiber blends of polyester and nylon are performing well.
- Bill Doan recommends that consumers consult a knowledgeable floor covering salesperson for assistance in selecting carpet. Carpets are getting better. Bill recommends that carpets be vacuumed regularly using a vacuum that has the CRI seal of approval.
Today’s Music- “The Inspector Intro Theme” by Henry Mancini
Z-Man signing off
